The Extra (2005 film)

the Welcome to Paradox episode

The Extra is a 2005 Australian film starring Irish comedian Jimeoin and based on the twice AACTA nominated & Tropfest awarded 1999 Tooting Bec* produced short film The Extra, starring Peter Phelps, Julia Zemiro. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2005 the soundtrack was nominated for Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album.

Jimeoin, in the title role, plays a man obsessed with becoming famous. He is passionate about being a celebrity, but unfortunately he just isn't very talented. After trying to secure roles in myriad productions he finally finds employment as an extra, and what follows is his misadventures as he becomes involved with shady business men, producers and mobsters, all of whom are fixated with show business.

The Extra grossed $749,113 at the box office in Australia.

While this film was considered a box office flop in Australia, in 2007 it became the first Australian film to receive a general release in the People's Republic of China since Crocodile Dundee. The film was picked up by a Chinese distributor following a series of film festivals organised in the country by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2006. The Chinese distributor contacted the producers and brokered the deal. "People in China are attracted to the dream of fame and celebrity like everyone else The Extra treats the aspiration in a way Chinese audiences will respond to", said a spokesman for the distributor. "It is a cleverly structured film with some wonderful performances and a lovely balance of drama and humour". "When you put a lot of work into something and it doesn't do very well it can be disheartening," said Jimeoin. "There are some many films in the world and when you release an Australian film you're up against all of them. The Extra is a simple film and it was released with no fuss, we paid for that but it shows every cloud has a silver lining".