Vignette

One of my favorite things about working as an extra on a film is getting to be a fly on the wall and watch all the dynamics between the members of the production team.  Sometimes I see little vignettes that are as amusing and satisfying as the scenes being filmed....

For the purposes of this blog post, I'm re-naming the Set PA Mike and the 2nd 2nd AD Dan.  From a film shoot on which I was an extra:

2nd 2nd AD Dan:  Mike, in your blocking notes, you're getting principals too, right?
Set PA Mike (totally confidently, not missing a beat):  Yep.
[Mike waits until Dan turns around and then whips out his blocking notes and starts furiously writing principals' blocking.]

Later, in a scene where most of us extras are supposed to be sleeping:

Script Supervisor to Dan, with a bossy, condescending tone of voice:  But when [x happens] some of them [the extras] should wake up.
Dan (annoyed):  Yeah, we already took care of that! [as Mike walks towards him and hears this, clearly amused by the fact that they most definitely did NOT already take care of that -- and that Dan is now in the same position Mike was earlier]
Extra, quietly, to Mike:  Should I be one who wakes up then?
Mike, shrugging, with a small smile:  Dan said he already took care of that.
Dan (having missed this exchange, and not aware that Mike overheard his exchange with the script supervisor):  Hey Mike, can you pick some of them to wake up when [x happens]?
Mike (with a satisfied smirk on his face):  Yeah.