Movie Extras Would you mind lying in a coffin (棺材)? Would you shave your head? Are you willing to ta
英语试题 02-09
Movie Extras
Would you mind lying in a coffin (棺材)? Would you shave your head? Are you willing to take out your false teeth?
These are just a few of the questions Anne Marie Stewart and her staff sometimes ask the “talent” who serve as non-speaking “extras” in special films, television series, and made-for-TV movies produced in Toronto.
Of course, the majority of extra calls are for more ordinary people, and Stewart has a list of about 650 registered extras. Crowd scenes, which are common, call for everyday people of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, and sizes.
Over at Movie People, last-minute requests are not unusual. “We got a request once for an entire brass band of 30 people. They wanted it within the hour,” said manager Yvonne McCartney. Another time, the company got a last-minute request for a newborn baby. “We found a baby that was three weeks premature,” said Jonathan Aiken, an owner of the company.
Then there was the worried call from a casting director whose “Star” got doggone stubborn one day and decided to just lie down and not work. The director needed a replacement dog, fast. “We got them two in one hour.” said Aiken. “It was a matter of good connections and fast phone work.” The eight phone lines needed to make 350 to 400 calls a day are one of Movie People’s major expenses.
Phone lines are the only way to stay in touch with casting directors and extras; but the latter are a group not necessarily interested in a long-term relationship. Most extra jobs pay only $7 an hour (with a six-hour minimum), while most agencies charge an annual $75 registration fee and get 10 to 15 per cent of extras’ earnings. It's no wonder that the turnover rate is fairly high.
Some people who are between jobs do extra work as a temporary measure, said McCartney. But professionals, such as lawyers, also do the work because it’s interesting. Others with flexible jobs have a desire to do something different. Some homemakers want to get out of the house and onto a movie set. Money’s not the motivating reason.
“One of the first things I say to people who walk in and ask about being an extra is, ‘You have to be available,’ ” said a person at Karen Clifton Agency. Inc. “The next thing I say is, ‘You can’t make a living at this.’ ”
28. What kind of people are movie extras?
A. TV series makers. B. Casting directors.
C. Non-professional movie actors. D. Agents for movie stars.
29. According to the passage, movie extras should _____.
A. have a flexible schedule B. make hundreds of phone calls daily
C. make good connections D. have special talents
30. Why do white collar workers most probably like to be movie extras?
A. They want to make more money.
B. They want to start a career in acting.
C. They think their regular job is boring.
D. They think being on the stage is enjoyable.
31. The underlined word “turnover” in the sixth paragraph probably means _____.
A. the loss of staff B. market demand
C. business profit D. operation expenses
答案
28-31 CADA
Would you mind lying in a coffin (棺材)? Would you shave your head? Are you willing to take out your false teeth?
These are just a few of the questions Anne Marie Stewart and her staff sometimes ask the “talent” who serve as non-speaking “extras” in special films, television series, and made-for-TV movies produced in Toronto.
Of course, the majority of extra calls are for more ordinary people, and Stewart has a list of about 650 registered extras. Crowd scenes, which are common, call for everyday people of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, and sizes.
Over at Movie People, last-minute requests are not unusual. “We got a request once for an entire brass band of 30 people. They wanted it within the hour,” said manager Yvonne McCartney. Another time, the company got a last-minute request for a newborn baby. “We found a baby that was three weeks premature,” said Jonathan Aiken, an owner of the company.
Then there was the worried call from a casting director whose “Star” got doggone stubborn one day and decided to just lie down and not work. The director needed a replacement dog, fast. “We got them two in one hour.” said Aiken. “It was a matter of good connections and fast phone work.” The eight phone lines needed to make 350 to 400 calls a day are one of Movie People’s major expenses.
Phone lines are the only way to stay in touch with casting directors and extras; but the latter are a group not necessarily interested in a long-term relationship. Most extra jobs pay only $7 an hour (with a six-hour minimum), while most agencies charge an annual $75 registration fee and get 10 to 15 per cent of extras’ earnings. It's no wonder that the turnover rate is fairly high.
Some people who are between jobs do extra work as a temporary measure, said McCartney. But professionals, such as lawyers, also do the work because it’s interesting. Others with flexible jobs have a desire to do something different. Some homemakers want to get out of the house and onto a movie set. Money’s not the motivating reason.
“One of the first things I say to people who walk in and ask about being an extra is, ‘You have to be available,’ ” said a person at Karen Clifton Agency. Inc. “The next thing I say is, ‘You can’t make a living at this.’ ”
28. What kind of people are movie extras?
A. TV series makers. B. Casting directors.
C. Non-professional movie actors. D. Agents for movie stars.
29. According to the passage, movie extras should _____.
A. have a flexible schedule B. make hundreds of phone calls daily
C. make good connections D. have special talents
30. Why do white collar workers most probably like to be movie extras?
A. They want to make more money.
B. They want to start a career in acting.
C. They think their regular job is boring.
D. They think being on the stage is enjoyable.
31. The underlined word “turnover” in the sixth paragraph probably means _____.
A. the loss of staff B. market demand
C. business profit D. operation expenses
答案
28-31 CADA
苏19057182-3号