Cesar Acosta is a background actor and writer. Here is a link to his Youtube page:

Q: How did you first get into background acting?

A: It started a long time ago, around 2004. I actually managed to get a small part as an extra on Arrested Development as an immigrant worker. If you watch the episode, “Amigos,” My profile can be seen as Buster sits in a van surrounded by other immigrant workers.

Q: What do you like about being an extra?

A: It’s really great, because you meet a lot of great people, and it’s possible to make so many connections, and there’s always a lot of people to network with. It’s a great way to meet so many interesting people.

Q: What don’t you like about it?

A: There’s a lot of downtime between jobs. Perhaps that’s the most frustrating part of this. However, once you get a roll of jobs for the week, then you find yourself more than super busy. So, maybe it’s the two extremes that can be somewhat hard, but it’s still a great way to work. It’s fast paced, but in a good way.

Q: A lot of extra casting is based on stereotyping; do you feel the stereotypes are accurate?

A: I would say more that movies, and television shows try to diversify by showing the public at large. It’s a good way of showing that despite being on screen, it’s not so far from being reality.

Q: does being an extra help or hurt in your pursuit of an acting career?

A: I would think that any part one can get is important. In that way, it gives one plenty of face time. Also, the experience of being on the set with different people always helps. At the same time, it also depends what kind of extra roles you get, but all in all anything that can be added to your resume is a big help.

Q: What made you want to become an actor?

A: When I first saw Ghostbusters in 1984, and saw how Bill Murray delivered his lines, deadpan, and with that straight-man look on his face. That is when I decided that I would love to do that, too. Also, he got to work with that awesome equipment.

Q: What role could you have nailed?

A: Jason Lee’s role, opposite Jennifer Love Hewitt, in “Heartbreakers” Mostly because my personality is very much like that character. There I am, minding my own business, and I meet the girl of my dreams, but has she got attitude. So that gets tiring, very fast.
Q: What is your funniest work story?

A: I knew a fellow that walked into McD’s, where I used to work, and asked if there was anything healthy. I thought, Do You see the sign outside? It’s McD’s. What you’ve never seen SuperSize Me?

Q: What kind of day jobs have you had and how have they influenced your work?

A: I worked in a variety of customer service jobs, as well as security. This allowed me to gain a full spectrum of different types of personalities. You meet the silliest people too. I met a celebrity at LAX, and they wanted to cut in front of a fellow in a wheelchair.
Q: what is your book about?

A: My book is called, “Can I Stop Now?” It’s about two serial killers. One male, and one is female. The male is based on Bundy, and the female is based on Wuornos. The thing is, the female, at first thinks of herself as a champion of Justice, and later that becomes muddled as the story goes on. I haven’t started on the second one, but the outline is ready to go.

Please note; Eliza’s interviews are done by email. All answers are unedited and come right from the lovely fingertips of her subjects:)