Intcatinfo
A Masterpiece!
Mandeep Tyson
The acting in this movie is really good.
Guillelmina
The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.
Dana
An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.
scifichickmuses
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.
Josephkempf
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.
MartinHafer
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.
sierraskiier
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.
