Let me just start this by saying that I can't wait till we experience our cool weather. I'm not talking about lower 80s fall weather, no I want the lower 70s to be upon us already. IT'S OCTOBER!!! Shouldn't the leaves be changing colors, kids playing outside in fair isle sweaters, bobbing for apples... autum/fall stuff like that. Instead it's hot, I wear a light sweater and immediately get sweaty pits. I say this every October, I'm over this Texas heat!
So we start the day as I drive into Austin, and my "check engine" light turns on. Great, I still have a ways to go before I get to set, so I pray the car engine Gods that I at least get there. Success! Both ways. I end up getting there about an hour early so I sit tight in my car with the AC, coating on some extra makeup, listening to Austin radio stations which actually blow as much as San Antonio radio, read a book, but I was people watching too much to pay attention to my readings. I watched as wardrobe selected the outfits for some other extras, saw the main actors walking around talking on their cell phones, walking their dogs, it was pretty cool to watch the "background" of it all.
Finaly it was time for me to go check in, and then go to wardrobe myself. The nice lady told me to wear my sweater option that I brought and I though, lovely.... let's wear a sweater in this heat. Needless to say, I didn't feel to cozy but hey what was I going to do, "Um, excuse nice wardrobe lady but I'm hot so I need you to get me a short sleeve shirt or else I'm going to be sweaty." Suuuure, that's gonna fly. I change in the port-a-pottys, which oddly enough are extremly clean. Not like I could just sit in there like it's a cozy seat or something, but compared to the ones at like a concert, these are 4 star hotel Port-a-potties. I change, dump my extra crap in the car and head back to our holding kenel, at least there's AC. Not for long, they shut it off as soon as I sat down to enjoy it. greeeat.
I sit down and little by little my table starts to fill with people, a nice lady and a young couple. We all chit chat, hear each other stories, learned how we got to this point today. It's really awesome when you think about all the people that you meet at these things. I've met struggling actors, actual working actors, people who just want to see their face on T.V., everything... and to hear their stories is amazing. The young couple at my table are regional Theater actors, so they move where ever there's work. If they get a touring play in New York, they move there and travel all over the nation with their play and when it's done, it's off to the next state where they can find work. Isnt' that awesome! You don't know where you will be in 6months but you know that ultimately you will be doing what you love the most. I could work this lame 8-5 job everyday till I die, but I would die unfullfiled and unsatisfied with life. I would choose to be a starving actor anyday, ok... well not starving. haha. But you know what I mean, why spend your life working for someone, when you can work for yourself? OK ok ok... I need to stop and get back to the blog at hand here.
Back to the day, So we wait a while in the (no)AC holding pen and finaly they tell us that we can go to Applebee's for the scene, oh wait I forgot to mention. I'm playing an Applebee's customer for this scene. So we actualy have to drive to the set, I'm a bit worried cause the whole check engine light mess but I'm off to my destination. We get there (in traffic) and the crew is setting up the scene, they place us at our table and then give us drinks. Score! Now people, I'm not talking about Drinky drinks, just your regualar ol' soda and tea. Imagine a bunch of extras all hopped up on liqour on set. It would of been a bit reckless. So anywho, then they start piling on the food. And we got a lot of food! First it was a kids meal, and chicken wings.. then the brought out the steak and shrimp (my plate), then some tex-mex chicken plate, and a chicken salad type deal.
So we have all this food on our table and we had to pantomine the entire time eating. Really you put a bunch of food in front of hungry people and you want us to pantomine eating... ppppsshhhhhhhh. We were wolfing down that food, we were so starved. (I guess I am a starving actor after all). We weren't supposed to talk really but our table was so giggly and giddy with edible delight I think we stood out a bit. Awesome. Then like any grammer school they separated us, which really wasn't because of our voices or gorgeous smiles... they just needed to fill some space on the other side. So me and another guy go over there. We shot maybe two or three takes then they wrapped us. It was such a short day, kinda bummed but then I enjoyed driving back to san antonio at a reasonable time.
Today was a lot of fun, I enjoyed it a lot. But I realize each time I do this that being an extra... well it kinda sucks. Let's be honest, you're waiting for hours in the heat (of course, temp depending on location and time), you get placed in a scene and depending on where that place is... you get on camera, no thought put in if you're a talented actor or not, you just get stuck somewhere and hope that when your family sits around the screen you can get a glimpse of your elbow. Now with all this in mind, would I do it again.... I would do it over and over if I can. Of course, that's hoping that it would lead to actual speaking parts.
I wouldn't trade in that feeling that I get at the end of the day knowning that I just did something I love to do, with anything in the world. Sure I just sat in an Applebee's resturant for a couple of hours with no camera time what so ever, but I was still working on the set of a hit NBC television show. I can say that. It's an awesome feeling. I can't wait till my booking!
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