The Extras (1978)

Synopsis of The Extras

Popular Asian filmmaker Yim Ho directed this entertaining look at the trials and tribulations which movie extras must endure in the Hong Kong film industry. Hakky Ho (Yee Lui) is an aspiring actor who is frustrated by his lack of success, but gets an extremely low-paying job as an extra and believes he is close to finally getting his foot in the door. He soon learns otherwise, as his illusions of fame and glitz are quickly shattered by the grueling, day-to-day grind which being an extra entails. Ho is terrified by exploding bullet squibs, destroys the director's car, forgets his cues, starts a fire, and nearly drowns in the course of a harrowing assignment on an action film. Only the presence of beautiful actress Siu-fong (Idy Chan) makes it bearable, but Ho is soon unemployed again. When he finally gets a part, it requires him to bite off a snake's head, and to make matters worse, Ho finds Siu-fong at a hotel with aging sex symbol Ting Chung (Kenneth Tsang). When Ho refuses to cover for Ting to the actor's jealous wife, Ting gathers some friends and decides to get revenge on the hapless extra. Melvin Wong and Lee Hoi-sang co-star. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

Director(s):

Yim Ho

Writer(s):

Yim Ho, Philip Chan

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