Ever wonder how all those people ended up as high school students in “Sixteen Candles”?

Or how about all of those people lining the streets for the parade in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”?

These poor, countless schmoes are called “movie extras,” people who fill the background of films, whether it be street scenes in urban areas or parties in “American Pie.” Although many times these individuals are aspiring actors, most of the time they’re just ordinary people getting paid to be a part of movie magic.

And you could be next.

It’s not too tough being an extra. Really, it all depends on the director. Some directors like to shoot quickly, which means less time spent for you. Other directors can be quite tedious, so expect up to 15-hour days with these snails.

Then there’s the money issue. If you happen to land a part in a lavish Hollywood production, you’ll get paid pretty good money. Independent features typically don’t offer any financial compensation, but you usually get screen credit, which is a great resume booster.

So let’s say you’re interested in getting your mug into a movie. The first thing you can do is contact the Illinois Film Office. They have a casting hotline at 312-427-FILM, or you can visit www.filmillinois.state.il.us to see the latest casting calls.

Next, you’ll have to choose a casting call and show up with your sexiest head shot (depending on the role, you may not want such a sexy shot).

Upon checking the IFO Web site earlier this week, there are casting calls for a sitcom pilot looking for a “loser boyfriend.” One can only imagine the photos they’re getting for that role.

So then you’ll show up, and judging from what the producers think of your appearance, you might be able to read a few lines, so be prepared. Hitting it big can be as easy as this — being in the right place at the right time.

Although Hollywood doesn’t venture into Chicago too often, there is a huge independent scene that posts casting calls quite often, so be on the lookout. However, there usually are a few big-budget films that come to Chicago for a little shooting. Recent examples include “Barber Shop,” “Barber Shop 2” and “Proof,” which starred Anthony Hopkins and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Or, for a special treat, you can rent the film “Ali” and look for the scene in which Mohammed Ali (Will Smith) is being drafted by the U.S. Army for the Vietnam War. A Chicago native might notice the old armory building on North and Kedzie avenues near Humboldt Park.

Then you can slow down the scene inside and notice yours truly, standing in the back row of inductees, right behind Will Smith. Where did I find this opportunity? Like everybody else did, at the Illinois Film Office.

Plus, the movie was directed by Michael Mann, who likes to keep his extras directly on the set, just in case he needs a quick shot. This gave about 20 extras, including myself, a close-up look at how one of Hollywood’s best directors organizes his set. Although the two days of work probably were two of the most influential of my life, standing up for nearly 15 hours straight for about eight seconds of screen time had me thinking about what I had gotten myself into.

Sure, big Hollywood flicks are hard to come by in the Chicago area, but the independents can be just as rewarding. Do you have what it takes to make it big? Stop waiting for John Hughes to come out of his directing hiatus, and go find out!