Extras

[JonathonWally]

During college I worked at the Gap. We were a big Gap, but one not in a mall so we didn't have any heavy foot traffic so it was pretty common for TV people shooting in the area to come in all the time for wardrobe stuff.

Being in North Jersey, 2 big shows that filmed locally were "Ed" and "The Sopranos"
The guys from Ed used to come in mid morning on weekdays and do their thing, so I would end up talking to them a lot. One time we got to talking and I brought up how I lived right down the street from the common street they used to shoot on and I walk down on Sunday mornings and watch them film. So they told me to I should always come down even earlier and talk to them on scene when they were preparing the shoot, saying they could always use some extra people around.

I don't know if I was ever on screen shown walking in the background though.

The Sopranos thing was a different story, since I refused to watch the show, I have no idea if I was ever seen.

I was also in a ton of Sports Illustrated for Kids commercials when I was in grammer school. They loved the look of our field and our uniforms so they came all the time during our soccer practices to shoot their commercials. I have them all on tapes somewhere around here, but it's been so long.

[Super Grover]

My Grandparents got to be in the background of a locally produced commercial for a country club. We were there because I had a golf lesson, and they were waiting in the clubhouse. The guy making the spot asked if they wanted to be in the commercial, and they would get a free dinner. I would see that spot running every once in a while, and always look for them.

[jamestyler]

I've done it a couple of times but only once in the past few years.

I'm told I should be proud of being in Phoo Action since it bizarrely won a Scottish BAFTA for best drama. I was initially hired in to do some fight scenes as, and this is the 2nd AD's words; they needed 'fat guys who can fight'.

Odd thing was we had a big stunt director who was filled with great ideas for the main fight sequence and we had to teach him basic wrestling reversals.

And this was the result;
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PynYTdCxU4g

And watching that back, I noticed I'm in it twice as I got an extra day as a photographer... and they called me back to be an evil overlord type. 12 hours minimum per day away from my daughter though, so I never did it again.

There was also a very nice documentary where I gave a very passionate interview but the bastard funding fell though and my genius was lost forever

[Holdfast]

ScottDS wrote:

---

That was shot at a real strip club off of Olympic or Pico or something. They used real strippers but they were clothed (barely). The 2nd assistant director (in charge of extras) actually had to warn some of the guys not to talk to the strippers or ask them questions like "When's your next shift?" I actually got to sit at the main stage and fling fake money to one girl in six-inch heels!

My kind of hard work.

jamestyler wrote:

---

I'm told I should be proud of being in Phoo Action since it bizarrely won a Scottish BAFTA for best drama. I was initially hired in to do some fight scenes as, and this is the 2nd AD's words; they needed 'fat guys who can fight'.

My kind of entertainment.