A Stand-In’s Basic Gear

Standing in doesn’t require a lot of gear, though there are a few simple items you should bring with you.

  • A pen (for taking notes)
  • A breath freshener (for working closely with others)

As far as what to wear, avoid loud shoes, distracting clothing, and finely patterned clothing that may strobe on camera. Dark, solid colors tend to be safe, whereas white tends to be too bright on camera.

You will want to bring clothing appropriate for the climate of set, such as:

  • Removable layers for working in cool studios
  • Layers, gloves, hand warmers, toe warmers, a hat, etc., for working in cold weather
  • Lightweight, breathable clothing for working in warm weather
  • Sunscreen, bug spray, and other skin protection for working outdoors
  • Raingear, an umbrella, rainboots, etc., for working in wet weather

Take into account the weather for the entire day when choosing what to wear and what to bring to set. (Although you may be working at a studio, your workday could include outdoor work, so keep that in mind.)

Visit our Gear page for additional gear we recommend for stand-ins.

Occasionally, women are asked to bring heels to wear because the actors for whom they are standing in may be in them in their scenes, thus affecting their height. Also bringing flats allows women to have a comfortable alternative to heels when there is downtime.

As far as basic gear provided by production, there are a few things you should expect to receive. The background production assistant (PA) provides most of your gear. You may need to report before your calltime in order to collect these items.

  • A voucher (to get paid but also to exchange for color cover) (nowadays, sometimes provided digitally)
  • A label with your name & your character’s name (provided by the background PA)
  • Sides (provided by the background PA) (nowadays, sometimes provided digitally)
  • Color cover (clothing provided to you by the wardrobe department, if needed)

Next: The Routine »

For a complete overview of the job of the stand-in and callsheet terminology,
download The Stand-In Handbook and The Callsheet Cheatsheet.