HBO’s hit period drama The Gilded Age is now casting paid background actors for its upcoming Season 4 production.
Grant Wilfley Casting is currently seeking New York-area locals to portray 1880s Black Elite Event Attendees and Black upper-class event goers for scenes filming in Troy, New York and New York City.
This is a paid extras opportunity for those who want to experience working on a major period television production while stepping into the elegant world of 1880s high society.
Talent Application
About the Series 🎬
The Gilded Age is set during America’s era of wealth, ambition, and social transformation. The HBO series follows the lives of elite families, social climbers, and established power players during a time of dramatic change.
One of the most exciting parts of working on a period production like this is the chance to wear authentic-style costumes and help bring the world of the 1880s to life on screen.
Casting Details 📍
Project: The Gilded Age Season 4
Casting Company: Grant Wilfley Casting / GWCI
Network: HBO
Role Type: Paid background extras
Role: 1880s Black Elite Event Attendees / Black upper-class event goers
Filming Locations: Troy, NY and NYC
Local Hire Only: Yes
No acting experience is required, but applicants must meet the wardrobe and period-look requirements listed by casting.
Filming Dates 🗓️
Troy, New York Filming
Filming in Troy, NY is scheduled for:
📌 Monday, June 8, 2026
📌 Tuesday, June 9, 2026
📌 Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Some notices list shooting on June 9 and June 10, with paid travel days on June 8 and June 11 for select NYC-based talent. Hotel accommodations may be provided for those booked under that notice.
New York City Filming
NYC filming is scheduled for:
📌 Wednesday, July 8, 2026
📌 Thursday, July 9, 2026
Applicants for the NYC/Troy notice must be available for all listed shoot dates.
Fittings 👗
Costume fittings will take place in Troy, NY during the week of May 18, 2026.
For some NYC-area bookings, transportation from Manhattan to and from fittings in Troy will be provided.
Everyone booked must attend a costume fitting before filming. Since this is a period production, costumes must fit properly and may limit who can be selected.
Pay Rates 💵
Pay rates vary depending on union status and booking type.
Non-SAG Pay
✨ Shoot rate: $187 for 10 hours
✨ Fitting pay: $46.75 for 2.5 hours
SAG-AFTRA Pay
✨ Shoot rate: $224 for 8 hours
✨ Fitting pay: $56 for 2 hours
Some notices specify that this particular background role is not covered by SAG-AFTRA, so applicants should carefully follow the instructions in the notice they are submitting for.
Costume Size Guidelines 📌
Because this is a period costume production, applicants may need to fit within specific costume size ranges.
Women
📌 Height: 5’3” – 5’8”
📌 Bust: 30–34
📌 Waist: 26–30
Men
📌 Height: 5’9” – 6’0”
📌 Chest: 40–44
📌 Waist: 32–38
Height, weight, and clothing measurements are used for costuming purposes unless needed for stand-ins or photo doubles.
Requirements for Applicants
Applicants should be comfortable with the requirements of a period drama shoot, including wardrobe, grooming, and historical styling.
Casting notes include:
✅ Must be 18 or older
✅ Must be local to NYC, Troy, Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer County, or nearby areas depending on the notice
✅ Must be comfortable working around atmospheric smoke
✅ Must have no allergies to wool
✅ Must be willing to wear period clothing
✅ Must be comfortable receiving a period-appropriate haircut or facial hair alteration if needed
✅ Men should have some hair length; no buzzcuts, fades, modern undercuts, twists, locs, shaved heads, or other modern hairstyles
✅ No visible tattoos
✅ No visible piercings that cannot be removed for work
✅ No acrylic nails, gel polish, gel extensions, square-shaped nails, or nail polish
✅ Natural rounded nails only
✅ Must be able to present valid identification to complete a federal I-9 form and be paid
How to Apply 📧
Interested applicants may register and submit through the GWCI talent site:
Casting notices also list email submission options depending on the role and location.
For NYC locals submitting for the Black Elite Event Attendees notice, email:
Use the subject line:
EVENT BG
For Troy-area locals submitting for the Troy event notice, use the subject line:
Troy Event Local
What to Include in Your Submission
Your email should include:
📌 Your name
📌 Phone number
📌 Whether you are SAG-AFTRA in good standing or Non-SAG
📌 Confirmation that you are 18 or older
📌 Confirmation that you are local to the required area
📌 Current height and weight
📌 Clothing sizes
📌 Shoe size
📌 Men: neck, sleeve, waist, and inseam measurements
📌 Women: bust, waist, and hip measurements
📌 Whether you have tattoos and where they are located
📌 Whether you are comfortable working around atmospheric smoke
📌 Whether you have any wool allergies
📌 Whether you are willing to receive a haircut or facial hair alteration if needed
📌 Current clear photos
Photos should include:
📸 One close-up photo
📸 One full-body photo
Photos should be current and clear, with no hats, no sunglasses, and no filters.
Final Notes
This is a unique paid background opportunity for New York-area locals who want to be part of a high-profile HBO period drama.
Since The Gilded Age requires specific historical looks, costumes, and grooming standards, applicants should read all instructions carefully before submitting. Those who are fully available, local to the filming area, and comfortable with the period requirements are encouraged to apply.
Be the first to comment on "The Gilded Age Season 4 Now Casting Paid Extras in Troy and NYC"