should you or your child actor work as an extra? part 1

the good thing about this, is that anybody can be an extra regardless of look, sex, age…you just have to live and breathe…that’s pretty much the only requirement…
but don’t sell this short…some people spend their lives doing this and love every minute of it…i mean, after all, could you imagine any TV show or film without the “atmosphere” that extras provide? watch a show or movie and imagine them not being there…it would be downright unrealistic! so they do provide a great service…but do you really want to do that?

to get a feel for how importantly unimportant extras are, let me tell you the true story behind the extras in the james cameron film, “titanic”…

cameron filmed in rosarito beach, mexico – about 60 miles south of san diego, California…he needed hundreds of extras, and b/c most of their faces would never be seen, he dressed up the local Mexicans in costumes and had them stroll the deck of the ship, as wealthy first-class passengers from great Britain…
after all…this is the magic of the movies!

there are 3 types of extras:

*day extras – this is the lowest paid extra…they are basically a “live” body…
*special extras – they perform a special skill in the background…i.e. skateboard, play an instrument, etc.
*silent bit extras – (also known sometimes as ‘featured’ extras) – they often interact with the principals in
the film or TV show…

okay…gotta run…will continue this interesting topic tomorrow…

have a great “rest of your week!”
hugs and out~