Extras NI Celebrates 10 Years In The Industry

Extras NI, the Northern Ireland-based extras agency, has celebrated 10 years of successful business in the film and TV industry.

Following significant rebranding, Extras NI has now officially relaunched as The Extras Dept., a name that incorporates all that the company has become to the film and television productions being made in the region.

The Extras Dept. has more than 17,000 registered extras – aged from 2 to 90 – and from all walks of life, on its books. Over the years, it has provided thousands of background artists to support national and international productions such as BBC's The Fall and HBO's Game of Thrones.

Celebrating the milestone, the company hosted a major blood drive with Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service with over 200 extras at Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast.

Siobhan Allan, Co-Founder and Finance Director, The Extras Dept., explained: "The Extras Dept. has been involved in providing extras and stand-ins for film and television productions for over 10 years and we wanted to give something back. So, to symbolise all the blood, sweat and tears that have not only gone into the last ten years of building the company, but also to rebalance all the blood that has been spilled in the countless film and television programmes that we have provided extras for, we decided to partner with Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service to host a blood drive at the iconic filming location, Crumlin Road Gaol in Belfast."

The Extras Dept. has also celebrated a record-breaking year thanks to its work in 2016 with nine major productions as well as a number of commercials and smaller productions. The number of days worked by the company's extras has increased by 55% in just two years. Last year there were 3,900 individual extras working on productions shooting in Northern Ireland, culminating in a total of 20,167 days worked. This represents an increase of 7,149 days since 2014. The extras themselves earned in total approximately £1.9million in 2016 – the equivalent of 80 people being employed full-time on an annual basis. The highest extras numbers were courtesy of Game of Thrones followed by Lost City of Z (due to be released in Spring 2017) and BBC police drama Line of Duty.

Carla Stronge, Co-Founder and Director, The Extras Dept., said: "The last ten years have been a rollercoaster for The Extras Dept. The screen industries in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have grown significantly in recent years, and The Extras Dept. has mirrored this growth as it has sought to meet the industry's evolving needs.

"TV and film sets are far from glamorous. The days are long and it can be demanding. However, every day is different and you certainly won't ever watch a film or TV programme the same way after spending a day on set. Our role is to keep everyone happy – the productions we facilitate and our lovely extras themselves. We have continuously invested in, and developed, our systems of work so that we are at the forefront of our industry. Our aim is to ensure that our extras have a positive working experience, and that the production companies' experience is hassle-free and seamless."

She added: "The Extras Dept. team will never stop striving for excellence. Over the last ten years we have been developing a bespoke casting system, enhancing it year on year with Atto Partners. We have recognised that by developing our software and our staff we can continue to exceed expectations and compete on an international level. The Extras Dept. has also provided a unique doorway to gain on set experience and train local crew members who have gone on to excel in the industry in their own right."

Emma Sweeney, Managing Director, The Extras Dept., who has also recently been appointed as Business Partner in the company and will oversee the management of the company's new Dublin office, commented: "This year we will be introducing our new Dublin office. Our film production clients are increasingly asking us to help them fill their extras roles in the Republic of Ireland, in the same way that we do in Northern Ireland. Our new innovative paperless casting system will help minimise any geographical issues that may have presented some challenges in the past. It is certainly an exciting time ahead for The Extras Dept. and we are looking forward to making a big impact in the Republic of Ireland."

www.theextrasdept.com

(JP)