Shouts of "Rolling, rolling, rolling" echo from production assistants around West Main and Corcoran streets on my first day as an extra in the filming of "Main Street."

Thirty feet above the intersection, the camera and two people on a boom look down on actress Patricia Clarkson. Someone calls "Action!" and Colin Firth exits the lobby of 123 West Main St. to join her. With the camera rolling, they chat for a moment and then slowly stroll to a park. When they reach the sidewalk I hear, "Cut, cut there, please. Thank you."

Cars and pedestrians are allowed to pass, and the same shot is run twice more. Then comes a break while the camera is brought down. Everything is reset yet again, this time for another angle and point of view. Ultimately, this scene is shot nearly a dozen times. In one or two takes I am "pulled" to walk through as "background," behind Clarkson and Firth. Background is what they call us extras in the business, as in "Background, stand over here until we call you."

So how did I get here, earning minimum wage for long hours of standing around?

Before filming began, I had learned of an open casting call. On a lark, my wife and I decided to take the kids, with their consent, of course. As we waited for our turn to submit their photos, someone suggested Kellie and I apply. So we did. Soon we met Maxann Crotts, extras casting director for "Main Street." We were about to leave when she looked at me and said, "Put him down for the mayor's office or a policeman."

Well, that was intriguing, but while Maxann might favor certain extras for certain scenes, director John Doyle and his assistants decide what fits the "look" he wants for the film. (In the case of "Main Street," the film is about a rundown town that has not kept up with the times, and I wondered whether it would be a good thing if I were selected.)

I followed up with Maxann a couple of times -- for the kids, of course -- but each time her reply was "Nothing yet; stay in touch."

After being out of town for a week, I e-mailed her one Sunday evening, and she asked me to phone her later. When I called, she said, "Today is your lucky day. I can use you tomorrow if you're available." Being quite underemployed these days, I was available for fame. Maxann sent an e-mail telling me when and where to show up.

Extras are asked to bring clothes suitable for whatever scenes are planned for the day. I was asked to bring jeans, khakis, dress pants and shirts for each, as well as a business suit. All colors should be muted (think "rundown"), definitely no white or red. And preferably two of everything. I brought more clothes than I'd packed the previous week for Seattle. If wardrobe loves your clothes and you go to the set with the right look (whatever that is), you are more likely to get "pulled" for a scene.

The extras ate lunch with the cast and crew, waiting until last to be served. I saw Orlando Bloom walk by. He had been eating at a table behind me. After lunch, the cast and crew relocated to Orange Street, an alley between the post office and Parrish Street. During set up, an assistant director pointed to me and said, "Randy, come with me." A props manager handed me an ugly brown satchel and another extra, Barbara, was selected to work with me. With stand-ins for Firth and Clarkson, we rehearsed the opening shot of the alley scene.

Finally, we were placed off camera in a side alley, about 10 or 15 feet from the two stars. About five seconds into the shot, Barbara and I were to exit the alley behind Firth and Clarkson and walk away in the opposite direction, toward the post office. This scene was to take place on a cloudy, rainy day, as it had been that morning. Now, the sun came out, so we paused after several takes to wait for clouds to return.

Clarkson looked over at us. "Aren't you bored out of your minds watching this over and over?" she asked, thinking we were onlookers. When she realized we were extras, she came over to chat. It was her last day of filming, and she talked about being eager to get home. Unfortunately, the day was running long and she would miss her planned flight.

Momentarily, Firth joined us and talked about how much he liked Durham, both as a great setting for the film and as a lovely city to visit. His children were with him and his wife, and they like Durham so much, they want to come back in the summer.

We all talked pleasantly for about 10 or 15 minutes, waiting for the clouds to return, and when they did, we set up for another take. As I had observed in the morning, they did the same shot several times from different angles, and I'm in all of them. So look for me among all the other stars at the premiere, and look for Barbara and me (or rather our backs) behind Colin and Patricia in the alley. Oh, and that male pattern baldness, uh, that's just a hairpiece, for authenticity you understand. Kiss, kiss.