Have You Been in a TV Show or Movie?

[Mario_is_BACK!!]

Just a thought I had for a random thread here. It’s simple: have you been on TV, in a movie, what have you?

My first pay check came as an extra in the movie O, a modern take on Othello that filmed in the late 90s.

I live in an area with a good deal of TV and movies filming lately. I had a good six year stretch of being seen in the background of a show. From shows like Reckless, South of Hell, The Inspectors and Vice Principals to a movie called Leavy.

Currently Outer Banks and Righteous Gemstones film here and I’m trying to find a day or two to get on board.

I also spent seven years in radio and now run ESPN+ productions but that doesn’t really count I suppose.

What about you? What’s your claim to fame?

Click to read more...

 

[Mantis]

None that I am allowed to talk about on this website.

 

[ProstheticConscience]

Extra in 21 Jump Street (original show, not the movie), Sliders, a couple of tv movies (an Omen sequel was in there somewhere, can't remember which one), a bunch of student stuff in the 90's. Limited voiceover work for mostly same. Recorded some lines for a Star Wars: KotOR mod, but don't know if much ever came of the greater project.

 

[alko]

How much do they pay for a no name character, that doesnt do anything in a movie.

 

[Baby Punisher]

When I was a kid I did several commercials and print work.
I was in Die Hard with Vengeance as an unwilling extra.

 

[I Hart Conor Garland]

I was on Shaw cable channel four minor hockey weekly. I was in goal that week. I let in a soft and rolling slapper from like twenty feet in from a nine year old. I cried.

 

[Deadpool8812]

Extra in 21 Jump Street (original show, not the movie), Sliders, a couple of tv movies (an Omen sequel was in there somewhere, can't remember which one), a bunch of student stuff in the 90's. Limited voiceover work for mostly same. Recorded some lines for a Star Wars: KotOR mod, but don't know if much ever came of the greater project.

Love Sliders...what was that like?

 

[Babe Ruth]

How much do they pay for a no name character, that doesnt do anything in a movie.

Back in the first decade of the 2000s, in LA, you'd probably make about $150 for a day's work as a (non speaking) extra. And you'd get free food during the shoot.
Something interesting about the filming locations (before GPS etc) is that sometimes film sites (where extras needed to show up at) would be identified by signs with random code words (given beforehand to the hired extras), attached to lamp posts. Guess the studios didn't want their locales openly identified & overwhelmed with curious bystanders/tourists..
At that time I was living about a block off Hollywood Blvd, once in a while I'd walk up to a ceremony for a new star on the Walk of Fame.. and be in a TV' crowd shot..

 

[Mario_is_BACK!!]

Back in the first decade of the 2000s, in LA, you'd probably make about $150 for a day's work as a (non speaking) extra. And you'd get free food during the shoot.
Something interesting about the filming locations (before GPS etc) is that sometimes film sites (where extras needed to show up at) would be identified by signs with random code words (given beforehand to the hired extras), attached to lamp posts. Guess the studios didn't want their locales openly identified & overwhelmed with curious bystanders/tourists..
At that time I was living about a block off Hollywood Blvd, once in a while I'd walk up to a ceremony for a new star on the Walk of Fame.. and be in a TV' crowd shot..

In my experience it’s been around $85 for 8 hours, overtime after that. CBS’ The Inspectors paid much better, over $100 per episode (and overtime over 8).

My (future) wife and I did an episode where we were an engaged couple getting swindled out of money. We were there for two hours and wrapped. Extremely easy $100.

The sign thing is still big. I love driving around town and seeing them.

 

[Satans Hockey]

I'm in the crowd of the main event match for The Wrestler with Mickey Rourke. Paid to be there actually because the normal events were two Ring of Honor shows on back to back nights at the Baker Theater in Dover, NJ. They filmed the main event for the movie on both of those nights for maybe 30 mins or so if I'm remembering correctly each night. They would tell the crowd what to do, etc.

They really worked some movie magic because the match itself looked awful but when you watch the movie it was so much better lol

 

[tardigrade81]

When they were filming donkeyhead in Regina here on Victoria Ave, I walked past the set a few times on my way home from work. Maybe I’m in the background. Have to watch the movie to see lol

 

[Jumptheshark]

Just a thought I had for a random thread here. It’s simple: have you been on TV, in a movie, what have you?

My first pay check came as an extra in the movie O, a modern take on Othello that filmed in the late 90s.

