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Strictly Background Documentary
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Tue, Feb 08, 4:03 PM
connellcreations posted to Strictly Background
Movie Review
Strictly Background
Hollywood Extras Are Front and Center in Strictly Background by Mallory Potosky Published February 1, 2008 According to documentarian Jason Connell, there are over 45,000 background actors living in Los Angeles at any given time. Some are content to always be the hand you see in the back of the room, while others long for their moment in the spotlight. After moving to Los Angeles from Oklahoma, aspiring moviemaker Connell became one of these extras for a month in an effort to understand the inner workings of a Hollywood movie set. Nevermind the A-listers that recited their lines front and center, Connell became fascinated with the sub-culture of background actors he was now a part of. “I couldn’t believe there were people who made their living doing this type of work and appearing in some of today’s greatest films. Then I began talking to these people and soon realized that they were as genuine and colorful as any characters I’d seen...I had to make a film about them.” After an open casting call, Connell found 10 extras finally ready for their close-up. The result is Strictly Background, what the director calls “a behind the curtain look at the movie industry--which most everyone has an interest in, even if they don’t want to admit it.” The extras featured in the documentary have resumes ranging from 1980s comedies like Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure to Oscar-nominated fare like The Last Samurai. Their stories of set antics and encounters are endless and their genuine character jumps off the screen. “I’ve always been intrigued by documentaries that have incredibly dynamic characters, such as American Movie, Cinemania and Home Movie. The subjects in these films were just so captivating that it inspired me to actually do a documentary in the first place,” Connell explains. “I realized just how powerful a medium documentaries could be if you found the right people.” But are these 10 extras--actors so used to being a glimmer of a character in the background--ready to be front and center in a documentary about their real lives? “Let’s just say I didn’t have a problem getting the cast members to open up and tell their stories. They’ve been in the background for so many years and here was an opportunity to be the focus of a film. If you asked them, I’m sure they’d say we didn’t focus on them enough.” http://www.moviemaker.com/acting/article/strictly_background_20080116/
Tue, Feb 08, 4:01 PM
connellcreations posted to Strictly Background
Movie Review
Strictly Background
by Eric Campos (2007-08-06) 2007, Un-rated, 84 minutes, Connell Creations “Strictly Background” takes us inside the life of a movie extra by following around ten background actors as they engage in their daily hustle to get onto a movie/television set and furthermore get as close to the camera as they can for that shot of grabbing a little slice of fame. It’s a living. The first half of the film is pretty light and funny as we get acquainted with the ten actors. Through interviews they tell stories and paint a fairly upbeat picture of background acting life. We also get to see them work their stuff out on the field as they hustle up that next gig. One major interesting thing this doc does is that it will show clips of films that these people have been in, knocking out all of the color in the picture, except for the background actor, so you can spot them. Sometimes they’re front and center right next to the leading actor and sometimes they’re way off in the back, but the filmmaker has done an amazing job at making sure that they’re not missed no matter how fleeting the screen time. That did a lot to make me appreciate these people more. Seeing where some of them wind up on screen, you can start to understand why they go through the hastle they do for such little pay. But while this first half stands as shining encouragement for people considering extra work to get out there and do it, most of the remaining half focuses on the downside. We witness rejection and hear about long gaps in employment. The mood is brought down significantly as the reality of bills and rent and self-doubt throw a monkey wrench into the works. At the beginning of the film we’re told that most people who start extra work don’t stick with it for very long. Now we start to see why. It takes a lot of work to be an extra and it also takes a lot of determination and patience. “Strictly Background” is a wealth of information for those looking to get into background acting. It’s also an immensely entertaining, charming movie. I really had a great time watching this film. Highly recommended. http://www.filmthreat.com/reviews/10219/
Tue, Feb 08, 3:59 PM
connellcreations posted to Strictly Background
Announcement
A must see for anyone working in Hollywood!
Strictly Background
Description:
Hollywood, a destination filled with the hopes and aspirations of many to make it big.But sometimes to make it big, you have to start out small. Strictly Background is the story of all the little people, the men and women who become the anonymous faces behind our favorite stars.Find out what life is like for these dedicated aspiring actors on and off the screen.Strictly Background takes a celebratory look at those who make their living as background actors.Background actors are widely used by the entertainment industry to bring scenes to life, to create authenticity and to fill in behind the action.But what is it really like on set when some actors are making fifty dollars a day and others make thousands?Come take an up close look at those who are rarely seen in this charming and heartfelt documentary that opens the door to a world that usually goes unnoticed.
Mike at 2/10/11 10:36 a.m.
Very well done. The trailer is great.