Danville residents take part in Spielberg's 'Lincoln'

While a lot of folks get excited just to watch a movie directed by Steven Spielberg, two local residents got a chance to see the legendary filmmaker in action.

Danville natives Shawn Jones and Jeremy Flora worked on Spielberg’s film “Lincoln” that wrapped up filming in Richmond recently.

Both went into a casting call for extras. Flora grew out his beard and Jones grew out his sideburns into mutton chops to look more of the part of people from the 1860s.

The time being an extra on a movie set can be long, but rewarding as well.

“The experience of being able to see Steven Spielberg on a set and being a part of that — that is something you can’t learn in a classroom,” said Flora who plays a soldier in the film. “Being a part of the movie is cool.”

Flora said the set was so realistic it really felt like going back in time. He has worked as a background extra before on several films, but this is the biggest film he’s ever participated.

This is also Jones’s largest production experience. A lifelong Danville resident, Jones was in Richmond for school when he went to the casting call. He had worked with films before, but none of this size.

His head shot to be an extra had him clean-shaven with a Mohawk. So the first thing he did was change his hair. He went to the first casting call early, but there were already hundreds of people there. All of them wanted a part in the big-budget film, he said.

Jones said he was cast as a clerk in the House of Representatives. He was on the set for 15 days, many of them for more than 12 hours. But he believes it was worth it and wants to take part in more movies. His favorite part was getting to see Spielberg work as a director first-hand.

“He was very warm,” said Jones. “Everything was ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’ It was amazing to see him work.”

Jones got to see all the actors on the set as well, including Oscar-winners Daniel Day Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field.

“Being an extra, you are bored a lot,” said Jones. “But you get to see everything that is happening.”

Extras are generally advised against speaking to the director or lead actors, but some interaction is often unavoidable.

This film follows President Abraham Lincoln during his time in office. Many parts of Richmond were filmed and used a lot of local volunteers for the extras.

Flora and Jones are not sure if their scenes will make the final cut, but they are optimistic. Both will be looking for it when the film hits theaters next year.