Editorial

Back in 1999, I had the good fortune to work on the film The Perfect Storm as a background actor. The film crew often treated background actors (more commonly referred to as “extras”) as cattle or “props with feet.” As a group, extras hold value in helping to keep the illusion of reality but are given a litany of rules pretty much assuring that they are seen and not heard. As one assistant director on a television show once explained to me, “If you need to use the pause button to see yourself when the episode airs, then you´re doing your job.”