Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-06-11
GOING INTO MOVIES
AS EXTRA MEANS
PRECARIOUS LIFE

sWHY don't you go into the movies
w all the boarders ask in chorus as
Miss Cam o. Flage takes her place at
the table. 1t Is signal for Miss Cam
to register appreciation and 90 about
the business" of being slightly cmbar-
rassed at the compliment.
Have your friends asked YOU that?
And got you all thrilled at the thought!
But there are some difficulties at
tending those who would get into the
movies" and, although everybody wants
TO do It these days, it is not as simple
Ms changing ones coat. The motion
picture companies have way OF their
own.
A visit to the casting department Of
such a plant as the Famous Players
tasky studio or Long Island will re-
veal much to the girl who believes that
ell she has TO do to get into the movies
Is to make a wish and walk right in,
There she will find filing cabinet after
filing cabinet filed with names of actors
and "extras." All the people that have
Appeared in their pictures are catalogucd
with description Of age, height. weight
end complexion.
Each one is given a number which
corresponds to page in photograph
Album. So you start as number.
In this directory, more than 5000
hames are listed. When director
wants a certain type. all he has to
do is consult the directory. This list
contains the names of those who do
emall parts. The ordinary extra people
are not included. Another method IS
used to obtain them.
In studio parlance extras are divided
into two classes. high class 'atmos-
phsre" and 'supers. which Is short
Tor supernumeraries.
Included in the category of high class
atmosphere are the ladies and gentle
men who appear in reception scenes at
bsnquets and dinners and at lunCheons
at the 'Ritz-Carlton," These people
must have an ''air" about them and be
able to wear the clothes of society and
assume the manners of the rich.
On the other hand the "Supers are
dust ordinary people, the kind one finds
in the crowd at the ball game, the races
Or on the streets.
ET,HE fabulous" salaries Of the extra
i people range from So to SO day,
depending upon the type of work re-
Quired. The extras who are just part
Of the mob receive the smaller pay and
those who come IN the high class at
mosphere group draw the larger amount.
There are graduations Of this scale which
include a $3.50 and so wage.
The extras have no regular hours and
may be required by the director to work
from Z 80 o'clock in the morning until
late at night.
When extras are required for atmos-
phere the theatrical agencies are called
upon to furnish the people If the casting
department Is not able to supply the
types from those on the directory lists.
The theatrical agency holds the same
relation to the motion picture business
that the employment agency holds TO the
world of commerce. On a moments 5 no
tice the casting department can obtain
500 people for a race track scene from
these agencies.
TT IS a life Of "watchful waiting
i that the extra people live, and pre-
carious one at that These people are
q persistent lot. however. and day in and
day out they make trips TO the agencies
aud studios with the old question on
their lips: Anything doing today?'
The moving picture studio is a great
melting pot. 1t is not uncommon for an
Italian waiter. adding to his tips
through work before the camera, TO be
serving tea to a baroness or duchess,
out for lark and enjoying the novelty
of appearing in the movies.
Many times the sons of wealthy fam
ilies take "ier" in the pictures as
extras and hobnob with the products OF
the Ghetto and lower East Side. For
eigners are constantly visiting the
United States and the first thing they
want to do after docking at Hoboken,
Il seems, is to visit n motion picture
studio. These distinguished visitors
often find the opportunity to get the
thrill of being atmosphere" in a pic
ture.
In many instances extra people rise
out of the common lot and are given
small parts. When this happens the
pay increases and the person becomes
one of the family Of thespians and can
no longer be included simply in the list
Of "those present.
But no one talks about the extras
who have been wearing out shoe leather
on their daily trips to the agencies.
If Miss Cam O'F'lage would be as
sured Of a steady income, regular meals
and the means of gratifying her tastes
for amusement there is no surer way
than to keep her job as stenographer.