While collecting material for this website and arranging and conducting interviews with the cast, I discovered there was a large section of people who were there on a regular basis. Most of the day they just stood around, and when filming was taking place, they generally just stood around some more.

These were the supporting actors, or "extras", that are an essential part of any TV or film production. These are the people you see playing darts in the "Woolpack" in "Emmerdale", or talking and drinking in the "Rovers Return" on "Coronation Street". The production of Faith involved the use of many more supporting artistes, or extras, than is usual for TV dramas. Many of those who became supporting artistes in Faith came from around the local area, but there were many others who are actually professional supporting artistes and who travel miles to make their fleeting appearances on our TVs.

On this page I hope to tell some of their stories and have them tell you what it's like to be a supporting actor.

If you would like me to add your story to this page, please write to me at stainforthonline.co.uk

Tom Martindale - Striking miner in Faith

It was only because I met Eleanor one day that she talked me into going to put my name down, so me and my mate Herby went to Thorne and met her. We had the photo shoot, gave her our details, and they said they would phone when we were needed. This came over a week later at the Danum hotel, at 7am. We were checked to see if we were dressed for what they were shooting that morning then taken to the Mansion House for the shoot. Got to say, it was nothing like what I thought it would be like. It took all day for maybe five minutes of film, but as they say a star was born, ha ha ha.
It was a bit scary mixing with all the cast and the other extras, but after a week and getting to know them it was like having a job. To tell youthe truth, I couldn’t get enough of it. The last week was the best for us I think, because then we knew what to do and got on very well with everyone. If everything we had done had been a practice and the shoot started again, the film would be as perfect as you could get. I would certainly do it again. It opened my eyes to film making. Put it this way, it’s the best thing I’ve done since joining the army. To do it as a job must be brilliant. Recommend it to anyone.

Iain Young - extra on Faith, but also a trainee Radio Producer with BBC Lincolnshire & East Coast Radio.

The Workshops run by the film's Director David Thacker were invaluable to all of the supporting artists of which the vast majority had no, or very limited experience, in any form of drama or acting.

David's unique ability to energise the group to improvise fictional dramatic scene's and at the same time learning, was a fundamental ingredient in everyone's enjoyment and feeling of ownership in the project.

There was a definite " buzz " on the set when filming several scenes in a pub come night club, the girls were dressed in their finest 1980's going out clothes and I had the terrible job of dancing with a simply gorgeous girl from Durham University .

Did I mention the free beer (ok, flat shandy) and that I was getting paid as well ? If this is the film industry then I could stand this for a day job anytime.

To read the rest of Iain's article, go to www.bbc.co.uk/lincolnshire/student_life/film_extra.shtml