JERICHO

Jericho was actually canceled its first season, but due to fan demand, CBS ordered seven more episodes for its second season.

I regretted signing-up for this gig because it was in Simi Valley. I forgot just how far Simi Valley is, but I didn't feel so bad when one of the other extras told me he drove from Fullerton.

We shot in Big Sky Ranch, site of where Bonanza was shot, so as I drove through the dirt road and saw the rolling hills, all I could think in my head was, "dum da da dum da da dum da da dum da da dom domm . . ."

As I got out of my car, the heat enveloped me and it was just 8:30 am. I had a feeling it would be a long day. I got in the van that drove us to base camp. I could see all the stars' trailers from the top of the hill and one big white tent that I knew I would be spending the next few hours inside.

Wardrobe didn't like what I was wearing so she had me put on some brown jeans and a long sleeve gray top. I had to admit, it looked a lot better than what I was wearing.

Afterwards, I went into the holding area which was also the feeding tent. Thankfully, they had generators running that blew air conditioning into the tent. If they didn't have that going, it would have been very, very hot.

Most of us in the holding area started to get sleepy, but I found it too dusty inside the tent to be able to relax and fall asleep. I really have to get one of those folding chairs that I noticed a lot of other extras carry to the set. Some of them have leg extensions and even a head rest. I figured if I'm gonna buy one, I want one that's top of the line.

We were finally called to set after a couple of hours. We were given rifles and placed behind some trees. We were to come out of the trees and start blasting after a little warning. I got a bolt action Czech rifle that was a little awkward. The prop man asked us if we had ever used firearms before, and all of us nodded hesitantly. He just wanted to be sure that we didn't point them at anyone and to be sure the tip of the gun wasn't buried into the sand.

After a little cold rehearsal, the rifles were loaded with blanks. We also put some ear protection on. Skeet Ulrich, Ashley Scott, Bob Stephenson, Lennie James and Richard Speight were all in the shot. Out of all of them, Ashley and Richard were definitely the nicest ones (or at least they were the only ones that actually talked to me).

The first take was pretty mind blowing. I didn't realize blanks were so loud so a little panic set in when we started firing. Of course, my rifle jammed because I didn't pull the bolt hard enough. So I only got one shot off. However, on subsequent takes, I was able to empty the rifle.

In another scene, we had to walk through the brush after we had killed some of the enemy. Maybe it was the heat, maybe it was the pseudo-combat action, or maybe it was my general lack of physical fitness, but walking through that brush had me panting like Pavlov's dogs. It was tough!

We shot another scene afterwards and after each take, I noticed how serious Skeet Ulrich was as an actor. He really seemed to care about the craft and that's when I decided I shouldn't judge an actor's ability by the movies or tv shows he or she is in. Instead, I'll just pay attention to what they bring to the screen.

HOUSE BUNNY

House Bunny was my first movie and it is going to star Anna Ferris as a Playboy Playmate who is kicked out of the mansion and must become a house mother to a sorority just to make ends meet. House Bunny is the working title as of this writing.

This part was easily the best experience, not because I got a cool role, but because it was incredibly easy. The only thing that made it questionable was the drive to Burbank. I was to play paparazzi and the PA that met us asked us to wait in holding until he got the other paparazzi gathered.

We then drove to wardrobe and the lady who checked us in was pissed. We were fifteen minutes late on her clock, but all we did was look at the PA who just said that he didn't think it made sense to drive one of us there. So we got our vouchers after she yelled at him a little and off to wardrobe we went.

I had my fishing jacket on, but wardrobe did not like it. She was fine with my t-shirt and jeans and then off to holding we went again. And there we stayed for a few hours. The PA that was watching us in holding was so bored, but very cute. She got some of the extras in the next room to do some ballroom just to keep everyone entertained.

It was finally time to shoot a few hours later. We were brought into a salon, but then told to wait. We received our props which were old, big film cameras with an attached flash. I got into argue mode with the guy next to me. He thought the parking lot said four hours for parking, while I was certain it was two hours. We were both very sure of ourselves and then we discovered we had parked in different lots. Essentially, we were both right and thought the other was wrong. It made me wonder how many arguments are shaped the same way. Then, I tried using the word "irregardless" but the same guy said it wasn't a word. It's probably the first time someone corrected my use of a word in a long time. I kept an open mind (due to the last argument) and decided to check it out on Wikipedia when I got home. Strangely, we were both right again!

