An excerpt from Jon Hart’s memoir concerning the unglamorous work of a TV additional:

After the again-up plan to the again-up crashed and burned, I descended into the bowels of TV and movie manufacturing, “Additional Land,” the place I performed every little thing from a creepy nun to a Hasidic Jew to a subway passenger on the notorious Joker film shoot, the place we weren’t allowed to go away the prepare for hours, even to pee.

Once I labored The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in its first season, I performed a deli buyer, and it was a tense, depressing 16-plus-hour day. I used to be nonunion, so I didn’t qualify for Golden Hour. Ah, Golden Hour! That magical second in tv and movie manufacturing when, should you work previous the sixteen-hour mark, even a single second, union members get a full extra day’s pay. After which one other full day’s pay once more, an hour later!

Clearly, manufacturing needs to keep away from Golden Hour in any respect prices.

On Maisel, crew was continually barking at male background to not manspread, which didn’t exist within the ’60s. I by no means knew how a lot I cherished to manspread. Anyway, I hadn’t been again on the present since then, however not for lack of making an attempt.

As ordinary, I toss a Hail Mary. Then once more, each submission is a Hail Mary. On this occasion, casting needs a lookalike for the artist Robert Motherwell. Instantly, I google his pic and study that we share a slight resemblance. I apply. Quickly after, casting requests my sizes. I obtained the gig!

However then I’m not so positive as a result of I obtain no affirmation. Within the late afternoon, I nudge casting with a textual content. Casting is ready on manufacturing, and they’ll get again to me.

Proper. I sleep. I’m good at that. Someday after 11 p.m., casting texts that I’m out as Motherwell, however they’ll use me as a “nondescript gritty artist.” I look within the mirror at a nondescript gritty artist. I have to attend an 8:15 a.m. becoming the next morning at Steiner Studios in No-Man’s Land, Brooklyn. Somebody should’ve canceled. I’ll take it.

Aside from a wardrobe woman scolding me, ordering me to at all times put on a beater reasonably than a white undershirt to fittings, it goes high quality. She claims, in fact in a know-it-all tone, {that a} pack of beaters price only some {dollars}. Proper, woman.

Anyway… reporting time on Monday is 4:45 a.m. I knew that it was going to be early, as Maisel is a interval piece, and they want loads of prep time for hair and make-up, in addition to wardrobe. Additionally, it’s a Monday, and manufacturing needs to get the week off to an early begin. Nonetheless, 4:45 is excessive. I sleepwalk by way of wardrobe and hair and make-up with two minor points.

I take exception to a sure surly wardrobe girl who stands within the males’s altering space like a jail guard, barking instructions. No, I’m not sporting my Spanx. Additionally, I’d been hoping for a free haircut courtesy of Maisel, however H&M turns me away. Within the upcoming scene, we’ve already been on the bar for some time, he explains, so our hair must be unkempt.

I’m glorious at unkempt.

It’s raining.

A few of the meals truck guys refuse to make an omelet for background, par for the course. Of their thoughts, union or not, we don’t rely.

A PA escorts us over to set, McSorley’s, the legendary bar, which is posing because the Cedar Tavern, the historic artist haven. In the meantime, I overhear that we now have 9 pages to cowl, a herculean process. It’s going to be a protracted day. I’ll say it earlier than you do: GOLDEN HOUR!

Because it rains, we stand exterior McSorley’s in low-cost manufacturing ponchos, ready to be positioned. After about an hour, the unused extras are despatched again to holding. I make the error of asking the title of an additional colleague with whom I’ve been making small discuss within the rain – she’s bowled over. Would you like I confer with you by quantity?

Once I’m referred to as again to set, they place me in entrance of Maisel’s lead, Rachel Brosnahan, and her strapping date, a physician, actor Zachary Levi. I don’t need to be within the forefront, as I’m moist and not digital camera-prepared. However let’s be clear: I’ll by no means be digital camera-prepared. Finally, manufacturing doesn’t need the identical factor I don’t need. After they shoot a take, they exchange me, explaining that I’m too tall and that I’m blocking Rachel. As a substitute, I’m positioned manner again, on the bar, ordering a beer — high quality by me.

Actor Rufus Sewell, who performs an artist, is the star of the day. In our scene, Rufus stands atop the bar and recites a prolonged poem, which is definitely parts of a number of completely different poems strung collectively. It’s an arduous soliloquy, and he should recite it verbatim whereas showing inebriated. Frankly, it’s the hardest monologue I’ve witnessed in my background travails. By my estimation, Rufus does it fairly effectively. However, in fact, I’m background and don’t rely.

Lunch is at a close-by college. Rachel strolls into the cafeteria in a gown, carrying a tray of veggies. Her pores and skin tone and pleasant demeanor are equally magnificent. I try and not stare however fail miserably. Luckily, I’m far-off. Again at McSorley’s, they’re capturing within the nook of the bar, so that they inform many people to “step down,” which implies to get misplaced however to remain shut, simply in case.

We stand or sit wherever on the sidewalk, many people on a brownstone’s stairwell. Luckily, it has stopped raining. Just a few younger feminine extras rave about Rachel’s glow.

At about 8 p.m., I begin to firmly focus… on Golden Hour. If we go previous 8:45, union individuals, sure, that’s me today, will obtain a further day’s pay. After all, I’ve by no means obtained it, nor witnessed it, however I’ve heard tales. Legends of the shuttle that obtained held up in visitors, and the one which obtained caught in a tunnel as a result of it was too excessive… No, I don’t anticipate to hit Golden Hour. I totally anticipate manufacturing to wrap us simply within the nick of time.

However shock, shock! They don’t! We get Golden Hour! Simply. “Welcome to Golden Hour!” James Earl Jones broadcasts. After which at 9:45, we get there once more, sure, one other day of pay. I’d break into the bottle dance from Fiddler on the Roof, however I’m beat. Catering brings out Shake Shack however doesn’t enable background to indulge. Properly, you may’t get every little thing.

In the meantime, among the crew is agitated. “You’ll eat something!” one crew man mutters to somebody. If he’s talking to background, he’s most likely right. “I’ve by no means seen something like this!” one other complains.

Sooner or later, whereas loitering across the craft desk, I congratulate an exhausted Rufus on his efficiency. He’s appreciative and informs me that he had simply three days to arrange. After all, I’m not supposed to talk to principals, however after seventeen hours, I’ve determined that commonplace guidelines now not apply. Extra importantly, Rufus seemed like he wanted some a lot-deserved optimistic reinforcement. Typically, there’s little or no hand-holding on tv units. You’re anticipated to know your traces and ship on command. Interval.

A bit of later, manufacturing needs extra protection of Rufus’s marathon speech, so I’m summoned again to McSorley’s. I’m sympathetic to Rufus’s plight. He has already recited it so many instances and expended a lot power. He’s an award-successful actor, however he’s additionally human. As well as, it’s heat in McSorley’s, and we’re dressed for early winter. I’m sporting a protracted wool coat. At one level, Rufus stumbles on his traces and apologizes as a courtesy. “Extra time!” a male additional yells out gleefully. Very unprofessional and disrespectful. Some background are simply lame.

We hit Golden Hour once more. After greater than eighteen hours, we’re lastly wrapped. I thank a heavyset wardrobe man for primping me over the course of the day. He refuses to have a look at me. “It’s my job!” he snarls.

Jon Hart’s Unfortunately, I used to be obtainable (2025) is accessible at Amazon.