I live in an area with a good deal of TV and movies filming lately. I had a good six year stretch of being seen in the background of a show. From shows like Reckless, South of Hell, The Inspectors and Vice Principals to a movie called Leavy.

Currently Outer Banks and Righteous Gemstones film here and I’m trying to find a day or two to get on board.

I also spent seven years in radio and now run ESPN+ productions but that doesn’t really count I suppose.

What about you? What’s your claim to fame?

Boston Bob on the site is an actor who did a lot of FOX/CW for awhile

I did a lot of extra work between 1990 and 2000 in Vancouver

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

My cousin went to LA to act in the mid 90s and got a big scene in “Soldier” with Kurt Russel.

He was really excited for us to see it, and then it got cut from the movie.

He never did get any big breaks, but he did win a Mustang and the showcase showdown on the Price is Right.

Kind of funny about the Mustang is that a week before he won it, he was on a date with the girl who played “Six” on Blossom and his car broke down with her in it.

I think his last words to her were:

“Would you mind helping me push it to the gas station?”

 

[Babe Ruth]

My (future) wife and I did an episode where we were an engaged couple getting swindled out of money. We were there for two hours and wrapped. Extremely easy $100.

The sign thing is still big. I love driving around town and seeing them.

Mario.. I'm surprised studios still do the location signs. Back then everybody still navigated by sight, or paper maps, so they seemed vital. Didn't think ppl would need 'em in GPS era, but..
Congrats on the extra work.. I remember even if someone never got bigger, better paying jobs, extra work was still good networking. And u meet a lot of cool people, mostly transplants (to party with).

 

[Babe Ruth]

Kind of funny about the Mustang is that a week before he won it, he was on a date with the girl who played “Six” on Blossom and his car broke down with her in it.

That's awesome as Hell..
I used to manage a retail store in Encino. Around 2005, I'm walking thru the store, and I peripherally notice a great, curvy profile in one of the aisles. So I make a u-turn to do a walk-by, it was 'Six' von Öy. She was one of the sexiest actresses I've ever seen in person. Short, great body & nice face. We were at the base of the Encino Hills, so I saw a lot of famous women shopping, and most look surprisingly ordinary. But 'Six' was a 10.. Regardless of how his date turned out, as far as I'm concerned, your cousin is a legend.

 

[Mario_is_BACK!!]

Mario.. I'm surprised studios still do the location signs. Back then everybody still navigated by sight, or paper maps, so they seemed vital. Didn't think ppl would need 'em in GPS era, but..
Congrats on the extra work.. I remember even if someone never got bigger, better paying jobs, extra work was still good networking. And u meet a lot of cool people, mostly transplants (to party with).

I was freelancing full time at the time (I work in sports production) and summer time is beyond dead aside from Minor League Baseball's $75 a game so I took up doing extra work when ever I could do earn some extra cash. I always really enjoyed it plus you get that thrill of "Hey, that's me on TV!" Plus you get the meet some cool people. I did an episode of The Inspectors with Dan Marino (I'm in the plaid shirt)

As I said, my eventual wife and I did an episode of Inspectors before we were engaged playing an engaged couple. They asked for a bunch of photos of us and our friends to give us "our" apartment.

The hurry up and wait can suck. I did a 16 hour day on Vice Principals. It was exhausting, but Danny McBridge and Walton Goggins are cool as hell. I had to shave my head to be a soldier in Leavey and only my shoulder made it in, which being next to Kate Mara I thought for sure I'd be in it. It's a neat mixed bag.

 

[Jack Straw]

I was an extra in the movie "Frantic" (I was living in Paris at the time). I was in an airport scene where Harrison Ford's character is talking to someone he knows near the baggage pickup. Roman Polanski was the director and he shot the scene so many times we were there all day.

 

[Pranzo Oltranzista]

I was an extra in the movie "Frantic" (I was living in Paris at the time). I was an airport scene where Harrison Ford's character is talking to someone he knows near the baggage pickup. Roman Polanski was the director and he shot the scene so many times we were there all day.

Pretty cool flick too!

 

[ProstheticConscience]

How much do they pay for a no name character, that doesnt do anything in a movie.

...not a whole lot IIRC. Depends where you are, union rates, all that. Been so long I doubt if anything I remember applies to current production standards. Definitive answers should be just a google search away.

Love Sliders...what was that like?

