I was a factory worker in Russia on November 22, 1963, the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Actually, I wasn’t even born yet. But the other day I had an opportunity to be an extra in the television show Granite Flats. The scene in the episode being filmed was taking place on that historical day.
Was it my big break into show business? Most likely not—dang. I will be lucky if I am even seen when the episode airs—but I will be looking and hoping. And if you can see me, I will probably tell everyone one I know.
Being seen, or rather being the focus of the action isn’t the role of an extra in a movie. Even so, as essential as the main actors are to the scene, so are all of the extras. Extras provide the background that will make the scene believable. Each role is vital to the overall production.
I got to thinking about my working world, the kind of work most of us do opposed to the show business kind of work. In an office environment the role of “staff” is a lot like the role of an extra—vital to the overall production of the company but not one of the roles that gets the focus. The same applies for the line worker on a production line. These are the essential “extras” of the business—needed but often not noticed.
It takes all roles to create a successful production, be it on a movie set or at a company. In reality, no one is an “extra” or they wouldn’t be getting paid to be there—movie set or business office. So to all the extras, be it on a movie set, in the office, or on the production line, good for you for making the production possible and know you are important.
There were about 30 of us extras on set that day. The big surprise for me was running into two of my friends who also showed up to be extras. One was Wes Wright, my neighbor, and fantastic artist. The other was my friend from childhood, John Dougall, now the state auditor. We had a lot of fun playing dress up and hanging out on the set.
When you see the episode of Granite Flats, you might see me. My role was to walk into the scene, past the star who was sitting down playing a game of chess with another actor, and on out of frame. I will be the short Russian in the long winter coat and big furry black hat. Ah, the lure of potential stardom.
You look good comrade!