There's something alluring about getting to pull the curtain back and see just how a big budget music video is produced! Katy and her team filmed the video for "Chained To The Rhythm" back in January at Six Flags Magic Mountain just outside LA. I loved all of the creatively named and designed rides from the video (especially the American Dream Drop) and it's especially cool to see just what it took to convert real life rides and coasters into their twisted futuristic iterations!
You may be wondering what it takes to be one of the costumed extras (background actors) hanging out on set for a video like this. For one, it takes a TON of patience. You could be waiting on set for 3 hours to film 3 seconds worth of final footage. Back when I was living in the area, casting agencies would often send out open casting calls on Facebook and would usually allow online photo submissions a few weeks out of the year.
In a nutshell, you get a phone call anywhere from several days out to the afternoon before a filming date if casting directors think you fit the right look for the role and then spend one or more days on set waiting around in costume, eating free food, and of course filming select scenes that you may or may not recognize yourself in.
Spoiler alert: the pay for these small roles isn't nearly as high as you'd imagine, but whatever you don't make in cash is paid back in one-of-a-kind memories and behind the scenes access.
Check out part 2 of the making of "Chained To The Rhythm" below!