that one time i was an extra on a tv show

If you follow me on Twitter, you'll know I got a phone call while I was at work a few Thursdays ago inviting me to be an extra on a television show filming in Baltimore called House of Cards.
To say I was excited is an understatement.

only a portion of the film set - that's one of four cameras

Baltimore Sun

I ran home from work, changed into 'blue-collar worker' clothing (read: jeans and a flannel shirt) and huffed it up to Baltimore. I parked in the filming parking lot, hopped on a school bus and was immediately brought to the production's green room. I went through wardrobe (they traded my flannel shirt for a cardigan - lame), makeup (I looked 'normal' enough for a blue collar workers so nothing needed to be done. Still not sure whether that's a compliment or not!) and then to the green room. Which was really a giant room filled with tables. And food. Lots of food.

It was astounding how much food there was in that room. I had shown up just before dinner break was over so I snuck a little bit of food. It was all paleo (hurray!) and delicious. Who doesn't mind getting paid to eat good food?

After that the extras were taken down to a bar right outside of location. In there we were placed in a 'holding room' (read: just told to hang out at the bar) until they finished filming a gala scene beforehand. Since I had never been on a television or movie set before, I sat outside and watched them film. And it was fascinating.

the star's trailers about a block away from filming

The whole filming process is the most lengthy thing I have ever seen before. They all stand around and wait - no matter how hard I paid attention, I could not figure out what was holding up. After what seems like hours, they begin filming. Maybe 10-20 seconds is filmed and then they take about another hour to reset the scene the exact same way. It was weird to watch, but fascinating at the same time. I have never seen something so disorganized yet together at the same time.

At about 1am (ugh) it was finally time for my scene. I was very aggressive about getting in there immediately and was placed right at the front of the shot. It was a protest where a few of us were angry about the gala that was being filmed the scene beforehand. In the show Kevin Spacey and his wife Robin Penn are working to get him the presidental vote in the next election. Us protestors were angry about the bill Spacey was about to enact.

the set-up of the gala and the scene I watched film - I am in love with the overhead lights

Baltimore Sun

So for four hours, we stood next to the likes of Spacey and Penn (all I could keep thinking was 'Jennay' whenever she was near me) and Joel Schumacher while we screamed about how angry we were. It was weird and hot and tiring and fun at the same time. When we were finally let go at 4:30am I could barely stagger to my car - but I couldn't stop smiling. Because I had that much fun.

And the $100 check I got in the mail the next week wasn't bad either :)

PS. - Don't forget about to like my new facebook page! :)