Here’s what you can expect during your work day on-set from start to finish.
1. Please always be on time for work! If you’re ever going be late please contact the Casting Director immediately. You can find their contact information in your call time details message.
2. Once you arrive, go directly to the report location you were given and sign-in with your Assistant Director contact right away. At the end of your work day you must also sign-out with your Assistant Director before you leave.
3. Productions require all background artists, actors and crew members to sign a strict Non-Disclosure Agreement before starting work. You can not share any details regarding productions with any individual, in public or online, including, but not limited to: Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), IMDB, Tik-Tok and all other social media platforms. All photography (still and video) is prohibited while you are either on or off set, including your time spent in background holding and any wardrobe fittings.
4. Harassment of any kind is forbidden in the workplace and is grounds for immediate dismissal.
5. The consumption of alcohol or any illicit substances, including marijuana, is forbidden in the workplace and is grounds for immediate dismissal.
6. In order to pay you production requires your legal name, valid Canadian Social Insurance Number and complete mailing address, including a unit or apartment number (if applicable), street address, city and postal code. Please make sure your profile at The Casting Collective is always kept up-to-date with this information.
7. Background holding is the designated area where background artists wait until they are required on-set. While in background holding you’ll be processed through the Costume, Hair and Make-Up departments to get ready for the scenes they are shooting. Never leave background holding as you may be called to set at any moment.
8. Once you go to set, the Assistant Directors, or ADs, will let you know your movement or blocking for a scene, and rehearse the blocking several times before filming. You will be asked to repeat and match everything for different camera angles, so it’s important that you remember exactly what you did and how you looked in each scene. This is called continuity. To help you remember you may want to make notes for yourself during your work day.
9. Please be quiet while you're on-set and listen for instructions from Assistant Directors and the production team.
10. When you’re on-set please make sure your cell phone is turned off completely. Note that many productions won't allow cell phones on-set at all.
11. Do not disturb the actors. Do not request autographs or pictures.
12. Never look at the camera.
13. When the Director is ready to shoot the following prompts will be heard:
14. Once the scene is completed the Director will call "cut". Always continue the action you've been given until you've heard the Director call "cut".
15. Once a shot is completed and the Director has called "cut" the ADs may call out "going again" and ask you to reset to your "first marks" or return to your "number ones". This means you must return to your beginning position and prepare to shoot the scene again.
16. Never leave set unless you are directed to do so by an Assistant Director. If you have been asked to leave set, please go directly to background holding and wait for your next instructions.
17. Waiting is a large part of a background artist's job. Please feel free to bring a book or some other form of quiet entertainment with you. Sleeping at work is not allowed and is grounds for dismissal.
18. Keep your valuables with you at all times. Never bring large amounts of money or unnecessary valuable items with you to work. Please note that productions are not responsible for lost or stolen property.
19. Once you are told you're “wrapped” you must sign-out with your Assistant Director contact before you leave.
20. When you’re leaving please ensure you take all of your belongings home with you. Anything that is left at the end of the day is tagged as "lost and found" and sent to the production office. Please note that productions are not responsible for lost or stolen items.
21. Light snacks and beverages are provided periodically during the work day. This is called craft service. Please note that there is often a craft service table for crew members and a separate table for background artists. Please do not visit the crew’s craft service table.
22. Lunch is provided. Please do not help yourself to lunch until you have been instructed to do so by the Assistant Directors. If you have any special dietary needs you may want to bring your own meal. Please note that lunch is not served during the typical lunch hour but is generally served six hours after the crew has started working.
23. Report any injuries or illnesses immediately.
24. Arrive at work prepared for the current weather conditions. It’s always a good idea to bring an umbrella.
25. For your own records, make note of your call time, meal break, wrap time and pay rate each day that you work.
26. Always deposit your recyclables in to the appropriate bin and garbage in to a trash can.
27. If you smoke please smoke in designated smoking areas only. When extinguishing your cigarettes please use the butt can provided by the Locations department.
Background Artist's Guide
Please review these other pages of the Background Artist's Guide:
Creating Your Performer Profile
Availability Inquiries & Bookings
Working On-Set
Copyright © 2025 The Casting Collective
All Rights Reserved
The Casting Collective uses cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.