Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-04-25
Continued from Lost Weeb.

Continued from Lost Weeb.
The young man explains, courteously,
that he is an assistant casting director.
The girl says that she wi.es TO be an
actress. She passes over one Of the photo
graphs. The young man rattles off list
OF questions and writes the answers on
card. He records her age. weight. height,
color, wardrobe, type, experience and other
personal details. Accoi -lg to the card.
which goes into filing cabinet, her type
is school girl" her experience none" and
her wardrobe modern" she having told
the man that she had brought from homs
several frocks. including an evening gown
That's ALL" the man says. I'VE have
your telephone number. If we need YOU
wen call yoa. No use hanging around"
And what am to do when called ?" shs
says "Extra-mob stuff" he answers
Then. 1t being slow day and ass,s,.r,
directors not always curmudgeons as
painted, he takes time to ask her ~ sbs
mas also registered at the Service pura.,
She learns that this is an emnlovr,an,
agency operated by. the Motion Picture
PRODUCERS Association in Los Angeles for
'he purpose OF effecting economy through
contamination and also of wedding out su.
perhuous and undesirable extras. Later
enc nhos out more about the army of ex.
tras IN whose ranks III she is so fortunate
as 10 be called) she must grub toward
stardom.
AT first" wise man Of Hollywood tell.
her, they were mostly historical kids
rushing out to Hollywood to iumn IN ana
Hake Dag splash. Now they are pretty
much shaken down to hard boiled persons
looking for work. They used to flock
around the studios to loll, chew gum read
the movie magazines and talk big. Thew
clutfered the streets and didn't add anv.
tnlng 10 the reputation of the town In the
eyes OF those who wish 1t we'll Now thew
are all card indexed and most of them stay
at home beside the telephone, so as not 10
miss call. That is why you see so few
movie people outside the studios during
tae day. They are either on the lot, out
On location or in their homes.
How 1t Is Worked
With Card System
You're registered as school girl tvn.
Well, If director who is shooting ON tho
lot wants twenty-five school girls To ,9oss
up something he's doing he sends word to
the casting director: the casting director,s
assistant grabs twenty-five school girr
cards from his card index and works the
phone until he gets the right number Or
he phones the Service Bureau in Los An.
geles: Have twenty-five school girls. swell
dressers. here by IL O'clock Some of the
studios work ID one way. some the other.
There are also half dozen private .ex.
changes or employment bureaus for Az.
tras. Many girls on piece work in fac.
tories are on the extra list. When a lot q,
people are wanted for some big spectacle
they get into the mobs and make their IS
or $3.50 day. Ordinary mob stun PAYS
IS. Then again mere atmosphere NAV he
wanted. That may bring in a crowd with
out any experience or movie ambition at
ala lot of farmers right Off the ranch.
for instance. to piece out street scene in
rural drama, or iynching scene or NAV.
be bunch of Chinese from Los Angeles to
swell the mob in Boxer rebellion. This
pays'S3 day. The farmers get a lot OF
run out OF coming to the studios OCCASION
ally and pretending they're actors.
The extras-on the legitimate stage
they're called supers-have to be on the
lot by half past In the morning the
same as the actors. for shooting starts AZ
c. II there's no rush to get the pro-
duction done. they're through at o'clock.
but II there's rush, as there often ia.
they may have to stick around late at
night, or even all night.
It's hard work, and irregular work nm
certain as to money return, usually get
ting you nowhere except a certain stand
Ing as dependable extra. I've seen MANY
a one start with flourish in the morning
snd quit for good the first night, especially
when the company goes into the country
On location. At such times the discipline
Of the big studios is 80 strict that all the
extras have to sit in their rubberneck
wagons until called. They may sit there
all day In the cold and rain. There are
wearisome waits.
"And the worst of It for the scream
struck youngsters is that they may never
catch even glimpse, except at distance,
Of the worshiped stars. Often the stars
DO not figure in the mob STUFF at all; they
may be miles away while the sequence is
being shot. And at the studios the extras
,ant wander whittier they list: they are
herded in one place. and no stars are in
that place.
Fate of the Winner
In Town Beauty Contest
''Yss, It's tough life. but don't let me 4
you. A few girls have come up I
through It. but remember, only few.
Once in while j hear OF one who is
sensible enough to go back home and
marry the proprietor Of the Elite Garage,
,ut great many Of those who are crowded
tut are too proud to 90, or haven't money