“I didn’t sleep for three days at one point while filming this movie. I worked all day at my regular job, and then went straight to the set for the night shoots which lasted until six in the morning. I needed to go to my regular work right after I finished the night scenes,” said Jessamy Rose Sevilla, an 18 year old student at Island School.

Jessamy was one of the hundreds of people who tried out--and one of the few selected--to be an extra for the anticipated movie Tropic Thunder, coming out next summer.

Tropic Thunder has been a major source of excitement to the people of Kauai since the day it was announced that it would be filmed on the island. During May and June of this year, posters and radio spots announced the need for extras in this new film.

“I was interested in this job because of the experience I would get, so I read the poster explaining their need for extras, then I stood in line for hours at the Resort Quest Kauai Beach Hotel and filled out basic information. When I got the part as an office assistant, I felt elated and excited. I was really excited when I got the chance to interact with some of the most famous comedic stars of my youth,” Jessamy said, referring to Jack Black, Ben Stiller, and Robert Downey Jr.

She sits down, pauses, eyes glinting, trying to relive the memory as she describes the experience of being an extra.

“The actors were always busy, but when they had free time, we were able to interact with all of them. My friends and I mostly interacted with Jack Black. There was this one time on the set when he started to play Frisbee with my friends. He was super funny and was great to get to know.”

As an extra, Jessamy had to wake up early to start filming the production. “Aside from not sleeping for three days, I would usually wake up at six in the morning, get onto the set and sit down in a chair while I waited to be called onto the film. Usually the day ended at eight in the evening unless I had to work overtime. I was paid $130 a day.

“The best part was being able to experience being an extra and being in Hawaii at the same time. What more can you ask for?”

Marilyn Dawa-Loof, 34, was another extra. “The greatest part about being an extra was meeting a bunch of new people, but I hated working the long and tiring hours as well as getting sunburned. And the restroom was too far away. All in all, I’d do it again. It was a great experience.”