I saw this film at DeadCenter film festival in Oklahoma City. Connell has done a great job assembling a cast of interesting characters. This film is very funny but also shows the harder side of life for these background actors. The film is very engaging and keeps your attention from start to finish. The crew followed these actors for 8 months and then edited for over a year, and it shows. They have done a good job in showing growth in the film, and the editing of the story is excellent, with no voice-over and very little text required to pad the story. The actors are telling the story, and that's what makes it interesting. Recommended!
11 Reviews
Entertaining and informative film about the life of an extra
se7en18712 June 2007
I saw this at the Waterfront Film Festival in Saugatuck, Michigan.
Interesting documentary about people that make a career out of being movie extras. It followed ten people around and showed how they handle being another face in the movie crowd. I really enjoyed this film because I'm interested in going into the film business and it would be fun to be an extra in at least one film.
It was great seeing how dedicated some of these people are. The documentary covered many of the basics about being an extra. How to get cast in a film, how to dress, how to act around the big stars, and many other things. I also loved how they showed the film clips and pointed out where the stars of the documentary were.
This movie will be really helpful to anyone that wants to travel out west and go into the movies.
Interesting documentary about people that make a career out of being movie extras. It followed ten people around and showed how they handle being another face in the movie crowd. I really enjoyed this film because I'm interested in going into the film business and it would be fun to be an extra in at least one film.
It was great seeing how dedicated some of these people are. The documentary covered many of the basics about being an extra. How to get cast in a film, how to dress, how to act around the big stars, and many other things. I also loved how they showed the film clips and pointed out where the stars of the documentary were.
This movie will be really helpful to anyone that wants to travel out west and go into the movies.
A must watch for want to be actors!
scifichickmuses21 April 2013
As a retired High School Theatre teacher I wish I had this documentary to share with my students when I was still teaching. I always tried to explain to my students that only 1% of want to be actors will become "Brad Pitt" famous. Most actors are just "working" actors. Some actors will become character actors and make a really nice living. But, this documentary focuses in on the "Extras" and gives a really great glimpse into the lives of the people who make up the crowd scenes in the movies and TV show everyday. It is a little long, it could have been about half an hour shorter but overall, it's very informative, very touching, and very eye opening. I highly recommend this documentary.
Oddly compelling
planktonrules8 February 2012
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of the stranger documentaries I've seen in some time and I was surprised that the film actually hooked me and kept my interest. It's all about ten folks who are professional extras--and from what I was able to gather, that is their only job! Now considering how little it pays, it kept me wondering how they could afford to do this. Did they have spouses who supported them? Were they living off inheritances? I could see that in a few cases, they seemed to be living rather marginal lives.
The film consists of lots of interviews and film clips with these people. As for the film clips, I really liked what the film makers did--turn the prints black & white and then colorize the featured extra so you can recognize them. Some of the interviews seemed very mundeane, some were moving and some made me laugh (such as the guy who seemed REALLY worried about doing gay roles).
A few other interesting things to look for: the Asian-American guy who ends up getting chosen to play, of all people, Abe Lincoln! the big guy's room--you'd think that he'd clean it before the film crew arrived....at least I HOPE he hadn't cleaned it first! The film is, at times, rather sad and moving. Several of the people seemed to lead very marginal existences and it's easy to worry about them and their futures. These are odd folks, but the film does make you care about them.
The film consists of lots of interviews and film clips with these people. As for the film clips, I really liked what the film makers did--turn the prints black & white and then colorize the featured extra so you can recognize them. Some of the interviews seemed very mundeane, some were moving and some made me laugh (such as the guy who seemed REALLY worried about doing gay roles).
A few other interesting things to look for: the Asian-American guy who ends up getting chosen to play, of all people, Abe Lincoln! the big guy's room--you'd think that he'd clean it before the film crew arrived....at least I HOPE he hadn't cleaned it first! The film is, at times, rather sad and moving. Several of the people seemed to lead very marginal existences and it's easy to worry about them and their futures. These are odd folks, but the film does make you care about them.
Good Film !!!
jrobert3653 August 2008
Hollywood suits should be forced to see STRICTLY BACKGROUND to understand the honor, pathos and love of craft as evidenced by the background players featured in this film.The film has humor, desperation and hope.You will grow close to these individuals through their honesty and determination.In many ways the film mirrors life. You try to find something that fits you and you do your best. But your fate is in the hands of the movie gods. They hire and fire and if you're lucky they promote you.This film is for everyone. You do not have to be a movie fan to enjoy the stories the film unfolds. As someone who has been an extra, director and producer I highly recommend STRICTLY BACKGROUND.
Just another face
sierraskiier13 October 2007
I just left a screening of Strictly Background at the New Hampshire Film Expo. This is one of the most sincere and touching documentaries I've seen in a long time. The basic premise carries us to Hollywood and into the lives of Background Artists, or extras to us lay people. Extras are the truly unsung heroes of the movie business. Without background players, we wouldn't have movies. It's a really simple film that gives an honest glimpse of the life these folks live. Some do it for fun, some do it to break into the "Business," some do it for a few extra bucks. All the individuals interviewed have a true love of making movies, even if it's as set dressing. As the movie progresses it's informative of the movie making process, but at the same time it's emotional in the sense that we are following the hopes and dreams of all these extras. Some make it, some don't. One gentleman lives in a rented storage unit for $100 a month. We go to casting calls, jobs and "specs", where an extra goes to a set in the hopes they might be needed that day. By the end of the movie I realized I was rooting for all of them to get that next job. The director did a great job of drawing us into these lives and the emotional roller-coaster that goes along with this kind of work. Not an easy task in our cynical society. It's funny, interesting and at times heartbreaking. I highly recommend this film to any kind of cinema fan as well as anyone who is curious about the real Hollywood.
