My first experience in the movie world was as an extra for the film production of “The Gift,” a movie starring the talented Hilary Swank. Initially, the draw was the chance to work with Sam Raimi, a director I greatly admire, and possibly even see Keanu Reeves. Although Reeves had wrapped his scenes just before my day, the opportunity to be part of a Raimi project was still incredibly exciting. What I found was a fascinating glimpse into the patience and collaborative spirit on a real movie set.
My call time was scheduled for a late 6:00 PM, signaling a long night ahead. Indeed, we didn’t wrap until 6:30 AM the next morning. A significant portion of this time was spent in “extra holding,” a common experience, I learned. A production assistant with a radio would periodically approach, select a few of us, and lead us partway to the set, only to turn us back to holding due to changes in the setup. This happened multiple times, maybe six or seven, testing our patience but also building anticipation. When we were finally directed to the set, the instructions were clear and precise: stand here, walk there, and react as a “nosy neighbor” observing the unfolding drama. I hoped my role wouldn’t end up on the cutting room floor as I was positioned further back from the main action but involved in several takes where I moved closer to the scene.
The scene I was part of featured Giovanni Ribisi. The context was intense: his character had just committed arson against his father, and the scene depicted his arrest. My role, along with another extra, was to walk up from the street and stand near an ambulance, reacting to the dramatic situation.
We rehearsed the scene about three times before filming commenced, and then shot it numerous times, perhaps six or seven more, capturing various angles and perspectives. It must have been a demanding process, especially for Giovanni Ribisi, who had to endure being handcuffed, placed in a police car, driven a short distance, stopped, backed up, and repeat the sequence countless times. Despite the repetition, Ribisi’s commitment to his performance was evident. I was genuinely impressed by his acting ability; the intense look he gave us as he was driven past in the police car was chilling and truly memorable.
Speaking with other extras who had been on set for previous scenes provided a broader picture of the movie’s development and the atmosphere on set. It was consistently mentioned that the actors were very approachable and kind to the extras. Rumors had circulated about Keanu Reeves being aloof, but this seemed to be attributed to the constant attention from reporters and autograph seekers. Based on my observations and the accounts of others, “The Gift,” with its compelling story and talented cast including Hilary Swank, seemed poised to be a very captivating film.
