Customer Reviews

Strictly Background

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"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.

Since watching this movie I've found myself watching the extras in films more often. That's because this movie does such a great job of introducing and familiarizing you with movie extras. You meet several extras and get a peek into their lives. You get to watch clips that they've appeared in where they are highlighted on screen. It's pretty interesting stuff. Extremely well put together so big kudos to new up and coming director/editor Brian Storkel, who did a great job putting this film together. A must see.

Interesting in its own right, the DVD is more about the lives of several people whose lives are all about being movie extras. I would have preferred more details on the nuts and bolts and behind the scenes details of being a background player, but still liked this DVD, nonetheless.

IF you ever thought about being an extra or being in the movie business.ALL I CAN SAY IS THIS IS A MUST SEE. THE BEST MONEY YOU EVER SPENT.i learned more about the movie business watching this movie than reading 20 books on the same subject.
i am not big on leaving reviews , BUT THIS WAS A MUST. A DOCUMENTARY YOU WILL NEVER FORGET; AND GARUNTEED, YOU WILL LOOK AT MOVIES IN A WHOLE DIFFERENT WAY.

As a background extra I found this movie to be entertaining and educating.You see several extras tell their stories about their experiences of being a extra.I highly recommend every person that wants to start in movies or TV get Strickly Background.Hope to see you all in the movies. Regards Marshall