Damon Rodriguez
After Damon’s stint in the Army completed in 1969, he became a graphic artist based out of Monterrey, CA until the late 70s. He transferred to Seattle in the early 80’s to be close to family and developed logo design packages for commercial building owners. His talent in graphic design was rewarding from a creative and financial standpoint, but felt he was still wanting something different.
In 1987, he learned, then trained, industrial rappelling on high-rise commercial buildings as a high-access service. He began cleaning windows and expanded into maintenance and restoration of buildings above ladder height. His clientele included several Historical Landmark Renovations on turn-of-the-century buildings.
He retired after 35 years of owning his own company and is now delving into another realm of creativity.
Sallye Soltner
Sallye moved to Seattle shortly after graduating from University of Florida. Her public relations degree was instrumental in getting her first job in the entertainment business: an account executive at a local radio station. She worked her way up the ladder of four different radio stations into management positions. A local advertising agency dangled a carrot in front of her that she couldn’t resist taking.
She switched sides of the desk and started buying advertising rather than selling it. She worked at that ad agency for two years, then opened her own —Media Services, Inc. Her clients have included five different shopping centers, restaurants, insurance companies, hotels, several non-profits, and a Seattle Seahawks Alumni (The Randall Morris Foundation).
After retiring from advertising, Sallye and Damon set off into a new industry: entertainment.
It’s all Damon’s fault! One night we were clicking through what to watch on TV and came across the Jennifer Anniston movie, Love Happens (2009). Damon said to me, “I was an extra in that when they filmed here in Seattle.”
I was floored. I asked him if he’d ever seen the movie, and he said he hadn’t. He had been telling friends for over 20 years that he was in the movie and never bothered to see it.! So, I bought it for him and we scoured the movie frame by frame, looking for him in the background. Guess what? He wasn’t there. He had ended up on the cutting room floor!
We laughed about it but, nonetheless, it planted a seed in my brain…What if we could become extras in the movies?
Having time during the pandemic, I spent hours researching the entertainment industry and what kind of opportunities there were for extras. It seemed possible with a little hard work. And FUN. Damon and I both agreed it was time to take some “extra chances” (hence the name).
Since then, we’ve traveled all across the country and appeared in shows such as The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Succession, Sex Lives of College Girls, and Zero Day with Robert De Niro. Now we want to bring our story to the big screen!