Everyone thinks all that exists in Hollywood is fake. This is the actors, the people, the stories, sets, mindsets, and everything in between. Yet, it was in Hollywood that I have met some of my longest standing friendships, and for most of them, they have been on Hollywood sets.
Years ago, I was an extra on television shows, movies, and music videos. This was a flexible part time job that was complimentary to my full time life as a graduate student. Generally I worked 1-2 times per week on anything from shows like E.R., Felicity, or Friends to an Olsen twins movie or a Steven Spielberg film. I never made the Screen Actors Guild Union, and therefore was non-union and paid minimum wage. At that time, I believe it equated to $50 for 8 hours of work. Anything beyond that was over time, double time or triple time. But I didn’t do this for the money, or any type of exposure. I wasn’t planning to go into film or any aspect of this realm. I did this for the experience. Yes, part of what pulled me to this was the intrigue of working side by side by those I admired. We were ”background”, this is what we were called background performers and were literally moving background pieces of a scene. Yet, I also did extra work to meet other people. I was new to the city, and wanted a chance to connect with others. This was before the age of social media and smart phones, we met people the old fashioned way IRL, in real life.
Although we didn’t get paid well, there were benefits to doing extra work. This included generally getting free meals and snacks, but also loads of free time. I used this strategically as opportunities to read and study for graduate school classes, nap, and also get to know other people who were my age. The most fascinating thing is some of these people I met during those days are still in my life today. It’s been over 20 years from the time I met them and we are still friends. Some of the people who have remained in my life have been met through the friends I connected with as an extra.
It’s interesting to create bonds over fantasy world. For example, one of my closest friends Isabella, we met on the set of a short lived show called Freakylinks, starring Ethan Embry. The Assistant Director told us to be best friends, we had bookbags on and were in the scenes of a school hallway. Little did he know we would stay friends for years after and travel the world together.
That period of time was fascinating, it was a surreal double or triple life I led. I was a graduate student, an extra for Hollywood films, and an intern at various sites. These included a female correctional facility, working with foster children in Compton, or a female private catholic college. I guess we all live multiple lives, we play different roles. We are all background actors in numerous people’s lives, play supportive cast in others, and hopefully take the lead role in our own lives.
What type of roles are you playing now? What does the set look like? Who are the cast of characters that fill your life? What genre is your life replicating and do you like it? If not, what genre would it be if you could change it?
It Only Takes A Smile 