Raising The Bar (3)

I really want to start this entry: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” but I won’t.

Good golly, it’s true though, I swear it.

Anyway, this was a two-day call. I played the assistant to the prosecutor in Episode 2 and was miraculously called back for this one, Episode 4.

Extras rarely get called back like this. I must’ve done something right somehow.

This show shoots about ten minutes from my house, so there was no hardship getting there, parking, and getting shuttled to the sound stages. I wore the only dark suit I have because that’s what wardrobe wanted, but they didn’t like my suit, so they gave me two others. That’s fine. I’m not picky.

The only bummer was that one of the suits had pants so long I needed to wear heels and they didn’t have my size…or if they did, they were buried. I ended up in three-inch heels that were a full size too big for me.

They were dangerous, but I made them work. I’ve walked in ill-fitting shoes before.

In the first shot of the morning, we were in the hallway outside the courtroom. I was instantly picked on for my purse which I’ll admit didn’t match my suit very well, but I’d forgotten to get it approved and it did match the other suit I was supposed to wear. It had been approved the last time I’d worked the show, so I knew it wasn’t the bag itself, it was the fact it didn’t match. Whatever.

The AD wanted me to put it back in holding, but I’m sorry, no. Especially not when there’s a plethora of hiding places off camera. I don’t want to be separated from my purse. Who knows what could happen? There are a lot of stories of things being stolen and I did not want my purse to be the stuff of a story like that. After much back and forth, we put it in the room off camera. I felt bad for having to argue, but I had no choice. I wasn’t going to be separated from it.

Then, I was handed a briefcase. I tried to explain that props may already have one in the courtroom for me. Last time, I had a filebox and a stack of folders. I didn’t want to end up with a pile of briefcases this time.

Well, the same AD thought I was full of shit and just trying to be difficult. She did not understand that I was looking out for the continuity of the show because if the camera saw me walking in that hallway with that briefcase, that case would be married to me for the duration.

I argued a little and then she said this scene was different and the other AD told me to make sure that I’m facing away from the camera and that I’m covered by another of the extras when I do my cross. At that point, I considered it a mini-victory. Yeah, I was stuck with the briefcase, but they understood why I was being difficult, it was for the better of the show. They had my back to the camera and mostly covered so that I wouldn’t be recognized playing a role other than who I was inside the courtroom.

Okay, so once we were in it, that shot went off okay and it was time to work in the courtroom.

I took my place at the prosecutor’s table like usual. The props guys used the briefcase I’d been carrying in the other scene. I was fine with that and having a great time.

There was a different director this time, but the one from last time was there, too. I guess maybe he was producing this episode instead. At one point, I smiled at him just to say hello and he told me that I was “allllllllllll over episode 2” and “call all your friends and family over and bust out the popcorn”.

So, everyone out there who wants to actually spot me in one of these shows, watch for me in the second episode of Raising The Bar. Apparently ya can’t miss me in the courtroom scenes!

Okay, so the day dragged on as usual. I spent much of my time in the hallway outside the courtroom. I ended up sitting on the wooden prop benches because I knew I wasn’t allowed on any of the canvas directors’ chairs. That was fine, even though painful. My ill-fitting shoes gave me blisters and I almost tripped a few times, but for the most part, I was okay.

During the coverage of the prosecutor’s table, in one of the setups, they did a two-shot (which is exactly as it sounds…the cameras have both Marcus and myself in frame) and then they were doing Marcus’ closeup, but it was intricate because he had to stand up for part of the scene and there was no way to have two people in the frame. The director actually told them to put one camera on each of us. Holy schnitzel!!!!!! The moment was priceless for me. I doubt it’ll be used in the finished product, but to have it done in the first place was awesome.

The cameras were about three feet from us. The first time, on episode 2, I was intimidated and terrified, but because I’d survived that, I knew I’d be able to do it again.

And I did.

The rest of the day went fairly well. Much of the same even though it was getting ridiculously hot in there. I mean, like, 80 indoors. I was okay, though, for some reason, even in my suit.

