My Experience as an Extra on Batman vs Superman Set

Clay Enos/Warner Bros

When I saw Man of Steel in the theater last summer, Henry Cavill immediately became my favorite actor to play Superman. Along with giving it a near perfect grade review, the movie joined an elite club of select blockbuster films that was in my opinion, an artistic and entertaining film achievement. So when I learned early last fall that the brilliant Zack Synder decided to film the next Superman movie in Detroit, I KNEW I just had to be a part of it! And my dream came true in May of this year.

With the release of these two images in the past 48 hours, and tons of leaked information about the filming process found all over the internet, I figured it was safe for me to at least share with fellow fans and my regular readers, my experience as an extra... um, I mean, Atmosphere Artist, on the set of Batman vs. Superman in my home state of Michigan. I have been down on Michigan recently, especially after the horrible winter we recently experienced, but I couldn't be more proud and feel more lucky to be living here right now to be part of film history. Yes, history! Never has the two most iconic super heroes ever been in a film together: Batman and Superman. And for me to be a part of this is just unbelievable and a very proud feeling.

Allow me to preface that I signed a confidentiality agreement and I will not reveal plot details or details about the set. I'm just going to write about my experience working on the set for a couple of days in a chronological order.

The Email

Some of you have read my report about the crazy casting call on April 27th for a 'Warner Bros' motion picture to be filmed in Michigan this summer. Like duh, we know what it is, but we'll go with the flow. About 8,000 people showed up. I was the 716th person in line. Thankfully for me, I was only in line for almost two hours, then I went on with my life with my fingers crossed that I would be chosen as an extra. A few weeks went by when I received an email on May 17 titled 'Warner Bros Opportunity N/DP Female'. From my understanding, this email was the first or second call out to pre-selected applicants. In other emails from extras casting company, they would send out an email blast to all who attended the casting call asking people to reply back if they were available on X day, and fit a list of physical descriptions. In my N/DP Female email, it went out to a very narrow group of people that the director specifically selected. Yes, Zack Snyder chose me from a sea of Midwestern and Canadian faces!

The Fitting

In the email, they stated that they would like to book me for four days (May 28-June 2) and asked me to reply back if I'm interested. This was on a Saturday, so I replied back asking if I could give my decision on Monday because I needed to request that time off from my boss. So then I texted my boss, on that day, asking if I could have the time off. She replied back within the hour with the OK! I then emailed the casting company and told them that I am available. They then set me up with an appointment to come in that Wednesday for a fitting. I live in Ann Arbor, and the fitting was in Pontiac, an hours drive away, during work hours. Hmmm. However as fate would hook me up again, a follow up email asked me to come in on Tuesday, May 20th for a fitting, the same day my boss would be out of the office. So I had no work place drama to deal with to take time off to go to a fitting. I left work at 2:30pm that day.

I arrived at the studio in Pontiac packed like I was going on a business trip. I had to bring several changes of business suits/dresses, and shoes to create several looks. Apparently like most people, my professional business attire was too dark - lots of blacks and navy blues. I was informed that the director wanted something more lively and brighter, Fall time colors. So I had to try on several of their outfits and have my picture taken like a model. It was a very fast paced but professional environment. At the fitting, that's where I had to sign all the paperwork and confidentiality forms, etc. And just as I was finishing up, a woman with a camera came to me and said, 'Mind if I take your picture for your Daily Planet ID'?

My role is a Newspaper Staff at the DAILY PLANET!

I still get goose bumps at the knowledge that I was part of a group of 1% of all the extras who applied to work on this film, to be a reporter at The Daily Planet. I'm a writer, a blogger, I just received my Master's in Communication and media studies, and I played a non-descript female reporter staff of The Daily Planet!

So when she asked me that, it was the first time anyone made any mention of exactly what kind of role I would have. So I did everything in my power to keep my fangirl composure in check and not grin too widely on the photo, but inside I was screaming.  The fitting only lasted an hour and they decided to dress me up in one of their dresses and several cardigans and some high heel shoes. After that, the countdown til May 28th, the first day on the set, began.

However, on the 27th, I got an email around noon informing me that filming for the 28th was canceled and that I didn't need to report to the set. I was fine with that because the reality of the situation is that, hey, I'm a working professional. I had work to do, so I canceled PTO for Wednesday and went to work as usual. But deep down inside, I was hoping that would be the only canceled day, and luckily, it was as I received an email early in the day on the 28th asking me to confirm my arrival at 9am on the 29th. Woohoo! Yes, I'll be there. They also kindly reminded me that I must be committed to working the full day if need be which would be anywhere between 8 to 14 hours.

