Pictured is the ‘second team’ for ‘Royal Pains’ – George (Evan’s stand-in), me (Divya’s stand-in), and Daniel (Hank’s stand-in). It’s circa 9:30am on a Monday morning and we’re on a beach in Long Island, New York, and it is rainy and cold.
As the stand-ins or ‘second team,’ our job is to work with the crew to rehearse, line-up and light each shot, before the principal actors or ‘first team’ are filmed for the actual show. This gives the crew liberty to plan, create, adjust and light each shot, and the principal actors ample time to go through hair, makeup and wardrobe changes, throughout the day.
As an actor, being a stand-in grants me fantastic first-hand experience of working with a film/TV crew. I learn how to do the technical work required of a film/TV actor, including being on one’s mark, paying attention to the director, being attentive to the director of photography and photographers (camera operators), and learning about lighting and angles, just to name a few perks of this gig.
Additionally, I’m on the same schedule and going through similar motions as the principal for whom I’m standing-in, on that day. So stand-in gigs are really preparing my body for acting life, just as acting classes are molding my mind.
A decent stand-in gig also means a steady job in the acting world, long hours because you’re on the principal’s schedule so you only leave once they are wrapped, and thus, a nice paycheck (along with the opportunity to qualify for health benefits), all for your time as part of second team. Plus, we don’t have to be concerned with hair, makeup and wardrobe, as we are never seen on camera – so the days are long but not as nerve-racking as a principal’s…as yet.
