Thursday, July 2, 2009

Extra! Extra!


Last Wednesday I had the opportunity to be an "extra" (or, as they called us..."Background Talent") in the movie My Girlfriend's Boyfriend (2010) with Alyssa Milano, Christopher Gorham, and Beau Bridges. It was an interesting experience.

I was part of a wedding scene, seated in the chapel. I doubt anyone will see me in the movie since I am on the back row and there are crew members lounging around behind me. There is a scene outside the chapel where I may or may not survive the cutting room floor. Hahaha.  

I'll tell ya this much: I learned that the true blue "extras" will elbow people in the ribs and gouge out eyes (practically) in the fight for on-camera time. Sheesh! Good thing I wasn't clamoring to be "seen" in the scene, or I might have lost a limb! It wasn't bad when we were seated in the chapel...since we were each told exactly where to sit. But when the wedding guests had to "pour" out of the chapel doors....well, let's just say it was not pretty behind those doors before the call to "action!" I will never be able to view such scenes in a movie again without picturing the blood bath behind the doors!

[Update: At the time of this writing, the film was still in production, but I returned to add a link to the film on IMDb, released in 2010. And I did survive the cutting room floor in one of the scenes. I'm one of the wedding guests waving to the newlyweds as they drive away.]