I’m over Dave Franco’s shoulder
The Studio - 2025
This was a mind-blowing scene to be a part of! This Apple TV+ show has a stacked cast, it this scene was: Seth Rogen, Bryan Cranston, Kathryn Hahn, Ike Barinholtz, Dave Franco, Chase Sui Wonders, Zoë Kravitz and Catherine O'Hara (RIP). Shot over 2 nights at The Venetian Las Vegas, this chaotic scene went viral because it’s epic! Zoë Kravitz unknowingly eats chocolates laced with ‘shrooms and it gets out of hand. Dave Franco is hilarious. Franco & Kravitz were nominated for Emmys for the scene and together, presented at The Golden Globes referencing the scene. I’m on the couch behind Dave Franco in a blue shirt, and elsewhere in the full scene. I made Catherine O'Hara laugh! She was nice enough to take a selfie with me!
With Catherine O'Hara
With Rogen, Hahn, Barinholtz & Wonders
Hey, I'm Howard. For years I've had the pleasure of being an "Extra" or "Background" actor in movies, television shows and commercials. These are the people walking in the park, sitting in restaurants, driving in cars...just blending in. They add "atmosphere" to scenes. I've had some amazing experiences as an extra such as hanging with famous actors, directors and crew people while witnessing how films are made from the inside. I've been in a lot of stuff, some more prominent than others. I wrangled up a handful of my extra work, whatever I could find. Here are some videos, images and first-hand recollections from my years as an Hollywood Extra!
Talent? That's a loose term.
With Bryan Cranston & Kathryn Hahn
Jordan Tatum 3 - Social Media Ad - 2024
This was a social media advertisement for the Jordan Tatum 3 basketball shoe. Somehow, I was cast as NBA star, Jayson Tatum’s trainer. With a cool special effect of Tatum cracking the hardwood with his shoe, I was told to react with “amazed confusion”. Did I pull it off?
The Shield - 2002
This was one of my most amazing experiences as an extra. In this popular cop drama, I was a burn victim thrown in a trunk to be buried in the desert and left for dead. My character had a name, backstory and was Integral to the plot, plus a pretty cool twist to open the show! There’s a character description in this wiki link. The fake skin and makeup applied to my face and body to show the 3rd degree burns took several hours to apply and they had to shave off my eye lashes for authenticity (and for my close-up!). WARNING, it’s gross. Viewer discretion is advised.
I can use a higher sunscreen.
The Fast & The Furious - 2001
In the first The Fast & The Furious movie, I'm in the big desert race scene. I can be seen at the 5:37 mark cheering on the fight, after Michelle Rodríguez punches out Reggie Lee. I had no idea at the time how huge this movie franchise would become.
I’m in the green, striped shirt on the right. Yes, I was bald back then too.
Scrubs - 2002
In this popular medical comedy, I was booked as a patient lying in a bed. If you watch the scene, the janitor gives me the line, "you're what we call a goner". If you look at the reaction shot, it's not me! I had filmed this scene, but the reaction shot was filmed days later when I wasn't available. They had to cast another extra who sort of looked like me (known as a "double") for the reaction shot.
Rat Race - 2001:
I can be seen in the front row of the Smash Mouth concert at the end of the film rocking out to "All Star". I got to hang with the band and several of the actors (I had a half-hour conversation with Seth Green!). Smash Mouth did a private concert for all of us too. The coolest part was the actors all did stage-dives into the audience and I got to hold up Rowan Atkinson's left shoulder (A.K.A. Mr. Bean). We got additional "stunt pay" for this opportunity. This was a 2-night, very long shoot and it was cold, the actors had heated tents. I wrote a short parody about the experience to the tune of "All-Star" while waiting to go home after 2 all-nighters: Hey now, you're an extra. Time to go home, it's late. Hey now, you're an extra. Get the scene done, check gate*. And all that shivers is cold. Only the real stars keep real warm. * The director will call out "Check the gate" when the scene is done.