We were then called into a small room right next to the main salon. Our background was a black tarp and we were positioned three deep. Since I was one of the short guys, I stayed in the front row. All we had to do was take our cameras and fire away at the camera as it dollied back and forth. After a few takes, we wrapped and that was that.

I had some time so I called Ayet and she invited me over for dinner. I got to hang out with her and Carlo for a little while. Then I showed Carlo the beauty of torrents. I couldn't stay long though because I knew I had to take the kids to Magic Mountain the next day.

All-State Commercial

I got booked on my first commercial. It was a medium sized call, but when I got there, it felt more like a cattle call. Everyone was pretty much non-union except maybe for the cheerleaders and football players.

We were at the LA Coliseum and after breakfast which consisted of mostly bagels and some cereal, we were herded to the stands. It started to get hot and that's when I realized that on outdoor shoots, you should be ready for a few things. First, have a cap or umbrella in hand. I had one in my car, but I just forgot to bring it with me. Second, have a fan, preferably one that is strong enough to create some action. Mine made noise so everyone would always turn around to look at me and say, "that is so smart!" Ideally, you'll have a fan/mister that would be a mark of a true pro.

As the shoot wore on, several people began to comment that our booker was bullshitting us when she left a message saying that she booked the "best" people for this. It was pretty clear that everyone at the shoot was there for the same reason - a little money.

There were a few inflatable dolls that were perfect renditions of the aswang. They were just the upper-half of the body and I wanted to take one to make some kind of Halloween toy. We were moved all around the stadium and brought the dolls with us as we cheered the football team on. It was kind of bizarre that after each cheer, we would all slump down and start complaining about how long this shoot was taking. To make matters worse, we had a 2nd AD that had the worst attitude. Even though she claimed she was a Buddhist, all she could focus on was how bad things were going.

After we wrapped, the line for the vouchers was ridiculously long. To top it all off, Harvest (the production company) was so unorganized, the line moved slower than rush hour on the 405. I was going to complain, but I was signed-out at the time I got my voucher (which probably doesn't mean anything because it was still a 12-hour day).

Since I was close to Hustler, I thought I would get a quick eat and then head over. By the time I finished my quarter pounder meal, I was tired and it was late. So I just went home instead.

NOT FOR TOURISTS

NFT was featured on YourLA today. I remember flipping through my friend's guide at one point. It listed this burger joint that I remember eating in long ago, during OJ's murder trial. One of their burger's was named after Johnny Cochran. However, after a long and difficult search, it turned out that the burger joint was closed and shut down.

Instead, we decided to eat at a Mexican joint right on Pico. They had the best torta I've ever had (and it was my first). When I tried to find that Mexican joint again, I couldn't. Could it too be gone?

________

A scene from They Shoot Horses Don't They?

What are you going to do now? Try the movies again?

No. I'd never make it. And maybe it wouldn't make no difference even if I did. Maybe it's just the whole damn world is like central casting. They got it all rigged before you ever show up.

CALIFORNICATION

Californication stars David Duchovny as a Hollywood writer who fucks a lot of women. I left really early to get on set on time and had about an hour to spare. I thanked the lord and was able to nap for about an hour.

A shuttle bus transported us to the top of the Palisades to an empty lot where holding was. It was dusty but they had some tents up to shield us from the blaring sun. We hung out for awhile and finally got called on set. I was set-up on the third row, right on the aisle. I decided I would wear my old school Ray-ban Wayfarers to try to make that a consistent part of my background talent work. So far I've worn it to Shark, and I thought it would be fun if someone noticed that I was the same guy.

Duchovny's character is punched in the scene and as he turns, he spills his drink and uses a girl's head as support. She happened to be right in front of me and my suit got some doses of apple cider (which I guess is the industry standard for whiskey). In one take, the glass broke and shattered at my feet. It was at this point that I knew I had to talk to the AD.

