Could people in amateur dramatics get walk-on parts in films etc.?
Most of the preceeding answers are nonsense. Equity is the actors’ union and it used to be the case that you had to be a member to get work. Our union is de-regulated now so ANYONE can work in the industry. I’ve been an actor for 20 years and now run a production company. I use non-union and non-trained actors in our work, along with seasoned pros. We pay the Equity rate though (and often more). If you are in Britain, there are reputable agencies who will not charge you to join but you will need to provide decent headshots. Walk-on artistes do not get speaking parts but you might enjoy it, learn something and earn decent money. It WOULD be better to join Equity though as it gives you public liability insurance and protection against less-than-reputable companies (not mine!). Good luck!
