Uni-versal Extras Reviews 

I have been with UVE for many many years as an S/A plus, I have had several featured parts in Movies which I’ve loved.
It was very exciting to get 30 days plus on the new Star Wars spin-off TV series “Andor” and the experience was amazing to see exactly how they create such a show.

Love my work and UVE are great to work with.

John Shearer

This was my introduction to the world of the Supporting Artiste and it couldn't have been better. Not only did I meet some seasoned SA professionals but I also got the chance to work alongside Jason Donvan, Jeff Brazier and Danyl Johnson (who was very chatty with us all).
It was great to see the production crew at work, both in a studio on day one and on-site in a Christmas-themed street on the second day of shooting.
We were all looked after so well and the people in the production crew were all really nice to us.
I can't wait to see the finished product on TV.

I was a supporting artist on Guardians of the Galaxy. It was my first feature film. It was a great crew. I was featured in the prison scene and met and stayed friends with some great people
I think we filmed 2016?

Great experience working on the set of Disenchanted.

Wonderful experience working on the
production, friendly, courteous team of
professionals and organisers, hats off to everyone involved in managing such a large crowd, from costume helpers, makeup, catering and AD's. Extremely well done.

Find another agency.

Yes they may get you the odd extras job.

But it will be days before the shoot, give you no time to prepare, not tell you anything about the role. and then, if you’ve paid the £30 membership, they will take another £30 off your payment. So the £30 offer is a waste of time, because they will just take it off you again, so in total you pay £60. Please find another agency first.

Bunch of thieves should get paid almost £300 got only £130 the rest was commission plus fees ..... stay away and save your time

To be part of a Star Wars series was fantastic. I played a seller on Ferrix, Andor's planet. Set dressing was perfect, and the AD's were very kind and helpful. Meeting Stellan Skarsgård and other main actors was a definite treat. Most SA's have kept in touch and we have had our own little premiere and watched the first 3 episodes together spotting ourselves in scenes. A brilliant experience was had by all.

When I first started working with Universal it seemed very professional. I was getting my pay for the day messaged to me just minutes after signing out and fairly good info on jobs offered... then everything changed! They went all high tech with their awful mobile phone app and vague as hell. Now, every time I am asked about a job, I have to tick off a whole list before I find out where and when it is and politely declined it. As a result, I now scroll through to the end and if I can't do I just delete rather than decline. BUT... the biggest problem is they almost always say the job might be before 6am with no parking and in LONDON. I called them to politely point out that I and others were having to say no to jobs because we could not say yes if we didn't know where the job was in London. London is not a village! I was told they often didn't know until 7pm the night before... but other companies manage it. Later that night I got declined on an AV at 9pm for work the next day and at 1pm I get an email saying I will no longer be prioritised for work unless I pay a fee upfront. Is that just a coincidence? There are so many other, better companies out there, so don't bother.

I have been wanting to write this review for a couple of years now. I did a few bits of work with them and enjoyed it, didn't find much wrong with that side of my experience at first. The issue came when I called the day before a shoot and explained that I couldn't go in the next day. I don't know who it was that a spoke to but I explained that I was in a bad financial bind and I was given the opportunity for a longer (not filming related) job and I had to take it to be able to pay rent etc. I was hugely apologetic on the phone and told them I understood that of they needed to take me off the books then that was a shame but if that's the policy then I was of course happy to accept the consequences. My complaint and bad review is of the way the person spoke to me after this. There was nothing more to be said but they decided to get pretty personal, questioning my life choices, they proceeded to shout at me and started telling me how hard I had made their life and many other hurtful comments. Bear in mind that I had already said I was happy for them to remove me from the books. They made me feel so low about my situation and after a barrage of anger and hurtful comments they hung up on me. I then got texts asking me if I was available for the next day and I had to text back asking them to remove me from the system!

Please teach your staff how to treat people like actual humans on the phone. I understood the removal from the books policy and I stated that from the beginning. Uni-versal extras do not support their members if this behaviour was anything to go by.

If you are looking for a role in Bristol or south west, don’t use them. I have been signed up for the last year and the only opportunity was in Cardiff with a 6am start. I would have blown anything I earned in staying there!
Not renewing! Surely they should give some indication of the likely parts of the country they will be working in rather than pretending to be nationally represented.

I have just Completed a filming job In the lakes March 5th 2022 and UNIVERSAL were brilliant they kept In Contact by Phone & email and cannot find any Problems at all. I left the location at 8.30 pm and by time I got home at 10.15 a email had arrived will all payment details....THANK YOU UNIVERSAL EXTRAS.. PHIL.

I'm a team player, but am tempted to write: What team(?), as I've not worked a single scene.

