So you want my arts job: TV and film extra

As a freelance writer currently working on his first book, Richard Castles needs to somehow make money. So he does lots of other jobs, including being a casual film and television extra. 

I work as an extra in film and television. Sometimes we are called background artists. You might have seen Ricky Gervais’s show Extras. We are unfeatured, non-speaking players who appear in the background of television commercials, shows and movies. Most often we are just sitting or walking in the background to provide atmosphere in a street or café. But sometimes we might be soldiers in an army, or other scenarios that require large crowds. You are usually only required to perform simple actions like clapping, eating or miming a conversation.