Uni-versal Extras
Uni-versal Extras operates the UK & Ireland's largest extras and supporting artistes database, supplying background performers, doubles, and stand-ins to film, TV, and gaming productions through proprietary mobile apps and dedicated account management from its Pinewood Studios headquarters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersIver, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
Uni-versal Extras firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Uni-versal Extras
- Legal name
- UVE Digital Ltd
- Website
- https://universalextras.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Uni-versal Extras operates the UK & Ireland's largest extras and supporting artistes database, supplying background performers, doubles, and stand-ins to film, TV, and gaming productions through proprietary mobile apps and dedicated account management from its Pinewood Studios headquarters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Uni-versal Extras industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Talent Casting Services
- NAICS
- Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Casting & Talent Services (Casting, Background, Talent Holding) (MPADAFAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Talent Agency & Representation Services (HSACAHAK)
Keywords
Where Uni-versal Extras is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Iver
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Uni-versal Extras business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Artist Listing Fees: Extras pay a listing fee to register and maintain their profile on the platform. Options include 'Early Bird' discounted upfront listing fee or standard listing fee. The company is transparent about no hidden charges.
- Booking Commission: The company earns commission from bookings when extras are placed on productions. No payment is required until an artiste has booked a job.
- Casting Services to Productions: Production companies pay for access to the talent database, dedicated casting services, and around-the-clock support for supplying extras, supporting artistes, doubles, and stand-ins.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Early Bird Listing Fee - discounted upfront payment |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Listing Fee |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Extras Rates - £177/day |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Featured Roles - £250/day |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Uni-versal Extras product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Uni-versal Extras operates a casting agency supplying extras, supporting artistes, doubles, stand-ins, and SPACT work to film, TV, commercial, and gaming productions across the UK and Ireland. The company runs the region's largest searchable talent database and supports both sides of the marketplace through proprietary mobile applications: UVE Artiste App for individual performers to manage profiles and apply for roles, and UVE Client App for productions to manage casting digitally.
Product overview
Uni-versal Extras operates as a film and TV extras casting agency offering a unified platform for connecting productions with supporting artists across the UK and Ireland. The core service comprises a searchable database of extras and supporting artistes, supported by proprietary mobile applications—the UVE Artiste App for artists to manage profiles and apply for roles, and the UVE Client App for production clients to manage artist logistics digitally. Additional offerings include a Jobs Board for casting calls, 3D Character Scanning services for gaming character catalogues, and specialized casting services including doubles, stand-ins, and nationwide 24-hour support. The company operates from Pinewood Studios with additional offices in Cardiff and Birmingham.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Extras & Supporting Artistes Casting Agency UK & Ireland's largest extras and supporting artistes database, providing nationwide casting services for film, TV, commercials, and music video productions. Supplies background performers, doubles, stand-ins, and SPACT work to studios, broadcasters, streamers, and independent producers, with 24-hour support and dedicated account management.
- UVE Artiste App Free mobile application for extras and supporting artistes to register, build profiles, apply for roles, upload photos and documents (e.g., DBS certificates), receive tailored push notifications, and sync filming calendars. Available for iOS and Android.
- UVE Client App Digital management application for production clients to handle supporting artistes electronically with instant digital reporting, delivering a fully paperless artist management workflow for casting teams.
- Jobs Board Web-based job board that lists current casting calls across the UK & Ireland. Registered extras can view and apply for roles with filters for region, pay rate, production type, and requirements.
- 3D Character Scanning Service using 3D scanning technology to build extensive character catalogues, primarily for gaming companies that require realistic digital character models.
Quantifiable outcome
- Low drop-out rates attributed to perfected casting process
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Uni-versal Extras
Customer profileNamed customers18 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Uni-versal Extras technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Uni-versal Extras partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Kent Film OfficeminorKent Film Office is listed as a partner organization alongside UVE Digital Ltd T/A Uni-versal Extras. Partnership provides mutual support for film and TV productions in the Kent region.
- Film LondonminorFilm London is listed as a partner organization alongside UVE Digital Ltd T/A Uni-versal Extras. Partnership supports casting coordination for productions in the London area.
- Lonon FilmminorLonon Film is listed as a partner organization alongside UVE Digital Ltd T/A Uni-versal Extras. Partnership supports film productions in the London area.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Uni-versal Extras competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Casting Networks: Global SaaS casting platform used by casting directors across film, TV, and commercials. Broader incumbent operating at scale across multiple geographies with technology-led talent sourcing, competing indirectly for the digital casting layer.
- Backstage: US-headquartered casting platform and marketplace serving actors, extras, and production companies. Operates a comparable two-sided marketplace model and technology stack, with growing UK presence that creates indirect competition.
- Independent Talent Group: Established UK talent agency representing actors, directors, and creatives. Overlaps with UVE at the casting/agency layer and competes for production-side mindshare, though focused on named talent rather than extras.
- Spotlight: UK performing arts directory and casting platform connecting professional performers with productions. Broader incumbent that includes extras-adjacent categories (background, walk-ons) and competes for the registered-artist pool.
Direct peers
- Casting Collective: UK-based extras and supporting artists casting agency supplying background performers to film, TV, and commercial productions. Direct competitor in the same UK extras marketplace with overlapping enterprise clients and similar revenue model.
- Extra People: UK extras agency providing background and supporting artiste casting for film, TV, and commercials. Closely comparable business model and target customer base, competing for the same pool of registered artists and productions.
- Mad Dog Casting: London-based extras casting agency providing background artistes to feature films, TV dramas, and commercials. Comparable scale and service offering to UVE, with overlapping London-based production clientele.
- Phoenix Casting: UK casting agency supplying extras and supporting artistes to film and television productions. Operates in the same niche as UVE with comparable enterprise clients and similar artist registration/booking workflows.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Uni-versal Extras social profiles
Digital presenceUni-versal Extras financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Uni-versal Extras leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Uni-versal Extras funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Uni-versal Extras M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Uni-versal Extras
What does Uni-versal Extras do?
Uni-versal Extras operates a casting agency supplying extras, supporting artistes, doubles, stand-ins, and SPACT work to film, TV, commercial, and gaming productions across the UK and Ireland. The company runs the region's largest searchable talent database and supports both sides of the marketplace through proprietary mobile applications: UVE Artiste App for individual performers to manage profiles and apply for roles, and UVE Client App for productions to manage casting digitally.
Is Uni-versal Extras a public or private company?
Uni-versal Extras is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Uni-versal Extras founded?
Uni-versal Extras was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Uni-versal Extras based?
Uni-versal Extras is headquartered in Iver, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Uni-versal Extras make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Artist Listing Fees are the primary driver. The others are booking Commission and casting Services to Productions.
Who are Uni-versal Extras's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Casting Networks, Backstage, Independent Talent Group and Spotlight. Direct peers are Casting Collective, Extra People, Mad Dog Casting and Phoenix Casting.
Does Uni-versal Extras have an API?
No public API is recorded for Uni-versal Extras.
What industry is Uni-versal Extras in?
Uni-versal Extras's product category is Talent Casting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAFAI, Casting & Talent Services (Casting, Background, Talent Holding), with a secondary code of HSACAHAK, Talent Agency & Representation Services. Its NAICS code is 7114.