Lights, Camera, Action: My Film Role in 'Red Nights'

During my nearly seven months living in Los Angeles I was an extra in a little known, obscure film titled "Red Nights." This is not to be at all confused with another similar sounding film from that era in the mid '80s titled "White Nights." The latter film "White Nights" was about the best dancers in the world of ballet and tap taking place in Russia or the Soviet Union.

The film I was in took place in the seedy side of Hollywood. When I told people the title of the film I was in they oftentimes thought I was in "White Nights." I had to correct them. Believe me it was very frustrating at times. It was one of those calls I got that said show up at this time and this location. This is my story of working on "Red Nights."

Filming on location in Hollywood

It was the first and only time I worked on a film set entirely at night in LA. What I remember most about the location it was literally in Hollywood. Another thing that stood out in my mind the filming was done in either an empty lot or a parking lot. The most vivid part of this film experience I remember was a wall. This was covered entirely in artwork of famous Hollywood movie stars. The ones that stood out in my mind were Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney.

There was a vividly, colorful mural serving as a nice backdrop for our film. One of the things background actors are told repeatedly is to wear colors that stand out and photograph well. The colors we are not to ever wear (unless they call for it) are white, black and red. I made sure not to wear those colors. For "Red Nights" I wore a bright turquoise t-shirt.

As luck would have it some of the film crew liked my t-shirt color. I was asked to sit in one of those director chairs as they filmed a scene. Evidently I was part of a film crew filming a film within a film. It was great being chosen, because there were a lot of extras that night. Another thing I remember it was late spring when we filmed at night and it was freezing.

Crazy way I came across the video

Rarely is the background actors ever told when a film we work on is given a release date. Many of us find out on our own. Quite frankly I forgot about working on "Red Nights." I always checked the newspapers for new films. That one was never shown in theaters to my knowledge. One fateful day I was in a video store to rent some videos for my friend's get-together. There was one title just staring at me.

When I saw the words "Red Nights" it seemed so familiar. Then it dawned on me. This was the movie I worked on when I lived in LA where I am one of the film crew. More than likely they edited out my scene, but I'm curious as to what the film is about. I immediately rented it and told my friends we were going to see a film I worked on in L.A. Most likely this film went straight to video release and never made it to theaters.

About "Red Nights"

Basically the film is about a guy from New England who comes to Hollywood with high hopes. Instead he gets mixed up with some very wrong people and ends up in porn. No, the scene I was in had to do with the actor in some action type film within a film. Incidentally my scene where I am sitting on the other side of the director (within the film) as a member of the film crew was kept in "Red Nights."

I immediately recognized my turquoise color t-shirt. It certainly stood out nicely. Unfortunately you do not see my face all that clearly. Otherwise, the film is depressing from what I remember. Yet it was extremely realistic too. This was not some light-hearted film about a dreamer going to Hollywood, struggles a little bit and then becomes a star cliché.

Incidentally the mural that was on the set with all the famous movie stars that was painted on a building I had subsequently seen in some music videos. "Red Nights" is not available at Amazon. I doubt that it ever will. For me it was a very unique filming experience right in the heart of Hollywood.

SOURCES:

Red Nights (1988), Yahoo! Movies

You are the Star Mural - Thomas Suriya - Hollywood, You Are Here.com

Personal Experience