The good, bad & ugly (Betty) of being an extra

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The next surprise was how nervous I was. My heart was pounding and my legs were trembling as the director yelled “Rolling! ... Background!” (Background actors start moving a few seconds before they call “action” for the principal actors.) We did our background business silently, so the crowd noises will be added in later. As I did my crossings and pantomimed buying souvenirs, I strained to hear the dialogue but only caught a few tantalizing bits. Ironically, I couldn't tell what was going on just a few feet away from me. Another observation: If you're hoping for some dish about on-set tantrums or ego trips you'll be disappointed. This was a thoroughly focused, professional and businesslike set.

Then Courtney told me to cross directly in front of the camera. There went my heart again. I was certain the director would yell “Cut! Who's that idiot getting in the way?!” But finally tedium overcame nervousness and eventually I was strolling into the action as coolly as a professional (but secretly thrilled that I might show up on camera).

By the end of the 10-hour day my feet were killing me and I was thoroughly sick of those souvenir kiosks. But the second day of shooting made up for it. This was the day after America won the Emmy, and when she walked onto the set — carrying it — we all applauded. It felt very special to be part of that. Later she took a call from her father on her cell phone and suddenly she wasn't the big TV star anymore, just a daughter basking in her father's praise: “Thank you, Daddy … I love you.” That evening she hired an ice-cream truck for the cast and crew, and after hearing how disappointed the background actors were not to be included she sprung for all of us too. So now I can say “America Ferrera bought me ice cream.” Thank you, America!

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The location that day was inside the theater, where we got to watch the three stars of “Wicked” perform several scenes, which I could have happily watched all day — especially since my seat was right up front and center. My daughter is a mega-fan who's seen this show six times, and while at age 17 she pretends total disinterest in her mom's activities, she was openly impressed by this. I was too, actually. It made up for the eight hours we spent sitting in folding chairs waiting. And for the long day that ended at midnight.

I've cashed my checks already: $67.55 for the first day and $112.87 for the second. So now it's all over but the possible shrieking and jumping if I show up on screen. And if I don't, well, I still got to do something pretty cool.

Kim Foreman lives in southern California.

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