TV Extra: My Not So Normal Hobby
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
TV Extra: My Not So Normal Hobby
In 2004, I became a teen mom. In an effort to not be defined and to “find myself”, I wanted to find something to do in my spare time. You know, the few minutes each day I had to myself when I wasn’t working on getting my GED, working as a Walmart cashier, or caring for a newborn at the age of 18!
I struggled for many years in my life trying to find a hobby. I mean, I love music, books, TV and movies. So, I guess you could consider those as hobbies, but I wanted to find something to DO as a hobby.
I tried to learn to sew, even bought a book to teach me how to paint one time.Nothing seemed to keep my interest nor was I good at any of it!
(TV Extra?)…FAST FORWARD to 2009…
In 2009, I was now a young, married, mother of a 5 and 2 year old..and I still hadn’t found a hobby (LOL). Still into watching TV, I came across a show called ONE TREE HILL. It had been on for a 5 seasons by this time, but I quickly caught up. It became my favorite show!
I thought it was interesting the town in the show was “supposed” to be based in North Carolina, being that was where I lived. I really didn’t think much of it, figuring it was filmed in California. Until….
I was playing around online one day searching for articles about the show. Some how or another, I came across one that indicated the show was filmed in Wilmington, NC. WOW! That was only 2 hours from me. Interesting…
Reading on in the article I found an ad looking for extras for the show – you know, the people sitting or walking around in the background. How cool would that be? It was pretty easy to apply..just mail in a picture and short question and answer sheet – so I did.
The article said that so many people apply that they could not respond back. It was one of THOSE crazy dreams. That would be amazing to see the actors in real life…Wouldn’t it be cool if…I wish I could get in! So I mailed it but didn’t think I had much of a shot…after all I didn’t have any experience.
I moved on with my life and got back to reality – going to college, now working as a manager at Walmart, and raising 2 kids.
One month later, my phone rang and I got a phone call that changed my life…
Is this Amber Fox? Can you make yourself available next week and come to Wilmington..we need more extras for our next episode of One Tree Hill….
My answer: YES! I had no clue how I was going to find a babysitter, or if I had a class that day, or work…but I was going to make it happen! (Who wouldn’t jump at a chance to go work on their favorite TV show?)
So I went, had a blast, and was asked back 5 more times within the next 2 years!
Here I am standing in a hallway at a
school. That girl talking to that guy…
Ya that’s me!
But my favorite time working on the show was the time they asked me to be in their 1940′s episode. I had stopped by the casting office to drop off new updated pictures. I COULD have mailed them in, but for some reason..I drove 2 hours to drop them off.
When I got there, the casting lady asked if I was available later that day for a wardrobe fitting. Fitting? Every other time I had worked on the show we brought our own clothes, several choices, and the wardrobe department told us which to wear.
Again I said YES! That word has gotten me a lot of success in achieving my dreams…
I came back a few hours later, got to try on several beautiful gowns from the 1940′s and was told to come back in 2 weeks with my hair in curlers and with no makeup.
That is a day I will never forget. I came back, got back into a gorgeous black gown with diamonds on the straps and waited in line for hair and makeup. Yes I said it…HAIR AND MAKEUP! How fun is that?
So yes….That girl in the black dress… Ya that’s me!
TV Extra…I Didn’t stop there!
I was having a blast working as a TV Extra, so after the “star” experience on ONE TREE HILL…I decided to try a movie.
I went down to South Carolina and worked for a couple of days on the movie “Dear John”. My best memory of working on this was that while waiting for a scene to start, I was placed right next to Channing Tatum (the star of the movie). While waiting for the crew to get set up, me and a few other people actually had a nice conversation with him!
Check out this clip from the movie…
The girl with the red backpack standing next to the happy couple? Ya that’s me!
If you can’t see the video…CLICK HERE
TV Extra…still?…FAST FORWARD to now!
Most recently, I worked last year as a TV extra on THE VAMPIRE DIARIES. I traveled to Atlanta, GA for this one. After all, this is my current favorite show..I couldn’t pass up the chance! (Remember what saying YES does for you?)
Best memory on this one? Ian Somerhalder! Okay so I have a little celebrity crush..this one was huge for me!
I loved him when he was on LOST and now on THE VAMPIRE DIARIES. He passed by me at one point, smiled and said “Hey, how’s it goin’?” *Swoon!* I managed to squeak out hey! Later, in the scene I was placed in a crowd full of people he had to squeeze through and he had to bump into me in the scene. I am so glad we did several takes on that one!
So, that brown hair you see behind my celebrity crush? Ya, that’s me! Sigh…
TV Extra…Moral of the Story…
If I wouldn’t have said YES! and jumped at the opportunity in front of me..I would never have had these great memories and such a fun hobby!
Just like if I wouldn’t have said YES! to the Empower Network opportunity when it was in front of me, I wouldn’t have the extra money coming into my bank account every month or have changed in such a positive way from all that I have learned here…
It is time for you to say YES! You can’t succeed or live your dreams until you jump at an opportunity…so here it is…
