recap - Stand-In

To Stand-In or Sit It Out?

A casting director calls and asks you to work as a stand-in for a feature film or television show. Your heart jumps a beat…or does it? Well, that depends which side of the stand-in debate you side with.

For those who don’t know, a stand-in is someone who, as the name suggests, stands in for the actor or actress that plays a character in a film when the camera is not rolling; more specifically, the stand-in is the person who is on set while the crew is setting a shot. He or she may be asked to stand in a certain spot so that the crew can set the lighting, assess the composition of a shot they’re considering or practice a camera move. Once the shot is set, however, the stand-in steps out and the actor for which the stand-in is, well, standing in, steps in. Get it? Good. Now to the debate…

Many agents will suggest that seasoned actors or new actors who already know basic set etiquette steer clear of work as a stand-in. The most common reason given: Once a stand-in, always a stand-in…in the director’s eyes, that is. They say that stand-ins are rarely able to secure work in a principal or supporting role on a show for which they’ve done stand-in work (despite what the casting agent may say) because the directors typically do not view them as being an actor. This is not to say that it hasn’t happened. There have been occasions where a stand-in was upgraded to a speaking role…and even earned (or got one step closer to earning) their SAG card. Both scenarios are plausible; it often boils down to (a) the actor’s personality and (b) being in the right place at the right time.

Now here’s the flip side…

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To understand this argument, you must understand three things: (1) Acting is a challenge in itself, (2) most stand-ins want to be (or are actors) and (3) being a good actor and being a good actor who is able to perform with dozens of people, cameras and lights six feet away from you are two very different things. So, the argument that some stand-ins swear by is that being a stand-in helps you to understand what goes on behind the scenes on setundefinedthe technical and creative aspects; some also say that working as a stand-in does wonders for helping an actor to feel comfortable on-set. Plus, a lot of actors like to hope they’re in that small percentage of folks who get upgraded. Can you blame ‘em?

So, the question remains: As an actor, is it better to work as a stand-in or to sit out the opportunity and wait for an on-camera role? What do you think? What has your experience been? Voice your opinion in the WIFTA.org forum.