The Curious Life of an Extra
“You look fierce!”
I hesitantly walked out of the bathroom at Buddakan to be met with a small army of directors, producers, assistants, and costume designers giving me nods of approval for the outfit a wardrobe assistant had just stuffed me into. The dress was the color of bile, baggy, covered in ruffles, and zipped all the way up to my chin. I felt like I was witnessing firsthand the kind of false-positive reinforcement that lands someone on a Worst Dressed List in Hollywood. But it was my first time on a set, to film a video for Fashion Week, and I thought it best not to refute the opinions of the people who were apparently in the know about a hideous trend that had yet to hit my local T.J. Maxx.
Eight years ago, I’d never have imagined I’d be playing the VIP its highest level in 25 years; months of interviews and rejections had me searching desperately for new avenues. Unexpectedly, I’d find my first days back at work on a film set, as an extra. What initially seemed like a temporary gig turned into a viable, even unexpectedly stable, way to make a living while also learning the nuts and bolts of a fascinating industry.
