Something exciting to share-OT

[Michele]

Sorry, OT but I hang out here on the photo board often and I wanted to share.

We had something very exciting happen in May 2008 and I haven't been able to tell you until now. I had to wait because "The Informant' just came out this weekend.

My two sons were chosen to be extras in the movie and you can see them both if you see the movie. The Informant stars Matt Damon and was directed by Steven Soderbergh. It was filmed in the little town where I live, Decatur, IL. I sent in a family picture for extras casting and Ryan and Brendan were chosen.

Ryan was cast as Matt Damon's oldest son. He can be seen in all the family pictures and one scene walking across the yard with the mom and younger son.



Brendan can be seen at the right side of the pool in another seen where Matt Damon is looking at some kids playing in a hotel pool. This scene goes pretty fast, you might only notice him if you were his mother , but he is clear, not blurry and I can tell it's him.


In all we spent 8 days on the set. It was a great experience for the boys (and Mom and Dad). The first day right after Ryan was chosen, he went right into wardrobe, hair and makeup, met Matt Damon (sat next to him in makeup) and Melanie Lynskey.

It was very surreal spending time on the set of a movie. Seeing the actors standing around getting ready for the scenes, just like normal people doing their jobs. We got to eat with all the cast and crew. One night I sat at the table with Melanie Lynskey, Ryan said, "movie mom, I'd like you to meet my real mom." Everyone was very nice. Especially everyone on the crew, they really took care of the boys. Here Ryan is on the last night on set with Steven Soderbergh, Greg Jacobs and the actor who played the younger son.



I didn't post before because I would have felt strange telling everyone about it and then not have them be seen in the movie at all. We didn't know until we saw it Fri. night if they were even in it. You won't see their names in the credits, they were just extras without any lines. So if you see the movie watch for them!!

Ryan would want me to add that his hair doesn't usually look like that, it was styled that way for the movie.

 

[annnewjerz]

Very cool! Great story---looking forward to seeing this so I'll keep an eye out for your son in the pool scene.

 

[Groucho]

Congratulations! That looks like a neat movie.

My cousin had a short speaking role in a big-budget Jerry Bruckheimer movie (as if he does any small-budget ones) from a couple years ago, so I can relate with the fun of telling folks you are related to someone in a big movie - it's got to be that much better when it's your own kids.

I was going to drive up to Toronto a few years ago to be an extra (zombie!) in a movie but it turns out they could only hire Canadians since it was partly sponsored by the government. So killed my aspiring extra career!

 

[Suburbanmom]

What fun! Thanks for sharing your story.

 

[WillowBelle]

What a cool story for your family. Talk about chance of a lifetime!

 

[spinetnglr]

very exciting and fun for your family!! congrats!!!

 

[Ilivetogo]

Michele -- That's SO cool. Congrats to your sons!! That must have been a neat experience for them.

I'm actually wondering how you got them started in that. I have a 9 y/o boy who wants to give a try at acting. I'm just not sure how to start given that there are so many scammers and weirdos out there.

We do live near a big city (Philly) and I'm sure there are outlets around here, but I was just wondering how YOU guys got involved.

Thanks!!

 

[Michele]

Michele -- That's SO cool. Congrats to your sons!! That must have been a neat experience for them.

I'm actually wondering how you got them started in that. I have a 9 y/o boy who wants to give a try at acting. I'm just not sure how to start given that there are so many scammers and weirdos out there.

We do live near a big city (Philly) and I'm sure there are outlets around here, but I was just wondering how YOU guys got involved.

Thanks!!

Actually, I didn't do much. We just got lucky that the movie was filming in our town. They had a casting call for extras ( said they didn't need any kids, by the way). I didn't go to the casting call, but an article about it in our newspaper mentioned an email address that you could submit pictures to. So I emailed a family picture. They called us and wanted to see the boys.

Now that my kids have had a taste of it, they are interested in doing more, but I have the same fears as you. We live fairly close to Chicago, so I know they could work there but I don't know where to start or who to trust.

The casting agent we worked with for this movie was from CA, so no help there. I did google 'Chicago casting calls' last year and found out about an open audition for Avatar in Chicago that I took Brendan to last year. I bet there are a lot of movies, tv shows filmed around you. Try searching them or maybe your state or city film commision would have info.