Bitter Bloggings from an Optomistic Actress: The importance of being an EXTRA
I was going to write about actors and talent, but this got to me. Please forgive my candor, but this drove me INSANE!
A news station in NC interviewed an extra from the newest blockbuster to hit the theaters and put it on television, treating him like he starred in the film. It's a bit like last year when they interviewed the NC native who was in a similar film as a featured extra: no lines, less than 30 seconds of screen time, and died in the first ten minutes of the film. I honestly don't think the reporters who called them to schedule an interview know how acting works.
I got snubbed by someone who does background work on a network TV show as a regular extra. Seriously, they are paid extras and acted superior due to the fact they are a regular extra on network TV. I watched some of the show. I saw their back turned as they stood behind the star. The star talked while they mimed a motion. They likely filmed several times because the background guy was being too conspicuous.
Recently, did you know, on the HUNGER GAMES CATCHING FIRE IMDb site, they removed 200 extras who didn't mention uncredited when they applied? It just said Capital Citizen or Tribute. Are they in the credits at the end of the film? Heck no! The IMDb folks were MAD!
I have to say this. Background work, no matter how you want to slice it, is not acting work. Let me repeat this, EXTRA WORK IS NOT ACTING WORK! I have a cousin with a recurring role on TV and when I was young he told me, "If you want to be an actor, be an actor. If you want to be an extra, be an extra." Truer words have never been spoken.
Notice I didn't say background wasn't work. I am not saying you can't make a great living as an extra in a union state, or any other state for that matter. In places like New York they still pay over $100 for an 8 hour day to extras. $100 a day, five days a week, four weeks a month. You could almost survive that way in a bigger city. In fact, I know a lot of people who make money as extras in major cities getting paid well over $500 a week to just sit in a room for 8 hours a day. Do they have dreams of hitting it big? No, they just like being in the background. There is an art to blending in with the background, and that is the job of an extra, to not stick out, to meld with the scene. It is an honorable profession, because without extras there would be no movies. And to those who make their livings in the Background and show up every time on time to do that, I salute you.
You do this for no thanks and a piddling amount of money...and I would give you a big hug if I was on set right now. Directors yell at you to move your head and get out of the shot. The stars eat better than you. You may or may not get to talk to the celebrities. The one time I agreed to do extra work I was not allowed to talk to the talent. Someone who was star struck was removed from the set and not paid for talking to the star after the director said no. An extra is not there to network with the director or schmooze with the stars, no matter what Ricky Gervais may imply. So thanks for your dedication and willingness to not be seen.
The above and below also goes for you folks who are Professional Stand-Ins. Not acting work. Integral to the filming process. We love you.
Hey! You remember when Robert Downy Jr hurt himself on Iron Man? The director pointed to the extra, Jack Flap, and said, "You. Yes you! I recognize your talent. I have loved your work since you ate that sandwich in the diner. You don't belong with the extras. Robbie is out! Please, oh please be my Iron Man. Will you?! And then when this is over, you will be a star! Bigger than anyone!" Yeah I had that dream too, but it involved Jennifer Lawrence in American Hustle. This will never happen! While on set you might get a line if the part is small enough and the person they hired didn't show, but being bumped from featured extra to day player on a big studio film is highly unlikely, and by that I mean if it happens you have a horseshoe shoved where the sun don't shine.
So all you extras who dream of acting, stop taking the extra roles. It is not making your resume any more appealing. And all you folks who see your friends in extra roles and tell them "congratulations, you're going to be famous"; stop encouraging mediocrity in your acting friends.
In a way you are treating them like children and not encouraging them to get better. You know when a kid comes up to you with paint all over their faces, staining hair, in their mouths, and shows you the picture they just spat onto that piece of cardboard. Do you tell them the truth? "Oh that is horrible." No, you tell them "Great job, you are going to be the next Picasso." Except in the case of your actor friends you sort of mean it. "You will be the next Brando." Oh my gosh you were brilliant. You were so good at not staring at Charlize Theron while she stripped naked. Congratulations for being on screen behind the person getting paid the equivalent of all the extras on set for the entire production. Stop treating your five seconds on a studio production like your big break. It's not. It's another job that you don't even get credit for. A single line in an indie film is worth more on paper than any number of studio extra credits, featured or not.
Stop thanking the academy when you get home after standing for three hours behind Morgan Freeman or Kevin Klein, who likely said very little to you. The only people you are famous to are your friends. This is not the time to drop everything and move to LA.