The next day, I realized that wardrobe hadn’t liked any of my suits, so I left them at home. Sadly, I forgot my bag of shoes which was right next to my suits. Doh! I knew there’d at least be the ill-fitting pair if nothing else…

But when I got to wardrobe and he asked me why I didn’t come wearing a suit, I explained that he’d seen all my suits and couldn’t use them. At first, he huffed, but then realized that I’d at least tried because I’d brought a couple shirts that might work under another suit. He picked one of those and gave me one of the suits I’d worn last time.

Then, I realized I’d forgotten to bring that pile of shoes I’d set aside. I was mortified. I expressed such to the wardrobe guy. Of course he wasn’t thrilled at first, but after awhile I think he realized that I really was embarrassed and really did just forget to bring the bag of shoes with me. Plus, there were plenty to choose from under the truck…and this time, we even found my size. Yay!

This day, it was more of a sandwich for me. I worked a lot in the morning and a lot at the end of the day, but in the middle, I was in the hallway most of the time because they’d wanted me to stay close. I was stuck on those godforsaken wooden benches.

In the morning, there was a point when the DP told me that I looked really pretty on film. He’d seen the dailies from episode 2 and I’d looked really pretty. I was flattered, but honestly, he’s the Director of Photography. He’s the one who made me look pretty, so I told him it was all his fault and thanked him. I don’t think he’d had an actor tell him that before.

Oh, by the way, I love J. August Richards. He plays Marcus McGrath and is so awesome. He really is. He even helped me through some of the coverage of our table. See, there are rules about what a director can say to an extra without having to upgrade the extra to a day player. Honestly, I don’t care about all that crap, I just want to get the eyeline right so that I’m looking where Marcus is looking when we’re supposed to be listening to the judge or whoever’s talking. No one would talk to me, but Marcus did and for that I’m so appreciative.

Things went well during the first part of the day, but during that middle section, my ass was starting to hurt something fierce. First it fell asleep and I had to walk around to wake it up. Then, the bones started to hurt. But 1) I couldn’t go far and 2) couldn’t sit anywhere else. After a few hours of sheer pain, I finally decided I needed a break and I wasn’t going to stand up in 3-inch heels for any length of time if I could avoid it.

So, there was no one around and all of the cast directors’ chairs were empty save one very nice day player. I figured I’m almost cast. I don’t have a line, but I’m featured in frame. There’s no one around. I’ll just sit in a cast chair for a few minutes to hopefully get my ass to quit hurting. If someone important needs to sit there, I’ll jump up immediately. I wasn’t even leaning back in the chair.

I was there for about two minutes before the AD who’d argued with me before starts yelling at me: “OH NO, NO, NO! YOU CAN’T SIT THERE. WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME PROTOCOL AROUND HERE. YOU’RE JUST AN EXTRA. YOU CAN’T SIT THERE. OTHER EXTRAS ARE GOING TO START THINKING THAT THEY CAN, TOO.” she kept going, but I’d already gotten up at the first “Oh no”.

As she yelled, I explained that I was only sitting there because it was more comfortable and I was in pain. And get this, I was sitting in the chair DIRECTLY next to a bench. It was utterly ridiculous. I moved the six inches over to the bench, still in shock. She finally quit yelling at me, but I was humiliated. Utterly humiliated. She could’ve just said, “Hey, don’t sit there.” or even “You know you shouldn’t sit there.” and I would’ve moved.

(On many shows, no one cares who sits in the cast chairs as long as the chairs become available when necessary. I’ve never sat in them, but I’ve seen other extras sit in them. I’ve sat in them as a stand-in, though and have been invited to sit in them by cast members and producers before. It’s just a freakin’ chair. I have certainly NEVER seen an extra get CHEWED out like I was for sitting in one. I’ve seen them told not to sit there, but NEVER yelled at for it.)

Trying to fix the awkward situation and maybe ease it, the day player whispered, “You can sit in my chair. I don’t mind.” But I declined. I was about ready to cry anyway and I didn’t want to be yelled at anymore. I don’t do well with humiliation like that.

I guess the AD thought that I thought I was as ‘good’ as the cast and ‘privileged’ enough to sit in the cast chairs, but that wasn’t it at all. Not even remotely. My ass hurt. And I ended up so humiliated, I could hardly keep from crying. This is why I’m background, not featured. I don’t like the center of attention…especially in negative situations. I don’t do well in confrontations and being humiliated.

