Coming soon to a theater near you: Me! Any advice for a soon-to-be hollywood extra?
October 6, 2010 10:56 PM   Subscribe

Coming soon to a theater near you: Me! Any advice for a soon-to-be hollywood extra?

Tomorrow and the next day, I have been invited to appear as an extra in a Major Motion Picture. I am of course already crafting my demands: Fresh Perrier in my fridge, 250-count sheets on the waterbed in my trailer, rose petals in my latrine -- you know, the usual. But aside from that, is there anything non-obvious I should know or do? Advice from experienced extras welcome. (And if you had a speaking part, first, I hate you; second, your input is welcome also.)
posted by Alaska Jack to Media & Arts (14 answers total)
 
Bring something to read.
posted by just.good.enough at 10:58 PM on October 6, 2010


IANAE, but make sure that you arrive early enough to find parking / walk from quite far away. The production is really messing with traffic downtown, and it has a huge number of vehicles associated with it.

This is probably universal, but I assume you're talking about the only Major Motion Picture currently in production in Alaska.
posted by charmcityblues at 11:24 PM on October 6, 2010


Be prepared to hurry up and wait, bring a change of clothes or two, and bring things to entertain yourself with (book, knitting, podcast).
posted by lunaazul at 11:30 PM on October 6, 2010


Since it's a Major motion picture, probably not a problem, but I was an extra in a movie in NYC and didn't get instruction beforehand on what to wear. When we filmed the Wall St scene, I was the only one not wearing a suit, so I was included in the scene. The director realized that not everyone on Wall St in the middle if the day wears a suit, and the scene would've looked staged.
posted by vitabellosi at 3:39 AM on October 7, 2010


I do movie extra stuff with my kids, so here's what we came up with:

wear comfortable shoes. You do a lot (hours sometimes) of standing in the same place while scenes are being set up, and then all of a sudden, it's a lot of frantic movement and "Everyone back to one," (so you have to run back to where you were and redo the scene up to 15 to 20 more times);

definitely bring a book or Nintendo or something to keep you busy...you will be bored senseless;

the wranglers and PAs don't always know what's going on either and will start grabbing "background actors" to put them front and center of a scene...if you want to try to get as much screen time as you can, go even if they don't pick you (nobody will stop you), and try to get into the first third of the pack (your chances of getting on camera are much better);

if you really want to try to get screen time, stick close to the camera setups and be ready to push your way (gently, of course) to the action. Don't follow the other background actors into the herding area if you can avoid it.

Lastly, my kids say have fun!
posted by dzaz at 4:42 AM on October 7, 2010 [1 favorite]


...sorry, almost forgot...whatever you do, DON'T approach the biggie actors or try to take their picture.

They just throw you out immediately. Unless you're a 9-year-old boy, and then Kevin James becomes your buddy and has you hang out with him playing Wii (go figure).
posted by dzaz at 4:44 AM on October 7, 2010


Hurry up and wait. Seriously.
posted by InterestedInKnowing at 6:01 AM on October 7, 2010


Don't expect to end up in the actual film, no matter how much time you spend in front of the camera. I have a friend who was in the opening sequence of Spiderman 2. At least she was when it was shot. But she wasn't when the editing was done and she was very disappointed.

Go and enjoy the day, but don't necessarily expect to be "coming to a theater near you." That's the bonus if it happens.
posted by alms at 6:21 AM on October 7, 2010


Don't expect to end up in the actual film, no matter how much time you spend in front of the camera.

...but you still have to buy the DVD because you may end up in a deleted scene, which I swear is the only reason I own "Mall Cop." Yes, I am Frustrated Shopper #1 in the "Little Boy Lost" deleted scene.
posted by dzaz at 9:10 AM on October 7, 2010


Make sure your cell phone is set to "vibrate."
posted by Spyder's Game at 10:10 AM on October 7, 2010


I was an actual paid extra once. In one week, I finished all the reading for one of my college classes. So seconding bring a book or something to entertain yourself with.

Don't bring a camera. We were not allowed to take pictures.

Depending on the situation, you may or may not get fed. So bring granola bars or something to munch on.

In my situation, there was a group of folks who basically worked full-time as extras. They considered themselves "above" the rest of us who were doing it as a lark. ::rolling eyes here:: But don't be surprised if cliques develop among the extras. It did seem like junior high sometimes.

And I agree with dzaz - if you want to make it as likely as possible to get screen time, you may have to be a little aggressive. But don't become a pest, or they'll kick you out.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 11:05 AM on October 7, 2010


I worked in production for years and let me just say that the extras who acted like dzaz is suggesting are the very worst ones. (Sorry, dzaz.) "Don't follow the other extras into the herding area" ?!? Your job is to be there, and do what you're told. I'm sorry -- but that's exactly how it is. If the AD or PA says go to the holding area, go there. Do not linger around the camera. Do not linger around the ADs. When they're gathering up background if they don't pick you for god's sake don't go along anyway, as dzaz suggests. That's just nuts. Please just do the job you're there to do.
posted by BlahLaLa at 12:00 PM on October 7, 2010 [1 favorite]


I agree; and should have tempered my thoughts with this is what I've seen pushier extras do, but they always got screen time.

Once, as we were being moved in a boxing arena for a Mark Wahlberg film (still unreleased "The Fighter") my teenage daughter just sat her butt down on a chair next to the ring and we stayed there, front and center, for a fight scene while the other extras ate their turkey subs from Subway.

But no, I never condone horrid behavior. Just have fun.
posted by dzaz at 2:05 PM on October 7, 2010


Response by poster: OK, well, I'm back! Sadly, they didn't need me today. Yesterday was fun and educational, though! Here are the highlights in case anyone is interested.

* I'm really only in a single scene. I play a reporter. No lines, but I do stick a tape recorder right up in Dermot Mulroney's face. (He seemed, on the basis of my very brief exposure, like a good guy -- chatted with extras, seemed relaxed, etc.)

* I was definitely not pushy, but was reasonably forthright about my movements, positioning etc.

* Lots of good food

* I had kind of a little bit of a stubble goatee, and they made me shave it off right away. Why, I wondered -- I'm a reporter, for pete's sake! But of course I cheerfully did so. Then I got my hair done Hollywood-style. Oh man, my hair is NEVER that neat.

* I spent all my extra time watching the production. A couple of times I was shooed around by crew members, but they weren't hard-asses about it, and I was careful to be discreet and not a problem. They were pretty good about answering questions.

* The director also seemed relaxed. I really enjoyed overhearing him compare notes with DM in between takes.

* I definitely get the impression that the atmosphere varies a lot from production to production.

Thanks everyone!
posted by Alaska Jack at 3:40 PM on October 8, 2010


« Older Make Zem Do Summtheeeeng!   |   Best birthday gift for a hobbyist potter? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.