The Clap Trap

Bombay's nickname is Bollywood; after all, the city is the centre of the world's largest movie industry. With a production of about eighthundred films a year, Bollywood excels its name-giver by far. All those films require actors, especially extras. The Clap Trap is about these people: those who fill the set on payment of a meagre daily wage. They are the guests at weddings, funerals and other group scenes. 'Junior Artists' they call themselves with a self-invented euphemism. They like to keep up appearances for themselves by believing they perform an indispensable task in the dream factory. In fact, they are easily interchangeable and are usually exploited. Two 'Junior Artists' are followed at their activities, downtown and at home. Masood had almost achieved stardom, until fate decreed otherwise. Pammi escaped the misery of the street by joining the anonymous army of walk-ons. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)