If you've ever been on a film set, you will know there are two things of utmost importance: punctuality and quiet. Without those two things, ne'er a movie made will be.
I was asked to be an extras wrangler for a long-time running TV family soap opera in Munich recently. Wednesday was my first day on the job. It entails making sure all the extras on set are a) quiet, b) in their appropriate positions on cue and c) don't eat, mangle or destroy any of the props. It may sound easy, but it's like herding cats.
The particular set where I am is an outdoor one. It is reminiscent of Sesame Street without the puppetry, only more real because it truly is outside. You get to feel one with nature as it rains, snows, or is blazing hot (like yesterday). But the cool thing is they give you a walkie talkie and suddenly you are distinct from the pack. The walkie gives you authority. Armed with my head set, I am the American cowgirl.
The casting agency that hired me told me "If you can affect quiet with one 'Pssssssshhhh!', you've arrived." On the first day, relatively early on in the day, I managed to silence 32 people with an evil look and the fiercest "Pssssssshhhh!" I could muster. Because I am an extra sometimes, too, I know how it feels to sit in a small room for hours on end while you wait for your next performance. Battling the ennui, you are often lulled into a dull trance or irritable. Whenever they get unruly, I start counting their lovely German-speaking heads outloud in English. The stunned effect works wonders and keeps them quiet when I need it most!
Being a mom helps as I have learned how to blend the right amount of authority with love and affection. Laughter, stillness, and a powerful sense of purpose yield great results. And yes, sporting sound equipment and a clipboard helps, too!
