Walk-on/Supporting Artists and Equity
How to Join Equity as a Walk-on or Supporting Artist:
If, over a period of twelve consecutive months, you are able to provide evidence of at least six days' work as a Walk-on, Background or Supporting artist, undertaken in accordance with the appropriate Equity Agreement (as outlined above) you are eligible to join. We do not have Agreements covering the engagement of walk-on, background and supporting artists in cinema films or independent television productions filmed within a 40-mile radius of Charing Cross in London. Another organisation, the FAA covers these areas and we are unable to recruit within another union's jurisdiction and so we cannot accept evidence of work undertaken on FAA terms as a means of joining of Equity.
If you are a professional walk-on or supporting artist and would like to join Equity you can get an application form by sending us your the details via the Publications page of this site.
We aim to ensure that they our walk on members are protected wherever they are working:
Agreements:
Equity negotiates agreements setting out the terms and conditions for the employment of Walk-on, Background and Supporting Artists in television. The Agreements currently in place are as follows:
- Equity/BBC Agreement for those working on productions made by the BBC.
- Equity/ITV Agreement for those working on productions made by the ITV Companies.
- Equity/PACT Agreement with independent television productions outside the 40 mile radius from Charing Cross in London.
- Equity/TAC Agreement for those working on Welsh language independent productions.
Each Agreement contains definitions of Walk-on, Background and Supporting Artist. A guide to rates of pay in all of the above areas is available free of charge from any Equity office.
Walk-on Directory on the Internet:
Any full member of Equity who works as a Walk-on, Supporting or Background artist is entitled to go onto this directory for free. Produced in partnership with The Spotlight, it is used by employers and casting companies who require these artists.
Walk-ons Within Equity
Members who specialise in Walk-on, Background and Supporting Artist work are represented on Equity's policy-making body the Equity Council, which is elected from the membership. Members' interests are also represented by the Walk-on and Supporting Artists' Committee, which in turn advises the Council on matters relating to this area of work.