Background performers placed in a scene to add atmosphere and realism, with no speaking lines or individual action.
Technical Details
The number of extras per shot varies between 5-10 people for street scenes up to 10,000+ for battle sequences like in "The Lord of the Rings". Standard castings expect a 20% dropout rate on the shooting day. Costuming is done via size runs (XS to 4XL) with 1.5 times overlap. Background actions are choreographed in 3-5 variations and coordinated via radio receivers at 863-865 MHz. The average duration of individual extras on screen is 12-45 seconds per take.
History & Development
Organized extras work originated in 1907 at Biograph Studios under D.W. Griffith, who first coordinated 500+ people for "The Birth of a Nation" (1915). In 1935, MGM established the "Central Casting System" with over 18,000 registered extras. In Germany, extras management was formalized in 1962 by the Filmförderungsanstalt. Since the 1990s, CGI crowds (Digital Extras) have supplemented physical extras, with software like Massive generating up to 200,000 virtual characters since "The Lord of the Rings" (2001).
Practical Application in Film
"Blade Runner 2049" used 1,200 extras for the Las Vegas sequences, coordinated by 12 Assistant Directors. Hitchcock's "The Birds" employed 400 extras for the schoolyard scene with precise 32-second choreography. TV series like "Game of Thrones" developed modular-hierarchical extra groups with 50 core extras and up to 800 daily extras. Modern productions utilize wearable technology for position control and split-screen techniques for digital doubling.
Comparison & Alternatives
Extras differ from minor actors by lacking individual characterization and dialogue exceeding five words. Stand-ins replace principal actors during lighting/camera setups, while body doubles are cast for specific physical characteristics. CGI crowds cost €15,000-€50,000 per scene, physical extras €8,000-€25,000 daily for 200 people. Hybrid approaches combine 50-100 real extras in the foreground with digital enhancements for wide shots.