Who's Who (In the Background)

Some area residents roam between Richmond and Philadelphia to make a living doing background work. Other non-actors with 9-to-5 jobs make a hobby of it, moonlighting whenever they have a couple of vacation days. Here are five actors who've put in the time and the dues to be members of the Screen Actors Guild (for information on the local chapter, visit http://www.aftrasagdcbalt.com/). Between them, they've popped up in many of the Washington-set movies of the past 10 to 15 years.

K.C. BAHRY, plays 35 to 45, Montgomery Village

Bio: A freelance accountant by day, Bahry has done background work in 56 feature films and TV shows (by her count, she or her car are visible in 20). She transitioned from stage work to local industrial films in the late '80s, and D.C. company Central Casting saw her photo in the Screen Actors Guild talent directory and called her to do background work in the 1992 Val Kilmer film "Thunderheart."

Blink and you'll miss K.C. Bahry (blond hair, blue sweater) walking past Ralph Fiennes in a museum in 2002's "Red Dragon" during shooting in Baltimore.

You missed her in: The 2004 remake of "The Manchurian Candidate," as a tourist getting her purse checked by security ("No reflection on star quality on my part," Bahry says. "They liked my purse -- it was big"); 1994's "True Lies," as a businesswoman crossing in front of Arnold Schwarzenegger as he talks to Tom Arnold near Indiana Avenue NW (see video):

Note: Please upgrade your Flash plug-in to view our enhanced content. Clip from "True Lies" courtesy Twentieth Century Fox

Most memorable extra moment: Martin Sheen's graciousness on the set of "The West Wing," where Bahry did scenes as an FBI agent. "He always took the time to introduce himself and just be so nice to the background people when he really didn't have to," Bahry says.

The key to being an extra is:"Paying attention at all times and following instructions." Also, don't look at the camera, Bahry says. Even professionals sometimes get mesmerized by the atmosphere and let their eyes dart to the lens.

Why do it?"I like the variety of people that show up to work. There's no place else you're going to find a senator's aide and a teacher and a scuba diver and maybe a real cop or two."

SALLIE BECKNER, plays 45 to 55, Washington

Bio: An actor and freelance voice-over performer since transitioning from broadcast news in 1988, Beckner does background work only occasionally, concentrating instead on voice-over work, principal roles and television and radio commercials.

You missed her in:"Forrest Gump," as a TV reporter in the Lincoln Memorial scene (right), and on "America's Most Wanted," playing a woman "who was almost killed, left for dead and fought back."

You'll probably miss her in:"National Treasure: Book of Secrets." Co-leads Diane Kruger and Justin Bartha sneak past a librarian (that's Beckner!) on their way to a stairwell.

Most memorable extra moment: Getting hit in the gut on 2003's "Head of State," in which she played an assistant to the vice president, who goes berserk when he loses an election to Chris Rock. "I got a little punch in the stomach," Beckner says. "It automatically qualified for stunt pay." The punch didn't make the movie, but Beckner can still be seen trying to squelch the melee (see video):

Note: Please upgrade your Flash plug-in to view our enhanced content. Clip from "Head of State" courtesy Dreamworks Pictures

The key to being an extra is:"No matter what you do, you've got to make it look effortless."

Why do it?"It gives us a chance to have many hours just to really network with our friends. There's really no other experience where you're going to see people for that length of time."

KAHIL DOTAY, plays 31 to 41, Richmond

Bio: He's a professional actor currently in post-production for a short film he co-wrote and co-directed called "Turkish Sitcom," which he plans to take to festivals.

You missed him in: Last year's "The Good Shepherd," in which he played a trench-coated commuter sitting across from Matt Damon on a bus (see video):

Note: Please upgrade your Flash plug-in to view our enhanced content. Clip from "The Good Shephard" courtesy Universal Pictures

Most memorable extra moment: Being picked by Robert De Niro to sit across from Damon. Between two shots, Dotay has six seconds of screen time -- for 30 to 40 hours of work. "But, hey, I can say De Niro picked me out of a lineup," he says.

Worst extra moment: Falling into a mud-filled hole with an ox a couple of weeks ago on the set of the "John Adams" miniseries (right), filming in Richmond and set for a 2008 release. "There were a bunch of mud puddles two inches deep," says Dotay, who played a militiaman. "Nobody knew there was a deeper hole to avoid. They had so much fake rain going on, it was impossible to figure out where you were. I saw the ox go down, and I fell into the same hole."

The key to being an extra is:"Acknowledge and move on." Don't look as if you're paying attention to the action, but don't look as if you're avoiding looking at the action.

Why do it?"It's all about the sex -- the Hollywood sex," Dotay says, joking on the first day of shooting at the Library of Congress. Later, on the phone, he says the perks include "meeting friends, getting paid to hang out with interesting people and recruiting crew for my own projects."

AARON FRYC, plays 25 to 40, Washington

Bio: The Michigan native started in theater and developed his own freelance voice-over and acting business. Now a staff sergeant at Bolling Air Force Base and a network systems controller for the White House Communications Agency, Fryc has done voice-over work for cartoons and books on tape and has acted in commercials.

You missed him in:2001's "61*," Billy Crystal's TV movie about Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, in which Fryc plays a New York police officer escorting Maris (played by Barry Pepper) through a crowd (see video):

Note: Please upgrade your Flash plug-in to view our enhanced content. Clip from "61*" courtesy HBO films

You'll probably miss him in: August's "The Bourne Ultimatum," as a reporter; the season premiere of "The Wire" later this year, as an airline pilot.

Most memorable extra moment: Getting to know Billy Crystal and the cast on the "61*" set (right). "It was a big deal because it was such a passionate project" of Crystal's, Fryc says. "We always said we were there for Billy, as cheesy as that sounds, but he really pumped you up."

The key to being an extra is:"Be professional at all times. Try it. If you really want to do it, you can't have enough classes and training. Just be wary of the scams."

Why do it?"I'm a sucker for the process. The on-camera time is cool, but everything about being backstage, being part of the process and then seeing how movies are done -- I'm always overwhelmed at the amount of people that are involved."

LARRY GRAVES, plays 35 to 50, Gaithersburg

Bio: Graves did stage work at the University of Maryland but transitioned to more commercial work because it pays better. For the past 10 years he has been a part-time graphic artist, actor and model.

You missed him in:"Law & Order: Criminal Intent," as a lawyer this season in Episode 4 (which originally aired Oct. 10).

You'll probably miss him in: November's "Lions for Lambs," as a businessman at 12th and Constitution in the District ("I got to say hello to Robert Redford," Graves says); the "John Adams" miniseries, as a livery servant.

Most memorable extra moment:"I was an extra in 'The Wire,' and they upgraded me and I got a principal line. I was a police detective addressing my troops, basically telling them to get their act together because there's too much crime on the streets."

Note: Please upgrade your Flash plug-in to view our enhanced content. Clip from "The Wire" courtesy HBO

The key to being an extra is:"Similar to being a good waiter. You're unnoticed. If they don't know you're there, you're doing your job."

Why do it?"To keep myself in the game. Also, the opportunity for upgrades. And the money, although it's not a lot of money. In the union, if you make X amount of dollars, you get insurance. A lot of people will do background work to keep insurance."

Read More ...

How to Get on a Set: Want to be an extra? Here's how.

A Weekend in the Life: Reporter Dan Zak chronicles his experience as an extra, hour-by-hour.

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