So, there I was, my ass hurting as well as my pride and the coverage of my table still hadn’t been shot. I could hardly keep myself together and somehow I was supposed to act like I was following the case and totally absorbed in it. I almost asked to go home because no matter how I tried to get back into it, I just couldn’t pull myself back together.

But then we broke for lunch which gave me a break from being near the set. I talked to another extra during lunch. She was really sweet and I hope I see her again. She shared a story about a friend of hers who was booked as an extra and ended up with a speaking role. I shared the story about how I got chewed out for sitting in a cast chair. Even she was shocked. The PAs on this show were really cool, really nice, real advocates for our comfort, too, but now that I think about it, they also had an underlying attitude that extras are stupid and should be treated as such.

Whatever.

After lunch, I was together enough to do the scene. I wasn’t at 100%, but I was close enough to pull myself together.

While we were waiting to do the scene, I ended up talking to J. August Richards. And I couldn’t keep from mentioning what had happened and how I didn’t want it to jeopardize my chances of coming back. He saw that I knew what I did was wrong and that it was the fact I was chewed out for it, not politely asked not to sit there and really felt for me. He liked having me as his assistant, I guess. He said he didn’t think that what I’d done would keep me from coming back. I reminded him I’m an extra. Nothing’s set in stone.

We did our coverage and then I went back to the wicked, hard bench. Also, by now, the set was heating up. Literally. It was easily over 85 degrees in there. I was starting to get light-headed and needed a lot of water and to use the little girls’ room.

When I came back, one of the stand-ins was sitting in my chair. When I went to replace her (I’d worked with her on Changeling), she told me that I could rest for a little while because it was hot. That was so sweet of her. I went back out to the bench and tried to get my sanity back. It was freakin’ hot.

And, of course, guess who started yelling again and made me go back in there.

Now, normally, I didn’t mind standing in for myself even though stand-ins make more money than extras. I didn’t bitch about not being paid proper rate or anything like that. Hell, I could call SAG and get them in trouble. I don’t usually mind standing in for myself, but dammit, I was about to pass out and worried that my makeup was melting.

The makeup lady came by to touch me up and I asked her about it. She said that I handled it well and didn’t look bad at all. I thanked her and told her I trusted her even though I felt like I looked awful, if she said I looked good, then I wasn’t going to stress it. And honestly, that made a huge difference. I didn’t want to appear unhealthy during my coverage. That would look bad on the show. I don’t care about the way I look as long as I look right for the part.

So J and I did our coverage. He was sweltering, too, but they let him use a little personal fan. Honestly, his suit was warmer than mine. He needed the extra cooling.

After that, I went back to the dreaded bench. And as I look back at the day, something must’ve happened. When I first got there and the day was new, everyone was treating me not necessarily like one of the cast, but at least with a little respect. By the time I got chewed out, I was scum and I don’t know why.

Once I was signed out, I thanked the PA who took care of us extras and headed outside to catch a shuttle back to my car. J waved at me and I couldn’t help but run over to him and give him a hug. I didn’t know if I’d ever see him again. He seemed to think I would, but just in case, I wanted to tell him what a pleasure it was to work with him and all that. I mean, he’s really that awesome and I wanted to tell him that.

All in all, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times…

I have no idea if I’ll ever be called back on that show. They can’t use me on a jury or in the gallery because I was so featured, so if I ever get called back, it’d be as Marcus’ 2nd again. That’d be great. I’d love to come back, but honestly, if I’m going to be treated like shit, I’ll happily give up the featured part and everything. I don’t need the money that badly.

When are people going to learn that if you treat us like stupid fucking extras, we’re gonna act like stupid fucking extras and not want to help out the production at all. We’ll fuck off, we’ll mouth off, we’ll be difficult to work with. We tend to mirror the treatment we receive.

When I went into this, I wanted to give 110% of myself. Now, I want to give zero, but I’ll do it anyway and probably not be happy about it, which will undoubtedly show in my onscreen and offscreen performance unintentionally.

Treat people with respect and they return it…even stupid fucking extras like myself.

This was still the time of my life. Too bad it got tainted the moment I got chewed out for sitting in a chair. I swear, I’ll never do it again. Hell, us extras are hardly allowed on the furniture anyway. We’re all such animals, y’know… 😉

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