Being A High Maintenance Movie Extra, Times On Set

When I was making the rounds of auditions and modeling go-sees years ago, I quickly learned that I was not cut out to embrace the path of a traditional actor, it takes dedication, a desire to invest in one’s craft, and learning as it is like any other. I realized I was more of and still am a personality for hire who loved earning big money and having my photo taken, being on set, and the food from craft service I could take home with me when times were lean.

I used to describe the type of actor I was with other professionals in the business like Rosie Odonnell or Carry Grant, regardless of the role they performed you knew it was their essence, the same went to describe yours truly, you would know it’s Michael Alaska, and that is not a bad thing to be a recognizable flavor to add to your movie or TV show. The following story to a then-agent after yet one more failed audition, will show you just how well I knew the extent of my talent and skills.

To know thy own self equals be true to thy self if we are to refer to a classic saying. After being sent out for a local Canadian Tire commercial audition. I called my agent then with King Talent a very reputable professional agency, my agent was a character not unlike myself. I said handsome, please stop sending me out for these straight regular guy roles. I may look it but it's not reading on screen. I continued to tell him; that I am best suited for more over-the-top Robin Williams type or loud charismatic New York gangster from the Lower East Side. He said Michael, you are a gem, as the casting agent just called and said you were better suited to the same roles you just described.

In this world of so many choices and career paths to explore or at least try, one has to feel it to be successful. I always felt completely at home and authentic playing in the Modeling world, the SOC silent on camera style of performer as I photograph well, the fashion industry and hosting in any luxury setting, these places became my home and that includes being an engaging speaker and teacher to others. Knowing where you fit is always the first step in finding home. You may have to try a few lanes pre-finding where you can shine and belong.

So where and when did I receive what I took as high praise being referred to as a high-maintenance extra, it was only said once by an on-set AD who knew me, at the time I was in popular demand with top extra casting agencies here in Vancouver and Toronto. You get big bucks for being a union hand model and my hand has appeared in more than a few well-known action shows you have enjoyed. On this particular set, I cannot remember the name of the show, I was going to be a featured extra, which is every background performer's dream to be a star in the light, I was to walk a short distance in front of the camera in a main scene. I got nervous being the old Hollywood pro I am or was it the sugar from craft service?

My job was to simply walk across the set, yet I had asked a few times after a few run-throughs to see if it would play on camera, was I giving good walk? Well, this particular assistant director said oh my god Michael I have never met such a high-maintenance extra and we all laughed, as in please just walk already. I loved it and felt the humor and playfulness in that moment, which is all part of being in the movie TV Bizz, we do it for those moments to be with our like-minded colorful charismatic individuals and it does not matter if your number one on the call sheet.

That scene also reminds me of when I was a stand-in on a few popular TV shows. I could stand in and do lighting but to remember line blocking oy vey was not my forte and I Knew this after one certain director yelled at me for not doing the blocking perfectly, this director as most of the crew on that day was not having an easy morning and this shoot was a long one, plus shooting in a meshuga meat cooler did not help. Well, that was the last straw for me, finished my shift that day, went home, and called my agent for the show Due South and said darling I am not returning tomorrow or ever, best call in a replacement fast. I am going to become a flight attendant, that show is not for me, that show did go on for years. I did end up flying around the world. Yet have left my mark in a business I still love and refer to as SHOW, to be known and respected as an industry pro who always brings his A-game more than just being a high-maintenance extra, cut, end of scene, print, moving on.