Another way to Live Like A Star…Sorta, is to work on a movie set. Yes. Literally work on the set. I’m an actor, and always interested in these projects. But you don’t have to be an actor to be on set. To be an extra in a film is an extremely simple (yet sometimes long and boring) task. Most anyone could do it, and it gives you an up-close look at the filming process.
One of my more exciting filming experiences was on the set of Warning: Parental Advisory. I was hired as an extra and a stand-in. A stand-in is someone with similar skin tone, hair color and height as one of the actors. The stand-in comes on set to literally stand or sit in the same place in which the actor will be filming. Lights, cameras and equipment are set up around the stand-in before the actor actually comes on set to perform the scene. I was a stand-in for Marial Hemingway, a very beautiful and rather well-known actress that happens to be the granddaughter of the famous Ernest Hemingway. I did actually meet Marial on set, as well as her adorable little white dog. I’m a dog lover, so it may have seemed that I was more interested in talking with the dog than Mariel herself. But we did make a bit of small talk concerning her adorable little pooch, and that was that.
Oddly enough, I also ended up standing-in for Dee Snider (of Twisted Sister… “We’re not gonna take it!”). They did not have a stand-in for Dee, so they put my tall, blonde butt on an apple box to do the job. He and I do have fair skin and long, blonde hair, but even at 5’10″ I was too short to be his stand-in. So, while using the apple box (a little wooden box used during filming to make someone seem taller) they did a quick set-up as he watched from the sidelines. Dee and I laughed at the fact that I was working as his stand-in for the moment. I mean, afterall, an actor’s stand-in is usually the same sex. But, whatever. I had a good time, got to meet Dee Snider and got to spend some extra time on set soaking up the atmosphere.
Before meeting Dee and Mariel (and her little dog too), I discovered that an actor from one of my all time favorite tv shows was starring in this movie. Jason Priestley. Laugh if you will, but I am a big-time Beverly Hills 90210 fan. And yes, I watch the new version now too – love it! Here’s how my discovery of Jason Priestley’s presence on set happened. I was working on set that day as an extra. I was standing at “one” (original starting point for the scene) in my cute little businesswoman blazer holding my prop suitcase. We had been going over what all of the extras were to do once “action” was called. They were finally ready to film the scene. As I stood at “one” all by myself, I watched Jason Priestley and Griffin Dunne (whom you would recognize as the teacher from My Girl) walk toward me to their starting positions. I was definitely starstruck. Because I didn’t know that Jason was in this film, I was extremely shocked to see Brandon Walsh randomly walking toward me on the set of a VH1 film in Houston, TX. I mean, what?! And I was alone, with nobody to share this with. There were dozens of people around, but none within 10 foot of me. Plus, they were all strangers. They didn’t know how much I loved BH 90210, nor did they care. I actually ended up in a small elevator with Jason and one crew member a day or two later on set at a different location. I said nothing. I wimped out. I could’ve at least offered a mature “Hi Jason. I’m Britney. I’m a big fan of your work.” But, no. I didn’t bother. I just stood there in silence. I did the same thing when I met Ashton Kutcher, but thats another story for another time. I did manage to ask Jason for a picture on the last evening I was to be on set. I’m glad I at least got a piece of memorabilia.
As you can see, working as an extra or stand-in on a film set can be really interesting and exciting. I happen to be fascinated by the filming process due to my passion for acting. But even one without that passion can have a little fun as an extra and maybe even learn something as well. My Dad was able to work as an extra on this film, and he has never been an actor. But he definitely enjoyed himself and found the filming process to be pretty cool. Check out your local film commission to find out about projects in your area. Spend a day in the life of a film star!
