Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Casting Call for Umbrella Man


[from Craigslist]


Don't miss your chance at being a featured extra in THE UMBRELLA MAN, a feature film shooting in Pittsburgh until October 26th!! Please send a headshot, contact info, and your availability to um.extras@gmail.com for more details! All extras will be entered into a raffle for the chance to win Apple's New iPad, an Amazon Kindle Fire & Apple TV!
  • Compensation: Chance to win an iPad, Kindle Fire & Apple TV!
  • Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
  • Please, no phone calls about this job!
  • Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.


So, say, you're an extra. Why in the world would you want to work for free on a movie? The first three years I did extra work, I ignored all calls for volunteer work. Shouldn't I be paid?

Generally, yes, you should.

However...

I went to the stadium shoot for The Dark Knight Rises, which called for volunteers. About 11,000 volunteers showed up. Even though I got heat exhaustion late in the day, I had a wonderful time and learned a lot about large scale movie-making. I didn't win anything and the food wasn't so hot, but that was OK. It was only one day. (Ironically, while I was in the stadium, I was called to work for pay the next day...and I had to turn it down because I was too busy working on another project to do a second day of movie work. Oh well...)

Last spring, I worked two days on Monongehala. That was ultra-ultra low-budget, and I had the chance to help run errands and carry equipment. The second day, I was more of a PA than an extra while I watched tables and guarded food while the crew was in another area shooting. Fun time.

So, if you have the time and some group making a movie on the cheap in Pittsburgh is making a movie (like, say, The Umbrella Man folks), you might consider donating a day of your time. If you really hate volunteering for a movie, don't do it, but if you don't, it's a worthwhile experience.

The Pittsburgh Film Office has a list of all kinds of projects, both volunteer and for pay.


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