The Trailer for a new film that appears on March 14 in theaters nation-wide is one on which I worked as background for two or three days in 2023. It is OPUS. I am not an actor; nor do I take jobs as background hoping to be discovered. Yes. I have heard a few background folks express this dream. I offer my best wishes. Most of us are retired folks just getting paid and eating free catered food while having a bit of fun.
By the way, you can find me about 48 seconds into the trailer. I stand second from the left (as I appear on the screen) with a small group who are playing the role of welcoming committee. We are there to greet visitors, including a journalist, to our compound. In the story, I will present a gift vase to one of the visitors, having presumably created it myself. My hands are scarred. Did that part of the scene with my scarred hands make the cut? I will not know until I see the film. That was my featured role. In other scenes, I was simply walking through or setting a table behind the major roles. This was my first experience doing background in an industry in which two of my adult daughters work behind the scenes. I would not have signed up except that my daughter spoke to the writer/director about me.
The film is about a cult that centers itself as all cults do around a personality. She asked Mark Anthony Green how his script came to him. They talked and then my daughter told him that I had been involved in a religious cult in the 1970s. Although I was not a part of that conversation, Mark agreed that I should come to set one day. Before I knew it, I had created an account with a casting agency and was invited to do background as one of the cultists. And who would pass up a chance to see actors like John Malkovich at work?
It was a very cold day in Santa Fe, in November 2023. We had costumes prepared for us. Typically, background go to set with their own clothes as described by the costumers. The cultists in this story all wear indigo. I took what I had in that color scheme but was costumed in a much doudier indigo dress and stockings. My own shoes worked because they are blue suede. I was indigo from neck to floor, like all the other background. On the second day, I arrived on time before the sun was up. They would should scenes outdoors for most of the day again but, colder weather had set in. To my surprise, they whisked me to makeup because I was to be featured as one of the older cultists with scars on my hands. Unless you've also worked in film, you cannot imagine how long and hard all the crews work -- and they are truly wonderful, patient, kind people.
I will not tell the film's story. That is a surprise for audiences.
I worked as background on a few other films in 2024. However, I have not created a demand for my presence. I am too lazy -- actors and crews work longer hours but even background can be held on set for twelve hours or more. A few sixteen hour days nearly wiped me out the following days. Also, the call for background people over 60 or 70 years of age is limited. If an older person is willing to do it, the social time is fun. I've met retired men and women with their own interesting stories. Meeting the energetic young experts who work on the crews is a real boost to my old soul. When I am there, I am no longer invisible. They greet me; they talk to me. Being seen and heard is an excellent reason for an older adult to work background in the film industry, Not only do I have fun with other background people, I also enjoy the company of young adults.
This is my recommendation: If you are retired but realize that you're spending too much time at home or alone, you volunteer in the community but want to experience something new, you want to spend time with the younger folks who are taking over where we left off -- create an account to do background with one or more local casting agencies. You will get paid; you will eat really good food; you will have live conversations instead of fake ones on social media. Most important, you will be noticed! Among the difficult realities of aging is knowing that you are invisible in crowds, your voice is silenced. Spending time in the Senior Activity Center will not fix that. Get out and mix with people who are younger.