"Wow, they recognized your talent." No they didn't, they asked for a certain number of people and they filled their quota as quickly as possible. Weather it is you, or your friend, standing next to the star may give you screen time. But as far any casting director is concerned, you might as well be the park bench if you don't have any lines.
And I know you will bring up this little article here. I think this article was written by an extra who wants to be an actor. Maybe the famous guy or girl in question did do extra work because at the time they were broke and needed money. Here is the same list of actors with the information they left out.
1. SYLVESTER STALLONE
6. RUDOLPH VALENTINO
9. RENÉE ZELLWEGER
17. JEAN HARLOW
A news station in NC interviewed an extra from the newest blockbuster to hit the theaters and put it on television, treating him like he starred in the film. It's a bit like last year when they interviewed the NC native who was in a similar film as a featured extra: no lines, less than 30 seconds of screen time, and died in the first ten minutes of the film. I honestly don't think the reporters who called them to schedule an interview know how acting works.
I got snubbed by someone who does background work on a network TV show as a regular extra. Seriously, they are paid extras and acted superior due to the fact they are a regular extra on network TV. I watched some of the show. I saw their back turned as they stood behind the star. The star talked while they mimed a motion. They likely filmed several times because the background guy was being too conspicuous.
Recently, did you know, on the HUNGER GAMES CATCHING FIRE IMDb site, they removed 200 extras who didn't mention uncredited when they applied? It just said Capital Citizen or Tribute. Are they in the credits at the end of the film? Heck no! The IMDb folks were MAD!
I have to say this. Background work, no matter how you want to slice it, is not acting work. Let me repeat this, EXTRA WORK IS NOT ACTING WORK! I have a cousin with a recurring role on TV and when I was young he told me, "If you want to be an actor, be an actor. If you want to be an extra, be an extra." Truer words have never been spoken.
Notice I didn't say background wasn't work. I am not saying you can't make a great living as an extra in a union state, or any other state for that matter. In places like New York they still pay over $100 for an 8 hour day to extras. $100 a day, five days a week, four weeks a month. You could almost survive that way in a bigger city. In fact, I know a lot of people who make money as extras in major cities getting paid well over $500 a week to just sit in a room for 8 hours a day. Do they have dreams of hitting it big? No, they just like being in the background. There is an art to blending in with the background, and that is the job of an extra, to not stick out, to meld with the scene. It is an honorable profession, because without extras there would be no movies. And to those who make their livings in the Background and show up every time on time to do that, I salute you.
The above and below also goes for you folks who are Professional Stand-Ins. Not acting work. Integral to the filming process. We love you.
Hey! You remember when Robert Downy Jr hurt himself on Iron Man? The director pointed to the extra, Jack Flap, and said, "You. Yes you! I recognize your talent. I have loved your work since you ate that sandwich in the diner. You don't belong with the extras. Robbie is out! Please, oh please be my Iron Man. Will you?! And then when this is over, you will be a star! Bigger than anyone!" Yeah I had that dream too, but it involved Jennifer Lawrence in American Hustle. This will never happen! While on set you might get a line if the part is small enough and the person they hired didn't show, but being bumped from featured extra to day player on a big studio film is highly unlikely, and by that I mean if it happens you have a horseshoe shoved where the sun don't shine.
So all you extras who dream of acting, stop taking the extra roles. It is not making your resume any more appealing. And all you folks who see your friends in extra roles and tell them "congratulations, you're going to be famous"; stop encouraging mediocrity in your acting friends.
In a way you are treating them like children and not encouraging them to get better. You know when a kid comes up to you with paint all over their faces, staining hair, in their mouths, and shows you the picture they just spat onto that piece of cardboard. Do you tell them the truth? "Oh that is horrible." No, you tell them "Great job, you are going to be the next Picasso." Except in the case of your actor friends you sort of mean it. "You will be the next Brando." Oh my gosh you were brilliant. You were so good at not staring at Charlize Theron while she stripped naked. Congratulations for being on screen behind the person getting paid the equivalent of all the extras on set for the entire production. Stop treating your five seconds on a studio production like your big break. It's not. It's another job that you don't even get credit for. A single line in an indie film is worth more on paper than any number of studio extra credits, featured or not.
Stop thanking the academy when you get home after standing for three hours behind Morgan Freeman or Kevin Klein, who likely said very little to you. The only people you are famous to are your friends. This is not the time to drop everything and move to LA.
