If there is one bit of advice I can give aspiring actors, new to LA it's this: Avoid Extras Management like to plague. I'll give you the basic rundown.
As an actor who makes most of her money in guest-stars and low-budget junk (not that it's junk, perhaps I should call it "stuff"), I was in desperate need of more income to make my car payment. So, an actress friend who does not work in television, nor have an agent, suggested I do extra work with Extras Management. I figured she wouldn't steer me wrong, and gave it a try.
You'll be put through the usual bull****: Don't be late, don't falsely represent yourself, blah, blah, blah, common sense. Then you'll be told that it is always your responsibility to keep your schedule up-to-date by calling them every single time you cannot be booked. Easy right? Not so fast. IF you happen to call and they've already booked you that day: Guess what? You're f*****.
So, of course, this happens to me. I had conventions I was booked to appear at September through the first week of November, and booked out accordingly. I found out that they had some dates wrong and called to correct them. No problem. Then, I received my availability for the following week. They still had me listed as available on a day I told them I was not available. So beginning Thursday evening, myself, my mother, and my boyfriend began trying to call. We called 12 times total over the span of 3 days. No answer.
I'd like to point out, that while Yelp says EM is closed on weekends, their website says they hold hours 7am-12am Monday-Sunday, so calling them on a weekend should be no problem.
Gee! What do you know, I just so HAPPENED to get booked on that one, single day that I'd been trying with no avail to inform EM that I was not available. Considering their unreasonable standards, I panicked, and called leaving quite the angry message, followed by an email in which I CCed Kevin, the... owner... I guess...? of the place. I certainly did not think this was an over reaction, seeing as I'd attempted to inform them of their mistake a total of 14 times now (including the message and email), AND they had chosen 1am to contact me, when my information sheet says "no calls after 8pm."
Then I received an email request from Kevin, asking me to "call him as soon as I got home." I did. No answer. I emailed him again, informing him I'd just tried to call yet again, within minutes of receiving his email, and he declined my call. The following day, I was extremely ill and had my phone on silent. Kevin took this opportunity to harass me by calling me (want to guess how many times?) 12 straight times in a row, simply to prove a point. When I asked my manager to call him back because I had no voice, and am honestly uncomfortable dealing with someone that irrational, he hung up on my manager. I realize this is an extras booking establishment, but I was in the room, ready to write my answers for my manager to read aloud. Kevin, for lack of a better phrase, is a loose cannon.
After a series of degrading emails from Kevin, accusing me of slander (interesting, since I'm telling the truth [not slanderous] and this is written [therefore LIBEL would be the correct term, not slander] learn your legal terms idiot, but regardless...) I reported EM to SAG.
Upon calling SAG I found out that Extras Management is not SAG franchised, and has absolutely no place to be representing themselves as an establishment that is capable of booking, or placing SAG members on set in any way, manner, or fashion. Perhaps they shouldn't have been quite so mean to little old me?
After placing me on "probation" for my "tardiness," Extras Management had the ever-loving AUDACITY to send a bill to be charged to my credit card for $84 for the month. I think not. Here's how EM supposedly works: If they book you 1 or fewer times that month, they don't charge $84, if they book you 2 or more times, they charge you. Why are you charging me? Out of spite because you're unreasonable and childish, that's why.
In 30 days with EM, they booked me once, and then tried to book me on a day they KNEW I was unavailable, resulting in this mess. What a disaster this place is. AVOID. There are at least two other places you can go (especially if you are non-union). This place is everything working actors have grown to hate about Hollywood. The very reason we lose sight of our love for the craft, and become bitter, and jaded in a never ending search for enough money to pay the bills.
***Anyone wishing to view screen capture proof of my attempted correspondence, emails with Kevin, or Extras Management staff, please feel free to contact me.***
I would be more than happy to send you that information. Please give me a second as your message may go to the "other" folder, but I will get back to you ASAP. read more