Contributing the the whole
brainwave-27 October 2008
This was one of my favorite films at the Santa Fe Film Festival. Director Connell presents us with a broad cast of dreamers and misfits. His sympathetic look at these ambitious and under-appreciated performers is moving and genuine.
As a person who has been knocking at Hollywood's doors for years I found myself a little frustrated by the film -- are my dreams folly? -- but ultimately the message of the film has nothing to do with the sometimes ridiculous ambitions of its struggling protagonists but more with the importance of pursuing a dream, come what may.
I was encouraged once to find out what I was crazy about and pursue it like a madman. Strictly Background shows us a group of die-hards who are doing just that - and their determination is inspiring.
The movie will also change the way you watch movies. After watching the film it takes a long time to watch a movie without noticing the background -- is that a good thing? Sure, there are no parts that do not contribute to the whole.
As a person who has been knocking at Hollywood's doors for years I found myself a little frustrated by the film -- are my dreams folly? -- but ultimately the message of the film has nothing to do with the sometimes ridiculous ambitions of its struggling protagonists but more with the importance of pursuing a dream, come what may.
I was encouraged once to find out what I was crazy about and pursue it like a madman. Strictly Background shows us a group of die-hards who are doing just that - and their determination is inspiring.
The movie will also change the way you watch movies. After watching the film it takes a long time to watch a movie without noticing the background -- is that a good thing? Sure, there are no parts that do not contribute to the whole.
trials, tribulations, and triumphs of Hollywood's background "extras"
sean-105021 August 2008
This fun, endearing film documents the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of a number of Hollywood's veteran "extras". You really get to know and love these people, and if at first, you wondered why anyone would put themselves through the aggravation of all those cattle calls and cold calls, and useless callbacks, by the end of the movie, you realize the love that these extras have for the movie-making process. They'll do anything to be a part of it, however small, brief, or fleeting. Director, Jason Connell, really captures the moments. He's there for the disappointments and the heroic moments of these actorsyes, the movie proves that even background players are truly actors. His use of clips from the feature films these extras have performed in is illuminating and hilarious. After spending time with the real characters in Strictly Background, you'll want to know more about their lives and what happened after the cameras stopped rolling. Do I hear a sequel or a TV show coming Jason?
The film starts off.......
oscar-351 January 2013
Warning: Spoilers
*Spoiler/plot- Strictly Background, 2007, This documentary film follows the work, lives and dreams of ten performers that work as background performers in TV and films.
*Special Stars- Terry Bolo, Geoffrey Gould, Cecilia Hartfield, Louis MCCarten, Jay Michaels, Car Michaels, *Tafan Nieves, Mark Nobel, John Richards, Marvin Rouillard.
*Theme- Living your dream is sometimes a bad nightmare if no reality is in your life.
*Trivia/location/goofs- Shot in Los Angeles, documentary, Won 6 film festival awards. Several real 'extras' agencies are featured.
*Emotion- A particularly interesting film about another strange aspect of Hollywood for it's citizenry. The film starts off very up-beat and normal. Then it descends into some of the strangest, negative, and troubling revelations about the background performers private lives, previous jobs, and their life's hang-ups. This film is honest, raw, and maybe carefully contrived, so a certain amount of viewer's cynicism and apprehension makes this an effective film to connect with its audience's emotions. This film makes you uncomfortable, but somehow wanting more about the film''s performers.
*Special Stars- Terry Bolo, Geoffrey Gould, Cecilia Hartfield, Louis MCCarten, Jay Michaels, Car Michaels, *Tafan Nieves, Mark Nobel, John Richards, Marvin Rouillard.
*Theme- Living your dream is sometimes a bad nightmare if no reality is in your life.
*Trivia/location/goofs- Shot in Los Angeles, documentary, Won 6 film festival awards. Several real 'extras' agencies are featured.
*Emotion- A particularly interesting film about another strange aspect of Hollywood for it's citizenry. The film starts off very up-beat and normal. Then it descends into some of the strangest, negative, and troubling revelations about the background performers private lives, previous jobs, and their life's hang-ups. This film is honest, raw, and maybe carefully contrived, so a certain amount of viewer's cynicism and apprehension makes this an effective film to connect with its audience's emotions. This film makes you uncomfortable, but somehow wanting more about the film''s performers.
Interesting, but sad.
Josephkempf10 February 2013
It was a little sad that these people wanted to be "strictly background" and they were so excited to get a 1 second of screen time. I think one of the cast of extra was mentally ill. Seriously. It basically showed how people could have no talent and still get into a movie. I'm a real actor myself.And have had to train all my life for a bigbreak. I've been in many speaking roles, and worked my ass off. This Documentary was almost sad, because itshowed people that wanted to get by with minimum work, and still get credit. One guy said he's been in more than 200 films, Goerge Cloonly hasn't done that many. It's notreally fair to say you have done that many films, and have said or done nothing in them or worked for a little bit, apart from just putting on a outfit. Sad, sad, so very sad.
A Must See!
thecamerons1519 August 2008
"Strictly Background" is a great film! Two thumbs way up! There is a reason it has won so many awards and been featured at so many festivals. Director, Jason Connell does a good job of picking interesting characters to follow and then keeps the film moving. The music, editing and special effects also add to the momentum! It really sheds light on the "extras" industry and shows the ups and downs of being in it. You really feel for these guys! Finally these extras get to be the stars in this film. Bravo! It's all around fun! It's a must see! Can't wait to see what Connell has up his sleeve for his next project. He's one to keep an eye on!
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