As you may or may not know I am a professionally trained actor. Because of my specialized training I am afforded the unique experience of performing as a background actor, which means I am paid to fill space and be anonymous in the background of films, TV shows, commercials and other video productions. Actually, you need absolutely no training to be a background actor. Almost anyone can contact an agency that specializes in background and can be on set the next day working as a background actor.

That’s right I’m, the guy standing on the corner when Denis Leary is running past to put out a fire on Rescue Me. Or the cop driving around Giants Stadium parking lot when John Turturro is playing Howard Cosell in the made for television movie Monday Might Mayhem. I’m the guy sitting in the Egyptian Ambassadors’ section of the UN while Benicio Del Toro makes a speech in the movie Che’. Maybe I’m playing the manager in a major chain store employee promotional video. Or I could be a photographer fighting my way through the crowd to get a better picture of the of the champ in the new FX series Lights Out. You don’t recognize me? Then I’m doing my job. Let’s face it, the only qualifications you really need for this type of work is to stay out of the way, do what you’re told and be willing to be treated like shit on a regular basis.

On some sets your treated very well, on most not so much. Background actors or extras(industry talk for background actors) as they are more commonly known,are the low men and women on the totem pole. While the stars, feature actors, directors and even the crew are afforded some level of comfort, background actors and actress are usually herded like cattle into some back room or warehouse and wait around for hours to be called to fill in a scenes. You’re expected to stand around in the freezing cold during the winter, the heat of summer, snow, rain, wind and any other harsh conditions that may arise during shooting. You can expect to wait around in un- air-conditioning rooms and buildings during the summer, or a warehouse in the middle of the winter where the doors are left open so the crew can run in and out more easily with the equipment. While you freeze your ass off. They get you on set three hours before they actually need you and sometimes make you sit around for hours after. Just in case they need you for something else. If you’re lucky enough to be served food you eat after the stars, feature actors, crew and sometimes even animals. This is the glamorous life of the background actor

The other day I was working background for a FX promotional video for the new series Lights Out. It was 95° outside and all the background actors were herded into the top floor of a warehouse with no air-conditioning. It had to be 110° inside. The PA (industry talk for production assistant) which is using a very young person trying to break into the entertainment industry or a middle-age hippie who smokes too much pot to hold down a regular job, tells us to get into wardrobe and sit around in our group. I was playing a paparazzi, so I was in a long-sleeved shirt and slacks. After sitting around for a half-hour in this oppressive heat, again with no air-conditioning, I asked the PA when our call time was (again industry talk for going on set) he informed me that he was unsure and would tell me when I needed to know. So I decided to walk to the end of the room where they had a bank of fans set up blowing on the crew members yo them cool. I took off my shirt and stood in front of fans. When approached by the director has to what I was doing, I told him that was trying to stay cool while waiting to be called on set. He told me “that I should to go back and sit with the rest of your group until your called.” That’s when I politely told him to go Fuck himself. A heated argument ensued. I was asked if I would like to leave the set. I told him that I’d be more than happy to. The rest of the background actors were looking at me in horror thinking I was going to mess up this shoot (industry talk for filming of the scene). The PA then informed the director that I was one of the only people there with a camera and he needed me to play paparazzi in the scene. I then recognized the power I wielded over this production. So, I demanded that some liquid refreshment and snacks be brought up for all background workers. Five minutes later a large cooler full of sodas iced teas and juices were brought up to the waiting area. Now the rest of background, who thought I was an asshole for standing around with my shirt off and arguing with the director, were my best friends. A few minutes later I plates of vegetables, fruits and other snacks were brought up to the waiting area. Just about that time Joel, Pete and Baruck called me from the Comedy Point Radio Show to see how I was doing on my big-time film production. Now consumed with power I decided to do the radio interview right then and there. During the interview the PA came up to me to tell me that I was needed on set. I informed him that I was in the middle of a radio interview and he would have to wait. And they did.

Which goes to proves that a middle-age man that happens to have an old SLR 35mm Nikon camera sitting around is more important to a movie shot than a young good looking talented actor or actress. Living the dream