Like Jury Duty, With Costumes and Makeup
Wow, I'm glad I'm not trying to make a living as an actor.
A couple weeks ago, word went out via the usual channels (Facebook, etc) that a local jazz band was making a music video, and they wanted people dressed in 1930s style for extras. Well, sure, said the local swing dancers, that sounds awesome! We've got the clothes, we've got the moves--perfect.
OMG, the hurry-up-and-wait. I got there on time, waited to be seen by the costuming and hair people (outfit good, hair good, lose the hat and gloves), then went off for some makeup. Then I sat. And sat. And sat. The shoot was taking place in a crumbling old factory on the west side of town that had been remade into art studios and lofts. It was--on a 90 degree summer day--un-air-conditioned. No, really. And of course that must have been hell on the band and actors and director and camera crew--they at least had something to *do*. Not me. I sat. Along with a bunch of other extras. There were snacks, at least, and some desultory chit-chatting, and heavy-duty fanning. Other than that--sitting. Sometimes standing, when there weren't enough places to sit.
Turns out they did shoot some dancing, but that had been in the morning session. My group was for crowd scenes. Eventually. Twice we got called in, only to be told, "never mind, we don't need you for this scene." Finally they call a group of us in to be the audience for a scene involving a circus performance. While some of us may have been in the shot, I'm absolutely sure my group wasn't, bc the crew were walking in front of us the whole time! So not only did they waste my time, but it seems like they were wasting their own, herding extras they didn't even use, even when we were on the set. Blah.
Well, my hair looked good, at least. But I'm sure glad I don't have to make a living this way.
A couple weeks ago, word went out via the usual channels (Facebook, etc) that a local jazz band was making a music video, and they wanted people dressed in 1930s style for extras. Well, sure, said the local swing dancers, that sounds awesome! We've got the clothes, we've got the moves--perfect.
OMG, the hurry-up-and-wait. I got there on time, waited to be seen by the costuming and hair people (outfit good, hair good, lose the hat and gloves), then went off for some makeup. Then I sat. And sat. And sat. The shoot was taking place in a crumbling old factory on the west side of town that had been remade into art studios and lofts. It was--on a 90 degree summer day--un-air-conditioned. No, really. And of course that must have been hell on the band and actors and director and camera crew--they at least had something to *do*. Not me. I sat. Along with a bunch of other extras. There were snacks, at least, and some desultory chit-chatting, and heavy-duty fanning. Other than that--sitting. Sometimes standing, when there weren't enough places to sit.
Turns out they did shoot some dancing, but that had been in the morning session. My group was for crowd scenes. Eventually. Twice we got called in, only to be told, "never mind, we don't need you for this scene." Finally they call a group of us in to be the audience for a scene involving a circus performance. While some of us may have been in the shot, I'm absolutely sure my group wasn't, bc the crew were walking in front of us the whole time! So not only did they waste my time, but it seems like they were wasting their own, herding extras they didn't even use, even when we were on the set. Blah.
Well, my hair looked good, at least. But I'm sure glad I don't have to make a living this way.