The reality of relocation (and adulthood) is that you are required to pay for things, like rent and electricity.  It’s stupid.  I found a job in Los Angeles, but due to the economy and lack of real full time work, I had to settle for a part time gig.  So on off days, I decided to try my hand at stardom.  So, I signed up to be a “background actor” a.k.a. an “extra.”

Okay, so stardom is a slight exaggeration.  BUT I am queen of walking from tree to mailbox and the like.  And it’s fun.  And the long hours required to make a movie or TV show almost automatically means I’ll get overtime.  Which I can’t turn down.

But I thought I would make a run down of my observations that I have noticed over the course of a month or so.

[UPDATE: as I write this, it's become more of a how to list, so let's run with that, shall we]

1. Pick a friend. It’s going to be an eight, twelve, or sixteen hour day. Yeah, you can take a book or some other entertainment, but realistically, less and less productions allow things like iPhones and iPods on set and you spend a lot of time away from the holding area where your book et al lives, so it’s nice to have someone to talk to.

2. Pick your friend wisely. I’ve learned that they literally let anyone be an extra, including the weirdest, craziest people on the planet.   It’s going to be an eight, twelve, sixteen hour day.  The last thing you want is the weird bag lady, or worse, the 18 year old diva who things she’s a star to be following you around all day.

3. Bring entertainment that takes up no space and uses little brain cells. I touched  on this above, but you need a way to fill the loads of downtime you have.  When you are not on set, you are in “holding,” which usually translates to a miscellaneous space with some folding chairs.  Because it’s probably the one place the production doesn’t need, there usually isn’t a lot of space and there are a normally a lot of bodies to cram in, so bring something small.  If it’s small enough to fit in your pocket, you can tote it to set too.  Also, you’ll have to drop whatever you’re doing at a moments notice and inevitably people strike up conversation.  I suggest a pass time that doesn’t require a stopping point – like a book – and something you can do while chatting to the people around you.  I met a girl who has taken up knitting for this very reason.

4. Enjoy Craft Services but make sure it’s for the Extras. Craft Services is fun.  What part about free all you-can-eat food isn’t?  But sometimes productions separate background crafty and crew/talent crafty.  My theory this is because Extras are toddler ants at a picnic.  They crawl all over everything trying to consume it and leave a mess.  Rule of thumb:  brand name sodas and chocolate bars are for the crew and cast.  Normally Background gets pretzels and coffee.  Though sometimes, Craft Services has a wonderful spread open for all.  Just make sure.  Someone will yell at you if you’re wrong.  Which is just embarrassing.

5. You are not an actor. Not today.  You might want to be one in the future or you are one on your days where you are not working as an extra.  But today, you and I are walking from lamp post to tree, nothing more than that.  This means, please don’t ask the Assistant Director your motivation in the scene and PLEASE do not bore me with your pretention.  It’s going to be a long day regardless and I just don’t need that.

6. Extra work is not rocket surgery, but it is a job, so take it seriously. Follow instructions.  This means from the moment you receive that email about times and wardrobe, follow it.  Don’t bring things that are specifically forbidden.  So many people disregard wardrobe instructions and just show up with whatever suits them.  And then once on set, shut up and listen.  Don’t make jokes when announcements are being made or try to smuggle your phone places.  You might be here because you think it’s cool to be near Brad Pitt or Cobie Smulders, but some of us need this to pay bills, so don’t make it harder on everyone else by being a jackass.

7. Be first in line. You will have to line up on at least three different occasions; to check in, wardrobe approval, and to check out. The first two come when you first arrive on set and the latter, obviously, comes at the end.  Feel when these lines are about to happen and inch towards the person making the announcement.  Just jump in.  Get there. Push people.  Trust me, in a 200 person call, there is no room to be polite or cool.  Trust me, you won’t regret this one.

8. Bring a pen. Communal pens are scarce, even mythical.  And you will be filling out various forms, the very least your pay voucher, so bring a pen.  Sometimes they’ll provide a couple but they glare if you have the gumption to use them.

So, follow those rules and you’ll live to background talent another day.  If you don’t, you probably will too, but you’ll just annoy the crap out of me in the meantime.