Need advice!! should i be an extra in "the War of the Worlds" (tom cruise

[partisan to truth]

movie)? This definitely doesn't happen- I'm in school in Albany and it's 30miles south (important info, since I have a lease)

It's filming near me and they need people this Mon-Thurs, working 3pm-3am, 80bucks/day. I'd either be a National Guardsman or a person running from an alien invasion.

Problem- I have a huge biochemistry final on Friday. I was thinking I would have time to study while I was there, or before, or something... but now I'm not so sure.

Going crazy, and hope my fellow DU'ers can help.

[Deja Q]

1. It's a remake. There's a 147.2% chance it'll be crap.

The only remake that really worked was "The Brady Bunch Movie".

[partisan to truth]

haha that could definitely be true

i think just the sheer fact of being an extra is what's driving me. has spielberg directed crap before? (sorry i'm obviously not a movie buff due to my sheltered youth)

[212demop]

30. High Society was a a remake of The Philadelphia story.

plus think of all The Scrooge movies that have come out- some quite good.

[wryter2000]

2. You'll kick yourself if you don't

I was an extra in Rachel, Rachel, and I still remember meeting Paul Newman. Plus, I can see myself whenever it's on TV.

Take your books with you. There's lots of dead time in movie making.

[partisan to truth]

9. thanks- I was hoping I'd get a former extra's point of view

the only thing is that i'll have to sacrifice my normally cool and popular look (no comment) in exchange for a book :)

[Downtown Hound]

3. If you really want to

try and see if you can take the test early. Tell your teacher that a really big family event came up and you don't want to miss it, and see if he'll give it to you in advance. Just hope that if he says yes, he doesn't recognize you if he sees you in the film when it's released.

;)

[partisan to truth]

10. well the test is actually fri afternoon (shooting ends 3am Friday morning)

It also starts tomorrow afternoon- so early's not an option (wish I didn't just find out about this... oh well)

[WI_DEM]

4. Sure go for it.

There is always plenty of off time on a film set. You can bet the majority of those twelve hour days will not be utilizing you for many of those hours.

[unblock]

5. 20 years from now, will u remember an exam? or being an extra?

[partisan to truth]

15. yes... i keep thinking this- it would really be incredible just to

say i've done it. and it's also so unlike me- which makes this all the more intriguing

[DS1]

6. 80 bucks a day? Sign me up for a month

:cry:

[partisan to truth]

12. aww! yes it's a great deal for me- considering i'm graduating in two wks

and have yet to find a job

[asthmaticeog]

7. $320?

To stand around a lot while shots get blocked and lit and re-blocked and re-lit? Sneaking free food from the deli trays? Go for it. A friend of mine sustained himself quite well as an extra when he first moved to L.A., before he finally got his foot in the door in his real profession (concert promotions). Despite the time commitment, there's really not a lot of actual work to do for the money you get.

[partisan to truth]

14. yeah... that's fine with me, as long as i have time to study

and that they don't mind i guess?

[212demop]

28. I must commend your Bush pic from the Shining. Where'd you get it?

[asthmaticeog]

32. Thank you, I made it. n/t

[212demop]

34. It's brilliant. I'm totally impressed. You're very creative.

Can you put his face on those twins in the hallway, or the naked hag in the bathroom?

Though I must say, it's your subtlety that is most genius.

[asthmaticeog]

36. Kind of you to say,

but that sort of thing mostly depends on being lucky enough to find the right picture - the right head angle, the right lighting direction - otherwise it just doesn't work at all.

The naked hag in the room 237 wouldn't be a bad idea...

[HysteryDiagnosis]

8. DO IT... remake or no... the remake of the Time Machine (both of them)

pretty much blew me away... and as I child I read the book several times.. I suggest you do the same, it is a FANTASTIC read. Imagine the special effects available today to dress up this story.... I am sure it will be a winner. Go for it!! :)

[partisan to truth]

16. i haven't read it- and i'm sure i'll be reading it over

christmas... thanks for your advice! :)

[sir_captain]

11. Is the exam open book

or do you have to memorize all the structures?

