What are Bit Players in Film?

If you’re interested in a role in film, or a career in the film industry. Specifically in acting. You’re likely to land the occasional bit player role. In fact, if you’ve been given a bit player role, you’re probably wondering, “What are bit players in film?” And, more importantly, you probably want to know what this might mean for your career in the film industry?

The term “bit player” is used to describe a very short, small, “Bit” of a role, in plays, films or on television. As an aspiring actor or actress, you’ll likely face times where you’ll be a bit player.

But if you want a career in film? You’re certainly going to need more than just these short roles on the set.

What is a Bit Player?

The term bit player is used to describe an incredibly short, unimportant role. If you think of the word “bit” as it means, small, tiny, or miniscule and paired with “player”.

You should come to the understanding that this means that the part will be tiny. And the individual will certainly not become famous with this role. Or at least, it’s not likely that they will.

The “bit player” will have a short, unimportant, underrecognized role in the film. They might not even say a single word. Or perhaps they’ll use a word. But it certainly won’t be much.

While the bit player may have a line or a few lines, they won’t be taking on some incredibly acting role. And this will most likely not be their opportunity to quit their day job.

Is a Bit Player an Extra?

Bit players are not extras and they are not walk-on actors. Unlike extras, and walk-ons, bit players can have lines in the actual production. Now their lines may be very short, even as short as just 1 or 2 words, but they will have a role of some type in the film.

Extras generally are more of a stand in, they don’t speak in the production, and have no pre-defined lines that are part of their “role” with the story.

Generally, the bit player will have a more focused role than an extra or a walk-on actor might. Where an extra is one of a crowd, or potentially someone that goes completely unrecognized in the film, the bit player may actually stand out – a little bit.

Is the Bit Player’s Role Important?

While the bit player’s role is certainly small, and short, it’s possible for the role to be relatively important to the overall narrative of the film. In fact, some stories will require several characters in order to build the film out and create the desired dialogue or narrative.

Without the bit players, albeit, with short spoken lines, the film would not be what it was intended to be. So, yes, the bit players role can be important to some extent, especially as they apply to the overall narrative of the film.

A Firm Foundation

Many actors get started as bit players. It’s an opportunity to get yourself into the film industry and start to meet others in the field. In fact, actors can gain a lot of insight as to how filmmaking works and what it’s like to be a part of a film, just by being a bit player.

So, the next time someone asks, “What are bit players in film, and are they important?” Simply answer, that the bit player is an actor that plays a small part in the otherwise big industry of film production.