The day started in the backyard at the former home of a former Buffalo Bill, shooting a wedding reception scene with 60 or so guests milling around a pool with a fountain. Casting directors, following stereotypes, tend to give more experienced actors the server positions. It’s funny. I’ve never been a waiter; I just play one on TV.
Extra work has a few purposes.
As far as professional growth, it’s limited to the experience of being on a bigger set, and I get to meet other local actors. Many of the “waiters” were at a similar regional level, and some I’ve worked with, or will work with, in smaller productions.
Sometimes, inexperienced extras think this will be their moment to get “discovered.” It never is. Often they’ll mug for the camera and force additional outtakes. But when they volunteer for a brief featured close-up—especially early in the day—they defeat the most important purpose.
The purpose is to get paid. The director is trying to make the group look larger, so once you’re recognizable, you’re done for the day. While everyone else was trying to get their three seconds in the spotlight, I kept my back to the camera as much as possible. We were paid by the hour.
Out of almost 80 extras, I was among the last two to leave. We were there longer than a lot of the crew and featured players—I got overtime.
It was a long day, but for the last few hours, I was in a small marble kitchen with just a couple other actors, making small talk about everything but work, waiting for the final scenes to get set up. One was Kari Wuhrer, my 90s heartthrob since Sliders. I only realized who she was months later.