I Was A Movie Extra Just For the Fun of It

How to become a movie extra is something of which I have first-hand knowledge. I was a movie extra. It was a great experience. How did I do it?

First of all, another member of my family had always wanted to be on television show or in a movie. He had wanted this since he was old enough to talk. At the very tender age of four, he actually wrote a script.

When I read in the newspaper that a movie was to be made in our locality, I read the article to him. He was so excited, saying that this was his chance to do what he had wanted and dreamed of doing.

The movie was JFK, the city was Dallas, Texas and the director was Oliver Stone. A follow-up article said there was to be a 'Cattle call' on a Saturday, all day and gave the street address. We had to go. Four of us went over to this so-called 'cattle call', named that because the thousands of people who show up mill around like cattle, waiting to be picked out of the crowd.

More than eleven thousand people showed up that day. We actually arrived fairly early, so I had no clue at first how many would be there. We were given directions on where to sit. I told the ones doing the directing that I didn't want to be in the movie, I was just there as support for the others.

Many people were dressed in period clothes. Pill box hats like Jackie's were everywhere. There were so many, it ceased to be 'unusual' and no one woman wearing one stood out. Other hopefuls had chosen other clothes, some really strange looking, they thought would cause them to be noticed.

I wore simple clothing of that current year because I had no aspirations. When the lady came to ask my name, and get other information, I told her that I didn't want to be in her movie. She insisted, I answered just to get her to move on to the next person and she asked me to take off my glasses. I did, she wrote something on a card and gave it to me.

In a little while, someone else came and told me to follow them. I did so reluctantly. I sat with a much smaller group of people and soon Oliver Stone and a young woman came in. They walked about the room and some individuals were given index cards. Before I knew it, I had yet another card with other things on it, given to me by Mr. Stone. Another movie person came for me and I was given a piece of paper and told to read it over while waiting. In a few minutes more, I was in a room, no longer reading lines, but having an audition.

From the audition, I was taken to another room and given a packet of papers and told where and when to go for wardrobe. I was going to be in a movie. I was in a state of shock.

When I told them I would not travel, I was given the part of an extra. I stood on the sidewalk, ran up the grassy knoll, walked down the street and reacted when they told me to. When they told me not to react to the loud gunshots, I jumped anyway. I not only met Oliver Stone and received personal direction, but I saw 'Jack Ruby' from only inches away as he came through the line between me and another extra  on the sidewalk, saw Kevin Costner and heard 'Oswald' rehearsing his lines. 

 For two weeks I dressed up, put on make-up and wore my hair like someone else had done so many years before. I wasn't allowed to wear my glasses and the shoes they gave me didn't fit. In fact, when I ran up the knoll, my shoes came off and it was so funny, I couldn't stop laughing. I still smile about it after all of this time.

We were fed wonderful catered food everyday and worked from very early, while the sky was still dark, until early evening. I was paid minimum wage. If I had spoken, I would have been paid more. If I had been willing to travel to Louisiana, I might have had a speaking part and made more. In which case, I would have been more than a regular extra.

It was all a lot of fun. Although I began the day not having any desire to be in the movie, I am glad I was chosen for a part. I do believe that because I showed up for the 'cattle call' in my normal street wear and acted like 'me' I stood out from the rest of the crowd who had tried to dress for a part.

I wrote this article for another site, but decided I don't want to give over 'all my rights' to the piece.  I decided I didn't want to 'waste' it by deleting, so I thought someone on gather might find it mildly interesting.