I'm not normally a spontaneous person. I generally think things through to the point of over thinking them and eventually convincing myself not to do whatever it was I was considering doing in the first place (got all that?). Well, sometimes you just have to act on instinct and bypass all those voices of reason; the ones that say 'thats so not me' and 'am I just wasting my time?'. It seems that yesterday, I successfully managed to defenestrate those thoughts (look it up... its a fun word).
It began Monday when I decided to explore Venice for a bit. I meandered through the canals and slowly made my way to the beach where I had grand plans for studying the afternoon away. If you've ever tried to study in say Hawaii, then you probably already know that no actual studying really took place that afternoon. Its hard not to feel like you're on vacation when your in Venice. Mostly, I lay out on the grass staring dreamy eyed at the sparkling Pacific, and then the bicyclers, street performers, skateboarders, graffiti artists, hippies, and tourists who passed by. I can't help myself. I love people watching. Well, being the observant person I am, you would think I noticed that on my way to my little patch of grass, I walked right through a set for a show that was filming that day. I didn't actually process this odd congregation of electronics and lighting and people until I had finished 'studying' and started the trek back to my car. Of course this time around, the realization sunk in when I noticed the same twelve beachgoers whom I'd seen an hour earlier were still walking/biking/rollerblading up and down the same twenty foot stretch of pavement. Finally it clicked.
I'm not really a diehard movie/TV fan except on a few occasions of which I'm not the most proud (Twilight), but when you accidentally come across a film set in LA, its hard to tear your eyes away. I may not buy star maps in Bel Air or stalk famous people vicariously through the paparazzi, but I'm still a curious creature by nature. So when I saw this scene, I had to sit back down and observe with a number of other passersby for a while. The scene took place on a basketball court just beyond all the shops and Muscle Beach. I couldn't really tell who were the main actors but after a few minutes, I began to get the feeling one of the guys playing basketball looked very familiar. Finally, as I got up, I asked a nearby tourist if he knew what show was being filmed. His answer was "We're filming the show Private Practice". Before I had time to process the name of the show, I looked around me and suddenly realized that almost all the people hanging out around this basketball court were PART of the scene! And I was obvlivious. Another click. Wait, Private Practice? That would mean those guys out there playing basketball are Taye Diggs and Tim Daly. Click and click.
I was intrigued, so naturally I continued to stand there and chat with the extra (no longer the tourist) for a few minutes about his job. It sounded like such a cool way to experience film making without having to first be an acting prodigy. Granted the hours are long and the pays not spectacular, but you learn a lot and meet tons of people. Sounds like something I would like, but would never actually take the steps to do. But hey, it doesn't hurt to research it a little right? Well, I returned home and proceeded to spend the rest of my afternoon googling 'how to become a background actor'. After extensive reading, I found myself at the website for one of the largest extras casting agency in LA, Central Casting (some of the smaller companies can just take your money and run). They were only open three days a week for one hour to register non-union extras. Wednesday from 10:30-11:30am was apparently my next chance. I printed out the paperwork and started filling it out. I was one step closer to well, nothing. I didn't really intend to go through with it, but it made me feel better to pretend I was doing something.
Turns out all that pretending was a series of nudges towards going through with the real thing. It wasn't until I woke up Wednesday morning that I realized I'd done so much work for this that it would be stupid of me not to give it a shot... or head shot to be specific. I dolled myself up and headed out to Burbank. Three hours, a line of over 100 people, and $25 later, I had my photo in their data base and a phone number in my hand. Thats one hard earned phone number. It was also my ticket to hearing directly from casting directors about which shows were looking for extras. It doesn't sound like its going to be the easiest thing to book, but considering the multitude of interesting people I met yesterday, I really think it would be an entertaining and enlightening experience. It helps when you're not actually trying to break into the acting business, and you don't actually care if you make it on film, or meet the actors. But, regardless, I'm glad I took that leap today. It was worth it. Here comes Katie, the next big thing in the world of unseen extras!
I was intrigued, so naturally I continued to stand there and chat with the extra (no longer the tourist) for a few minutes about his job. It sounded like such a cool way to experience film making without having to first be an acting prodigy. Granted the hours are long and the pays not spectacular, but you learn a lot and meet tons of people. Sounds like something I would like, but would never actually take the steps to do. But hey, it doesn't hurt to research it a little right? Well, I returned home and proceeded to spend the rest of my afternoon googling 'how to become a background actor'. After extensive reading, I found myself at the website for one of the largest extras casting agency in LA, Central Casting (some of the smaller companies can just take your money and run). They were only open three days a week for one hour to register non-union extras. Wednesday from 10:30-11:30am was apparently my next chance. I printed out the paperwork and started filling it out. I was one step closer to well, nothing. I didn't really intend to go through with it, but it made me feel better to pretend I was doing something.
Turns out all that pretending was a series of nudges towards going through with the real thing. It wasn't until I woke up Wednesday morning that I realized I'd done so much work for this that it would be stupid of me not to give it a shot... or head shot to be specific. I dolled myself up and headed out to Burbank. Three hours, a line of over 100 people, and $25 later, I had my photo in their data base and a phone number in my hand. Thats one hard earned phone number. It was also my ticket to hearing directly from casting directors about which shows were looking for extras. It doesn't sound like its going to be the easiest thing to book, but considering the multitude of interesting people I met yesterday, I really think it would be an entertaining and enlightening experience. It helps when you're not actually trying to break into the acting business, and you don't actually care if you make it on film, or meet the actors. But, regardless, I'm glad I took that leap today. It was worth it. Here comes Katie, the next big thing in the world of unseen extras!
1 comment:
first of all "defenestrated" reminds me of fenestrated blood vessels or something anatomy like that.
secondly aahhh!!! PRIVATE PRACTICE!!!!! i would have googley-eyed the shoot with you all day long.
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