Didn't really do much; was an extra in a crowd scene. There was an episode (1st season, I think) where the cast is in a time where the end of the world is coming, and a bunch of people are having a big party in the art gallery. Made a point of watching for that episode even though I didn't watch the show. Didn't see myself in that scene.

 

[Rodgerwilco]

I was selected to be an extra in The Dark Knight Rises (the one with Bane where they destroyed Heinz Field in Pittsburgh). I had other arrangements that day and wasn't able to participate.

I was an extra in the movie "I Am Number Four", but I was never able to spot myself in the background of the movie. It's a pretty shit movie so I didn't care to watch it any more than twice to keep looking and at this point I have no memory of what I was even wearing that day. An acquaintance of mine who I pointed out in the pic (I believe was trying to get into modeling at the time) ended up getting some face-time as one of the "bullies".

Awesome idea for a thread by the way @Mario_is_BACK!!

 

[Jack Straw]

Pretty cool flick too!

Harrison Ford wasn’t as tall as I thought he’d be. Lol

 

[x Tame Impala]

Buddy of mine used to do some relatively consistent work as an extra on Chicago Fire/Chicago PD. He said the quantity and quality of the food on these sets was awesome. The pay isn't great and it's long days.

 

[Jumptheshark]

That's awesome as Hell..
I used to manage a retail store in Encino. Around 2005, I'm walking thru the store, and I peripherally notice a great, curvy profile in one of the aisles. So I make a u-turn to do a walk-by, it was 'Six' von Öy. She was one of the sexiest actresses I've ever seen in person. Short, great body & nice face. We were at the base of the Encino Hills, so I saw a lot of famous women shopping, and most look surprisingly ordinary. But 'Six' was a 10.. Regardless of how his date turned out, as far as I'm concerned, your cousin is a legend.

Jenna Von Oy played six and was an interesting girl to say the least. A few years ago she was filming something in Vancouver but left abruptly and the local media suggested that she "had personal problems" and well--we know what that is code for. My roommate at the time was working on the movie and said she quit after the director and producer tried to get get to do a scene "for European" release and she said no

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

That's awesome as Hell..
I used to manage a retail store in Encino. Around 2005, I'm walking thru the store, and I peripherally notice a great, curvy profile in one of the aisles. So I make a u-turn to do a walk-by, it was 'Six' von Öy. She was one of the sexiest actresses I've ever seen in person. Short, great body & nice face. We were at the base of the Encino Hills, so I saw a lot of famous women shopping, and most look surprisingly ordinary. But 'Six' was a 10.. Regardless of how his date turned out, as far as I'm concerned, your cousin is a legend.

I forget how he met her, I’ll have to ask him next time we speak.

He did look a lot like ripped up Joey Lawrence in his youth, and I think Six in Blossom had a crush on his character in the show..?

Life imitating art maybe?

He did pretty well for himself out in LA though… never broke into acting but he married a hot B-list actress and started his own business.

Even in the story I wrote above he had a horseshoe up his ass - how many people have their cars go to the boneyard and win a new one on the Price Is Right?

 

[BostonBob]

Boston Bob on the site is an actor who did a lot of FOX/CW for awhile

It's true - I started doing background work a few years after I moved to Vancouver in 1992. It was a fun way to make some extra cash on my off days as a bartender. I lucked into a few small acting parts ( right time and right place ) and got my 6 credits and then became a member of ACTRA and UBCP ( Union of BC Performers ). Almost everything I have done on screen has been of the " don't blink or you will miss me " type of roles. Surely you all remember my most well known part of Cop #3 on a season 5 episode of X-Files which is where I had the famous " Here's those files you wanted Jim " line. Anyway - because of what COVID has done to the bar business here in Vancouver my only work these days is in the film & TV industry where I go to auditions and do background work, small acting jobs plus Stand-In and Photo-Double work. It's a great industry to work in but the one big down fall is you never really know just when you are going to work as things are always getting changed at the last minute. Most people in other industries know how much they are going to work each week and how much their take home salary is going to be. In my case I can work 1 day a week or 5 days a week and depending on what my job is I can actually make more money for a 1 day week then I would for a 5 day week.

Because of this thread I will be offering a 25% off special on my autographed head shots to most HFBoards members ( Maple Leaf fans will still pay full price ) until the end of February. Send me a PM for details. Please note that this special offer is only for autographed 8x10's - personalized requests will be charged the regular price of $99.99 or 2 for $198.95.