Earlier in the week WaterforElephantsfilm.com broke the news that Water for Elephants was holding an open casting call for Extras to appear in the film.  Well, at first sites like Mtv.com were posting the correct details (Robert Pattinson’s ‘Water For Elephants’ Is Looking For Extras!) but before  we knew it we were seeing  headlines such as these in our email in-boxes:

Want to be on screen with Robert Pattinson?

Want to star in a movie with Robert Pattinson?

How To Star Opposite Robert Pattinson

I think that many of these attention getting headlines were just that, meant to catch your attention as opposed to disseminate misinformation, but it has created some serious confusion.

Much More to read after the CUT

The majority of the stories out there seem to be accurate, however to clarify things, click here to see the casting information directly from the Casting Agency. The casting is for non-speaking extras and background performers. This is NOT an open casting call for speaking roles.

WaterforElephantsFilm.com has contacted the Casting company in the hopes that they could provide some additional information that would temper the expectations of fans showing up to the casting call tomorrow. As of this time, we have not heard back.

So what are extras and what is expected of them on a film set?:

An extra, also called a background actor, is a performer in a film, television show, stage, musical, opera or ballet production, who appears in a nonspeaking, nonsinging or nondancing capacity, usually in the background (for example, in an audience or busy street scene).

Extras get very few details when called to take on a role from their chosen agency and full details are given the night before the actual shoot. They are given their part, a call time, location and guidance on what to wear for that part.

Extras expect long days and long periods of waiting around. Some extras may be used very little or sometimes not at all, even if they are on set all day. SOURCE

So the reality is you won’t be starring with Robert Pattinson or Reese Witherspoon in Water for Elephants but you may in fact get a glimpse of them if you’re lucky!

If  you’re serious about auditioning for extra-work, I found this helpful article that covers the dos and don’t of being an extra.  Film & Television Extras Guidelines by Alan Baltes you should check it out.

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