Thousands Respond to Casting Call for Extras in Steve Jobs Film

With filming on the upcoming Steve Jobs film underway in the company's hometown of Cupertino, California, thousands of people responded to a casting call over the weekend, hoping to be included as extras in scenes being filmed at the Flint Center where Jobs unveiled the original Macintosh in 1984.

As reported by CNET's Shara Tibken, well over 2,000 people showed up in 80s-inspired attire to be extras for a scene in the upcoming movie, but hundreds including Tibken herself were turned away due to the overwhelming fan response to the casting call.

steve_jobs_extras_line

I thought I'd have no trouble getting onto the movie set at the Flint Center here since I was "confirmed" as an extra and arrived at the designated time. Silly me. After years of covering the lines at Apple events and product launches, I should have known better.

Potential extras began lining up at 5 AM despite instructions to arrive between 9 and 10 AM, with one member of the casting company calling the response "absolutely overwhelming."

According to the notice to be an extra, I was to take part in a scene from 1984 (which was evidently to be the Mac launch). It recommended that men have "big long sideburns" and that women should wear blouses that are "boxy in cut with larger shoulders." Everyone was supposed to wear layers. [...]

There were plenty of Cosby sweaters and plaid, flannel button-ups. And many women sported side ponytails and leg warmers, which didn't seem quite appropriate for Apple shareholders (Jobs introduced the Mac during a stockholder meeting in 1984).

According to one of the line minders, the film will be shooting in the Bay Area for another six to seven weeks, giving aspiring extras additional opportunities to try for a spot in the film, which is planned for release next year.

Top Rated Comments

BigJakeA Avatar
119 months ago
I did it

I actually got to be one of the extras. It was loads of fun, but no movie starts on set that day. It was a Saturday, so I was able to do it without taking off work (teacher). While I can't give away any details, because we all signed nondisclosure agreements, I can say that Danny Boyle is one of the nicest guys around. He was amazing to all the people there and very thankful to the people that showed up. Like the article states, lots of people showed up in 80's party outfits. As we walked in they picked out people that were in 80s business attire to fill out the front half of the theater. The first few rows were filled with paid extras, and then the rest of us non-paid extras. They didn't do much except film reactions, but seeing the process of how a movie was being made was amazing.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mojolicious Avatar
119 months ago
But according to this site experts and armchair executives, nobody cares about this movie. Is it not true?
Thousands would respond to a casting call for extras for Come On! The Steve Ballmer Story.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
acctman Avatar
119 months ago
it's a Hipsters meetup
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tankmaze Avatar
119 months ago
2000 apple fanboy & fangirl dress in vintage clothes... Sounds familiar...
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tevion5 Avatar
119 months ago
but as I have a real job

So jobs that allow for such flexibility aren't as real as yours?

I always find the phrase "real job" to come across like an ultra conservative. You might be a raving liberal, but that what I hear. Like if you aren't shoveling coal everyday you aren't as good as real workin' folk. What about Kim who runs this site? I'm sure he pays his taxes like everyone else. But I bet he has more flexibility running a website than a construction worker. Doesn't make his job any less real in my mind.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
pdaholic Avatar
119 months ago
Sometimes I wished I lived in an area of the country where this would even be an option (looking at you CA). Especially after all the recent snowfall here in the Northeast. :cool:

And those of us in CA who ski and snowboard are envious of your snow in the Northeast!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone Home Screen Gradient Blank Spaces 1

Sources: iOS 18 Lets Apps Be Placed Anywhere on Home Screen Grid

Sunday March 24, 2024 1:33 pm PDT by
iOS 18 will give iPhone users greater control over Home Screen app icon arrangement, according to sources familiar with the matter. While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, to ensure there is some uniformity, our sources say that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18. For example, we expect that the update will introduce...
iPad Pro 2024 Landscape Camera Feature

New iPad Pro Again Rumored to Feature Landscape Front-Facing Camera

Monday March 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
The next-generation iPad Pro will feature a landscape-oriented front-facing camera for the first time, according to the Apple leaker known as "Instant Digital." Instant Digital reiterated the design change earlier today on Weibo with a simple accompanying 2D image. The post reveals that the entire TrueDepth camera array will move to the right side of the device, while the microphone will...
sonoma desktop wwdc

Apple Releases macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 With Fix for USB Hub Bug

Monday March 25, 2024 10:10 am PDT by
Apple today released macOS Sonoma 14.4.1, a minor update for the macOS Sonoma operating system that launched last September. macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 comes three weeks after macOS Sonoma 14.4. The ‌‌‌‌macOS Sonoma‌‌ 14.4‌.1 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Settings. There's also a macOS 13.6.6 release for those who...
iPhone 15 General Feature Green

Apple Says These New iOS Features Are Coming Later This Year

Sunday March 24, 2024 7:45 am PDT by
Apple has previously announced three new iOS features that it said are coming to the iPhone later this year, as outlined below. The new features include the ability to install iPhone apps on the web in the EU, RCS support in the Messages app, and next-generation CarPlay. Web Distribution Apple recently announced that eligible developers will soon be able to distribute their iOS apps to ...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Blue Face ID Single Camera Hole

Seven Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 17

Tuesday March 19, 2024 5:20 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models concurrently, which is why we sometimes get rumored feature leaks so far ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and already we have some idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you plan to skip...
maxresdefault

iOS 18 Rumored to Feature 'More Customizable' Home Screen

Sunday March 24, 2024 7:10 am PDT by
iOS 18 will feature a revamped Home Screen that is "more customizable," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He revealed this information in his Power On newsletter today, but he did not provide any specific details. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Apple will announce iOS 18 at its annual developers conference WWDC in June. Other features and changes rumored for...
combine images

Top Stories: iOS 18's Generative AI Features to Rely on Google?, Latest on New iPads, and More

Saturday March 23, 2024 6:00 am PDT by
We're getting closer to the launch of new iPad Pro and iPad Air models, while rumors about iOS 18 are continuing to ramp up with this week's surprise revelation that Apple has been talking to Google and others about potentially helping power the generative AI features expected to be a major part of this year's update. Other news this week saw the release of iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1...