pixeltracker

Giving celebs their privacy- Page 3

Giving celebs their privacy

Jane2 Profile Photo
Jane2
#50Giving celebs their privacy
Posted: 4/22/14 at 2:18pm

Here's another good one - After the play "Freud's Last Session," the two actors enthusiastically greeted all the audience members outside the theater. One night, Richard Gere attended the play. He was standing around amongst the crowd, when all of a sudden, some rabid Gere fan ran over to him and started gushing. Gere said, "uh, this isn't about me, it's about this play, and there are the two actors, right over there."

Loved him for that.


<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

Marianne2 Profile Photo
Marianne2
#51Giving celebs their privacy
Posted: 4/22/14 at 2:42pm

Lovepuppy, Yeah, I know those rules. Like a few feet gap or not close to the action, definitely know not to approach anyone. But, I had one scene once where I needed to be in the way to make someone struggle to get through somewhere, and we brushed shoulders a little or I got nudged out of the way a little.

I have gotten embarrassed though when I have worked on some and sort of had no idea who the actors were. Or forgot what someone looked like. Like I was set up in a scene once with 1 other extra and had no idea if anyone else was going to be set up there too. Well, 1 other person did, and I almost wanted to say "Oh, you're in our corner too. Cool." But I didn't. I'm glad I didn't because that person was the star of the show. I would have felt like such an ass in that situation. This also wasn't just some no name person on a pilot or something similar either.


"I don't want the pretty lights to come and get me."-Homecoming 2005 "You can't pray away the gay."-Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy. Ignored Users: suestorm, N2N Nate., Owen22, master bates

amoni2 Profile Photo
amoni2
#52Giving celebs their privacy
Posted: 4/22/14 at 3:26pm

Hey GavestonPS Ms. Farrell was very gracious. I would think telling any woman you love her work for DECADES wouldn't go over too well.

Jane2, reading your story about Linda Hunt, I would hope maybe she was just still in character. I would never make an excuse for anyone's bad behavior but you know some actors take it to a different level in their process. Hooper was a very unhappy lady, but I'm sure you being on set many times you could tell the difference.
.

Rainbowhigh23
#53Giving celebs their privacy
Posted: 4/22/14 at 3:35pm

When the actors came out for Act 2 of The Fantasticks to the piano and swinging around the poles, Bill Murray said to his son, "You can do that!" then he turned to me and said, "You can do that!". His son looked so embarrassed.

Updated On: 4/22/14 at 03:35 PM

Eris0303 Profile Photo
Eris0303
#54Giving celebs their privacy
Posted: 4/22/14 at 4:04pm

When the actors came out for Act 2 of The Fantasticks to the piano and swinging around the poles, bill Murray said to his son, "You can do that!" then he turned to me and said, "You can do that!". His son looked so embarrassed.

Hysterical. I doubt I could have held it together.


"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".

Rainbowhigh23
#55Giving celebs their privacy
Posted: 4/22/14 at 4:11pm

^ I was thinking, "What just happened?!" It made the day so much more special. The show was closing at its original location and we got to see it with commentary from Bill Murray. LOL

Updated On: 4/22/14 at 04:11 PM

GavestonPS Profile Photo
GavestonPS
#56Giving celebs their privacy
Posted: 4/22/14 at 4:21pm

"Hey GavestonPS Ms. Farrell was very gracious. I would think telling any woman you love her work for DECADES wouldn't go over too well."

Point taken, but

(a) I didn't use the word "decades" with Miss Ferrell. LOL. I simply said I am a big fan and have been following her work since I first saw her in HOT L BALTIMORE. She knows when that ran.

(b) Given that I'm 60 myself and have a full head of white hair, remarks about longevity are accepted somewhat differently. It's not like I'm saying, "I've loved you since I was 3!"

P.S. The misunderstanding here is my fault: in my original post I did seem to imply that I had told Ferrell I'd enjoyed her work for "decades". I was paraphrasing what I actually said; no duration of years was mentioned. I apologize for my lack of clarity.
Updated On: 4/22/14 at 04:21 PM

amoni2 Profile Photo
amoni2
#57Giving celebs their privacy
Posted: 4/22/14 at 7:46pm

No apology necessary, it was a nice story. She seems like someone you'd want to have a cup of coffee with.

lovepuppy
#58Giving celebs their privacy
Posted: 4/22/14 at 11:28pm

Hi Jane...Oh no, please don't misunderstand me, I meant no offense. I was merely repeating the typical instructions extras get, for the benefit of any readers who may not know, but in no way was I telling you what to do. When I read your post about the actress being mean to you, I was just differentiating between the general clear distinction made on set between principle actors (including guests like you), and non-speaking extras. She should have treated you on her level, was all I meant. Fortunately, I can't really recall a situation in which there's a lot of condescension or discrimination to extras, though I know it used to be more rampant years ago (or maybe it's more like that in LA or NY?). I've experienced pretty pleasant sets, I have to say, including on "Man of Steel" a couple years ago. Can't say enough good things about that prod team and crew, from Snyder to the AD's on down. (I realize how that sentence just sounded, but truly, they were just super respectful, realistic, and nice.)