I didn't know how to do it though, so I called Central to see what they would say. The booker was not very nice and as I was trying to describe what was going on, she firmly repeated, "what is the situation here?" So after a little explanation, she told me to ask the AD politely for some kind of bump.

Right before lunch, Jennifer, the girl next to me on the same row, spoke to Jeff, the 2nd AD about what they could do. He was in a foul mood and just told us, "let's see how the day goes."

The day wore on and after more and more takes, we were sent to holding where it got darker and darker. The sun began to go down and the view we had was extraordinary. It was the kind that made you wish you could hold someone's hand while you watched it.

Finally, the last scene for the evening had me sitting at a table with Marian. We pretended to drink coffee (she champagne) and had a server serve us water. In the first take, something I did made her giggle and that's when I began to pay more attention to her.

We finally finished about 10:30 pm, and I got my first "bump." You get one of these when you are required to do something extra such as inhale smoke or do something physical. In this case, I received a water bump and I can only hope it is as much as it costs to clean my suit.

LIFE ON MARS

No, that's not the name of a sci-fi book I'm reading. Life on Mars is an American remake of a British series of the same name.

I was booked to play a partier but when we got on set, it turned out to be a crackhouse/druggie home. The funny thing was that I felt like I'd been in one of these homes before. The surroundings looked strangely familiar and I was impressed by the detail.

I really didn't want to be there since it was in Manhattan Beach. I didn't realize that until I was booked and there was no way to back out. Oh well, I thought, at least it's at a studio. I'd always wondered where the Raleigh Studios were which is where most David E. Kelley shows are shot.

However, when we were on set, I think I looked a little too clean-cut relative to the other actors. I was placed in a kitchen and so was another guy named Abraham, a UC Santa Cruz student looking to make some extra cash before heading back to school. When the AD started setting his shots, he realized there wasn't enough room for the both of us and asked one of us to leave. "Flip a coin," he said, but I just got up and left, hoping I wouldn't get a call back. I didn't really want to repeat the drive.

So I hung out with Yosel who was also out of the scene. He didn't look like a crackhead either, and the 2nd AD told us we were too good looking to be in the scene.

We actually got to wrap early since it was obvious we wouldn't be used. We left gladly, but it was during rush hour. A union lady who also wrapped early and was there as a rush call told me to check out Act In Hollywood. I told her about my blog and possible book idea and she told me that if her friend can write a book, anyone can.

The traffic meant that I would need to go to Hollywood Park to go up against some hard core gamblers. However, when I got there, the tables were full of retired folks and loose players, willing to call with extremely marginal hands.

While I played, I signed-up with Central to be on the availability list. Little did I know I would be booked as a wedding guest in the Pacific Palisades. Funny how trying to get away from something sometimes leads you to that exact same thing.

CHINATOWN CHUCK

Chuck is a Fall NBC action/comedy series that is about a guy who is a computer geek during the day and a government operative at night.

The three leads were in Chinatown this evening and many of us were set-up as atmosphere. Spoon was most likely the 2nd AD and his assistant was Tamera who had a walkie-talkie labeled as "DGA trainee," perhaps another name for 2nd 2nd AD.

I checked-in at 6:30 pm and ate dinner which consisted of grilled hamburger and fried tater tots. I love tater tots and would have consumed much more, but I guess I really have to limit my intake of food these days. It seems like it all goes to my gut now.

Our holding area was in Chinatown and we were placed inside Hop Louie's. Most of the background were older Chinese folks, although there were some Caucasians, Vietnamese and Filipinos. Spoon introduced himself to us and told us not to ask him when we were going to finish shooting because he said we would go until the sun comes up. That's when a silent groan passed through all of us. All I thought was, oh no, not again. I thought staying till 3 am on Journeyman was bad, now this.

Hop Louie's is inside the giant pagoda and it was nice that the air conditioning was turned on. We rested inside and I had an interesting conversation with a guy named Jim. He introduced me to his friend Paul and they both seemed like they were old pros with some time in the business. We talked about nutrition, exercise and war, strangely enough. Paul had brought his laptop and I was curious if he was getting a connection, but unfortunately, there wasn't one. That helped me decide that it is probably useless to bring mine because if I can't play poker, what's the point? I suppose I could work on my scripts, but I'd rather use pen and paper than risk losing or damaging the laptop.

