How a stand-in fits into a setup
The standard sequence for a new setup runs like this:
- First team (the actors) rehearse the scene for the director, DP, and department heads. The camera assistants and grips lay marks.
- The AD calls "second team." Actors go back to their trailers or to hair and makeup, and the stand-ins step in.
- Stand-ins walk the blocking they just watched, hitting the same marks, while the gaffer lights and the camera team sets focus and frame.
- When the setup is ready, the AD calls first team back for last looks and a take.
Step 3 can take anywhere from ten minutes to well over an hour. A good stand-in watches rehearsal closely, writes down every move and line cue, and keeps the same posture and head height the actor used. When the actor walks back in, the light should already be right for them.
Tagging stand-ins in the breakdown
Stand-ins are usually not in the script, so they don't come from the text. They come from the cast list. On the breakdown sheet, most ADs note stand-ins in the background box or in a separate line, keyed to cast IDs:
| Sc. | Cast | Stand-ins |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | 3. Cole, 5. Ana | S/I #3 (Cole), S/I #5 (Ana) |
| 24 | 3. Cole | S/I #3 |
| 25 | 3. Cole, 5. Ana, 8. Bartender | S/I #3, S/I #5, general S/I for #8 |
That feeds the background request the 2nd AD sends to casting and the stand-in list on the call sheet. Stand-ins often get a call time close to crew call, since they're needed as soon as lighting starts, while the actor they cover may be called later for makeup.
Matching matters
A stand-in who is four inches shorter than the actor means the DP reframes when first team comes back, and a stand-in with much lighter skin gives the gaffer the wrong exposure on faces. When booking, send the extras casting director the actor's height, build, skin tone, and hair color and length. If an actor's look changes mid-shoot (a haircut, a beard, blood makeup), the stand-in should roughly match that too, or at least wear a similar wig or hood.
Common confusion
The terms second team and stand-ins get used interchangeably. Strictly, second team is the group of stand-ins as a whole. Stand-ins are also different from background actors, even though on union shows they're often booked through the same casting company and paid under related terms. A stand-in's work happens between takes; a background actor's happens during them.