I drove to 4.5 hours to Atlanta, made my way through check-in…wardrobe…hair…makeup (yeah, I said makeup). Then we moved to holding – a waiting area for extras/background.
Then we waited for an hour or so…then to props. All ready for the scene.
Then another hour or so…did a walk through on set. I was going to be placed about 8 ft from the stars! Oh hell yeah! Right in the shot!!!
We did the walk through with the stand ins (people who fill space for the stars as the shot is set up). Oh yeah!! This is going to be awesome.
We are taken back to holding.
Another hour(ish) and they take us to set. There is an increased flurry of activity, and I hear rumblings. Then we are moved out of the direct shot…then back to props to drop off the cool stuff…out of the area and back to holding.
(I did get to at least give a head nod to the main actors as I passed them – still pretty cool)
They fed us…then told us our roles had been cut. It just wasn’t working in the space, and with the intended shot.
Check out…then 5 hours back home because it is Atlanta.
Dang it!
And that is just how it goes – the life of an extra.
It is long waits (often all night)…costume changes…hair trims…make up (uggggh)… often being obviously so far out of the scene that is hurts (crying sound) because no one will ever see you…
…then getting cut out completely. If you are lucky, four days on set for a couple of seconds of “look that, is me!”.
It isn’t really glamorous, and sometimes less fun than others; but as I have written before, I always wanted to be a part of it. The adventure, the satisfying feeling that comes when you do get to be someone else like a priest, a cameraman, a wealthy fat ole dude…a lawyer or professor…or just someone sitting at a bar for me – completely worth it.
And next week…I am doing it again…and the week after…and now I am logging on to find all the opportunities I can!!
Cause I am having a blast and I love it.
Topwater Moon 