Extra Special?
How being in the background needs to be just that
This week, I officially gave up taking work as a supporting artiste.
This is something I should have done a long time ago.
It’s been said to me many times by many people that there is no way I should be taking that sort of work if I have any faith in myself as an actor. Despite many years doing the job on a huge amount of productions, the work itself cannot be added as a credit to my CV.
Well, aside from my featured supporting artiste role in season 3 of The Crown. I had a name. I was Michael. I was uncredited, but I was Michael dammit!
In all seriousness though, I absolutely understand the defamatory opinions of being a supporting artiste — or “extra” as is the more popular moniker. Some of them are true:
· The early start times. Arriving at a random location at 6am to queue up like cattle being herded to costume and makeup, before attempting to eat breakfast while attempting to avoid said costume and makeup getting spoiled, is not fun.
· The long hours. Arriving at said call time to then potentially not be used on set for another four hours, or maybe a lot longer, can be arduous to say the least. I have no problem working long hours, provided I am doing something. Sitting around waiting is less fun than it seems. The cattle analogy doesn’t end with the initial queues. You’re moved around en masse to room after room before hoping to be chosen to go on set.
· The attitudes towards the job by the crew. Some of them just don’t like the living, breathing props. Once I was given simple instructions to walk through an office scene. The issue I ended up with was having to walk past a plastic lighting sheet that was far too close for me to get past with making it ripple. The noise meant I was chewed out the sound tech, when all I was doing was trying to keep the continuity (the scene never made the final edit. Go figure).
· The attitudes of the other extras. My goodness, some people I’ve met on these sets. The ones that make a fuss that they can’t use their phones on set. The ones that play music on their devices so loud you might as well be sharing their headphones. The ones that are so desperate to be on camera, they will be change the direction they’ve been given (very unprofessional!).
· The costumes and makeup. I love a great costume, but when you’re given the most ill fitting jodhpurs, knee-scrapingly uncomfortable boots and a unique (in that you’re the only extra out of hundreds on set wearing one) beret to wear for a four day shoot, you kind of would like to be seen in the final cut. As for makeup, I can have so many times when I’m told I haven’t shaved when in fact I have — my facial hair just grows quickly. I’m sure my blurred in the background face won’t ruin the production.
I should point out that the previous list is inspired by some rare experiences. Most of my time as an extra has, in fact, been very positive. I recently worked on some sets that dealt with the Covid restrictions incredibly well. The people who direct the extras should have their own awards, as theirs is a thankless task. I’ve learned a lot about on set etiquette, met some wonderful people and had some very funny and worthwhile moments, some I will share in future blogs.
The main reason I am quitting extra work is the lack of satisfaction. I live in Essex and a lot of the work I would get would be London based. Not a problem, it’s easy for me to get to London via train. If it’s the other side of London and too early for rail, it’s fine as I drive. However, that means early drive times, sometimes very long and late journeys home. The trains can come at a cost due to peak time, which the bonus travel fare doesn’t really cover for me being outside the capital. The pay can sometimes be very good, but when it’s come down to breaking down how much you actually earn after travel, food and, most importantly, the agency fee, it sometimes is just not worth it.
Being a supporting artiste is a very worthwhile thing to do at a certain point in one’s career. But it comes to a point where the travel, money and work satisfaction just doesn’t appeal anymore. When I do anything in my work life, I do want a certain level of recognition for it. Extra work can’t give that to me.
I admit that I have been complacent in where I want to be in my career. If giving up this line of work helps me concentrate on and achieve greater satisfaction in my career, then it will be worth it.
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