SYNOPSIS
Background actors play an integral role to building the world of the project and creating a rich, realistic environment in which stories takes place. While it may not seem like the most glamorous job, working as a background actor can often act as a stepping-stone to larger roles, a way to getting your foot in the door, and in some cases a sustainable career supplement. This panel will highlight the vital work of background actors and review some general best practices for the trade, including casting, on-set etiquette and expectations, building your resume, and more.
PANELIST BIOS
Jesse Heiman, actor
Jesse is well known for his controversial and racy Super Bowl commercial for GO DADDY where he was seen lock lipped with super model Bar Rafaeli, but Jesse’s path to stardom began at the very bottom, as a background extra in film and TV shows. The very first job he worked was on the movie RAT RACE. Over the past decade, Jesse has made hundreds of on-screen appearances including TV shows LIZZY MAGUIRE, JOAN OF ARCADIA, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, GLEE and in blockbuster films like AMERICAN PIE 2, SPIDER-MAN, VAN WILDER, THE RULES OF ATTRACTION, and most recently on TRANSFORMERS 3: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN and the Academy Award winning THE SOCIAL NETWORK.
Over the years, Jesse has gained a worldwide following. In 2011, a fan from Sweden edited some of Jesse’s appearances together in a Youtube video dubbing Jesse THE WORLD’S GREATEST EXTRA – a video which has garnered over 2.7 million hits! Because of his fame, Jesse has been featured in countless online articles, news features and television news programs both domestically and internationally, including an appearance as guest on THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO.
In addition to his featured extra roles, Jesse has established himself as a legitimate actor co-starring on hit television shows ENTOURAGE, MONK, NCIS, THE MINDY PROJECT, CRIMINAL MINDS as well as a recurring role on CHUCK. He is also proud to have a leading role in the ensemble feature film THE JERK THEORY which is now available on DVD.
Upcoming he can be seen in the feature HALF MAGIC directed by Heather Graham. He’s also the star of the short film SCHMOOLIE THE DEATHWATCHER, which was selected by 13 film festivals . And out next year…a documentary feature film about Jesse’s unique path to stardom.
Jeff Olan, casting director
Jeff Olan started out as a Communications & Drama major at Indiana University and acting with the famed Second City Comedy Troup in Chicago, when he was a senior in High School. Jeff also was an on-air radio personality in 1985 for K-EARTH 101 in Los Angeles, previously with WJOB in Hammond, Indiana prior to following his Hollywood Dream. Jeff acted in Soap Opera's such as "Day's Of Our Lives", "Capitol" & "Santa Barbara, as well as in movies and television. In 1984 Jeff participated in an International Publicity Stunt living on a Billboard, on the famous Sunset Strip where he perched himself for 179 days. He has been a SAG member since 1987, changing directions full time from acting to casting in 1992 where his first major project was "Pulp Fiction", directed by Quentin Tarantino. Jeff also has been a Producer, Author, & Co-Starred in the documentary film "Strictly Background" which won prestigious awards at film festivals around the world. His casting credits are vast with film projects such as "Jackie Brown" to TV shows including "Grey's Anatomy", "Medium", & "How to Get Away With Murder". Jeff started his first casting company from the ground up and has been building his Industry relationships ever since.
Ron Ostrow, actor and SAG-AFTRA National Board member
Chair of the National and Los Angeles Background Actors Committees. Ron has been a member of SAG, AFTRA, and now SAGAFTRA for 34 years and has worked in every capacity from background to series regular. For the last 6 seasons, Ron was a stand-in on the television series SCANDAL.
Dixie Webster-Davis, casting director
During her more than thirty year career as an independent casting director Dixie Webster-Davis has always put one goal above all others-to provide the perfect complement of background artists for each and every scene. Dixie has always said, “I don’t just provide people. I provide faces.”
Casting background for over 100 films, television shows and special projects has taken her to varied and diverse locations from coast to coast and beyond. From bustling urban settings such as New York, Houston and Los Angeles to small-town Kansas and rural Montana-from Pittsburgh, PA to the Hawaiian Islands, Dixie embraces the thrilling diversity of physical and character-types to be found there. She leaves a lasting imprint on every project she’s involved with, by finding and placing that perfect person, that perfect character- that perfect face...
Dixie’s recent projects include The Revenant, Dunkirk, and A Wrinkle In Time. She is currently at work on the Untitled Dan Gilroy Project, from the Writer/Director of Nightcrawler and A Million Little Pieces, starring Charlie Hunnam and Giovanni Ribisi.
Fatna Sallak-Williams, SAG-AFTRA Background Actors Department director
Fatna is the Director of the SAG-AFTRA Background Actors Department with more than 15 years experience in labor relations. She has worked as a business representative for the union’s San Francisco office, a case manager for the SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Legal Department, as well as a senior manager of the SAG-AFTRA Theatrical Contracts Department. Throughout the years, she has interpreted, enforced and explained SAG-AFTRA collective bargaining agreement provisions to members, colleagues, signatory companies and all third parties involved with SAG-AFTRA covered productions.
Moderator - Lauren Donoghue, SAG-AFTRA Foundation Special Events Coordinator
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