Extra! Extra! Read All About It!
ON THE SET OF THE X-FILES SEASON FINALE
by Peggy (bkypwl@earthlink.net)

[A bit of background to Peggy’s story…

The two XF production crew members named in her account are "disguised" as "T." and "M." to ensure their privacy. And the "flag quilts" she refers to are place-mat sized American flags hand-quilted by Peggy, and they appear to have earned a special place in the minds of many XF crew members.

Peggy explains: "I love to give quilts…[The flag quilts are] the perfect size to give away to "famous' people we meet. Almost everyone on the XF has one. I have mailed out a bunch here and there and have handed them to lots of XF cast and crew. Lately when I present someone with one they'll say, 'Oh, I've seen these, thanks so much, you're the quilt lady." …David has two of my flannel baby quilts as does Gillian."

Thanks so much for sharing, Peggy! And for representing Philes (and Over 30 Philes in particular) in such fine fashion!]

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Here it is folks, our experiences as Extras in the final episode of season six of The X-Files.

We were told to show up at a parking lot near UCLA by 1 P.M. Wear typical college professor (me) and student (kids) clothes. All of my clothes are too big, I have one "emergency" pants outfit that would have to do. I borrowed scarves from three neighbors to maybe dress up my outfit. Kids were easy. Except they had to be 18 and are 16 and 14. Our friend knew that and said it would work out.

We got a call from the casting agency in the morning changing our call time to 2 P.M. Wow, someone was actually expecting us. Amazing. Driving towards UCLA we noticed neon pink signs reading "Biogenesis," pointing the way to cast and crew parking. We belonged, imagine that. M. was waiting for us in the parking lot. So glad to see us. We waited with a bunch of other extras for vouchers to be filled out at the end of the day.

As we waited we saw David arrive, being driven in a big green Chevy thing, wearing jeans, shades, and the faded lime green polo shirt he is wearing in the picture of him and Tea at a pediatric AIDS thingie. Beautiful as usual. We notice Gillian's silver Porsche and then see her walking to her trailer. Just Scully, hair lighter, black suit (what a surprise).

Now we are on line for wardrobe, hair and make-up. The wardrobe woman had Paul take off his Hawaiian shirt as this was an East Coast school being filmed tonight. She looked me up
and down and said "perfect." Already a good beginning. It is a long time since anyone has looked at me and said "perfect." I am at peace.

Into big, white vans to be transported to UCLA just 5 blocks or so away. The Chemistry building. We are escorted down long hallways with neon pink signs reading TO SET and ATMOSPHERE HOLDING AREA. That's us: atmosphere. We find seats in a big, disorganized classroom. Unaware that is our base for the next 14 hours. A long 14 hours.

M. comes in and introduces himself and goes through a long spiel about this episode and what our job is. He is being very solicitous of us personally. Checking in on us often, asking the kids are they having fun. Nice guy. We settle in and make friends with a bunch of nearby extras. In this room are maybe 50 extras, mostly college student age and about 12 adults. So many familiar faces from other shows. No one you can pin down but just someone you know you have seen before.

This is bad. We sat in that room from 2 P.M. until 7:30 P.M. M. or T. would always be with us and give frequent updates. They also gave us the entire plot of the episode, the season finale. And a brief history of XF mythology. M. kept on referring to the three of us to fill in the finer points of mythology. We were the resident experts. What a thrill, we were necessary!

At 7:30 we were herded about 3 blocks away for dinner in a church patio. Extras eat last, after everyone else is done. David and Gillian have their meals delivered to their star wagons. Food was okay but we were too nervous to eat it.

In our holding room is a Kraft service table, donuts, candy, junk food and a vat of peanut butter the size of a Volkswagen. My son is allergic to peanuts, a deadly allergy, he could not go near that food all night. That was tough and scary.

Back to our holding pen. T. comes in and the selection begins. They don't want all of us at once, just a sampling. Paul goes. Becky and I die quietly.

Paul returns 30 minutes later. He's beaming. He had a walk thru scene in a hallway right next to Gillian. After the scene was filmed he greeted her and shook her hand. I brought my kids up right.
Nice boy. Gillian was very sweet and thanked him for his praise. Becky and I are now sure we'll never get called up. T. assures us everyone will work tonight. OK, we'll survive.

