By putting my name forward via email to Wretch’s record label I was fortunate enough to be picked to be an extra in his new video for ‘Don’t Go’. After an email giving me the location and the date I packed the clothes I was told to bring (a suit and some black clothes) and set off to Royal Albert tube station.

The video was to be shot at Building 1000 opposite London City Airport. I arrived half an hour early and sat by the river anxiously awaiting someone to give me and the other extras who had gathered some instructions. We were taken to a holding room on the ground floor of the building and told to change into our black clothes. Having introduced myself to a few of the other extras Wretch walked into the room. The energy in the room immediately lifted although I am not sure whether some of the older members of the group of extras knew who he was. Having signed a release form agreeing that we were happy for our faces to appear in the video we were called outside and filming began.

The life of an extra is not glitz and glamour you are literally adding something extra to a shoot. Being completely honest the filming was not all that exciting. We were instructed to walk up and down steps and bits of pavement but this didn’t matter to me. I met some really great people notably three girls (Hayley, Danielle and Eira) who kept me laughing most of the day. I managed a brief chat with Wretch and Josh Kumra whilst also getting a photo with Wretch, all I could ask for.

Being an extra may not excite you all that much but it is an opportunity to meet new people and be part of something pretty FLY. Wretch’s video will be viewed by thousands, it is an artistic representation of his song. Yes I may only appear as a blur one minute in and the back of my head appears a little later, my mum won’t see my face but I was there on the day it was shot. I met new people, I got to see a great director at work, a film crew using equipment I have never seen and what goes in to making a music video. If you want a day of excitement being an extra may not be for you but if you want to meet new people and be part of the work of an artist you are a fan of then it definitely is. The video looks great, really simple but this is intentional in my opinion. Wrecth is looking to get you to focus on the lyrics, the content of the song, not flashing images or crazy visuals. The video represents the song in its essence maintaining the viewers focus on the music.