As we shot, there came a point in the episode where they needed someone to purchase some illegal goods. I wondered what made me look like I was someone who purchased anything illegal? I guess it was my age and my clothes. But since Chuck is a comedy, the funny point is that I wasn't buying drugs - I was actually buying fireworks. I'm curious to see what it will look like on screen. The episode we were shooting was #3 but plays as 4 since the pilot counts as episode one on television.

Dinner was served at 12:30 am and as the night wore through, people started to pass out inside Hop Louie's even though the AC had been turned off due to the noise it made. It was so hot inside and so muggy, I just left and had long conversations with Tim, a fellow Filipino who was actually on Entourage. He said he also signed-up with Extras Management and was working nearly seven days a week. I may look into signing up with them if I can't get enough work calling in myself.

I also saw Jessica who was on the WMC shoot with me and met Gwen, a Vietnamese chick who was down to run into a Chinatown bar during our break. Her friend convinced her not to do it because we were "working." She looked like she was game though and had an incredible ass for an Asian chick.

We finally left at 6 am and I finally decided that I would never do this again. Never say never.

JOURNEYMAN

Journeyman is a Fall NBC series that has just started filming. It's about a man who travels back in time to help people.

I got booked on this show and was hanging out with my friend Jarvis when I got the call. I didn't have pen and paper ready, so I wasn't sure what role I was filling. So when I called-in to find out what my call-time was, there were so many descriptions of roles, I didn't know which one was mine.

So I decided I'd go with the earliest call-time which was 11:30 am. I figured better early than late since the other times were 1pm and 7pm. The shoot was near the Union Station in downtown LA. I tried to check-in and found out I was supposed to be there at 7 pm. I wasn't the only one as there were two elderly Chinese ladies that were in the same boat.

I figured I'd make best use of my time and decided to go to the Hustler casino in Gardena, just off the 110 freeway. I played some 3-6 poker and won about $40. On the way back, I met up with Jarvis who finally paid me my $40 that he's owed me for I don't know how long. While we were blowing some trees, he confided in me that I was one of his better friends and that he didn't really have that many of them. This was at a point when I was ready to drop him as one. I was fed up with not getting paid and didn't feel like I could trust him as much as I used to. At this stage, I'm still going to keep an eye on him and see where it goes.

I got back to set and finally got my voucher which listed me as a reveler/tourist. As the PA handed me the voucher, he said, "play on player." I found that a little unnerving because I don't think I look like a player, nor do I think I act like one. It didn't surprise me to see that he was a white boy.

The holding area was set-up in a white tent and on a hot day, that shit feels like global warming. The most interesting situation came-up when the PA asked everyone to split up between union and non-union. There must have been about 50 extras with about six of them white. When they split-up, all the union folks were white and all the Asians were non-union. First it shocked me, then it didn't and then I got philosophical and political.

We were finally called on-set late in the evening, about 12:30 am. However, I decided to take the PA's instructions literally and since he didn't call any revelers or tourists, I stayed put. That's when I met Joseph, a Filipino guy who's also a dealer. He just arrived about three years ago. He started telling me stories that made us both laugh out loud. I then started to realize that these stories would make a really funny movie. Since there are so many teen sex comedies out there right now, why not make one with Asians? So we decided we should start writing one and see where it leads us.

There were quite a few cuties on set so when we all finally got on set, I made it a point to try to talk to them all. I met a Peruvian chick who looked Pinay, a Thai chick who filled out her jeans really well, a Chinese dude from Boston, a Cal State Fullerton film student and a Kazakhstan chick who looks Asian and has a Persian name. The only actors I recognized on-set was the lead Kevin McKidd and Laura Innes who looked like she was directing.

I got home about 4:00 am and just knocked out. I'll have to do this again tomorrow for Chuck.

SIDE ORDER OF LIFE

I left the house at 6:12 am and ran into traffic around Monrovia. It was about 7:12 am and I started to panic thinking there was no way I would get to Burbank by 7:45 am. I started to bitch and kick myself in my head, telling myself that I should have left earlier for my 8:12 am call time.

