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takeitassaid OP t1_jacc9ks wrote

Reply to comment by yes_its_him in Just a short question about the extras on Star Trek. Is there a reason that they always change? by takeitassaid

Well they die mostly. I just meant the other bridge staff or staff in general, sometimes you see a person twice, mostly on the next episode then. But there are never recurring characters that are not on the main staff. (Edit: In Tng there is a nurse that is seen more often, that is actually what i mean, why are there not more of those "named" background characters.)

Like a person that is on the bridge now and then, or in the medical station. Those are always new people.

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MtPollux t1_jacdjjf wrote

How sure are you that they don't do exactly this? Have you really paid close enough attention to who is in the background of every scene to know for sure that those same people don't show up in the background of other scenes down the road?

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takeitassaid OP t1_jace45a wrote

No i didn't, it was just something that came to mind when i thought about always seeing new persons that i never saw before.

But why is that so important instead of the question i asked, if there is some rule or law that prohibits using extras more than a few times without upping them to cast members?

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yes_its_him t1_jacdjyq wrote

While I am not an expert on this, my understanding is there are 'background actors' who don't have lines, and 'principal performers' who do. An actor can remain background even over an extended period of time, so there's no contractual reason to churn them, but there's also probably not that much benefit to trying to ensure some concept of continuity for individuals in roles where it's not essential to the story.

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takeitassaid OP t1_jaceja9 wrote

Thanks, that is more in line of what i meant. They just use new extras because no one really cares. I was just wondering about it because i read about some laws that gives more rights (money, insurance, etc.) to people that are continually employed by a specific show in one role.

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