By Victoria Ostrosky
Take yourself back in time. It’s sweltering and dusty. The sun beats down and your sandals kick up dirt. The Temple looms large, its massive stone columns and steps filled with people going about their business. The smell of penned sheep and goats mingle with the scent of spices and fruit. And the heat is suffocating.
Being a background extra on the set of the globally popular TV series The Chosen for four days filming Season 4’s finale was, in a word, memorable. The Jerusalem set in Goshen, Utah, is spectacular. The stone walls are imposing. And when the sun kisses them late in the day, they turn pink.
There were 600 of us dressed as first century Jews, Greeks and Nabateans sweating in the sun, drinking tons of water and smiling in between takes, just because.
We arrived at 6:15 a.m. The crew checked us in, and we were given lanyards dividing us up into five teams. Oh, and to make a note, we were strictly forbidden to divulge any specifics on the actual scenes being filmed. While we waited for our turn on set, we sat in a spacious air-conditioned holding tent, stocked with water, juices, sodas, snacks and electrolytes, not to mention breakfast, lunch and a box dinner handed out at the end of a 12-hour day. We were well taken care of as we sat around getting to know each other.
I mentioned the heat. It was in the upper 90s each day, and although the humidity is lower there than here, when that sun is beating down on you, it feels like a laser boring into your brain. So, we used umbrellas and sunglasses in-between takes. There was a lot of waiting and when it was the most uncomfortable, a wonderful young man, dressed as a Jewish peasant, walked around spritzing us in the face with water. He was quite popular, being the one who made everyone feel better even if only for a minute or two.
When our color group was called and we arrived on set, Mitch, the 2nd Assistant Director, gave us instructions and taught us some new ABCs – Always Be Crossing. That means, when “Background!” is called out, you never stop moving until you hear “Cut!” Seeing the actors up close was amazing, although we weren’t allowed to make eye contact or approach them since they were in character. I did, however, make sure I walked near Jesus (Jonathan Roumie) for a few of the takes, so I could hear him deliver his lines (which were awesome, by the way). Everyone was sweating and uncomfortable, and gracious. The actors would joke a little with each other as we all waited.
“Pictures up!” Time to put everything that wasn’t first century approved away in our bags.
“Rolling, rolling!” Get ready.
“Background!” Our cue to start walking or shoving or milling around.
“Action!” Now the actors begin delivering their lines while background continues backgrounding without looking at the actors.
“Cut!” Everyone stops in their tracks.
“Reset!” Everyone goes back to where they started. And we do it again. And again. And again. Until Dallas Jenkins is happy with the shot.
By the end of day 4, my feet were blistered and my toes were rubbed raw. My nose and shoulders were sunburned, and I was exhausted. But it was worth every uncomfortable moment.
When you think about it, a film set is a microcosm of the body of Christ. Each person has their part. Some parts are bigger or more visible than others. But the scene wouldn’t be complete without everyone’s participation. The actors need background extras to make the scenes realistic. The camera operators need not just the actors and background extras, but the props to make the picture authentic. Everyone needs the staff and crew to set up the props and clean up the set and provide the food and the water and the umbrellas and so much more. The Director is needed to oversee and direct, instruct and troubleshoot the entire production.
We are all necessary, no matter what part we have been assigned to play.
There are three more seasons to film, and, if I could, I would be a permanent “Background” extra and move to Texas, where most of the filming is done. We’ll have to wait and see what happens.