However, by the time I hit Pasadena, there was no traffic at all, and I actually arrived at Gate 11 on the Ranch Facilities lot at about 7:45 am. The guard asked for my ID, stuck a little card on my windshield and told me to park around the building. When I got to the parking lot, I noticed there was another background actor sitting in her car waiting, so I figured I'd wait too.

We started to walk towards the Smith Building which is where holding was. At the WB, they call background talent "atmosphere." Alex, a PA, arrived on time and unlocked the door. There were several 6-foot plastic tables set-up with chairs and a clothing rack that people put their extra clothes on. We checked in and sat around waiting for instruction.

Then Lisa, the 2nd 2nd AD arrived and told us what the scene was all about. It was nice for her to actually read the script out loud so we could get a sense of what was going to be shot. Her delivery wasn't great, but she apologized and said that was why she's behind the camera, not in front of it.

She then told us to follow her outside with our chairs to a shaded area near the set. It was an outdoor scene, outside of what was supposed to be the Beverly Hills Police Department. In this scene, Dylan, the daughter of a candidate for governor, is arrested for shop lifting and the press swarms around her as she arrives in a police car. I was asked to play a field producer instructing a cameraman to get the right shot.

It was during rehearsals that I started to figure out why there was so many union actors in the scene. They were getting a lot of exposure in these scenes, and I began to get a little bummed out knowing that I was doing nearly the same thing they were, but was getting paid at non-union rates. However, I learned from my first day on the set that everyone has to pay their dues, so I knew I had to suck it up.

The 2nd AD was very professional and very encouraging. She was always positive and really helped get us motivated for the shot. Energy was very important to her and she wanted to always make sure we had the right movement going.

I noticed that the other extras didn't seem as approachable as some of the other background talent I've worked with. It could have been the heat which made everyone just want to sit around and rest. During set-up for the 2nd scene, one of the extras found a room that we all walked into that was air-conditioned and a great relief from the heat. It was an extra hot day and Burbank's valleys just makes it worse.

I wasn't used much in the 2nd scene in which the lead, Jenny McIntyre (played by Marisa Coughlan), managed to get the exclusive on Dylan and walk past the other hungry journalists. All I did was walk into the same door she ends up walking through. On the last take, we were hurried and the cop that was to come after me had to spin around like a top when they started rolling. We laughed when we got inside because he felt like such a tool. The cop that opened the door would also welcome us and called the other cop names as he strode inside.

Inside the building, Marisa's actor's chair was set-up for her with a celebrity magazine and her phone. I found it curious that an actor is just as interested in gossip as the rest of us. Even though she had that actor's aura about her, she's just as human as everyone else.

Interestingly, David Paymer seemed to be directing this episode, which is supposed to be Season 1, episode 8. He seemed like a nice guy and it looked like most of the crew were older folks. I hear people who know each other tend to work together in this business and it sure seemed like it on this one.

Thankfully, we got to leave by 2pm and I was able to get home in good time since there was no rush hour traffic. Still, I was nodding off during the last stretch and took a nap when I got home.

JAMES WOODS AND SHARK

I got my 3rd gig and it was for an outdoor shoot at the LA Memorial Coliseum. I'd been there before in 1984 to watch the Olympics and always wondered what it would be like to stand just below the structure which held the Olympic flame. It's a great view because it faces west and you can watch the sun go down.

I arrived at the parking lot early and Heather the PA wasn't ready to check us in. I had called to be a uniformed police officer since I'd already done that for WMC. However, Beth (who booked me) said I'd probably fit better as a CSI type.

Travis in wardrobe asked me if I had a different shirt. It may have been a little too bright or he noticed that another CSI guy had the same color. So he asked me to show him what I had and he chose the blue office shirt I had. I didn't have a tie so they gave me one that matched pretty nicely with my slacks and shirt. I also received a black windbreaker that was labeled Crime Scene Investigator.

The sun was hot when we were dropped off on-set. But it wasn't our set. It was some kind of jail facility with thugs and California corrections officers watching them. The driver dropped us off right in front of the camera so a PA or AD yelled at us to get out of the frame and hustle toward him.

We were escorted to props and I got a badge to put around my neck. It said Scientific Department of Investigations (SDI). I guess that's what the CSI department is for LAPD.