I have extensive experience across the board and abroad, extensive wardrobe and live central to Edinburgh with many productions going on and good travel connections. Yet despite having applied for 4 jobs this week/weekend on the app, hoping to wake the agency up to my existence, it now transpires that being told there "you are being considered" on that app means absolutely nothing.

Getting as far as to respond to survey will not get you anywhere either. Survey said I had clarified I wasn't available and had tattoos - none of which had been my actual response nor was it the case. I am extremely serious about being available and keep my word.

Updating photos also takes forever to be accepted.

I just want one job to cover my expenses. With 4 on my doorstep and not being considered for even 1.... ah well....

It's such a lovely and important industry, I extend my very best wishes to all and everyone. But this agency can and should do better. Until it does - maybe give it a miss.

A bunch of unprofessional thieves. Refused to pay me for my time claiming I didn't check-in and that I left before a covid test which were both false. I signed in on the front desk for the costume fitting which is also where I filled out the information about getting paid (how would have they paid me for the other days on the job had I not done this?), and at no point was I asked to do a covid test until 2 hours after the call time for the costume fitting. I was rang up and asked if I could come to do the test (for the first time) since production wanted to film earlier than initially planned. I agreed, drove back later that day and now they're telling me the AD is saying otherwise even though I have literal evidence that I was never asked to do a Covid test while there for the costume fitting. Their own staff walked me to the gate after the fitting. Its actually shocking. The payroll team have been even more unprofessional over email and as a result here I am warning other people about this company. I will be taking this further but if you are thinking about using them, don't. There is some very shady activity going on with this company and I wouldn't be surprised if they are involved in some class action law suit some day.
There is a reason that their feedback is so low and why anyone who has done work through them has nothing but bad things to say but of course they will always argue a false narrative with people in the replies. People are not stupid and see straight through it though.

Image attached about the costume fitting that I apparently was asked to do a covid test as part of. See if you can find anywhere there that mentions a covid test :)

I enjoyed the experience and got a job relatively quick but f♧ck uve for adding extra charges underneath my nose. £50 listing fee shut up, that isn't OK. I was offered £118 and after all of the stupid f♧cking charges and fees I got payed 36 pounds for 12 hours work.

I had a really bad experience with UVE while on set I followed all advice for SA who had any issues and was honest and truthful withy circumstances and was told for being honest calling you following protocols that I would be removed from the books if I couldn’t stay on set rather than attend a urgent health appointment unfortunately this caused a massive blow to my well-being and esteem and confidence and I was taken back at how they were willing to block me from their books with no other fault warning strikes or issues and how unfair they were . I thought that they were decent to start with and good as the contact numbers given you actually speak to a real person but unfortunately the customer care the staff support is not there and for someone who is understanding and willing to Follow protocols I was sadden of the outcome maybe next time I’ll read up on reviews before going to Any more agency

A fantastic Agency. Highly recommended.

I am registered with several agencies and not one of them charge you a 'listing fee', it seems Universal Extras register as many people as possible for the fees. Whilst I certainly understand and do not blame the agency at all for not being chosen by production for any bookings this last year, I do find it surprising that I have rarely received enquiries. Of the two I did receive I did not hear a response back which I do think is poor practice. There are other bigger, better more reputable agencies that treat their SAs with more respect. You are told if you are released and their processes are much more streamlined. Whilst I also appreciate a lot of UE productions are likely filmed in London (I'm in the South West hence wouldn't receive any bookings for any of those jobs), I do think the way UE take weeks and weeks to approve your photos that in reality do meet their guidelines is just ways they're delaying you to be potentially considered. I have had very positive experiences and regular bookings with my other agencies, I just wish I had not signed up with UE as it has been a waste of money plus there is no personal service or contact at all. If you have a specific diverse look, then you may have more luck with your bookings as often productions will have a very specific criteria. Be mindful and careful before signing up with UE as the fees are just not justified if you never book anything and they may book you where you haven't paid your fee so they can deduct more money from you.

My son is 17 and after reading the reviews on here we didnt hold out much luck of parts or payments, BUT i was wrong the team at universal extras have been amazing. My son has already in 4 months been on 2 different film sets from a netflix series to an amazon series and another booked in for Sept 2021. Payment has always been between 2 and 8 weeks and any problems they have always answered professionally and sorted any concerns. You only read bad reviews about different places but i cant thank the team enough for the experiences they have provided my son with, i guess you make the most of what you have at the time if you follow the guidelines do what is needed and dont mess the casting team about you get more out of it. Yes reading below it has a few bad reviews but considering how many extras they have on their books you would expect a few bad ones shame no one ever posts the food one. And we cant thank them enough and can say we have had a great experience so far.