Booking Background

Casting directors are afraid of commitment. They want you to keep yourself available for them, but don’t want to speak those three magic words, “You are booked.”

When background actors are explicitly booked for a day, it means they will be paid for the day whether or not the shoot is canceled (although there are exceptions for situations that are beyond the producer’s control). Employers don’t want to pay actors for a day they don’t shoot, but they want to keep actors “available” just in case, without actually booking them. Actors will often find themselves being asked to remain available for a job and may turn down other jobs, under the assumption they have been booked. When the first job is canceled, they are disappointed to learn the employer is not obligated to pay them.

The best approach in these situations is clarity. If you are willing to keep your calendar open for a potential job, then it is fine to say you are available. But if you are looking at other job opportunities and want a financial commitment, you should ask the casting director directly if you are booked. A verbal commitment by the casting director is binding, but if you can document the booking in writing through text or email, even better.

SAG-AFTRA contracts provide extensive protections to background performers, but language is key. The difference between being booked and being available is the difference between a paycheck and a “thanks anyway.” Understanding your SAG-AFTRA contracts will help you make informed and empowered decisions about your career.