Film Set Etiquette: What Actors Need to Know Before Their First Day on Set

As an actor, your reputation makes its way into a casting director’s office before you’ve even auditioned.

Through production and right up until you’ve wrapped, cast and crew will notice how you behaved, how you treated people, and how easy or difficult you were to work with.

We caught up with actor Rupi Lal on his experience working with Tim Burton in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, how he remained professional on set (even when sitting next to the legendary Danny DeVito), and why it’s so important to establish a strong working relationship with casting directors.

Acting since the age of seven, Rupi graduated from The Rose Bruford Drama School in the U.K. His television debut was in the CBBC’s Brum followed by roles in the BBC’s Red Rose, Dexter Procter: The Ten-Year-Old Doctor and BBC Radio’s The Archers. In his first feature film, he played Astrid’s Doctor, working opposite Jenna Ortega, Catherine O’Hara, Danny DeVito and Michael Keaton in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Film sets can be a highly stressful environment, but according to Rupi, maintaining a high level of decorum and professionalism ensures that any feedback that gets back to casting is positive, helps you be remembered, and opens you up to future opportunities.

Key Insights

Casting directors will often hear feedback from production about you, both positive and negative. Each project helps create a professional record.

Set etiquette can mean different rules, depending on the type of role you’ve booked. Understanding where you fit into the hierarchy can help you know what is expected, before you get to set.

Prepare an on-set check list: check your call time, sides and wardrobe. Being organized before you walk on to the set can go a long way.

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Why Film Set Etiquette Starts Before You Arrive on Set

Your reputation from the perspective of production starts to build from the moment you audition, and you’re leaving an impression with every interaction you have. Have you been punctual? Are you coming across as confident and professional? Talent is important, but your work ethic has a strong influence on whether or not a casting director considers you for another opportunity in the future.

Understanding film set etiquette begins with understanding what is expected from you, even at the audition stage. “With an audition, self tape or recall, obviously you’d want to give a good account of yourself and your talent,” Rupi says.

“The main thing to think about is, what do you bring to the role that’s unique? The ident can be just as important as the actual scene or the action. Initially, you want them to want to work with you.”

Start planting the seeds of your professional record early. This way a cohesive experience of what it’s like to work with you can be traced throughout the process, from audition to production. Rupi described working with Tim Burton as “a dream come true,” with the feedback being instantaneous.

He felt like he was appreciated, from being greeted with a smile and a “Hey Doc!” every day, to Tim eventually shaking his hand and thanking him for his work. On his final day, Burton even signed a piece of costume. Rupi took it home and had framed.

The Hierarchy on Set and Why Actors Need to Understand It

While you’re on set, there are key crew roles that you will come into contact with. Rupi advises to get to know names: production assistants, the costume department, makeup team and the assistant director. While the crew’s specific roles might differ in terms of proximity, you should be treating everyone with the same level of respect.

An AD might run the floor, so they are your primary point of contact, but this shouldn’t mean that your professionalism is dialed up for them and lapses for the key grip.

According to Rupi, “This all helps make everyone feel comfortable and confident in you and your capabilities, and in turn, helps you feel a part of the whole team.”

Until he got to the set of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Rupi had never worked on a feature film, but that didn’t seem to matter to director Tim Burton in terms of respect.

“Tim was brilliant with me, really nice and made things super clear. I don’t know if he knew it was my first-ever feature film, but I never felt like it was an issue.”

You might feel out of your depth, especially if it’s your first time on a big set. Ask for support, as there are rules you might not know or find difficult to keep track of.

Etiquette Rules by Role: Background, Day Player and Principal

A production can operate as its own eco system, with energy being transferred from department to department. Any disruption to the set can be felt throughout. Background actors usually spend a lot of time in holding, waiting to be placed into a scene, requiring patience and endurance for long days.

Day players are expected to come in prepared, ready to work and wrap on the same day, whereas principal roles entail a more collaborative dynamic with the director. Preparation is still important, but there is an element of active engagement required.

