a day in the life of an extra - part 2

for child actor extras, depending on their age, this may not hold true…they work less hours and in California, (unlike NY and other areas of the country), they still have to go to school with a set teacher from their first day on set…which is why, if you watch a lot of films, there are very few, very young extras…too much involved for too little effect…unless of course the movie is something like “kindergarten cop” or one that centers around children…

but for adults, your day would be a bit more exciting than the day that a set prop has! i’ve done extra work, and although it may seem glamorous at first, it really is not…but here’s pretty much how it goes…

you arrive early, before your call time, to make sure that locations have not changed and that you have everything right…then you check in with the person they assign you to check in with (usually the a.d. – assistant director)…and from this point, you wait with others usually, until you’re called for make-up and/or costuming…
but, know this also…with most extra work, you use your own clothing (they will tell you what to wear – many times that will decide if you get the job or not) and you do your own make-up…so this process can take from one to several hours…

now more waiting, b/c you have to wait until the stars are made up and dressed and ready to go which usually takes most of the morning…and if you’re lucky, you’ll all be held in an area that you can watch the scenes that are being filmed that you are not in…if not, it gets even more boring…

lunch is ready…stars, producers, directors usually eat first, or are able to get to the tables first so they get a place to sit…then the minor actors stand in line, then the camera people, carpenters, gaffers, security people and anyone else that is not an extra…NOW it’s your turn…

one word to you thought that is good…the set food is “usually” very good and very plentiful…of course there is always the exception! after lunch, you’ll still be hanging around b/c usually they decide to film another scene to redo parts of the previous scene…

okay, now it’s your turn! if you’re lucky, everyone will remember their lines (has nothing to do with you) and a plane won’t fly overhead or someone won’t get sick…or a bulb won’t burn out…or a million other things that always seems to keep the extras standing around for hours!

and the above repeats itself over and over until you’re released to go home! and although the above is true and can be aggravating, don’t forget that sometimes you can be in the right place at the right time…just look at gunther from the series “friends”…he was an extra and the set people were looking for someone to run the cappuccino machine…they asked if anyone knew how to do it and he said that he did (he lied btw!)…the rest is history…he ended up with a recurring role on one of the most popular sitcoms of all times!

so enjoy yourself! maybe you’ll spot a star or two on the lot…just know though that if you really want to become an actor that has lines and is hired that way, you need to go beyond this and get classes, an agent, etc…but for now…have fun…if you’re a starving actor, it will give you food every day!

have a wonderful, holiday weekend!
hugs and out~