Central

   Central

     No extra in Los Angeles,  will work, very much, if he, or she is not registered, with Central Casting. Other companies, in the area, may promise, to get steady work, for you, but if you are not signed up, with Central, it is bullshit. Pure and simple. In the Hollywood movie extra world, Central Casting is king. I know this, because when I went to sign, with my calling service, their first question was, “Are you registered with Central?” The answer was yes. I was not only registered, with them, I had been booked by them, and worked for them, long before I got a calling service. I worked for Central Casting, for many years. I do not remember any of the casting directors, who were there, back then, unless John, who helped me get into SAG, on “Waterworld,” was on their payroll. If he was, then I had a friend at Central. I still do not know, who he worked for. Maybe himself.

     Central was responsible for most of my work. The jobs were good, and some were fantastic! The bad shoots, were more often than not, “Cattle calls.” If there are 1000 people on set, and 900, of them, are extras, we do tend to get treated, like cattle, but I had a great time, on “Waterworld.” I do not hold casting responsible, for the way we are sometimes treated, by production.  Production is always trying to cut corners, and save money, and they sometimes start, with us. A motherfucking pretzel bar? Oh well, that was yesterday. Today you are working on “E R.” You are a gown patient, so you don’t need to bring any clothes. You are going to eat all day, when you are not working, and when you are, you will be pushed around the set, in a wheelchair, by a young girl, dressed as a nurse.  So please do me a favor, and shut the f**k up. Thank you very much.

     If there are magic formulas, for getting work, at Central Casting, there are just as many extras, who think they know what these formulas are. They don’t. I knew people, back then, who paid for a house, in Southern California, while working, for Central. My friend Billy, made around 11,000 dollars, in one day, on a commercial. If you were a SAG member, and a regular, on “E R,” you were doing pretty good. Central Casting could make these kinds of things happen. More so than anyone, in the business. That, however, does not mean, that you could not get work elsewhere. I signed with, Central, Bill Dance, Rainbow, Charlie Messenger, and Prime, just to name a few. I was non-union, but I cannot remember the non-union names. Casting actually had different company names, for their union, and non-union workers. I have no idea why. 

     Casting companies have specific visiting days, and times when you can drop off photos. My friend Billy, said he went to visiting day, and some of the casting directors, would not even look up, for 2 seconds, and at least make eye contact. He said it made him feel unimportant, and it pissed him off. “I made a lot of money, for those a******s, and they can’t even say “F**k you,” to my face! I’ll bet they would say it, over the phone!” He had little love, for casting. I did not have his problem, having already decided that visiting, like auditioning, rarely paid anything. In 10 years, I doubt I went to Central Casting, very often. I had a calling service, most of the time, so I rarely dealt with them directly, anyway. Unless they called me, which also did not happen very often. I did not mind. They still got me a lot of work. 

     For me, and some of my colleagues, working for Central Casting, was kinds’ like the military. You could have 1000 “Attaboys,” but God help you if you got one, “Oh S**t!” Some of us felt like we had to walk on eggshells, all the time. Luckily for me, I hired a calling service, and I got noticed by production, instead of casting. One morning they called my house, and offered me 15 dollars extra pay, in addition to my base pay, to use one of my classic cars, for the day. I started laughing, and hung up, on them. My calling service, once told me, that someone at Central Casting liked me. If this is true, I have no idea, who it was. 

     Speaking of classic cars, I remember an occasion when Central had a recording, on their work line, seeking 1960’s cars. At the time, I owned a 1969 Chevrolet, short bed, step side, pickup truck. Very nicely restored. I called casting, to submit, for the work. The woman, and I’m positive, it was a woman, I spoke to, said to me, “I don’t have a picture, of your vehicle.” I replied, “I have mailed pictures, to you, and I have dropped pictures off, at your office, in person.” Then she said, “Those pictures would be in our filing cabinets. I do not have a picture, right here, on my desk, or in my computer.” I could not believe my ears. My first thought was, “So get up, off your tired a*s, and walk over to the f*****g filing cabinet, you worthless b***h!” I knew that saying this, would not get me the job, so I said, “I would not submit, for the work, if I did not have the right vehicle.” “What color is it?” she asked me. “Burgundy,” I replied. So she booked my truck, without seeing it. What balls she had! Sometimes the bullshit, an extra has to go through, just to get a days work, hardly seems worth it. While I do not agree with some of the things, extras do, to get work, I certainly understand why it happens. I do not want to sound like “Sour Grapes.” Central Casting booked me on both shoots, that led to my becoming SAG eligible, after only 41/2 months of extra work. Another time, I called Central, and got ahold of another woman, and I’m positive it was a woman, who booked myself, my roommate, and another friend of ours. She told me she wished all of her callers, could be like me. It was nice, to be appreciated. 

     I have not done very much research, into how extras get work now. It looks like a lot of searching, online, and I am much more comfortable, with the old ways. If I were to return to extra work, I would still hire a calling service. I am writing about my own personal experience, which ended 9, or 10, years ago. I’m sure many things have changed. It would not surprise me, to find out that casting now requires a smart phone, and an email address. In 1994, they required a pager, at the very least. They did not require a car, but you got more work, if you had one. The same was true if you had a tuxedo, or a police uniform. I had neither, but I had 5 business suits, all kinds of other clothes, 2 classic cars, and thanks to Bill Dance, I had stand-in experience. Plenty of reasons for Central Casting, to consider, giving work, to me.  

     So thanks for all the work, over the years. We have been through a lot together. I really appreciate all the bookings. I never tried to bribe, or blackmail you, into giving me work. I have a personal friend, who shall remain nameless, that got himself established, right behind a principle actor, on one of your films. He said he worked 2 days, and then refused to return, without a pay raise. He said he got what he wanted, and did not care, how you felt about it. I never did any such thing. I was not a perfect employee, but I do not believe production ever called you, to complain about my work. The one time the wardrobe lady called, it was her fault, for being an a*****e, and you took care of it, so that does not count. I do not remember failing to show up, or being late, for anything you booked me on either. You might say, “So what? That’s how it’s supposed to be.” You would be correct. All I have now, are the memories, and friendships. That is enough, for me, and overall it was well worth it. I could not have gained these memories, or gained some of these friendships, that I still have, any other way. It was all good.