i've done my fair share of extra work (or "background" work if one must use the pc term) since my move to la a few months ago. i have learned to expect nothing glamorous from the morning, afternoon, or often all-day-long series of filming scenes. in fact, i don't think i have spent less than twelve hours on the set, and usually in either a freezing sound stage or burning hot location with a very noticeable--and tangible--lack of air conditioning. instead, i look forward to the meal 8 hours after i arrive (usually signaling the half-way mark in the day), and just hope that the difference between the sumpuous and savory spread set out for the sag workers is only marginally more appealing than the sparse selection supplied to us non-union peons.
last week was the worst. after a long day staring at jewel's face while filming a special upcoming episode of las vegas in which she was featured, i thought things were turning for the better. the only diffence between lunch on the sag side and my side was the addition of a deliciously-crusted apple pie for dessert. i took a piece anyway. so really, there was no difference. a few days later, however, on the set of the forth-coming movie spring breakdown, i was miserably surprised at the blatant disregard for the minimum-wage non-union workers such as myself. after being pushed by the sag lunch table filled with grilled meats, chopped salads, tiered cakes, and blended smoothies, we were left in front of an empty table marked "non-union lunch." althought the table was quickly filled with food, it happened to be in the form of a small, dark, cardboard boxes, each of which contained a small sandwich, a cookie, and a bag of chips. just like kindergarten.
as most background actors will attest, the real reason for getting on these shoots is the hope that someone will notice us, give us a sag voucher, and we will be well on our way to achieving that coveted and elusive sag membership status. and apparently, all these sweaty days on the set raking in a massive 14-hour minimum wage income are worth it.
sidenote: the food may have been crap, but henry was able to make it into the shoot!
Jul 21, 2006
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the believer
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4 comments:
Patrick! I'm so proud of you. Surely an Emmy nom will follow ... and possibly some great food.
if nothing else, you can be henry's agent from now on.
rachel dratch is hilarious. she's even better in person.
marian, every actor gets his sag card a different way. there are varied ways, but it's hard. i suppose that's so not every little weasely actor-wanna-be like myself is able to just pay the $1300 to join. the sag website states the rules. but really, it's more like the ol' catch 22: in order to get work, you must be sag. in order to become sag, you have to work. therein the problem lies...
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