ASS-HATS AND CHICKEN MCNUGGETS
January 17, 2014
Being a background actor is not a complicated job.
It's simple really. You wear what you are told to wear and stand where you are told to stand.
I don't mean to diminish the craft of being a BGA, especially since I am currently working as one. Being a background actor requires focus and, yes, acting ability. You have to be a great listener and you have to be content with the fact that in the end, after all the post-production magic, you may end up as nothing more than a blurry shape in the background.
When you are a background actor you have no lines to memorize and for the most part you are just pantomiming some simple action. That is to say, in the scheme of things, its a pretty low pressure situation for you.
I like to have some subtext for the scene I was cast for so I can create my character. That is to say the physicality of my character. What is my emotion? How do I feel about the principle actors performing in the foreground? What is our relationship?
Sure I may only be eating a sandwich but am I enjoying the sandwich? Is it the best sandwich in the world? Is it a 'I'll have what she's having' type of sandwich or did Tony, the guy who made the sandwich, once again, put too much mayonnaise on my sandwich even though I ask every single time I order that sandwich, which is the only sandwich I ever order because I am a creature of freaking habit, for him not TO PUT ANY FREAKING MAYO ON IT!
Yeah. Anyway. Those are some of the things I think about before I act in a scene. Maybe I over think things a little. I like to work as hard as I can. I like to invest myself into my character.
I'm talking A-type personality here folks. Are you really all that shocked?
If you can follow directions you can be a background actor.
If you can walk without tripping or eat a sandwich you can be a background actor.
Still though there are those individuals who are the exception to the rule. Just like in any work place environment.
I've posted a link to a an article below. Just click on the words clueless wonders.
There are video clips included in the article so if your computer is like mine and freezes up every time I try to watch a video no matter the size of the file, then you will just have to take my word for it. The article is very funny and very dead on.
clueless wonders
If you can read that article and watch those videos and say 'I would never do that' then you may be background actor material.
You can stop doing the Jeff Foxworthy voice now by the way.
Of course those are examples of background actors who have no idea about they're doing.
It happens. Sometimes you don't get direction. You show up after the scene has been blocked and you aren't told what's going on or why you're there. Sometimes the offending background actor is a just a few McNuggets short of a Happy Meal.
I've been fortunate to work with some very professional, talented background actors.
There are a few though that have irked and frustrated me beyond words.
For instance, there is the guy who can't wait to check out at the end of the night and when I say can't wait I mean he cuts the line and will step on people to get his paperwork done first. Trust me, after a 14 hour day in the cold and wet I want to get home just as badly as the next guy. There is a process though and part of that process is standing in line and waiting your turn. No pun intended.
It comes down to manners. Some people have them and some people don't and being cold, wet and tired is only going to make very clear who has them and who doesn't.
There are the SAG actors who treat you like peasants because you are non-union. Let me just say that being SAG does not make you a better person. It just means you are more than likely going to be treated better. There is a huge difference between the two. HUGE.
Some of my favorites are the people who just can't grasp the concept of quiet on set. We all, for the mos part, went to kindergarten. We are pretty familiar with the concept of 'when the hand goes up-the mouth goes shut.'
No talking means no talking.
The sound equipment these days is incredibly sensitive and believe me when the director says 'we can hear you all the way over there' they can hear you all the way over there.
So frustrating. I just want to tie down them to a bed and have all the background actors line up and hit them with bars of soap inside pillowcases. That was a Full Metal Jacket reference. Or for those of you who went to really rough summer camps then you know what I'm talking about...am I right?
One background actor's behavior reflects on us all. We should all be able to take a whack at them.
Here are some examples of bad or clueless behavior from background actors that still leaves me shaking my head in disbelief. I am not making them up. I have witnessed these incidents over the last 8 months and I can only hope that the individuals are not working on sets any where. I list these in no particular order and with no hints as to what projects they occurred.
I will post these as warnings to you, fellow background actors or future background actors:
~NO MATTER how excited you are, never ever sit down next to the director, put your arm around him and ask how he thinks things are going.
~NO MATTER how cold you are, don't light a fire on set. I mean...seriously? Does that even meed to be said.
~NO MATTER how cool you think you are and even if you will probably never, ever look that cool in a costume again, don't...DON'T...ask a principle actor to take a photo of you with their phone and then text it you. Are you crazy? Did you suck on paint chips as a child?
~NO MATTER if you work as a security guard in real life...if you are cast as a security guard don't...DON'T...for the LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY...bring your personal weapon on set. The prop department is well-stocked and will get you all geared up. Leave O'l Betsy in her lock box Deputy Fife. Still utterly shocked at that one. And this is a person who is allowed to have a driver's license and wear shoes?
~NO MATTER how lonely you are, please don't hang on girls half your age. A creeper is a creeper and it makes everyone uncomfortable.
Being a background actor is a job. Show up on time and do your best. Be good to others and treat them with respect.
Don't, as my friend Tom would say, be an ass-hat.
