Seer and Sayer with Kristy and Chuck Robinett  

 As mentioned in our last show, Kristy and I were 'featured extras' in the movie that George Clooney is currently filming entitled, 'Up In The Air'. Now, before I go any farther, let me explain that I, personally, have never had that 'Hollywood Acting Bug' that many people have. Granted, if some bit-time Hollywood producer came and saw me sitting in at a drugstore soda fountain and told me that he wanted to put me in pictures, well... maybe I'd have to think about it. The thing is, those types of things usually only happen IN the movies (unless, of course, your name is Lana Turner, as that is how she was found.) The point is, I'm not much into that whole 'scene'.

 My darling wife, Kristy, on the other hand, has always had those kinds of dreams and, God willing, if anyone out there was smart enough, they'd sweep her to Hollywood in the blink of an eye. Until then, we will all sit around and be content to just contribute to the entire motion picture industry as 'extras' in movies.

 Anyway, as this story goes, Kristy was contacted to work as an extra in the previously mentioned movie that was filmed a couple of weeks ago here in Detroit. At the time I thought that it was cool and all, until I found out that it was George Clooney's movie. Now if you did indeed listen to last weeks 'Seer and Sayer', you listened to how Kristy continually mentioned how much 'in love' that I was with George Clooney. Now let me go on the record, officially, as saying that I'm NOT in love with the man. I'm just a big fan of his and his films. I've always gotten the impression that Mr. Clooney is a very warm, congenial man, filled with talent, integrity and class. Now after re-reading that last sentence, it actually DOES sound like I am in love with him. Again, though, let me make it perfectly clear that I am not. I'm just a big fan.

 Anyway, the night before her big taping, her agency called and asked if I could also work as an extra in that same film. Of course I said, "yes' as this was a totally new experience for me AND a chance to see George Clooney.

 After scrambling to find enough outfits for each scene that we originally were expected to be cast in, we both went to bed early as we had to be up and ready to go at Detroit Metropolitan Airport the next morning at 5:00am. Needless to say, 5:00am came upon us very, very quickly and we needed to find out where our scheduled 'meeting point' was, to park with all of the other extras and to be shuttled in vans over to the set. Well, the directions given to us were not all that concise and it was a bitterly cold morning to start out with, but we found our place and we were all shuttled over to the first terminal. Hey, it all sounds good to this point, but it seemed to me that we were more like cattle being led to slaughter. Granted, it really wasn't all that bad, but with all of the other people, the lack of direction, the mass confusion and on top of that, the bitter cold weather, it just seemed too crazy for words.

 Once we signed in and finally had our wardrobes checked, Kristy and I both found out that we would only be in one scene, but that we would both be cast as 'business travelers', so we, at least, could spend the day together, so that was good.

 I really cannot go into any great detail about the actual filming that was done as we all had to sign 'confidentiality forms' as we were all hired and being paid to be extras. I will say though that everyone involved in the movie, from director Jason Reitman to all of his assistants were exceptionally nice and great to work for. It was actually pretty amazing to see all of the intricate details that it takes to actually film a movie. Kristy and I both stood in line in an actual airport terminal for approximately nine plus hours for what will amount to as about a five or ten minute shot in the movie. Amazing. And equally amazing is that everything that I mentioned about about George Clooney basically was very, very true. He seemed very funny, very warm, very professional and very much genuine, just as I thought that he would be. It really was worth all of the time and frustration involved just to get to see him in person.

 Now while that is all well and good, I guess the part of the whole experience that totally turned me off were the other extras that thought that they were better than everyone else. Granted, most everyone there was very nice and pleasant and it was a pleasure to spend the day with them. It was just the other few that either were awfully 'high maintenance' or just thought that they were better than everybody else. Trust me, there were some real 'jerks' that were there. It was incredible seeing how these few people acted as if they were the actual stars of this movie. People were angry over not getting any 'face time' during the filming or that they weren't cast in more important roles. At one point I was so frustrated with one woman that if she 'acted up' one more time, I was going to start a big commotion so that we'd both get thrown off the set. You see, at that point, I'd been standing for over six hours and I had already been around Mr. Clooney, so I had nothing to lose. I did not want to be there anymore by then anyway. Luckily enough, they moved her and we finally finished up they day.

  I guess what I don't understand is how some of these people think that they're going to be 'found' or 'discovered' while on these movie sets. Now don't get me wrong, I'm sure that it actually could (and probably has) happened in the past. In fact, I just heard where Jack Nicholson once told a crowd that he was discovered by doing the same thing. It's just that I doubt if Jack Nicholson, even in all of his 'flustered glory' was rude and spoiled while working as an extra. The thing for me is that, for the most part, we were all hired to do the same thing. Some folks got to play certain roles, others, like me, were just extras. That's how the producers selected us all and that's how it should be. Now some of these other 'prima donna's' thought that they should be given 'special treatment' and pushed to the forefront so that they could get more 'exposure'. It was almost embarrassing to see these people react the way that they did. I would have to say that if there was any reason for me not to do this again, that would have to be the reason. I mean, if those types of people think that the only way that they're going to make it in Hollywood is by being an extra in a movie, that's fine and I wish you all the luck in the world. But if you're going to try to walk over other people to do it, well, that's another story. One of my largest pet peeves are people who try to 'use' other people for their own benefit. It simply incredible how many people out there are exactly like that and it absolutely drives me nuts! I, myself, try to use the mantra that, 'it's nice to be nice'. If you're nice to people, ninety-nine percent of the time, they'll be probably nice to you. It's just common courtesy. You catch more flies with honey than you do vinegar, right? So to watch some of these other extras on the set act so rudely towards others, well, let's just say that I was a little more than disgusted. The thing is, I guess that's okay though. I always say that things always 'even out in the wash,' so I figure that these rude, pushy people will some day get what's really coming to them. I guess that goes well with another one of my favorite mantras: 'Karma's a bitch'.

 Anyway, as I mentioned before, it was really a cool experience and I'm glad that I finally got to see how all if it worked in person. It was also quite a bit harder to do that I actually thought that it would be, so all of you out there who do this day in and day out, you've definitely gained my admiration. Kristy and I both mentioned after wards that we'd probably never do it again. Of course, she said the same thing after she was filmed as an extra with Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon in 'Whip It' last summer, so who knows? I do know that for all of the work that it all endured, there's only a select few actors that I would do it all over again for. Maybe in my next blog I can talk about that.

 On a more personal note, I will say that though that Mr. Clooney, if you're out there, and you ever need another extra, you can always call on me.