Film extra says she is still waiting for payment, nearly a year after cameras stop rolling.

Sidmouth Herald: Consuelo Cordey has been chasing up payment since acting as an extra in the film Melody, shot in Sidmouth and surrounding villages and towns last year.Consuelo Cordey has been chasing up payment since acting as an extra in the film Melody, shot in Sidmouth and surrounding villages and towns last year. (Image: Archant)

A Sidmouth woman has spent nearly a year chasing £99 for her role in a feature film after the production ran into financial difficulties.

Conseulo Cordey was hired as an extra on Melody, which filmed across East Devon, including Sidmouth’s iconic Peak House and the church in Salcombe Regis, in April last year.

Some 500 people from the local area were hired for the movie, starring Helen Baxendale, Aneurin Barnard and Joan Collins, which was due for release last autumn.

Mrs Cordey, 42, played a care assistant and a passerby and was told payment should come through up to eight weeks later.

When she was not paid she contacted casting agency Mad Dog Casting Ltd and got in touch with the Herald to see if others have had more luck pursuing payment.

Mrs Cordey, who has been an extra on shows including Hollyoaks and Coronation Street, said: “I was told that the company has run out of money. Hundreds of people in East Devon also worked on this. I did the one day and was expecting £99. I did take a day off work. I was working a temp job - I did not get paid for that and I did not get paid for this.

“I was told we would paid six to eight weeks after the event. After that, I started writing so I would have something in writing.”

She has plans to take the matter to small claims court but wants to hear from other people to see if it is worth pursuing.

Mrs Cordey said: “I want to see if it is worth my while - I do not know what costs there [small claims court] will be and I’m only wanting £99. I do not know whether to withdraw or if people would want to do a collective thing.”

In her email correspondence with Mad Dog, the agency said a number of times it was chasing up the production company.

Rosena Robson, director of Mad Dog, said: “From time to time, productions get into financial difficulties and are unable to pay the people working for them, including their extras. Fortunately, this is not that common.

“We encourage all people in film and television to join the unions of Equity and/or BECTU, who provide advice and support their members. As an agency we also lose out and actively pursue production companies to assist in recovering the money owed to the extras.”

The Herald has been unable to contact the production company for comment.

Are you still waiting to be paid for the film? If you would like to speak to Mrs Cordey, contact the Herald on 01392 888511.