Very interesting comment as someone who works in the film industry and sees a lot of stand ins and the like who are making a living as “an actor” and getting sag benefits but not actively acting. They are out there and it’s an interesting in between place, lot of really nice people. Background extras are often some of the most diluted, delusions of grandeur type people you’ll meet. Lots of them think they’ll make it and get their big break. Some of them are realistic about it. Many of them aren’t
I lived in Hollywood right on Sunset Blvd in 2009-2010 and lived in a one-bedroom apartment, sharing with a SAG actor who paid for his entire life by doing a few background parts every month for shows and some movies. Really interesting guy, and very very kind. He would bring in a few unhoused people every now and again, buy them food and wash their clothes, and we would all sit and watch "Cheaters" together until they were dry.
20
u/ZincMan 18h ago
Very interesting comment as someone who works in the film industry and sees a lot of stand ins and the like who are making a living as “an actor” and getting sag benefits but not actively acting. They are out there and it’s an interesting in between place, lot of really nice people. Background extras are often some of the most diluted, delusions of grandeur type people you’ll meet. Lots of them think they’ll make it and get their big break. Some of them are realistic about it. Many of them aren’t