re: Anyone ever been an extra in a movie?

They say that an actor should say that he can do anything. E.g., "Can you ride a horse?" "Damned straight, I grew up on a ranch."

A friend's retired dad was an extra on a Kevin Costner movie that shot here but did not know that. They asked a group of extras if they knew how to dance. All but him eagerly raised their hands. The movie dude pointed to him, and said come with me.

They taught him to dance the way they wanted, then put him in a scene. The old coot got good face time in the movie, as he and a lady danced across a restaurant setting.