Chicago Casting Calls & Background Acting Opportunities
Chicago is a top U.S. production market — background actors, extras, stand-ins, and photo doubles are booked across Chicagoland every week. GigDock gathers current Chicago casting calls from casting companies and sources into one searchable feed, updated throughout the day.
New to background work? Read how background actors get paid — rates, bumps, and when the check actually comes.
Open casting calls in Chicago
Caucasian Photo-Double Boy & Girl (Ages 7-10)
Chicago Fire Extras
Patrons in Molly's Bar Scene – Chicago Fire
Chicago Fire Extras
Non-Union On Camera Extra Talent
ExtraOrdinary Casting
Photo Double & Featured Role - Caucasian Children (7-10 yrs)
Chicago Fire Extras
Caucasian Male Stand-In 50s/60s
Chicago Fire Extras
CPD Officers, SWAT, EMTs & Neighbors - Chicago Fire
Chicago Fire Extras
Chicago PD Episode 14005 - General Background & Featured Roles
Chicago PD Extras Casting
Real Police/Military & Background Extras for Chicago Fire
Chicago Fire Extras
Real Photographer for Chicago Fire - FBI Tech
Chicago Fire Extras
Real Police & Firefighter Extras – Chicago Fire
Chicago Fire Extras
TEENS - YA Romantic Comedy Feature Film
4 Star Casting
1980s & 1990s Convertibles for Prom
4 Star Casting
See which Chicago calls fit you
GigFit compares casting requirements with your profile so you can spot the ones worth your time.
Chicago casting market — last 30 days
Most active Chicago casting companies this month
- 1.Chicago Fire Extras13 calls
- 2.Chicago PD Extras Casting3 calls
- 3.4 Star Casting2 calls
- 4.ExtraOrdinary Casting2 calls
Where Chicago gigs are filming
Based on casting calls GigDock tracked in Chicago over the last 30 days. Updated September 4, 2026.
About the Chicago film & TV market
Illinois's film tax credit and a deep bench of local crew and studios make Chicago a year-round hub for television, features, and commercials. Long-running series shoot here (Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., Chicago Med, The Chi), alongside features, streamers, and one of the country's largest commercial-production markets.
Cinespace Chicago Film Studios in the West Side is the anchor stage complex; productions also work on location across the city, the North Shore (Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka, Highland Park), the western suburbs (Oak Park, Naperville, Elmhurst), and out to Aurora, Elgin, and Joliet. Casting companies serving Chicagoland — 4 Star Casting, Extraordinary Casting, Joan Philo Casting and others — feed a steady pipeline of paid background and extras work.
You don't have to live inside city limits — most calls list a report location and how far you'd need to self-travel. Cook County plus DuPage, Lake, Kane, and Will counties all fall inside the working Chicago market.
Types of casting calls in Chicago
Background actors & extras
Non-speaking roles that fill out scenes — the bread and butter of film & TV work, and the easiest way to start with no experience.
Featured background
Background roles the camera lingers on — a specific look or action that stands out without lines.
Stand-ins
Match a principal actor's height and coloring to hold their place while crew sets lights and camera. Steady, longer bookings.
Photo doubles
Fill in for a principal in specific shots (hands, over-the-shoulder, distance) where the face isn't clearly seen.
Featured & principal
Speaking and named roles, usually cast through agents and auditions.
How much do background actors get paid in Chicago?
Chicago background and extras work is typically quoted as $100–$188 for a 10-hour day. Non-union work is widely available to newcomers; union (SAG-AFTRA) productions pay more, and many calls add "bumps" for wardrobe, a personal vehicle, or special skills. Each listing above shows the stated rate.
Frequently asked questions
How do I become a background actor in Chicago?
You don't need experience, training, or an agent to start as a background actor in Chicago. Most casting directors accept direct submissions — usually a recent photo, your sizes, and contact info by email or a submission link. Browse current calls on GigDock, submit to the ones that fit, and you can be booked within days.
What do background actors and extras get paid in Chicago?
Pay is typically quoted as a flat rate for a guaranteed number of hours — in Chicago, commonly $100–$188 for a 10-hour day. Non-union background work is widely available; union (SAG-AFTRA) rates are higher, and productions may pay "bumps" for wardrobe, a personal vehicle, or special skills. Overtime usually kicks in after the guaranteed hours.
Do I need an agent to do background or extra work in Chicago?
No. Background, extras, stand-in, and photo-double work is almost always cast by submitting directly to the casting company — no agent required. Agents matter more for featured and principal (speaking) roles.
How often are new casting calls posted in Chicago?
Constantly — productions cast on short notice, often days before a shoot. GigDock pulls new Chicago casting calls from many casting companies and sources into one feed and updates throughout the day, so you don't have to monitor each one yourself.
What's filming in Chicago right now?
It changes constantly — Chicago hosts long-running network series (Chicago Fire, P.D., Med, The Chi), features, streaming originals, and a heavy commercial market. Rather than tracking each production, watch the live GigDock feed above: every current Chicago-area casting call from the sources we cover is aggregated in one place.
Is casting work in Chicago union or non-union?
Both. A large share of Chicago background work is non-union and open to newcomers; SAG-AFTRA (Chicago local) covers union productions at higher rates. GigDock shows union status on each listing so you can filter for what fits you.
Do I have to live in Chicago to do background work here?
No. The Chicago market spans Cook County plus DuPage, Lake, Kane and Will counties — Evanston, Oak Park, Naperville, Aurora, Elgin, Joliet, and the North Shore are all inside the working market. Each casting call lists its report location and, often, how far you'd need to self-travel.
How do I get background acting work in Chicago?
Most Chicago background roles are cast through open calls that anyone can respond to — no agent or experience required to start. Watch the current listings above, filter to what fits you, and follow each call's apply instructions (usually an email or a submission link). Setting up a profile lets GigFit flag which calls match your look, so you spend time on the ones worth applying to.
How much do background actors and extras get paid in Chicago?
Chicago background and extras work is typically quoted as a rate for a set number of guaranteed hours — commonly $100–$188 for a 10-hour day for non-union work, with SAG-AFTRA productions paying more. Many calls add "bumps" for wardrobe, a personal vehicle, or special skills. Each listing above shows its stated rate.
Never miss a Chicago casting call
Create a free GigDock account to save opportunities, track what you've applied to, and see which Chicago calls match your profile.
Create your free accountWant these opportunities on your phone?
Booked one of these? The GigDock app keeps your gigs, hours and pay — gross and net — in one place. It’s in beta now, ahead of launch — join the beta to try it early on iPhone or Android.