The Nature of the Human Ego

Never get upset that your day in the sun comes to an end! My last day worked on the set of Truman Capote was Sunday Nov 7. I was a KBI agent in view scenes and had a great time. I had the pleasure of being up close and personnel with a great actor Chris Cooper. I've been in enough movie productions in the last four years to know that I'm dispensable as an extra. I would of liked to have had more time on the set of this movie, however that's the nature of the business. Here today gone tomorrow! You can't imagine how much ego and personalities that floats around on one set. Be careful what you say and to whom? As an extra you are like a piece of furniture that can be moved and set in place wherever needed! If you feel a little special you may be the only one that thinks so! A place for everybody and everybody in their place. I had a little bit of a rub on my last day on set. I know the drill and the pecking order on the set of a production. We the extras are always placed in a room called extras holding. You do not leave that room under any circumstances!!! Lunch was being served as per usual. We the extras always eat our soup and sandwiches far away from the smell of a full-blown smorgasbord being served a few rooms away. We had a good crowd that day on set. The holding room was full and no place to sit. A few extras dressed as Kansas State patrols decided to sit in the same room as some of the cast and film crew. I decided to sit with them! I asked if they got the ok. I sat down and opened my bag lunch ready to eat, when along came one of the Aid’s and asked us to leave and return to holding! Bad mood, old age, maybe I just had enough of the segregation and class click that goes on in a movie production. I said, “You and I both know that this is nonsense.” Trust me that was a bad move on my part! That kind of talks travels fast and furious thru the ranks and will get to the people that matter! This is not sour grapes just a fact of life on a Hollywood Movie set! Hey they will get over it and call me back when they need my body for an other day of work. The wisdom of this piece is simple in that if you are working as an extra, check you ego and aspirations at the door And follow the rules and you will do just fine.