THE number of days worked by film extras in Northern Ireland has increased by more than half in just two years, new figures have revealed.
Statistics compiled by Extras NI show there were 3,900 individual extras working on productions shooting in the north last year, culminating in a total of 20,167 days worked.
That represents an increase of 7,149 days since 2013 and collective earnings of £1,910,606 - the equivalent to 80 people being employed full-time.
It is all part of the bigger picture for the Northern Ireland film industry which continues to flourish - a fact underlined recently by Richard Williams, chief executive of NI Screen, who confirmed an estimated £119 million Northern Ireland spend to date on an investment of £14.1m by his government-backed agency.
And with the announcement of plans for a new £10 film studio for Belfast alongside proposals to extend existing studios at Titanic Quarter, it is only good news for the industry according to Extras NI director Carla Stronge, who recently received an Emmy for 'Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series' (Game of Thrones) through her role with separate company, 'Carla Stronge Casting'.
"In 2015 we provided background for four feature films, seven TV series and numerous smaller productions and commercials," she said.
"We are extremely excited to see what the new film studio will bring as purpose-built studio space is one thing our industry here needs more of.
"The more studio space we have to offer, the more attractive Northern Ireland becomes to those seeking to film here."
Although a successful year in terms of numbers, the agency - started nine years ago by co-founders, Stronge and Siobhan Allan - the biggest challenge in 2015 was recruiting new co-ordinators to share the ever-increasing workload.
"Our biggest challenge was finding co-ordinators who can do what we do, day in, day out, but we have now completed that task and our newly-trained co-ordinators have been outstanding," Emma Sweeney, manager of Extras NI, told the Irish News.
"We work not so much as a team but as a family and our challenges change on a daily basis as we receive all sorts of weird and wonderful requests from production companies.
"And, although a small female-led business based in Belfast, we are working on a global scale, exporting 'faces' around the world.
"I think everyone involved in the film industry in Northern Ireland can look forward to a prosperous future. It is growing from strength to strength, as we have something unique that is appealing on a global scale."
Extra 'extras' - in 2014 there were 10,000 'on the books' but not necessarily working - are now being sought and anyone with good communication skills, reliability, flexibility and a "pleasant and easy going nature" is welcome to sign up.
Skills and 'look' are equally important as the women aim to cast people in roles for which they already 'look the part'.
"If a production needs a blacksmith or a barman, for example, we will try to find a real blacksmith or a barman," Emma explained.
"There are many factors which have to be considered, especially when working on period productions - we can’t send someone with pink hair and tattoos to appear in a 1900s London production.
"But we are constantly looking for flexible, reliable people of all ages, shapes and sizes, so anyone interested in applying just needs to create a profile on our website - www.extrasni.com - and wait for the call."
Cameras rolled on numerous productions in Northern Ireland last year, including 'The Frankenstein Chronicles', 'The Truth Commissioner', 'Line of Duty' (series three), 'Millie Inbetween', 'Lost City of Z', 'The Journey', 'We’re Doomed!' 'The Dad’s Army Story', 'The Secret' and series three of 'The Fall'.
But 'Game of Thrones' has continued to be the biggest money-spinner for the north, generating £115m to date with recently audited figures showing the production of season five alone injected £26.3 million into the Northern Ireland economy.
