Posts Tagged ‘extra’

Medford, MA. native, the beautiful Maria Menounos will appear with cutie Mario Lopez on “Extra.”

That’s right, the once Miss Massachusetts teen USA, Maria Menounos is officially hooking up with the once A.C Slater, Mario Lopez on “Extra”.  Bells are ringing.  After six faithful years, Menounos and NBC are calling it quits.

The Medford, MA native has kissed a new deal with Telepictures and will co-host “Extra” with hunk Lopez this Fall.  She’ll also have on-air flings with the CW’s Dr. Drew’s “Lifechangers” which will be exclusive September 19th. The new deal was announced by Hilary Estey McLoughlin, President of Telepictures and Lisa Gregorisch-Dempsey, Senior Executive Producer of “Extra” and “Dr. Drew’s Lifechangers.”

“We are thrilled to have Maria in the Telepictures family. She is a great talent with diverse experience and appeal and her versatility will enable her to contribute to our slate in myriad ways,” McLoughlin says in a statement of Menounos, who has also been an on-air correspondent for competitors “Access Hollywood” and “Entertainment Tonight”.

“I’m so excited to join Mario on “Extra” and be a part of “Dr. Drew’s Lifechangers”. Joining Telepictures is a great next step in my career. I loved working at NBC and thank the network for a great six-year run,” says Menounos.

Rumor has it that NBC’s faith faltered and “Extra” was there to scoop up the pretty Emerson alum.

You want a little extra Menounos, check out “The EveryGirl’s Guide to Life,” written by the talented diva — a New York Times’ bestseller! “Extra! Extra!”.

Boston’s annual Health Expo took place at the Hynes Convention Center on June 12-13th. The event, sponsored by WHDH channel 7 and CW 56 included a number of exhibits where attendees to take their turn in front of the camera, including trying their hand at weather reporting, or color commentating a Red Sox game clip. These fun activities enabled children and their families to be entertained, while also gaining access to a number of free health screenings, informational seminars, as well as speak to medical professionals regarding a number of health and safety issues.

In addition to members of the channel 7 news team making appearances, TV stars, like Krista White, winner of cycle 14 of “America’s Next Top Model”, also stopped by to sign autographs. Former “Saved by the Bell” cast member, and current “Extra” co-host, Mario Lopez, talked about his new book Extra Lean: The Fat-Burning Plan That Changes the Way You Eat for Life, gave a cooking demonstration alongside channel 7’s Frances Rivera, and signed autographs for the dozens of screaming fans who anxiously packed the hall for a chance to see him. Late that evening, the decidedly dimpled Latin heartthrob made at appearance at The Estate in Boston’s Alley. Check out our video below for more of Mario at the Health Expo.

NBC’s hit game show, “Minute to Win It” was also at the Hynes Convention Center on Saturday holding a casting call, and numerous Health Expo visitors stood in line to take their shot at getting on the Guy Fieri hosted show. On the demonstration stage inside the expo, a “Minute to Win It” casting director showed the audience tricks past contestants have had to perform on the show, and invited people to come on stage and try their hand at a few in order to win a t-shirt. For more exclusive Health Expo pictures, check out our Facebook and Youtube pages here.

Woburn, MA resident William Malcolm has played a baseball fan in Fever Pitch, a photographer in The Game Plan, a professor in 21, a shopper in Paul Blart: Mall Cop, and a doctor in a mysterious Japanese documentary. You might also spot him in See Kate Run, “Empire State,” or the new Diet Pepsi commercial. No, Malcolm isn’t an A-list celeb; he’s just having fun as an extra in Hollywood East.

HEC: How did you get started as a film and television extra?

It all started in October of 2004. A friend of mine asked me if I wanted to go to a casting. I thought we were going up to Gloucester to see this big statue being cast. We started heading to Allston, and I said, “Gee, I didn’t know there was a foundry in Allston,” at which point he explained that we were going to a movie casting. We went to Boston Casting for the Fever Pitch open call. That’s how I got my start.

HEC: Did you have any training or education in acting?

I didn’t have any training or acting education. I’ve learned a lot on the job though. You really just have to listen to the crew and do what you’re told. On the set of Fever Pitch, they picked me and an older woman to walk as a couple close to Drew Barrymore. I walked through the scene too quickly, and the director said, “Do you want to be in this movie? Just relax. Enjoy it.” I did just that.

HEC: What are the best and worst parts of being a movie extra?

The most trying part of the job is the waiting around. Call time may be at 5:30 in the morning, but things usually don’t start happening until 9:30 or 10am. At that point, there’s this huge flurry of activity. My social calendar isn’t very busy, and I’m three-quarters retired from my job as an employee assistant professional, so I have the hours to spare.

I would say that the best part of the job is just connecting with other people during all the waiting around. You encounter a tremendous cross-section of people on the job, people from all walks of life.

HEC: Any advice for people trying to break into the biz as an extra?

Don’t stand out too much. I have white hair and a white beard, so I stick out like a sore thumb. I usually don’t get into a lot of scenes because the people in charge of film continuity come in and kick me out. A lot of extras get away with changing their wardrobes, but it’s hard to “recycle” me. Kevin Spacey kept walking by in this particular scene in 21, and I had to be moved out. Everyone was in dark clothes, but I just sort of glowed. I was moved down the street into the out-of-focus section.

But seriously, if you’re really interested in getting work, sign on with a couple of different agencies, Boston Casting is really good, and I’ve gotten a few jobs with C.P. Casting and through Billy Dowd.

And don’t be pushy. The crew is always very helpful, but it’s easy to get frustrated and upset during the long work days. You just sort of have to roll with the punches to make it easy on yourself and everyone else. Your not going to be supplementing a 401k with this deal, so you may as well enjoy it.

HEC: What has been your most memorable experience thus far?

It was really fun working so close to the principal actors in Fever Pitch. While I was chatting with Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon was bouncing toward us through the crowd. He immediately introduced himself, “I’m Jimmy!” I said, “Yeah, I know.” Drew turned to me and said, “It’s difficult working with someone who’s so depressed all the time.”

HEC: Do you have dreams of making it big in the movie biz?

At my age, unless there’s a big upswing in Flowmax or Depends commercials, I don’t have a bright future in acting. For me it’s really not a job; it’s a hobby. You can definitely make a job out of it, but I don’t want to do that. I’m just having a good time doing a local gig every once in a while.