Monday, April 13, 2009

Being a movie extra can earn you, extra cash!

If you need some extra cash, as The New York Times pointed out last weekend, becoming a movie or TV extra is one way to go.

I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Back in the summer or perhaps fall of 2004 when Levottomat 3 (released in 2004) was filming, I took a job as an extra. My memory surrounding the details -- who did I contact to get on the movie, what was the pay and so on -- is another story by itself. Part of me wants to say I was there for two or three days, but considering how much film time I ultimately nabbed, I honestly don't see how I could have been there for more than a day. In any case, for a student, it was a nice gig.

I think I made €300 back then (The New York Times suggests the going rate now might average $8 an hour by that ammount I definitelly wont do it). Whatever the money was, the long-spent cash hopefully served me well -- but the memory of getting to be a movie extra, I'll have for a lifetime. And I would think that would be a selling point for anyone needing to make a little extra money during this shaky economy. Times are tough and maybe the day-to-day drudgery of unemployment isn't something you'll want to capture in a scrapbook or blog, so why not do something that not only makes you some money but will be worth remembering? Specially now that my task is to get a Million € in less than five years.

Because there's no denying it. There is something pretty surreal and glamorous about being on a movie set, especially if there's some star power in the film. In my case, our director and one of the stars was Mi Grönlund acted(2)movies total and Jasper Pääkkönen acted(62)movies total.. as well as some other well-known names like Amira Khalifa acted(18)movies total.

I was there as a college student doing a Master´s on the campus of Helsinki University in Finland and somehow the circumstances of my life got me to get to know the woman in charge of hiring the extras for some movies and tv commercials which I later on participated in a couple of them. In this particular movie There's a scene where Mi Grönlund and Jasper Pääkkönen, are wandering through the casino table where I´m happening to be gambling, and they pass by smothly. I'm one of those, and I can be seen for -- well, to say I can be seen for even a second of screen time is generous.

There may never have been a quicker 15 minutes of fame in the history of showbiz (mine was literally less than 15 seconds!) Earlier this year, after a few years I happen to still enjoy the movie which evolves around Thirty-something Jonna, an attractive and successful executive with cozy architect husband Niklas and two small children, leads a double life. She is constantly on the lookout for quick casual sex. When she starts seeing handsome and rich young yacht owner Aleksi, things really start going awry in her personal and professional life. While her artist sister Sanna provides her with suitable alibis, TV sex therapist Nora tries to help her come to terms with her sex addiction.

So for me, it was far more glamorous being on the set , and watching it all unfold -- than actually seeing myself on screen. But there's no denying that not only did I get paid for my time, I got something in return that I'll always have: memories and a self-deprecating, cheesy anecdote that I can share with my kids and someday, my grandchildren, which is the sort of happy ending Hollywood thrives on.

Next you could see the Movie trailer Levottomat 3 and then the soundtrack Cold in wich actually my acting scene is displayed at min: 1:55-2:00 at the left side of her red dress

Enjoy...






Changing the subject suddenly and following a purpose for this week I happen to have few books that I don´t need anymore and because I belive a book has never to be trown away here is the list if you want any of them at any price even for free just let me know (post a comment or send me an e mail) I will be glad to send it to you.

1-Nora Roberts/Revontulet (Suomi New)
2-Steven Saylor/Murha Via Appialla (Suomi)
3-Population Dynamics/Greville (English)
4-Kiti Kokkonen/Terveisin Karo. Sähköpostiromaani(Suomi)
5-Leena Lehtolainen/Viimeinen kesäyö (Suomi)
6-Elizabeth George/Mielesa Petos (Suomi)
7-Gina Ford/The New contented baby book Best Seller New(English)
8-Anja Snellman/Safari club (Suomi)
9-Mormonin Kirja
10-Lector de Poesia/Jose Antonio Escalona (Español)
11-Guia del Museo del Prado (Español)

And in case you need anybook just contact me I can get it for you.

Best regards JC.

No comments:

Post a Comment