[partisan to truth]

13. need to memorize

nucleic acid, protein, carbohydrate, lipid, and enzymes-

structure, cycles (i.e. TCA), modes of analyzing, etc etc etc okay I'm gonna go shoot myself.

[sir_captain]

18. Yikes

Honestly, and this might just be me, but I think you should skip the extra shooting (which I honestly think will probably be a minor loss) and stick with the studying.

I had a midterm about a week ago in my graduate biochem class that covered pretty similar material to what you're doing and it took me about a week of nearly killing myself to get it all memorized.

movies might be fun, but your exam is more important...

[partisan to truth]

22. sob... yes, you raise a valid point.

everyone seems to be saying that I'll have tons of time to study there... but i question whether it's enough

[sir_captain]

24. As do I...

not even getting into the question of whether this will really be a good study environment...

I obviously don't know your academic situation and how important this class is for your future life, but I know for me, I'd be kicking myself a lot harder over the exam than the missed (maybe) 1 second of movie glory.

[212demop]

29. take ear plugs, find a corner- you'll be good. Lots of free soda on set.

[Rabrrrrrr]

38. BUILD A MEMORY!

Screw one test.

Here's been my motto for some time, and I wish I had followed it more often: "Live in such a way that you never have say 'I could have done'".

[Rabrrrrrr]

39. Oh, and pound the shit out of that no-talent worthless fuck Cruise, too,

while you're there. And then pound the crap out of him for me.

[JimmyJazz]

17. I'm not sure about this, but don't even the extras have to be members

of SAG? Or maybe you already are?

[partisan to truth]

20. they had a casting call, got over 2000 ppl when they needed

1000. then they didn't have enough minorities, so they opened it up again. all they ask for is two photos, no SAG affiliation necessary

[JimmyJazz]

23. At least you know that up front!

Again, I wasn't sure, but it seemed I had heard that at one time. I think it sounds like a wonderful experience, btw

I know you have tests, but you'll work it out.

Remember, we tend to regret the things in life we didn't do, more than we regret the things we did - IMHO

Good luck

[212demop]

31. I think you need to be SAG if you speak (3 lines I believe).

[NV Whino]

19. If you've never been an extra,

you might find it fun... once. And believe me, you will have plenty of time to study. Mostly what you do is sit around and wait. You could be fairly miserable, though, with cold weather. So ask some questions about where (indoors or outdoors) it is going to be filmed.

[partisan to truth]

21. yeah- that's a concern, it's being filmed outdoors

[sbj405]

25. The cost of a poor grade will be greater than $320

Don't do it. Stay home and study.

[Rowdyboy]

26. Go for it-I was an extra on "O, Brother, Where Art Thou?" and

"The Ponder Heart". There will be PLENTY of time to memorize things while you're waiting for scenes. If you stay in your room to try to study non-stop, you'll be interrupted constantly and find excuses yourself to break. Why not get paid for it?

And as someone above noted, which will you remember in 20 years-the test or the movie?

[212demop]

27. Screw the final! You'll never remember the class, let alone the exam-

this is a life experience, a potential fork in the road, the place where you might meet your future spouse.... okay, okay.... At least, you'll have an interesting memory.

Plus it's resume filler.

[amazona]

33. go for it

It's something you'll remember doing forever.

[212demop]

35. Do it for your country!

Spielberg filming the most expensive movie ever (that's right isn't it?) within our borders- practically unheard of.

Support American filmmakers supporting the American economy.

For the love of altruism!

[Rabrrrrrr]

37. You'll have so much downtime, you could read War and Peace

You'll be called for a few minutes of shoot, then sit for 10 hours, and cycle that back and forth. Except for the breaks for meals.

Go for it!!!!!!

[Rowdyboy]

40. And, on some sets, the food is pretty damn good!

We had basic breakfasts and delicious lunches (blackened catfish etc). It was memorable.

[Rabrrrrrr]

41. Absolutely!

Sadly, I've never done extra work, but a number of friends have, for a wide variety of movies, and they all did very well food-wise at every shoot. And did amazingly well at catching up on their reading.

[CanuckAmok]

42. Yeah...do it.

You'll be on standby for 80% of each day, waiting in the holding tent. If you're a guardsman, ask the props guy if you can keep your textbooks in your pack, and hit the books when you can.