Sorry, Miuccia Prada Does Not Clothe Extras!

Miuccia Prada, the Italian fashion designer who turned Prada and Miu Miu into fashion powerhouses, is assigned to work on costumes for the Metropolitan Opera's upcoming spring production of "Attila" by Giuseppe Verdi.

But when she met the extras cast for the non-singing parts, she groaned at them and said, "I cannot clothe them! I need models!"


Poor extras. They will never be good enough for Miuccia Prada so they are being replaced. According to the opera company, the casting "is at the discretion of the creative team. Due to a change in concept, the Met is in the process of recasting" some of the extras.

The way it shows, the production is giving more importance to Prada's clothes and not to the actors who are supposed to give life to the story.

The non-singing extras (or supernumeraries, in theatrical terms) are women who have been cast months ago and have been probably preparing for their roles for quiet some time already.

One bad day, Miuccia Prada comes to visit Manhattan and when she takes a glance on the women extras, she realizes she hates their curvy figures. The extras are instantly deemed inappropriate - for the clothes, not for the roles.

Met is now reported to be hunting for models in an effort to recast some of the extras.

For all the drama, an observing source could only said, "Employing models is ridiculous. Being a supernumerary is about how you move, not how you look."

Casting Calls For TV and Movie Demand Extras!

Background actors, commonly called extras, are always essential parts for any film. They are important for creating a "natural" environment where the character (that an actor or actress portrays) thrives. This is the reason why extras are always in demand.

Not everyone gets the chance to play a lead in a movie but everyone can have a part. Appearing on a big screen doesn't require experience.

Movie stars and established actors in the showbiz industry aside, its the less noticeable background people commonly known as “extras” that are in demand.

Extras are the many promising actors appearing in the scenes of every movie or television show, all for the purpose of creating a simulated real environment. Because the primary role of extras is to create an environment that makes the scene appear realistic, they are sometimes considered as “walking sets pieces.”

However, no show on TV or the big screen can be successfully launched without extras. Even music videos frequently require background people in order to achieve the desired “natural” setting. Featured extras become part of the scene. When extras have speaking lines, they are already considered as cameo appearances.

To be an extra requires more of the right look – the physical features that suit the desired environment of a movie or TV scene. For an action film, for example, casting for extras usually seeks the FBI Agents, Cops, Nurses, Doctors, Interns, and Hospital Visitors.

Casting Calls may be posted through different mediums, including print, television, or the internet. Sometimes though, casting agents go through talent agencies to seek extras, especially when the project requires a variety of extras for many scenes.

Thus, people who have established their profiles in talent agencies and portfolio sites have more edge when it comes to landing extra roles. Most extra works are paid, with standard rates for a full 12-hour day at $65.

A featured extra can receive anywhere from $75-$125 for a full 12 hour day.

In simple words, extra work is easy money. Sometimes, it even include great food. There are even successful actors who started as extras, though it may seem impossible without the help of a recognizable agency or portfolio site.

So post your portfolio on a reliable and popular sites like New Faces to get daily updates of many casting calls for film and TV appearances. Chances are, this might just be the elusive way for that one big shot to fame.