Sorry you and Marianne were bored. I suggest to some of my performer friends to submit for background gigs if they have flexible schedules and to make a few extra bucks on occasion. (There have been lots of TV and movies filmed in Chicago in recent years.) But a handful who are constantly the flitting-to-this-flitting-to that types are like, "nah, I can't sit still that long." I bring books or magazines too, of course, or people bring their phones and ipads, now, for downtime. Often it will be nice to see a few folks you've worked with before, whether background or crew, and there are always new people to meet and chat with. Unless, that is, you've been moved from holding to set and you're instructed to be quiet while they're shooting over a nearby wall or something, until you're needed. These days I have to hit the phones for work, so instead of working from home on quieter weeks, I'll take a gig one day here or there, and I'll try make use of the time that way while still getting paid for the gig! I'm rarely bored doing these, thankfully!


"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had the practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." --Alice in Wonderland

Jane2 Profile Photo
Jane2
#59Giving celebs their privacy
Posted: 4/22/14 at 11:36pm

Hey love puppy, no apologies needed. I have a lot of trouble communicating online. Just reading my words implies one thing, but if you heard the way I say things, you'd understand I don't mean harm!

But back to extra work. We'll have to remain on opposite ends of the spectrum here. Years ago, actors in LA were told never to mention doing that work. I don't know how it is now.

Also, if you're seen on camera too much as an extra, you won't get principle work. I'm lucky that my appearance is too unique to fade into the background, so I didn't have to go on the set too often, thanks god.

Because I was in about 30 episodes of SATC, it was fun on set because I was a regular. Anyway, it's good you like the work because it's murder doing something you don't like!


<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
Updated On: 4/28/14 at 11:36 PM

lovepuppy
#60Giving celebs their privacy
Posted: 4/22/14 at 11:57pm

Got it. Cool! :)

Oh yes, you learn fairly quickly that if your face is seen clearly on camera, you likely won't be called back (if it's episodic TV). That happened to me on an ep of "Boss." But at least I was literally right across from Amy Morton for the entire scene! (Love, love, love her. They should have gotten her for the film version of "August: Osage County" since she pioneered the local and Broadway stage versions, instead of Julia. But I digress.) I did 3 episodes of "Chicago Code" a few years back because I wasn't seen much, so I could re-submit. The 3 eps of "Chicago Fire" I did this season were because a) my face was not seen in the bar scene, the first one I did all season, so I could submit for others, and b) most recent other 2 I did were driving scenes so we were in our cars, anyway. I'd rather take the seen-less-cast-and-paid-more route, for now. :)

But yeah, you always run into a newbie extra who is anxious about being seen or not, or where to stand or whatnot, and you have to say, "hey, if you want to get more work, it's quite ok if your face isn't seen that much today!" I never heard that if you're an extra too much, you will never be a principle. I mean, Brad Pitt started out as an extra... :) Guess it depends on your agent, your location, and if you get auditions and pass them. (I don't feel I'm a good auditioner unless it's musical theatre anyway, sadly, so on the rare occasions when the agent calls, I always try to go, to get past the nerves and have the experience. Usually they're for commercials or odd projects, not shows or film, here. Good thing I have a full-time job that's somewhat flexible, because in Chicago, it's rare to make a living as an on-camera "actor." At least in LA or NY, a union performer can make a decent living by doing background work pretty frequently. I'm a union performer due to a long broadcast career, but the contract doesn't cover TV and movies for background, here. So, anyone can do it, and you all get non-union rates. Unless upgraded or cast as principle.)

How did you come to be a "regular" extra on SATC...then it sounds like you also have gotten speaking roles elsewhere?


