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Jul 8, 2005 11:00 am US/Central
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'Prairie' Life Isn't Easy For Movie Extras
by Darcy Pohland
St. Paul (WCCO) ―
The opportunity to see stars is keeping hundreds of potential extras lining up for a chance to be in the "A Prairie Home Companion" movie being filmed in St. Paul.
For the past week, extras have watched movie magic be made by Academy Award-nominated director Robert Altman ("Nashville," "The Player") in the Fitzgerald Theater while posing as audience members.
For "A Prairie Home Companion," the term "cattle call" seems appropriate. Hundreds herded into the extras' holding pen Thursday for a shot in the spotlight.
Forget Hollywood glamour -- these hopeful cast members have to bring their own food, water and wardrobe changes, forgo pay and work 12-hour shifts.
And after waiting all day Thursday, none were ever called in to shoot.
Curiosity brought some out to the set.
"We've never been on a movie set," said Barbara Perkins of Edina, Minn., "so we were interested in what it's like to make a movie -- but also, of course, the big names involved in the movie."
Others are looking for that big break and the chance to say, "Mr. Altman, I'm ready for my close-up."
The extras do get a bit of star treatment: They enter through the stage door, where they can rub shoulders with past Oscar winners (Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline), past Oscar Nominees (Lily Tomlin and John C. Reilly) and of course, teen star Lindsay Lohan.
Extras even get a chance to demonstrate their acting prowess -- pantomime clapping instead of the real thing, which would interfere with the sound recording process.
The extras know many of their scenes may end up on the cutting-room floor, but that's show biz.
Minnesota native Garrison Keillor wrote the screenplay for "A Prairie Home Companion," which is based on his long-running radio series.
(© MMV, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)