"Wow, they recognized your talent." No they didn't, they asked for a certain number of people and they filled their quota as quickly as possible. Weather it is you, or your friend, standing next to the star may give you screen time. But as far any casting director is concerned, you might as well be the park bench if you don't have any lines.
And I know you will bring up this little article here. I think this article was written by an extra who wants to be an actor. Maybe the famous guy or girl in question did do extra work because at the time they were broke and needed money. Here is the same list of actors with the information they left out.
1. SYLVESTER STALLONE
The Year before Woody Allen's Film, Bananas, Stallone was the star in two films, one of which was a soft core pornographic film and the other was a studio film called No Place to Hide. By the time he was doing that extra role in Bananas, Stallone was already trying to sell Rocky to major investors and they knew who he was.
2. BRAD PITT
Months before before the extra work in Less than Zero, he was already a regular, named Chris, on a soap opera, Another World.
3. CLINT EASTWOOD2. BRAD PITT
Months before before the extra work in Less than Zero, he was already a regular, named Chris, on a soap opera, Another World.
Yes, Mr. Eastwood's first few films were as background/extra roles. But did you know the studio was actually grooming him to be an actor? He already had a contract with Universal and the studio was paying for him to attend acting classes as well as $100 a week. His contract began April 1954, 11 months before his first extra role. At that time if the studio took you on, you were going to star one day. So, no, the extra work didn't lead to fame. His screen test for the head of the studio led to fame.
4. PHIL COLLINS
So the famous musician Phil Collins was in a movie when he was 13. This particular posting is a real stretch. Phil Collins was an established musician before he started doing speaking roles in movies. So he, or some chick he knew, was a fan of the Beatles and they went to an open call for extra roles. Big deal. That didn't lead to his future screen time. It was his music.
5. PATTI BOYD4. PHIL COLLINS
So the famous musician Phil Collins was in a movie when he was 13. This particular posting is a real stretch. Phil Collins was an established musician before he started doing speaking roles in movies. So he, or some chick he knew, was a fan of the Beatles and they went to an open call for extra roles. Big deal. That didn't lead to his future screen time. It was his music.
Sure, George Harrison's first wife was an extra in Hard Days Night. But she already was a successful model/photographer before then. It didn't hurt she married a Beatle and Eric Clapton, but her start really wasn't as an extra. Her modeling started in 1962, a full 2 years before she was an extra on A Hard Days Night.
Rudolph Valentino was an extra in several silent films before he became a leading man? He was a dancer in his first film. Technically an extra, but this went only for 2 films before he got a leading role. And before then, he was doing theater.
7.NOEL COWARD
Noel Coward was a lead in a children's play when he was 12 and worked in the theater touring as well as being the protege of a famous painter. He was well renowned as a stage actor for almost a decade before he got his first extra credit.
8. AYN RAND
Now is probably the best time to mention that she was not an actress. Ayn Rand is a screenwriter and her meeting with Cecil B Demille didn't really catapult anything forward. Sure she became a junior screenwriter, but she didn't even sell her first play to Paramount, whom she and Demille worked for. She sold her first script to Universal Studios and it wasn't even produced. Her part as an extra did almost nothing for her writing career.
Now is probably the best time to mention that she was not an actress. Ayn Rand is a screenwriter and her meeting with Cecil B Demille didn't really catapult anything forward. Sure she became a junior screenwriter, but she didn't even sell her first play to Paramount, whom she and Demille worked for. She sold her first script to Universal Studios and it wasn't even produced. Her part as an extra did almost nothing for her writing career.
Before Dazed and Confused in 1993, there was made for TV movie, A Taste For Killing, in 1992. It was a small role, but she had lines.
10. JOHN WAYNE
"In the 1920s, John Wayne was an extra in several silent films before his first starring role in 1930's The Big Trail." Actually the year before that he had a speaking role in Words and Music. You want to know what really got John Wayne, born Marion Robert Morrison, into film? Football. He was Pre-law at USC and was on a full football scholarship. A bodysurfing accident broke his collar bone and he lost is scholarship. Tom Mix, a western film star and fan of Wayne's football skill, helped Wayne get a job in a studio props department in exchange for football tickets and introduced him to John Ford, who gave Wayne his big break. No, the extra work didn't give John Wayne his start. A fan of USC and Wayne's football career did.
11. CLARK GABLE
Clark Gable was a stage actor before he began extra work. His stage career was not improved by the extra work and, in fact, it wasn't until he almost quit film altogether that an MGM film producer saw him on stage in LA and offered him a contract with MGM. No the director didn't see him in a film in the background and exclaim, "I'm going to make him a star!"