Maybe 10 PM, T. comes back and Becky and I go up. She's placed at a bulletin board to pretend to peruse it and take notes. I am in a classroom doorway, intended to cross diagonally to another hallway.

Once the director says "atmosphere action" I count to two and cross. Then duck into the hallway. In that area are Rob Bowman, monitors, script supervisor, Gillian, and a gaggle of fans. Gillian crosses to David standing in the hall. (I am not going to give any scene details, can't do it. Let's just say, David is in distress :::THUD:::). I make this cross about six times before Rob calls "cut and print."

Back downstairs. Now I’ll condense the story, OK? I have given you the flavor of Extra work. We are called up four more times total. I get one more hall cross. Only this time I am in a hallway directly facing a doorway. David is in that doorway. We are both waiting to hear action. I can't put my eyes anywhere but on his. In his. And he returns my gaze. We have met, maybe I seem familiar, after all I debated his script with him last month. I did not speak to him. Not the time. We just played this eye game, nice.

And then we all hear a laugh. I know that laugh, Nick Lea. He bursts into David's doorway, does a little tappie dance and they fool around like kids. I am too shocked to try to remember. They
just physically fool around. Friends, glad to see each other. Nick hides in the doorway as David shoots again. That scene is over and Nick passes right by my Becky. She belts out "Hi Nick" and he so sweetly stops to say hello and shake hands, etc. So nice. Paul is there somewhere and I am considering CPR. We are all in heaven.

For the remainder of the night we film maybe four more scenes, all hallway atmosphere with David walking through us. Becky and Paul definitely got a lot of camera time.

Nick filmed one scene with David, and as they wrapped that scene he passed me. I said "Nick, did you hold a gun on that man again?" He held up his hands and said, "No gun this time." At another point, maybe earlier, I said "Hi, Nick" and he turned and said "Hi!" I said "Hi, sweetheart," and he turned and flashed me the biggest smile, I could see his chewing gum! Just wonderful.

Gillian was gone early. David left by 2 A.M.

We filmed crowded hallway and Mulder's point of view scenes (just camera, no Mulder) until 3:30 A.M.

As we left, I touched Rob Bowman's sleeve. "Rob, it was an honor to watch you work tonight." He asked if we were fans and we of course told him to what degree we were fans. He loved it and thanked us. Very nice, sweet, grateful.

At one point as I completed a hallway cross, M. said "nice job," and the two professional extras near me said "thanks." M. said "I am talking to Peggy." The gaggle of fans behind M. just looked at me awestruck. I said "M., tell me, the fans are watching me??? Just tell them who I am, M.," and he said "Let them guess." Amazing. Fans watching me !!

We were bussed back to base camp and our cars. I stood on line to get our vouchers signed as Paul puked behind the wardrobe trailer, too much excitement. We might get paid, who cares. It was quite an eye opener.

Random observations:

Extra work is tedious. Boy is it ever. If I get paid it will be about $60.00 for 14 hours!

Some folks went and got autographs and pictures. I guess I am beyond that. I just want to be there. I greeted David a few times but that's all.

M. said that if Tea goes into labor during the night we all have to return next week to finish the shoot because David will be leaving immediately. Good boy, that David. No such luck last night.

Nick Lea is again adorable, personable and to die for.

David looks wonderful. It was an honor to see Mulder "in distress." He was very very friendly to all of the extras. He is not unhappy on that set at all. Everyone seemed to get along very well.

As an extra, I saw much less of David and Gillian than I did as an observing fan. Each position has its benefits. I did see David wander over to the fan gaggle many times. Nick also.

Again, everyone associated with XF is of the highest quality. Very watchful of the fans, very concerned your experience is a good one.

Many of the extras recognized us from our previous trips to XF sites. We apparently have a reputation as good, quiet, respectful fans. I felt so proud. A number of crew members came up to me and introduced themselves and detailed how they had heard of me from previous visits. I was floored. They already knew we were a family and really respected that. Especially that we were together, all three of us fans. Amazing. They also remember my flag quilts and are truly touched when they get theirs.

I got whammed in the hip by a hand held steadi-cam. It was not my fault but I wanted to die. There were too many extras in the hallway during that scene and it was reorganized, I was kept in my position.

I am really grateful XF is done filming this season. It has been an incredible experience for the three of us. Now we can relax a bit. We can only imagine the long, hard hours the XF cast and crew work. It is beyond comprehension, all for a television show.

But what a show!