By Suzanne Waring
“I’d like to try that!”
Joe McKenney, 66, of Great Falls has always liked trying something new. After Navy service and then college, he became an entrepreneur in his mid-twenties. Since then, he has owned numerous enterprises, and now operates a real estate company. Additionally, he is a former state legislator and current city commissioner. He knows he has one life to live, and why not have a variety of experiences.
One evening last winter while watching television, McKenney saw a clip seeking Montanans as background actors (extras) for the television series, “Yellowstone”. He consulted his wife and then applied online.
The online application was unusual. He was asked questions about his age, weight, leg length, arms, neck, and waist size. The application also required up-to-date photographs. It was apparent that a certain look was wanted. An email arrived weeks later, asking whether he would be available on a certain date. At first, he thought the email was a scam. He finally decided it was a response to his application.
On the designated day, he was in Helena at the Capitol, the filming site, at 6 a.m. He was told that he would be posing as a state senator, a position he could easily emulate. During those wee hours, the extras went through make-up and then were asked to remain in a meeting room to wait until filming. Later, escorted to the senate floor, they were given seats in the senate chambers. He thought that he might be featured in the scene because make-up people kept brushing his bald head so that it wouldn’t be shiny. It turned out that he was seen during the scene for about one second, but the experience was invaluable.
During filming he noted that the set was surprisingly quiet. At times, the extras were instructed to chat with others by mouthing words without vocalizing. When they were instructed to clap, they brought their hands together but did not make the clapping noise. Only the characters saying their lines were heard. One time, the extras were told to gasp, so they made a gasping noise. When McKenny saw the episode on television, he became keenly aware that much of the sound was artificially created in a production room.
The extras were told not to initiate conversation with the actors, but McKenney had actors approach him to visit, so that was the opportunity to get to know them.
Knowledge of the episode’s story line was limited. Characters were given script for only that scene to memorize. Sometimes they would forget and say “Lines.” Once the character received his lines, he went on. Seeing the episode on television showed McKenney that a good percent of what was filmed that day lay on the film editing floor.
To further keep the story line extremely secret, extras had two choices for their cell phones. They could leave them in their car, or if they carried them, the cell phones would be placed in a locked pouch that only filming personnel could unlock. This would prevent extras from recording or taking photos of the scene. Also, they were liable if they shared the story. Since the senate scene has aired, McKenney can describe that scene in detail.
The writer’s strike occurred during 2023, so no one contacted McKenney. It has been entirely different in 2024. Contacted by casting. he agreed to participate in various scenes for Yellowstone’s Season Five, Part 2.
For instance, McKenney participated as an extra at a Montana ranch where a stunning sunset was the backdrop during several scenes. They waited until the sun started to drop to the mountain tops to start shooting. When the sun was partially seen as it dropped behind the mountains on the horizon, the characters and extras were acting their parts. Scenes at dusk and after dark were also enacted. “Nature did its part in making that a beautiful scene,” McKenney said.
“I have been offered opportunities to work sequential days, but I commit to only one day at a time. Apparently, the casting crew finds that acceptable,” McKenney said. A month after McKenney completed work for “Yellowstone”, he was called by casting in 1923. “Yellowstone” has a contemporary setting, but 1023 is set a hundred years ago.
First McKenny had to drive to Butte to be fitted in wardrobe for that period. The crew had two semi-trailers full of costumes. Once McKenney was fitted, the clothes were reserved with his name.
Days later, the cast, including the extras, arrived on set at 5 p.m. It was after midnight before the crew was satisfied that they had good footage for the scene. This time the situation was different because McKenney was side by side with the main characters. A world series baseball game was being followed by the actors who were mostly from Los Angeles and rooting for the Dodgers. A lot of cheering erupted when a Dodger smacked a home run. Since McKenney was close in proximity to the main characters, including Harrison Ford, he was a close observer of the cheering and took part in conversations between takes.
The state of Montana gives the filming company a tax break if they hire only Montanans as extras. “I have met extras from all walks of life. They are retirees, school teachers on summer break, and those who don’t have a 9-5 job and can get away for one to several days,” McKenney said.
At some point, filming these two shows will come to an end or McKenney will see something new catching his attention, and he will think, “I’d like to try that!” MSN