12. MEGAN FOX11. CLARK GABLE
Clark Gable was a stage actor before he began extra work. His stage career was not improved by the extra work and, in fact, it wasn't until he almost quit film altogether that an MGM film producer saw him on stage in LA and offered him a contract with MGM. No the director didn't see him in a film in the background and exclaim, "I'm going to make him a star!"
Just gonna put this out there verbatim from the source. At 15, Fox made her acting debut in the 2001 film Holiday in the Sun, as spoiled heiress Brianna Wallace and rival of Alex Stewart (Ashley Olsen), which was released direct-to-DVD on November 20, 2001. Bad Boys wasn't until 2003.
13. JAMES DEAN
In the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis comedy Sailor Beware Dean had one line: "The guy's a professional." So he was a day player. Not an extra. And besides, he was in a Pepsi commercial first and had two other walk on roles where he had lines.
14. BEN AFFLECK & 15. MATT DAMON
Ben Affleck was a child actor and Matt Damon made his film debut in Mystic Pizza with one line. Extras, I think not.
16. Jackie Chan
As a teenager, Jackie Chan was an extra in two Bruce Lee films: Fists of Fury (1971) and Enter the Dragon (1973). This is incorrect! Jackie was a stuntman. Not an extra. And before then he had been on TV, yup he had lines and everything.
17. JEAN HARLOW16. Jackie Chan
As a teenager, Jackie Chan was an extra in two Bruce Lee films: Fists of Fury (1971) and Enter the Dragon (1973). This is incorrect! Jackie was a stuntman. Not an extra. And before then he had been on TV, yup he had lines and everything.
Jean Harlow was an extra first, it's true. But she had turned down lead roles before her mother kinda made her take the work since Harlow was 17, divorced, and penniless.
18. BRUCE WILLIS
Look carefully and you'll spot Bruce Willis as an extra in the courtroom scene of Paul Newman's 1981 film, The Verdict. Yes, look carefully. Bruce Willis knew Sam Shepard and had been working off Broadway for nearly 4 years in lead roles in Sam Shepard plays. But yeah, it was the verdict that made him the man he is today.
19. MARILYN MONROE
Marilyn Monroe was on the cover of dozens of magazines before a 20th Century Fox executive saw her and signed her to become the studios new star in training. That's how she got the extra work in the first place and also how she got her first lines. Once again, the extra work didn't make her famous, she was a cover girl already.
Notice I don't say don't be an extra. If you have no film credits, be an extra. If you have no resume. Be an extra. But, if you want to act, work the right way towards getting out of the extra role. Talking to the director on a big budget set is not likely to get you big work. Talking to the actor might, but they're at work. This is not the time to ask Demi Moore if she's ever heard of you and pass her your portfolio. If you get acquainted then, maybe later on at a coffee shop, you can talk about acting, but plenty of extras get on set to talk to camera guys, actors, and directors to no longer be extras. Be careful and try not to be that guy.
Also, as far as LA goes. Hard town man. You won't be able to go to LA with only extra credits and make a name for yourself as working actor.
I would really love for everyone to get their big break and have all those hours as extras pay off with a big leading role. But lets be realistic. More than anything, I think it's important to know that LA is a hard sell and people with names who live in the area fight tooth and nail to stay employed. They will eat you alive if you try to get in their way. I really just don't want anyone to end up homeless or broke in LA with no way to get back to a safe place.
Notice I don't say don't be an extra. If you have no film credits, be an extra. If you have no resume. Be an extra. But, if you want to act, work the right way towards getting out of the extra role. Talking to the director on a big budget set is not likely to get you big work. Talking to the actor might, but they're at work. This is not the time to ask Demi Moore if she's ever heard of you and pass her your portfolio. If you get acquainted then, maybe later on at a coffee shop, you can talk about acting, but plenty of extras get on set to talk to camera guys, actors, and directors to no longer be extras. Be careful and try not to be that guy.
Also, as far as LA goes. Hard town man. You won't be able to go to LA with only extra credits and make a name for yourself as working actor.
I would really love for everyone to get their big break and have all those hours as extras pay off with a big leading role. But lets be realistic. More than anything, I think it's important to know that LA is a hard sell and people with names who live in the area fight tooth and nail to stay employed. They will eat you alive if you try to get in their way. I really just don't want anyone to end up homeless or broke in LA with no way to get back to a safe place.
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