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blog addendum

Addressing Some Comments on my Foreground Extras Post

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Wow, I kicked up a lot of dust with my Foreground Extras post.

My P.O. box was filled with cologne-scented¹ postcards challenging me on many claims I made, so let’s address them.

Argus Tracks of Providence, RI writes:
STRONGLY disagree that Mr. Rudd is a “Foreground Extra” in the Super Nintendo commercial. He’s clearly the protagonist of the commercial, despite not having words. Would you say Charlie Chaplin is a foreground extra in City Lights because he has no dialogue?!! Get REAL.

Argus, you have really hit the target with your insightful observation. I retract my claim that Paul Rudd was an extra. As you say, he was the protagonist, the main character of the advertisement. Thanks for reaching out.

Poultice Hawthorne of Decatur, Georgia writes:
In the Yahtzee commercial I distinctly heard the blonde woman say the word “Yahtzee” so this would not fit your own definition of an extra as someone who has no speaking lines.

We’re going to have to agree to disagree on this, Poultice. It may appear that the blonde woman is screaming “Yahtzee”, but clearly the majority of the people are mouthing words that you do not hear. The music and voiceover dominate the commercial, and any dialogue or voices of actors is faint and asynchronous. Also, this woman is not given any more screen time or importance than the other actors, and as such, I am still going to categorize them all as Foreground Actors. Thanks for commenting.

And finally, Dave Wombercromble of Seattle, WA writes:
Thank God that piece of shit Kissinger is dead. May he rot in hell forever. To quote the astute Anthony Bourdain:

“Once you’ve been to Cambodia, you’ll never stop wanting to beat Henry Kissinger to death with your bare hands. You will never again be able to open a newspaper and read about that treacherous, prevaricating, murderous scumbag sitting down for a nice chat with Charlie Rose or attending some black-tie affair for a new glossy magazine without choking. Witness what Henry did in Cambodia – the fruits of his genius for statesmanship – and you will never understand why he’s not sitting in the dock at The Hague next to Milošević.”“

Dave, this is not really appropriate. Please keep your comments to the post at hand, Foreground Extras. Nevertheless, thank you for your contribution.

XO Splotchy

¹ There was a mishap a few weeks ago with the delivery of a cracked bottle of sample cologne, so it’s possible the postcards themselves were not scented.

i heart this video, who doesn't love posts about advertising

Foreground Extras

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There’s audio and video commercial outtakes floating around the Internet featuring an irritated and/or inebriated Orson Welles.

This is a pretty popular video. It’s funny. Watch one time for Orson Welles, then watch it again. Let’s focus on something else the second time around.

You probably know what an extra is — a person in a non-speaking role in a TV show or movie, typically used to decorate the frame around the main characters. They are frequently used in settings where a lack of people would be distracting. For example, restaurant scenes typically have extras.

Extras are also commonly known as “background actors”, and in these commercial outtakes, you can see people behind Orson Welles pretending they are having a delightful time.

But WAIT. There are two people AT HIS TABLE. They aren’t talking. If you were talking about champagne to them and they started acting like that you’d say “WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?”

These people are FOREGROUND EXTRAS. I don’t know if foreground extras are something you’d ever find in a television show or a movie. I think they are pretty common in commercials.

Look, here’s a voiceless Paul Rudd selling Super Nintendo. Sure, he’s the star of the commercial. But he has no dialogue. He’s doing some pretty solid foreground extra work here.

Now look at these weirdos. They are all apparently talking, but we don’t hear any of it. It’s all YAHTZEE YAHTZEE YAHTZEE music and singing. All the actors are foreground extras.

What I find so weird about the Orson Welles commercial is that there are literally silent foreground extras interacting with the star of the commercial. It’s clear these aren’t actors at the same level as Welles. I don’t mean acting ability, I mean like its some kind of status hierarchy within the commercial itself.

Orson Welles > Foreground Extras > Background Extras

Notice that the two foreground extras don’t crack up, don’t do anything as Welles completely bombs his lines. They stay focused on doing what they are supposed to do. They can’t risk being unprofessional. They’re foreground extras.