"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had the practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." --Alice in Wonderland
Updated On: 4/22/14 at 11:57 PM

Jane2 Profile Photo
Jane2
#61Giving celebs their privacy
Posted: 4/23/14 at 12:20am

I was called to be an extra on SATC. As a waitress, in costume. I had the costume. When I got on set (the coffeeshop the girls went to every day), I was told that they decided not to use a waitress, and that I should just hang out in holding. But Cynthia saw me in costume and told them they should use me. After that, I was the waitress for the 4 girls every time they went to the coffeeshop. Finally in season 4, they decided to give me a line. After that, I got another line in another episode. After you get lines, you cannot go back to extra work on the same show. So after about 30 episodes, I was finished with SATC.

I also made some commercials, did 2 off broadway shows, was a skit extra on SNL for several seasons, and was in a photo shoot for SNL.

I quit the business when I finally realized I hate acting. Giving celebs their privacy




<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
Updated On: 4/28/14 at 12:20 AM

ChanceWayne2 Profile Photo
ChanceWayne2
#62Giving celebs their privacy
Posted: 4/23/14 at 7:54pm

I did the stage door thing for the first time after seeing MATILDA. I was surprised and delighted to hear several cast members mention how much they enjoy and look forward to seeing fans after a performance praising and thanking them for their work. Made me glad I took the time to do so. I found the other few occasions I've spoken to celebrities (and only because our paths crossed) and mentioned a work of theirs I was truly fond of, how touched and genuinely appreciative they were that I took the time out to voice my feelings. One suggestion, make it brief unless they then engage you in conversation.

GavestonPS Profile Photo
GavestonPS
#63Giving celebs their privacy
Posted: 4/23/14 at 9:10pm

"No apology necessary, it was a nice story. She seems like someone you'd want to have a cup of coffee with."

More likely a beer. LOL.

(I am not implying that Ferrell has a drinking problem. I know no such thing. But she seemed just as down-to-earth as the characters she plays, so in my imagination, we'd meet at a bar.)

Marianne2 Profile Photo
Marianne2
#64Giving celebs their privacy
Posted: 4/23/14 at 9:47pm

Thanks Jane and Lovepuppy for the insight. I have seen in casting notices I get in emails that you can't have worked in a certain amount of weeks depending on the show. I didn't realize though that it could affect getting more jobs for the season if you are seen very well. But, I have been on 1 show where I have gotten regular work because of the nature of it. Like because it takes place in a very specific location where people would be around it for a long time, they did reuse people all season long. Except because I was in the role I did, I was not allowed to apply for any other extra role for that show. But, it was okay because I got to work more than 1 day, which the people hired for the other stuff were only 1 or 2 day gigs.

It's funny, I never actually thought I would get into doing extra work. I signed up with Central Casting in New York because I saw it listed in an article about making extra money and I was like, "why not?" I have always had an interest in acting, but am not really pursuing it as my ultimate career. For that reason, I am not in a union, but that's fine. I do like the work most of the time, but kind of do it more for fun, when I am available.


"I don't want the pretty lights to come and get me."-Homecoming 2005 "You can't pray away the gay."-Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy. Ignored Users: suestorm, N2N Nate., Owen22, master bates

Jane2 Profile Photo
Jane2
#65Giving celebs their privacy
Posted: 4/23/14 at 10:29pm

Maybe i did too much extra work because I had some doozies of horrific experiences. I think I'll save the best ones for my book though, and not post them here. ( I know, some of you are glad I don't!) lol.


<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

Marianne2 Profile Photo
Marianne2
#66Giving celebs their privacy
Posted: 4/23/14 at 11:04pm

Oh believe me, I have heard stories from people. Fortunately, I haven't been involved or witnessed much that was really horrible. Actually, I have a couple of semi-bad stories. 1 was weather related and not production's fault, so I'm not pissed at them for it. But, the other 1 was really annoying for a few things. Like making us all walk up from the lower 60s on the east side of Central Park to the 80s on the west side to get to a 2nd filming location. Not fun when you have a lot of clothing and stuff to carry and are wearing a party dress that ended up not being needed to be changed into at the 1st location, but we were told to.


"I don't want the pretty lights to come and get me."-Homecoming 2005 "You can't pray away the gay."-Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy. Ignored Users: suestorm, N2N Nate., Owen22, master bates

NYyoshi2
#67Giving celebs their privacy
Posted: 4/23/14 at 11:30pm

That's awesome, being able to see her! I'm sure she wouldn't have minded (probably would have been happy with somebody recognizing her), as long as you didn't fangirl or bring too much attention to her. I heard they are actually fun to talk to and have conversations with, pretty down to earth, most of them.