Background Actors: Front and Center!

First in a series of articles featuring SAG-AFTRA departments.

Since the very early days of cinema, audiences around the world have focused their gaze upon their favorite stars with barely a thought of those surrounding them.  

Imagine the infamous chariot race in Ben Hur if Charlton Heston alone was riding a chariot and not accompanied by the 15,000 background actors in the scene. Or if only 20 actors were seen in the funeral scene of Richard Attenborough’s legendary Gandhi, instead of the 300,000 mourners portrayed by background actors. 

Indeed, background artists are an integral and indispensable asset in films, television series and commercials. Click here to read more. 

From left, Background Actors Education & Outreach Committee members Rick Markman, Linda Harcharic, Samantha Hartson and Vincent Amaya

This item was originally featured in the September 2016 local newsletter.