The scene was set-up with a dead reporter and all the extras at a crime scene. It was taped off with the yellow crime scene tape and all the different things CSI types use to collect evidence. An AD looked at me and told me to loosen my tie and unbutton my shirt. I guess I looked a little too square.

The make-up lady noticed I had some scruff going on and asked if she could have a minute to shave me down. She was very nice and told me that usually law enforcement can only have a mustache but no other facial hair.

James Woods and his co-star Henry Simmons along with Jeri Ryan were all in the scene. All I did was carry a CSI tackle box and walk behind them as they walked up to the body. We did that several times with several different cameras and by the time we were finished, I felt like my forehead got a good dose of uva and uvb rays. One guy who played a coroner was so burned, everyone kept asking him if he had used sunblock. The funny thing was that he had, but it just didn't help. His face was a beet red.

After the scene, we all had lunch, waited around a little, and then returned to wardrobe to return our gear. Not a bad day considering we didn't have to work a full day on a Friday.

I called Jarvis up because I thought he might want to hang out downtown, but I wasn't surprised that he didn't want to do anythying. Then JD called me and told me to head down to Tyler's for some poker. Strangely, Tyler's house is being used as a base camp for some exotic dancers. I didn't want to question him about it, but I did wonder how that happened.

We played a shorthanded game for $10. I built a nice lead, but then gambled too much and lost a race that brought me back down to what I started with. Then, they played a $20 game and I passed since I'd rather use that money for something else.

WMC Part II

I was lucky enough to get to come back for a 2nd day of shooting. Only three or four of us returned, so it was interesting to meet other extras. We shot a lot more today and we kind of hoped that we would get a third day. I was also finally able to get good looks at Angie Harmon and Rob Estes. Unfortunately, no one was getting called back so we had to say goodbye to the LA Center Studios.

I spoke to Ed who had moved down here from the Bay. He described his character as a smarmy lawyer and for some reason, that cracked me up. Ed has the kind of male Chinese face that looks so darn familiar. In fact, he says that everyone seems to say they know him from somewhere.

I gave him a ride to the Metro station and then headed to Commerce. I saw a huge no-limit hand where this guy went all-in for about $300, was called by the person to his left, and then some Frenchie guy sat there wondering if he should call. It turned out he flopped two pair, but the turn put two fours on the board. He called with J 8 when the board was J 4 8 4. He lost against an A4 which held up.

Seems like 3-6 isn't very popular at the Commerce and there was only one table with about five people on the waiting list. I left after hanging around for about an hour.

WOMEN'S MURDER CLUB

Women's Murder Club is a crime drama set in San Francisco. When I looked it up online, I found out it's going to be shown on Fridays. To me, that means it's doomed. If it's your first season and you're placed on the Friday night line-up, you'd better hope you get an audience. Otherwise, there won't be a second season. That's true for most series, but starting out on Friday is like getting chosen last for a team.

The drive to the Los Angeles Center Studios was a quick one. My call-time was at 6:30 am so I left at 5:10 am. I got there way too early and had to sit in the parking lot for about half an hour.

I started walking down the street to the first sound stage. The LA Center used to be office buildings and when it couldn't get leased out, they converted them to sound stages that studios could rent out. As I strolled up to Stage 1, I noticed there was a hot set for Ugly Betty. It looked like a fashion premier party with the red carpet and the photo backdrops.

There were no signs for Women's Murder Club, so I stepped into the sound stage to look around. No one looked real friendly, and I didn't want to get in the way of the crew, so I stepped back outside to wait. A guy walked up and asked if I was there for Murder Club and I nodded. It was reassuring to know that I wasn't the only one hanging around.

I noticed some ladies hanging out next to the stage so I asked them if they were here for the same series. They said yes and didn't know what to do either. It always feels good to know there are others that are just as confused as you. After a little while, they walked off and I followed. We ended up on the other side of the stage.

A short line formed and I met a guy who was set to play a lawyer. The funny thing about all these background actors is that everyone really did look like the part they were supposed to play. That guy looked like a junkie and that girl was definitely a hooker.

The production assistant checked people's names off and when I got to the front of the line, I told him my name and told him I was supposed to be a uniformed police officer. He went through his sheets, asked me my name again and shook his head, a little confused. He said, "I'm sorry but I don't see you on here."