Work as an Atmosphere Artist

Thursday: I arrived promptly at the studio that Thursday morning. Upon checking in, I had to go to the costume department to change into my outfit. I was given my Daily Planet badge and I had to join 80 other people in a very large room with coffee, water, and delicious snacks. In a nutshell, as a group, we were informed about how the process of selection of extras would occur, and they asked us to be patient. One of the downsides of being an extra is that you have to wait around, this is an industry standard, so it was not unusual to sit for several hours and not be called onto the set. The casting team kindly informed us that if we're not selected, to please don't take it personally. The director is looking for a variety of people, and if we are fit for a particular scene, we'll be called in. Meanwhile, we just talked amongst each other and enjoyed the snacks. Some people are seasoned extras and they know the drill, so they were relaxed and just waited. Other people were getting restless, but there's nothing you can do about that, we'll all be called when it's our time.

Half the day goes by and I don't go on set yet, but I am able to go outside to get some fresh air. As I go back into the building, there's Henry Cavill standing right there by the doorway, talking to some crew people. He's right there. I just smile and walk into the building, and as I do that, Amy Adams is coming out while eating out of a small bag of popcorn. Looks like they both just got off the set from working with about two dozen extras. I know I'll get my chance, maybe after dinner. So at this point of the day, that was the most excitement I had - seeing Henry and Amy, because it confirmed why I was there in the first place, to work on this awesome film!



Laurence and Amy in Man of Steel

After dinner, I'm selected for a scene! At this point, all I can say is that the set looked like a bonafide newsroom office space, just remarkable, all the way down to the smallest detail, very impressive. I'm on the set with Henry, Amy, Laurence Fishburne, and Zack Synder. But like all the other extras, I'm remarkably calm. I have a job to do, I signed an agreement, it's an honor to be on the set and being paid to be there. I do as I'm instructed. Cut! Go back to the extras holding area. By now it's around 9pm, and that's about 11 hours on the set. My feet hurt a little, and I'm getting a little tired, but the excitement level is still very high. I'm called back on set. And it's funny how they do it. The casting people will come rushing into the room and say, 'I'll take you, um, you, you, and you!' Other times they'll come in and say, 'Everyone who was just on the set, go back now please'. And we would go. That's what happened for me at the end of the day Thursday. But this time, I walk near Henry during a scene, and then... Cut! End of the first day. After so many hours of waiting around, it was awesome to close it out with the last scene of the day with Henry Cavill.

Friday: I was used a lot this day, but it was mostly background people stuff - most likely not caught on camera. However, later in the day, I was used for another key role where I had to walk past Laurence/PerryWhite to get to the other side of the office. Amy/Lois Lane was in the scene too. We did about five takes of that. Later in the day, about 30 extras were used for a scene, and that was fun and I can't wait to see how that scene looks in the theater. Rebecca Buller/Jenny was on set for these scenes, so it was nice to see her. This was a long day as well and it finally came to a close just after midnight.

I could go on and on and write about what I observed between the takes, but again it's all proprietary information and tedious. All I know is that the cast and crew work very hard to create just these few scenes from the Daily Planet newsroom. Four days of filming for approximately 3 minutes in the movie. The primary cast were polite and professional, and Zack and his assistant director were very kind, funny, and professional as well.

I received an email on Saturday that I was not need for Monday, and a part of me was relieved because it was hard work and very long days. Plus, as a working person, I had a lot of work on my desk and I was happy that this opportunity turned out to be for two days instead of four. If I were called back later in the year, and if I'm available, I will consider it, but I don't think I will because the people who worked in the Daily Planet scenes should not be seen in other scenes of the film. So unless I'm one of 300 people running against a green screen, I don't think they will be needing my face again. In fact, I'm still receiving emails from the casting company as filming continues, looking for new extras. They wrote in one email that if you were part of the Daily Planet group, please decline this opportunity. So what I consider to be the best opportunity to be in this film has come and passed, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it.

The making of this film in Michigan is such a coup for the local economy and I cannot wait to see the end result of this movie. I won't be surprised if I don't make it in the movie because there's so much editing that takes place. But I will be on the lookout for me in the newsroom, and I'll make sure to point myself out to you all if I spot me. But like I said, if I don't make it on the screen, I'm still honored to have been right there in the making of this blockbuster Warner Brothers film for 2016!

Thank you Zack Synder, Warner Brothers, and RealStyle for selecting me to be a part of this once in a lifetime opportunity.

- Simone Cromer, cinephile, movie reviewer, and avid blogger of FF and Theater of Zen