Union vs. Non-Union Sets: Different Rules, Different Stakes

SAG-AFTRA sets have specific contractual protocols, and these can include meal penalties, designated rest or holding areas, and turnaround rules. It’s important to know these rules and inform production if you’re unsure about anything.

While there is a less formal expectation around non-union actors, professionalism is still observed, and any violations can lead to legal or financial consequences. These rules not only ensure a safe set environment for you, but for the others around you.

Actors deliberately in violation of these protocols could get reported to the on-set union rep, which can affect working on a SAG-AFTRA set in the future.

What Casting Directors Actually Hear Back From Productions

Being late or rude can generate negative feedback, and anything that includes poor behavior is most likely being passed on to the casting director. Being disrespectful or endangering the cast and crew by ignoring safety rules or making unreasonable requests not only stalls production, but can keep you from being rehired.

Avoid any behavior that you know you shouldn’t be engaging in, especially on set where there are eyes everywhere. Rupi has “seen moments when fellow actors are on their phones while on set, taking photos. Now obviously nothing should be posted online, but from reading my contracts before going on set, I’m aware your phone should be kept in your dressing room at all times, and mine always is.’”

Rupi has since established a strong working relationship with the highly talented and well-respected casting director Sophie Holland. The conversations happening about him aren’t just about his talent, but how he held himself to account in a high-stakes environment by being reliable and pleasant to be around.

The Consequences Gap: What Actually Happens When You Break These Rules

What are the consequences for actors who break these rules? It all depends on the behavior, and being late, showing up to set without knowing your lines, or being rude to the cast or crew are likely to get back to the casting team, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t recover and repair your working relationships.

If you’ve made a genuine mistake, take accountability. Talk to production or the director, and rectify the situation when you can. One-time offenses are usually forgivable, but if your behavior has done irreparable damage or harm, there can be serious, sometimes legal consequences.

For actors who have engaged in aggressive or violent behavior, sexual misconduct or drug use over a long period of time, consequences can include being fired from the set or even legal action, and can cause the unraveling of a career.

Practical Pre-Set Checklist: What to Do Before You Walk on a Film Set

The foundation for creating a professional record is to make sure you are arriving on set as prepared as possible. Here is a checklist to help you arrive ready to work:

Check your call time, confirm your pick up, and arrive 5 to 10 minutes before if you can to give yourself time to settle in.

Go over your sides, and check the call sheet for the shot list so you know when you’ll be filming your scenes. Check to see if it’s before or after lunch, and plan wisely.

Check what time you’re in makeup and/or wardrobe. Bring appropriate undergarments and check if you need to arrive with washed hair/clean shaven/unvarnished nails, etc.

Check the call sheet for the contact names/information for the actors you’ll be working with, the director, assistant director and production assistant.

Pack a bag with essentials like water, snacks, reading or activities for downtime, comfy shoes or clothes to wear in between setups.

Practice digital hygiene. Keep your phone off or silenced, don’t use social media, no posting on set or photography.

Rupi cleverly refers to these steps as “doing the things that require no talent.” Checking what time you should arrive, who you are working with, and what scenes you are filming that day are essential to building a professional record, one where you are known as a reliable actor that contributes to the efficiency of a film set.

Think about every appearance as part of your audition for a casting director’s future submission. While it can be daunting to step on set for the first time, it’s also an environment filled with support.

Ask for help if you need it. Observe other actors, learn as you go, and be the kind of actor that contributes to a healthy work environment.

Build solid relationships, and like it has for Rupi, this can result in regular opportunities where your work is valued and respected. Send in self-tape requests promptly (“the sooner the better”), and be known as an actor that takes your on-set presence seriously.

As a lifelong fan of the Batman films who got to work with director Tim Burton, Rupi shares, “Know your worth, your capabilities, what you’re after and go for it!” Keep striving toward an immaculate professional record, you never know when, or how it’ll pay off.

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