I looked a little dumbfounded and hesitantly asked him what he thought I should do. He walked off quickly and I was left standing there, looking around, wondering what happened. It was my the one thing I was worried would happen. Sure enough, it's exactly what happened.

I noticed someone asking for the Central Casting emergency number. I kind of thought this was an emergency and asked her why she was calling. Her name was Mary Ann and she said that her name wasn't on the list. "Oh really?" I said. "Mine wasn't either. Did you have Melissa book you?"

"Why yes. I guess we found the common link," she said. After she got in touch with the casting agent, she handed me the phone. I asked the agent the same thing and she told me to tell the PA that I was an "additional." I wish she had told me that before.

After the PA heard this, he wrote our names down on his sheet, handed us our copy and told us to go to wardrobe. We walked over there and the wardrobe guy asked if he could see my shoes. They worked for him so he handed me a blue shirt, button up uniform, pants, a belt and a fake bullet-proof vest.

I put everything on and when I handed the wardrobe guy my hangers, he said, "You've never been a cop before huh? The vest goes under the shirt." "You'd better give me a bigger shirt then," I said. The button up I had was pretty snug. So he handed me a bigger one.

Putting that vest underneath that shirt gave me an appreciation for SF cops that have to wear the real thing. But it's colder in SF than LA, so they probably have it easier. It was hot as hell with that vest and I could already feel a sweat brewing up.

They told us we could get breakfast and after getting a little lost, I found my way to a courtyard that had a burrito truck and a little outdoor grill in full effect. I ordered eggs with ham, olives and jalapenos. While I waited, I chatted with Michelle about her experience in background acting. Michelle looked like she could be Chinese, but I suspected she could be Filipino. She told me she had been out of the business for awhile having burned out on non-union pay. The only reason she was doing this was because she was getting a SAG voucher.

SAG vouchers are kind of like the holy grail of background acting. If you can get three of them, you are all set to join SAG and get union pay. The difference is pretty big. Instead of the average $65 rate for an 8-hour day, you can get nearly double that amount. There are also several perks for being a union member like pensions, health care and the like.

It's easy to tell who's union or non-union. Just wait for the 16th hour of a workday and you can tell. For union folks, the 16th hour is known as the "golden hour." Any minute after that and they get another full day's pay for each additional hour they work. I spoke to one guy who told me he worked a 20 hour day once and got over a thousand dollars for it. The greed in my eyes was probably very obvious when I replied, "awwwwweeesoooome!"

The cops were called onto the set to get propped-up. We got a belt with clips, mace, a holster and gun, some keys and a case for cuffs (but no cuffs in them) as well as a badge and name tag. They told us that if we're ever going to leave the studio to check the gun in. The gun must never be taken out of its holster and the leather clip should always be in place. I guess they were worried that someone would act the fool and get shot by a real cop.

Before I knew it, it was lunch time. There was barbecue beef, lamb, schwarma, couscous and all other kinds of goodies. The old timers told me I was lucky because the bigger studios don't usually feed the extras lunch. I had my fill but I didn't feel that great after because my belt and vest made it tough for the food to digest.

As we waited in the rooms, the extras had some interesting conversations about The Secret, global warming and background acting. I played it safe and tried to laugh-off much of the political or religious comments that were being made. I was taught to stay away from religion, politics and sex when you first meet someone.

As I hung around the hallway, several women dressed for Mad Men walked by. I noticed January Jones (who plays the wife of the lead in the series) walk through twice with the cutest darn dog. It walked up to me, licked my hand and I smiled. So did January. Unfortunately, I didn't what her name was until I looked it up when I got home. She looked better than she did on television.

Finally, I got called to the set in a hurry. They needed a cop to walk past the camera to start the shoot. Then, I was to walk back the opposite way and that would end the scene. I was nervous as hell and tried to stay calm by repeating the mantra, "fake it till you make it" which I learned from West Wing.

I ended my first day working 12-hours. It wasn't bad at all because I spent most of that time lounging around. It was also nice to be able to get that OT. The topper was that I was going to get to come back the next day. I felt a little privileged because other people weren't so lucky. They didn't get the call-back.