Where's Waldo?

Even for a feature film, there is no glamour involved with being a background actor.  You are literally just that -- someone filling space in the background.  You work a long unpredictable day (typically 10-14 hrs) and even when you are paid, it is usually equivalent to minimum wage. 

Extra work can be a fun opportunity to see what it takes to make a film or video.  I have used it as an interesting way to get a glimpse of a world that I am not familiar with.  I have met some cool passionate people who are still working towards their big break (an idea that I love regardless of whether it is for acting or anything else in life).

This is a DHS Training Video created for the Lodging Subsector called "No Reservations" (click here for a link to the DHS website for a hi-def download).

When you are an Extra, your job is be part of the background and not to be a point of focus.  Here's approximately where you can spot me in this video (and no, you won't be able to point me out if I didn't tell you exactly where I was):

• 0:55 seconds - That is my elbow, skirt, and purse on the right edge of the screen (I was supposed to pretend to be on the cell phone)
• 1:03 seconds - That is me standing in the distant back to the left of the flags
• 1:23 seconds - Don't blink, but that is me pulling a suitcase (you can hear the wheels) behind the column right before the kid says "Hi, Dad!"

Did you miss me?  THAT's how good of a job I did.

If you are ever trying to learn the secret to a magician's card trick, you know not to focus on the card at the center of attention, but to observe everything else on stage.  It's a difficult concept so I don't blame you if you didn't see me.  Try again.

It was a 10-12 hour shoot, and the scenes that I participated in may have filled 3 minutes of this entire 9-minute video. 

To find Extra work, register with a local casting agency.  In the DC area, I am registered with Central Casting.  DragonukConnects.com is another fantastic website fo find out about potential jobs in entertainment in the DC/VA/MD/PA area.

It's hard work, but someone has to do it.