How do huge, massive, chaotic houseparty scenes in movies get filmed?

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Project X/Superbad, wolf of wallstreet, etc…

When there’s several hundred people at a party scene, and all of them are doing different things, like dancing, drinking, doing drugs, things that seem entirely unscripted, make out scenes, sexual scenes, jumping into pools, crowd diving, spraying beer everywhere, swinging from chandeliers, fights, getting sick, etc. how are these scenes coordinated? Is everyone at the party given free reign to be as chaotic as possible and the cameraman just takes random shots of everything or is every single shot laid out in the script perfectly? How does it all seem so natural? How long does it take to film a chaotic houseparty scene like this? How do the extras get the job? Do they need acting experience or can anyone just be in it if they’re in the right place and the right time? How do extras and actors get roles for films without knowledge of the film’s recording getting out?

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5 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

> how are these scenes coordinated?

People with megaphones and shouting. Everyone is there to do a job, they listen to instructions. It’s designed to look like chaos, not be chaos.

> Is everyone at the party given free reign to be as chaotic as possible and the cameraman just takes random shots of everything or is every single shot laid out in the script perfectly?

Neither. They will assign people things to do, tell them to make small talk or sweep with a broom or whatever. If something in the background isn’t right they’ll ask them to change. It’s not scripted but they make sure the same people are doing the same things in each shot. Shooting a long scene in a movie can take several weeks.

> How does it all seem so natural?

Acting. Also, if you look closely, it often doesn’t, because they’re asked to do the activity without making any noise! Because it will ruin the sound recording. They have special shoes with soles that make less noise, chip bags and things that don’t rustle. So extras with shovels or brooms or eating with silverware, are doing so without making any noise, which often looks quite strange. It’s also why people dancing in party scenes often looks weird, because the music isn’t playing on set.

> How long does it take to film a chaotic houseparty scene like this?

It depends how long and complex the scene is. Anything up to multiple weeks. Yes that means that guy has been swinging off a chandelier for 10-14 hours a day for two weeks.

> How do the extras get the job?

Agencies and open casting calls.

> Do they need acting experience or can anyone just be in it if they’re in the right place and the right time?

Depends on what they’re going to be asked to do but generally anyone can.

> How do extras and actors get roles for films without knowledge of the film’s recording getting out?

They make the ads more generic. Here are a couple of examples you will probably recognise when it comes out

> Untitled A24 Feature Film, Young Zendaya
>
> Young Emma
> Supporting. Female. 13-21
> Mixed Ethnicity girl of Black and caucasian heritage. Will be playing the younger version of Zendaya in the film. Should bear resemblance to a Young Zendaya and be or *look* 13-16 as the character is in high school. Young Emma is a troubled teenager growing up in a small suburb, craving acceptance and approval from her peers. However, when she feels excluded, her frustration turns into resentment. Though intelligent, she is misguided, often concealing her inner turmoil. On the surface, Emma seems fairly normal, but beneath the facade, she harbors peculiar fixations. **Open to both union and non union performers**
> Ethnicity: Black / African Descent, Ethnically Ambiguous / Multiracial, Latino / Hispanic, White / European Descent
> Required Media: Headshot/Photo

> Untitled A24/Timothee Chalamet Film
>
>
> General Background: Unique Looking 1950s Faces.
> Background / Extra. Female, Male. 18+
>
>
> Young GI Types
> Background / Extra. Male. 18-35
> Clean-shaven, short, or buzz-cut hair styles.
>
>
> Asian Table Tennis Fans
> Background / Extra. Female, Male. 18+
> Ethnicity: Asian, South Asian / Indian, Southeast Asian / Pacific Islander
>
>
> Hasidic Men
> Background / Extra. Male. 18+
> Note if you own your own Hasidic wardrobe and if you have natural or faux payots.
>
>
> Basketball Player Types – No Tattoos
> Background / Extra. Male. 18-35
> Ethnicity: Black / African Descent, White / European Descent
>
>
> Slim Women for 1950s Roles
> Background / Extra. Female. 18+
> Women size 4 or slimmer for 1950s roles – upcoming shoot days in october (fitting required and wardrobe provided to portray 1950s street life, socialites, party goers, international fans, and more!
>
>
> Kids with Short Hair
> Background / Extra. Female, Male. 0-15
> Kids with short hair (girls shoulder length, boys very short- various ages) filming in NYC. Various roles from actors’ kids, to nyc day life, park goers, school kids, and more!
>
>
> Featured Bar Patrons (Upstate NY) – Hancock NY LOCALS – 11/4 & 11/5
> Background / Extra. All Genders. 18-50
> Looking for great interesting faces to feature for a bar scene set in the 1950s. Production is looking to hire on a local hire basis in and around Hancock NY. Mostly younger – 18 to 30 years old. Very featured!

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