Monday, November 10, 2008
Extras
I was just thinking about extras in TV shows and something occurred to me. You often see some extra in the background of two or three shots but they never have a line throughout a whole episode. How often do you think the actor was given a line, felt like it was going to be his or her big break then for time constraints "pass me the sugar" or whatever it is gets cut? Because I am sure to get episodes to be nearly exactly the same time each week small cuts are always necessary and directors are probably more likely to cut some extra's lines than the stars who are liable to throw a tantrum over their 'art' being tampered with. Sad really.
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4 comments:
UMMMMM i recommend to you the TV Sitcom entitled: "The Extras" written by The Office masterminds Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.
I have seen it. It is alright.
I wonder if it affects the pay of the extra if the line is cut and not on the actual show. I always heard that if you don't get to say a line, you make less. Well if do get to say a line and then it gets cut out, do you get paid still? Paid upfront for most actors right? Interesting question that should be researched!
Actually, having noodled around the backlots of paramount a few times (I know a V.P. there) there is a diffence between "extras" who are the folks that are just being more or less a prop (the nameless faces in a croud) and actors that have a line or even a direct connection with a main character (delivers a package or throws them something, etc.) Those guys are actually auditioned and if you pay close attention you will see them in different shows in very small parts with single lines (I guess they got their leg in the door so to speak).
Just plain old extras are usually always S.A.G. and they usually have another job, because they may only be an Extra a few times a month. They pretty much all get paid the minimum daily pay for a S.A.G. actor, which is between $300-$400 (I forget the exact amount) And they do usually have to work all day, meaning they stand around in their place for hours on end waiting for the director to get ready, or the crew to set up shots, or the star to finish a different scene and all that. Even after the scent they often have to hang around for the director to review the rough take to decide if they want to reshoot it.
Funny story... last time I was at Paramount, I was with a group walking through the outdoor set for "everybody hates Chris" with one of the higher up's around Paramount (I forget what she did, but it was something to do with being in charge of all the filming being done by outside studios on Paramounts sets). She was talking about the show, and someone asked who all the people (the extra's) were. She said, "Oh, there just fake people, because it would look funny if the streets were deserted"
One of the extras yelled back, "Were not fake, we're real!"
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