Notes from the Jordan Peele horror movie US by a background extra

I had a big decision to make when Jordan Peele’s R rated film “US” was released. Would I, a woman who has never watched a horror film choose to see this movie? The answer was a probable yes because of the memorable experience of working with my grand kids Brooke, 10 and Eston, 12, in the movie’s Santa Cruz beach scenes. It came together as if it was planned by the Universe.

I first applied on my own after receiving a notice that casting directors Kelly Hunt and Tracy Dixon were hiring hundreds of extras of all ages and backgrounds. The pay for adults was $106 for eight hours plus overtime, and for minors, $160. Daily casting calls were posted on a Facebook page. When I saw a three-day call for “beach background extras” and noticed the generous pay, I freed up my schedule and suggested that my daughter-in-law apply for grand kids Brooke and Eston.

I was hired, and while making an appointment with casting director Hunt to schedule a wardrobe fitting, was impressed with how patient she was while juggling hundreds of extras. I mentioned that my grand kids had applied and although the kid’s spots were almost filled, she patiently looked up their applications and hired them for the last two spots! Note to self; always listen to your intuition.

Base camp was located on Beach St, the site where we waited between calls to the set. At my fitting, a friendly Asian woman approved items that I had brought from home, a bright zip-up jacket, jeans, visor and beach bag, my wardrobe for each day of the shoot.

On the first day, hundreds checked in and received our "EXTRAS" lanyards and wrist bands. A tented area was set up with a lavish breakfast of eggs, pancakes, sausage, potatoes, cereal and fruit, catered by Mario’s, an industry favorite. Instructions were provided by staff on what it takes to be a good extra: FOLLOW DIRECTIONS! The steps for the following days were the same after check-in, eat breakfast and visit wardrobe, hair and makeup where staff made sure that we were wearing sunscreen.

After grand kids Brooke and Eston got approval for beach outfits that Mom Regina had brought from home, we searched for the trailer that served as the classroom. Affable studio teacher Phil Eisenhower was required to provide three hours of lessons and educational games counted as class work. The trailer also served as a holding area for parents and guardians, where we were provided with fruit, chips, nuts and granola bars if meals were delayed due to filming.

Each time we were called to the set, the staff gave us another blast of sunscreen. At our designated spot near the shoreline, our kids cavorted in the water just as in real life. In their exuberance, they didn’t always remember instructions to go in the water no further than their shins. We adults yelled at them to follow directions until the production assistant reminded us to be silent even when the camera wasn’t rolling. On the days we were closer to the camera, we felt awed to watch popular director Peele in action, famous due to his directorial debut for the hit film, “Get Out.”

Over the next days we endured Mother Nature’s whims of extreme heat, wind, cold and fog, but the weather had no effect on the kids! They scampered freely in the water, built sand castles, and had fun burying Eston in the sand. When the casting office invited us to work another day, my family unit signed up, along with Nathan Rueppel from Aptos and two brothers from San Leandro. My granddaughter Brooke was delighted by the appetizing choices at mealtime and grandson Eston said, “It wasn’t like I expected; it didn’t even feel like we were in a movie.” Maddie Hambleton of Carmel says that she has now been bitten by the acting bug

Extra Kim Schultz of Scotts Valley reported to the set one morning at 5:30 a.m. playing a pedestrian wearing beach attire walking down the street in chilly morning air. Returning later to a holding area he was delighted to see that the lunch buffet set up, but an assistant told him that his group was dismissed for the day. “I asked if we could hang around for lunch and was told we could not, and my heart sank,” he said.

In the story line of the movie starring Lupita Nyong’o, Elisabeth Moss and Black Panther’s Winston Duke, the idyllic scenes we took part in weren’t typical of what eventually takes place on the screen. Yet, in my most outlandish dreams, I never would have imagined that I’d get paid to spend four fun-filled days acting in a horror movie with my grand kids. Sadly, they won't be allowed to see it, and when I do I’m wisely planning to attend a daytime matinee!