A friend of mine who’s a writer-director-filmmaker-etc. called me up on Friday to ask a favor.  Seems he was set to film a movie on Saturday afternoon, but one of his actors dropped out at the last second.  Was I free on Saturday, and would I like to be an extra? 

It was an interesting experience to say the least, but I know now what it’s like for my actor friends who complain that they spend hours and hours doing the same thing over and over and over and over again.  I can’t tell you how many times I picked that weenie-in-a-blanket off the cocktail server’s tray.  And it took us 4 hours to film 2 scenes.

Two interesting things said to me that afternoon:
1. From one of the actresses, who pays the bills by working as a veteranarian tech:  “Last night, a woman called to say her dog was crying all night and could she give it a Xanax.  She didn’t believe me and made me call the doctor on call to tell her she couldn’t do it.”

2. From one of the producers, who saw me dressed all day in costume and then said this after I’d just changed into street clothes:  “Wow!  You went from stockbroker to looking flat broke in like five seconds!” Apparently, I dress like a bum...?