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Part 1: Visual Component

Each student will study any feature film of their choice and select an “extra” that they would like to share with the class. By definition, an extra is a performer in a film, tv show, or stage production who appears in a nonspeaking capacity, usually in the background.

Part 2: Writing Component

A short description of the extra must be presented to the class. This description should be based on observation and describe what the extra is doing, where he/she is composed in the space and how this person adds to the scene.

Why did you choose this extra?

Film choice: Ocean’s Twelve, Scene 17
Tracking: 1:03:30
Extra: “Creeper Moped Guy”

The extra in this particular scene is a caucasian male riding a moped. He is weaving in and out between cars on a crowded street in Rome. His bike is blue and black. He is wearing a silver and black helmet, a black pinstripe suit, a white shirt, black sunglasses, and black gloves. He comes from the back of the image into the foreground, and eventually stops right beside the car in which the character “Isabel” is sitting and talking. While he is riding up the street, the camera zooms in on him going in between the cars. When he pulls up beside Isabel’s car, he looks in, and then the camera focuses more on her. He is framed by her car window while he is stopped. Behind him is a sign advertising the famous Fabergé Egg. When he exits, the sign is revealed to Isabel. This is important, because during this scene, she is on the phone with her supervisor asking for some paperwork so that she can get extra police to help her capture some thieves after they steal “something important.” She knows that “something” is going to be stolen, but at that moment, she doesn’t know what that “something” is…that is until my extra steps out of the picture to reveal the sign behind him.
I chose this extra because of his small, but important role in the film. I also thought it was interesting how the director chose to follow this particular extra, so that it would catch the attention of the audience. It makes the viewer wonder what this person is up to, or what role they will eventually play in the story. I also remember when I first saw this movie, I thought that this person was actually one of the main characters coming up beside Isabel to spy on her – which is interesting, because he wasn’t a main character at all.

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