A busy time for film and television production in Ireland creates a need for extras.
Castings have been taking place in Dublin to meet the phenomenal demand for extras for films that are already shooting or are scheduled to shoot shortly.
They are the far fringes of fame but there's no shortage of hopefuls hoping they're extra special or extraordinary.
Tony Hickey is an experienced extra and recalls his student days when if you were available, you got work. He worked on films with stars like Laurence Olivier and James Cagney.
These casting sessions are organised by a company called MovieExtras.ie at Dublin's Westbury Hotel. They say that extras can earn a basic rate of pay of about €100. This can rise to €3,000 depending on the job. For a fee of €95, aspiring extras get their name and face on their books.
Derek Quinn, director of MovieExtras.ie, says that it is a lot of fun and excitement. However, there are quiet times when extras just sit around and do nothing.
You've got a memory which you can tell people in the pub or you can even see yourself on television when it comes out.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 17 July 2007. The reporter is Philip Bromwell.