Just keeping it reel, folks.
Being a background actor is not a complicated job.
It's simple really. You wear what you are told to wear and stand where you are told to stand.
I don't mean to diminish the craft of being a BGA, especially since I am currently working as one. Being a background actor requires focus and, yes, acting ability. You have to be a great listener and you have to be content with the fact that in the end, after all the post-production magic, you may end up as nothing more than a blurry shape in the background.
When you are a background actor you have no lines to memorize and for the most part you are just pantomiming some simple action. That is to say, in the scheme of things, its a pretty low pressure situation for you.
I like to have some subtext for the scene I was cast for so I can create my character. That is to say the physicality of my character. What is my emotion? How do I feel about the principle actors performing in the foreground? What is our relationship?
Sure I may only be eating a sandwich but am I enjoying the sandwich? Is it the best sandwich in the world? Is it a 'I'll have what she's having' type of sandwich or did Tony, the guy who made the sandwich, once again, put too much mayonnaise on my sandwich even though I ask every single time I order that sandwich, which is the only sandwich I ever order because I am a creature of freaking habit, for him not TO PUT ANY FREAKING MAYO ON IT!
Yeah. Anyway. Those are some of the things I think about before I act in a scene. Maybe I over think things a little. I like to work as hard as I can. I like to invest myself into my character.
I'm talking A-type personality here folks. Are you really all that shocked?
If you can follow directions you can be a background actor.
If you can walk without tripping or eat a sandwich you can be a background actor.
Still though there are those individuals who are the exception to the rule. Just like in any work place environment.
I've posted a link to a an article below. Just click on the words clueless wonders.
There are video clips included in the article so if your computer is like mine and freezes up every time I try to watch a video no matter the size of the file, then you will just have to take my word for it. The article is very funny and very dead on.
clueless wonders
If you can read that article and watch those videos and say 'I would never do that' then you may be background actor material.
You can stop doing the Jeff Foxworthy voice now by the way.
Of course those are examples of background actors who have no idea about they're doing.
It happens. Sometimes you don't get direction. You show up after the scene has been blocked and you aren't told what's going on or why you're there. Sometimes the offending background actor is a just a few McNuggets short of a Happy Meal.
I've been fortunate to work with some very professional, talented background actors.
There are a few though that have irked and frustrated me beyond words.
For instance, there is the guy who can't wait to check out at the end of the night and when I say can't wait I mean he cuts the line and will step on people to get his paperwork done first. Trust me, after a 14 hour day in the cold and wet I want to get home just as badly as the next guy. There is a process though and part of that process is standing in line and waiting your turn. No pun intended.
It comes down to manners. Some people have them and some people don't and being cold, wet and tired is only going to make very clear who has them and who doesn't.
There are the SAG actors who treat you like peasants because you are non-union. Let me just say that being SAG does not make you a better person. It just means you are more than likely going to be treated better. There is a huge difference between the two. HUGE.
Some of my favorites are the people who just can't grasp the concept of quiet on set. We all, for the mos part, went to kindergarten. We are pretty familiar with the concept of 'when the hand goes up-the mouth goes shut.'
No talking means no talking.
The sound equipment these days is incredibly sensitive and believe me when the director says 'we can hear you all the way over there' they can hear you all the way over there.
So frustrating. I just want to tie down them to a bed and have all the background actors line up and hit them with bars of soap inside pillowcases. That was a Full Metal Jacket reference. Or for those of you who went to really rough summer camps then you know what I'm talking about...am I right?
One background actor's behavior reflects on us all. We should all be able to take a whack at them.
Here are some examples of bad or clueless behavior from background actors that still leaves me shaking my head in disbelief. I am not making them up. I have witnessed these incidents over the last 8 months and I can only hope that the individuals are not working on sets any where. I list these in no particular order and with no hints as to what projects they occurred.
I will post these as warnings to you, fellow background actors or future background actors:
~NO MATTER how excited you are, never ever sit down next to the director, put your arm around him and ask how he thinks things are going.
~NO MATTER how cold you are, don't light a fire on set. I mean...seriously? Does that even meed to be said.
~NO MATTER how cool you think you are and even if you will probably never, ever look that cool in a costume again, don't...DON'T...ask a principle actor to take a photo of you with their phone and then text it you. Are you crazy? Did you suck on paint chips as a child?
~NO MATTER if you work as a security guard in real life...if you are cast as a security guard don't...DON'T...for the LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY...bring your personal weapon on set. The prop department is well-stocked and will get you all geared up. Leave O'l Betsy in her lock box Deputy Fife. Still utterly shocked at that one. And this is a person who is allowed to have a driver's license and wear shoes?
~NO MATTER how lonely you are, please don't hang on girls half your age. A creeper is a creeper and it makes everyone uncomfortable.
Being a background actor is a job. Show up on time and do your best. Be good to others and treat them with respect.
Don't, as my friend Tom would say, be an ass-hat.
Just keeping it reel, folks.
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