How Being A Movie Extra Can Help You Cope With Your Job Loss

I was speechless.

It was September 2007.

I was in an office where two of my bosses at The Score Television Network in downtown Toronto said they were letting me go.

My 8-year tenure at a TV network that gave me my Dream Job, was over.

Being a sports fanatic my whole life, I enjoyed being a full-time Score TV sports highlight package voiceover guy and part-time national television sports reporter who covered the Toronto Blue Jays, Maple and Raptors.

It never felt like work to me.

Then, everything changed.

I had a serious medical issue in 2006 which upended my life and took me away from my work for big chunks of time that year.

When I finally came back in 2007, things weren't the same.

It was time to move on, so my former bosses did me a favour.

When they gave me the verdict, I remember not reacting much at all. I just accepted the news without angrily flipping over chairs or yelling at them then I walked out of the office and out of their lives.

Once outside the building I headed towards the nearby Tim Horton's (which is a popular Canadian coffee shop) on the corner of John Street and King Street then when I sat down inside, I remember being in shock.

What was I going to do next?

I kept telling myself, "Everything is going to be okay."

Fortunately, the folks at The Score gave me a severance package to keep me afloat for the rest of the year, but I would definitely need to figure out my money situation because I had a condo apartment mortgage to pay.

My life was in limbo.

But, that same month, I remember taking a chance on a potential opportunity.

You see, besides being a sports fan, I'm also a massive movie fanatic who had an acting agent for a year in 2003 that booked me auditions during the day while I worked at the Score at night.

Unfortunately, I didn't secure any acting jobs that year including missing out on being a news reporter in the Olsen sisters movie, New York Minute.

Yeah, I think things worked out just fine. :)

So, in September 2007, I was on Craigslist looking for some entertainment or television opportunities when I came across a business man extra role for the Marvel Studios movie, The Incredible Hulk starring Edward Norton and Liv Tyler.

This was before the Marvel Cinematic Universe became the box office behemoth it is today.

Heck, Iron Man wasn't even released yet!

So, I submitted an email to apply for the job with 3 pictures including this one below (wow, that dude looks young.).

Then I received this reply....

Thank you for responding to our ad. We would like to use you as an extra on ‘The

Incredible Hulk’ on Monday, October 1st. We do not have a start time or meeting

point yet, although we know it will be early in the morning and somewhere

downtown around Yonge St.

Please email a confirmation that you received this memo and acknowledge that

you are confirmed for Monday. (If you could put ‘confirmation’ in the subject box

that will make it easier for us to find since we receive a lot of applications). Please

also include a contact number if you haven’t already so we can call you on Sunday

with details.

Important notes concerning extra work:

Your start time and location won’t come in until the day before. We will call you on

Sunday, early evening at the latest, with all your details.

Wardrobe - please make sure you come dressed in business attire ie., a business

suit or some kind of office wear.

Please also pack another option (business or casual) in case the wardrobe

department would like you to change your clothes. We are shooting this as early

fall in NY so you can also bring a light trench coat or jacket if you have it. Please

do not wear any clothes with a highly visible logo or anything that is red.

Please note that you will be fed on set. There are snacks and lunch is typically

served 6 or so hours after your start time.

A typical workday is 12+ hours, so please make sure you are completely open the

entire day.

Just a reminder that the pay is $10.00/hour.

We are not an agency, we work for production, so you will not be asked to pay a

commission. Please make the voucher and mailing address for your cheque out to

you directly.

Thank you again for your interest in ‘The Incredible Hulk’, we look forward to

having you as part of our film.

***Every person counts. If for some reason you can no longer make it please make

sure you let us know so we have time to replace you beforehand as opposed to on

the day.**

WHAT?!

I actually booked a movie gig and I didn't even have an agent!

Being a film extra would prove to be an incredibly memorable experience.

Here's how it helped me cope with the shock of losing my job.

1 - Being A Movie Extra Made Me Feel Wanted

After getting the hook from The Score, it felt great to know I was going to work on another Dream Job of mine by being a background actor on a blockbuster movie set.

The casting people actually wanted me to be a part of their big Hollywood movie.

ME?!

I was some guy who used to work at a chicken factory hanging dead chickens on hooks while wearing a blood soaked uniform every shift!

Now, I was Mr. Hollywood North! :)

Wow, I couldn't believe this was happening. I was so grateful.

2 - Being A Movie Extra Kept My Mind Off My Troubles

When I was on set, I was so focused on listening to instructions that I didn't have time to digest that my career was completely upside down.

I was also too busy being in awe of seeing an actual film crew in action along with the actors doing their thing.

Being a film buff, seeing the behind-the-scenes aspects of this industry was a total blast!

Who cares that I didn't have a full-time job, I was in the movies, man!

3 - Being A Movie Extra Gave Me Something Exciting To Experience

After losing your job, you obviously can be a little sad, but if there's something you can look forward to, it'll put a smile on your face.

That's what happened to me.

The most exciting thrill came when we were filming in downtown Toronto just off Yonge Street. I was originally a few hundred feet away from the main camera where Norton and Liv Tyler had a scene together.

After each take, I walked closer to where the action was.

Nobody noticed!

Before I knew it, I was literally a foot away from the co-stars RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA!

I was a business guy holding a briefcase who was pretending to rush to work in behind Norton and Tyler and I nailed it! :)

It was so neat being that up close to the pros.

Anyway, even though, I wasn't paid very much and the day was long, being a movie extra helped me forget I was jobless for a day.

But, the BEST news was yet to come.

In June 2008, a cousin of mine in the United Kingdom mentioned that he watched me in The Incredible Hulk.

I thought to myself, "There's no way."

So, I had to see this movie at the theatre. I went along with my girlfriend and her best friend to check it out.

The film was chugging along until I noticed Norton and Tyler talking after getting out of a cab then walking behind them was ME!

I was onscreen for 4 seconds!

When I saw that, I stood up from my seat then yelled "Holy sh*t! That's ME!!"

I totally embarrassed my girlfriend and her friend in front of a packed movie theatre.

It was quite the spectacle. :)

I was just so proud in that moment.

Before that, I had been through so much.

I was seriously ill in 2006 then I got the boot from my Dream Job at The Score.

It was a tough stretch leading up to that moment, so it felt amazing.

So, if you've lost your job and a movie extra position pops up, consider applying.

Here are some websites that can help.

https://www.mandy.com

https://www.backstage.com/casting/open-casting-calls/extras-casting/

You can also do an online search for “movie extra casting calls” in your city that will direct you to some websites as well.

Even though it may sound like a crazy way to use your time, why not try something new to shake things up?

It'll get you out of your home and interacting with other humans.

Who knows, you might meet some new friends, contacts or appear on the big screen!

So, give it a chance, you just might be surprised with the result. :)

#Careers #Movies #Entertainment #MarvelCinematicUniverse #Marvel #TheIncredible Hulk