Claim to Fame, as a Hollywood Film Extra!
View(s):Much has said about being at the right place at the right time, doing the right things. Isn’t that doing too many things right.
What skills would require a person to do just that, I wonder.
Last night, was a big event in Hollywood. The Golden Globe Awards ceremony,
at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.
The streets were lined with stretch limos, every one in Tuxedos and cocktail dresses.
Some won, and most lost. Parties, continued to the next morning.
That’s Hollywood!.
I had met a reputable film director some years ago. Not knowing who he was at
first, I started speaking to him about films. He and I became good friends
I found this an opportunity to ask him to be in his next film.
Even though he was reluctant at first, the casting director called me and gave me 3 days work.
For the worst, I could not do it due to schedule restrictions with my regular job.
It wasn’t till four years later, that opportunity would arise again.
I got a call from someone, saying, «is everything ok? I said yes, are you coming, I said
where, he said to the film set. I said, oh, yes, I will be in tomorrow. He said, you are coming 2 days, today and tomorrow!.
I said, ok I am coming now. I left work, early, and drove to downtown, Los Angeles.
It was dark and cold. I arrived at the wrong film set. Finally, I arrived at the correct film set, to find, it a Pakistani Bazaar, with 350 extras dressed in traditional garb. I too was dressed and sent to blend with them.
My friend the Director came over to me, and said, thank you for coming, stand next to the star actor, walk back and forth.
It was outdoors, and the temperature was fast dropping. The wind chill factor rapidly rising.
I could hear people sneezing, it wasn›t long before, I began sneezing too.
I had been at the set standing, for 6 hours, the others have been there longer.
I kept asking my self, why am I doing this, when I could be in my warm bed sleeping.
Am I doing the right thing, is this the right place, what good can come out of it.
At close to midnight, we were allowed to leave.
I had come down with a very bad cold. You are coming tomorrow, the girl asked me.
I was now known to everyone there, by name. I am the friend of the Director.
I said, oh sure, I will be in tomorrow. I went back on time the next day, yesterday, stayed till 10pm, I didn’t get the 2 line speaking part, I auditioned for.
So what?. I fulfilled my obligation to my friend.