Mingling with movie stars at red-carpet premieres: A how-to

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I am a regular guy with a regular job. I’m not “connected,” meaning, I don’t have any famous family members, I don’t come from a wealthy family, and I live on the income of a freelance journalist. Yet, on a recent Wednesday, I found myself among a small crowd of people mingling with movie stars and eating free popcorn at the red-carpet premier of “Dexter: Resurrection,” the latest reboot of the long-running Showtime series starring Michael C. Hall as a vigilante serial killer.

I was able to attend the show as a seat-filler, which is exactly what it sounds like: Seat-fillers typically receive free tickets to high-profile filmed events that include award shows, concerts, talk shows, Broadway performances — and, apparently, movie premiers. Tickets are usually distributed through a third-party company that acts as a sort of liaison between the fans and the event, guiding the attendees through the entire experience.

Seat-fillers ensure the audience on screen looks full to the viewers at home, and the position comes with its perks. In the past, I have attended events like the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction that included performances by Missy Elliott and Chaka Khan; a Grammy Salute to Elton John that featured John Legend and SZA; and even a dating show, where I sat in the background, sipping drinks from an open bar while they filmed the performers.

Most recently, I attended the “Dexter: Resurrection” premier. I reserved the tickets online through Gotham Casting, who sent out all the details before the event. They included the option to bring a plus-1, so I brought my father, who is a big fan of the show. Call time was 4 p.m., but attendees were already lined up down the block by 3:30 p.m. when I arrived. It was hot and humid out, with temperatures exceeding 90 degrees, but check-in was relatively quick. Agents from Gotham (Casting, not city) went down the line of people, checking tickets and passing out wristbands before attendees were let in through the doors of Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center.

Instead of the traditional red carpet, a black carpet lined down the main entrance leading into the theater. Seat-fillers were escorted into sections that surrounded the carpet outside and inside, received exclusive posters and Sharpie markers, and received water and were regularly escorted in groups to take trips to the bathroom while awaiting the evening’s festivities.

At roughly 6 p.m., actors, producers, and their dates started rolling in, greeted by cheers from the audience. Original “Dexter” stars David Zayas, a Bronx native who plays Angel Salazar on the show (and whose wife, Liza Colón-Zayas, plays Tina in Hulu’s “The Bear”), and Erik King, who as Sgt. James Doakes uttered the infamous line turned internet meme: “Surprise, Mother F—–!,” stopped and signed autographs for rows of fans. They appeared alongside starring cast members Michael C. Hall, Uma Thurman, and Peter Dinklage. Hall and Dinklage shared the great excitement from the crowd with Thurman but did not stop to sign autographs; Thurman signed for lucky audience members.

The energy was high as fans took photos with and of the actors before being redirected into the theater. Attendees had access to free popcorn and water to consume during the premier, which was preceded by a performance of the “Dexter” theme song by the Lost Keys, an a cappella vocal group from NYC.

After the show, fans shuffled out with smiles on their faces. The evening was fun and exciting. Even though someone like me might not typically have access to award shows, TV tapings, and movie premiers, being “in the know” with seat-filling agencies gave me an opportunity to attend a high-profile event and interact with famous actors. Some of my favorite places to find seat-filler opportunities include Gotham Casting, which ran the “Dexter” premier; Show-Score, which distributes tickets in exchange for reviews and has a section dedicated to Black artists; and 1iota, which currently offers tickets to a variety of shows, including The View, the Tamron Hall Show, and more.