English Film Studio Extra Tells of Life in “The Mob”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 898, 15 February 1930, Page 27

English Film Studio Extra Tells of Life in “The Mob ”

\v E are thought nothin;/ of collectively, and very little individually. arc a mass. We are nameless, soulless, and even numberless. We are just the crowd. •4>i English motion picture “extra." to use the American term, Writes entertainingly of the trials of the under-dogs in ‘filmland.

'" e - we consider we are highly important to the films that need ns, a nd we go so far as to say that we have often stolen the picture from the s, ars. What, would you have thought ®' Intolerance,” “Birth of a Nation,” Ithat Price Glory?” “Noah's Ark,” “King of Kings,” “North of 36,” “The Covered Wagon,” “Ben-Hur,” “High Treason,” “Tommy Atkins.” “The Iron Horse,” “Scaramouehe,” or “Four horsemen,” without the crowds? •ere they not the beginning and end 01 these pictures? Here are a few of our concrete comPmints, and no single one of us can sa y that they are exaggerated : *irst, the wages. Cine guinea a day. Mean little paymasters glare at us 11611 we whisper “Overtime,” and

launch threats at us. because they know we are unable to retaliate. Work is too scarce. Have you considered what we have to do with our guinea? First, our fares. No small item if we are called to far suburbs. In the studios we have to buy our own meals, thus handing back a part of our money to the hand that pays us. Next, make-up. It either melts or is stolen or borrowed, or becomes used, and one is always buying it. Clothes. A very important and expensdve item. 1 have known a girl work for a ■guinea and spend fifteen shillings on a dress with which to fulfil the job! “Go in fur coat.” ‘•Wear silk pyjamas.” •‘Take three modern hats.” ■■White modern evening dress necessary.” ‘‘Provide plus fours." These are common instructions to find written on our cards. There is the very considerable item of photographs. We are compelled to have photographs. We doubt if they are ever used or referred to once they are in the files —but we must have them all the same. “Leave us your photograph—leave us half a dozen . . . Have you pictures of yourself in different clothes? On a horse? In a car? On the Alps?” Well, we’ve bad our say. But has anybody listened? Which studio will be the first to set the glorious example? L