Patience and the Background Performers

Extras in Films, TV and Commercials

A lesson in patience

They are 'background performers' more popularly called extras.  To be an 'extra' requires loads of patience. Often, they have to wait for long hours before the second or third line director calls for a shooting time.  Rolling... Ready.  Action.

The waiting is maybe 90 to 95 percent of the time. There's a lot of standing up or sitting down talking to fellow extras also waiting for a cue. Otherwise, once called to act, extras do their best and listen to what they're instructed to do carefully.

Extras are often considered a low job to do. With the minimum wage pay per hour, they are exposed to all the natural elements. Calls can start in the early hours of the morning until midnight. They just have to be prepared. Depending on the director's wishes, takes (re-takes) can be few to lots. As an extra one has to be really observant about timing and continuity of the shoot.


One good thing is, extras learn to bond together and form friendships with the others. The group is extremely diverse in age, vocations or careers. Ages can start from a child of 3 or 4 to the elderly. There's a cross-section of society. Some extras are retirees out to enjoy life, the unemployed, the students wanting extra monies when out of the classrooms, and about anyone of differing lifestyles - young and old - regardless of reason to be.

Extras in films are often well taken-care of with great food and they get to meet popular film stars, occasionally. Well, things may have improved in recent years, but you get the idea.  Whichever way they are placed, extras play an important part in films or television, and commercials too.

Come to think of it, a writer needs a load of patience and perseverance, especially when the muse isn't in the mood to write...

Proiginally published Sept 25, 2008 

Of Dreams and Realities

Carl Gustav Jung Quotes of Dreams and Being Awake

Somethings worth reflecting and acting upon where necessary.

• "Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes."
• "Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves."
•  "Follow that will and that way which experience confirms to be your own."
• "If one does not understand a person, one tends to regard him as a fool."
• "Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darkness of other people."

Carl Gustav Jung 91875-1961), was a Swiss psychiatrist and founder of analytical psychology. He broke off his professional relationship with Sigmund Freud after working with the latter to found his own school, which is analytic psychology.For many years Jung investigated about the human personality, especially the spiritual and unconscious aspects. He identified introversion and extroversion as basic personality types and stressed the importance of personal self-discovery for a healthy personality development.

Loneliness Blues

Although what others do to us can make us lonely sometimes, loneliness is something inside of us. We can be alone but not lonely, instead, enjoy our solo moments – listening to our favourite music, drifting to our favourite beaches, visiting our local library or bookstores reading our favourite author’s current bestseller, or simply watching an exciting TV show in the comfort of our living room.

Loneliness is when we feel as if nobody cares or wants to be with us.

Sometimes when we are lonely or feel lonely, we ignore what others say or do if it disagrees with what we think is true.

When loneliness creeps in, as occasionally it will, perhaps we should turn inwards and be a healthy company to ourselves. I know ... it is easier said than done.

We can make ourselves busy by doing some things we love to do.  Before we know it, our loneliness is dispelled, we can even forget why we feel lonely in the first place.

For now, it's really that occasional loneliness blues ... that part of life that has to be faced.