For south county residents who always have wanted to appear on the big screen, there’s never been a better chance as a feature film will begin shooting soon here and the production team will need roughly 2,100 extras.

Residents will have the opportunity to provide the background for stars George Clooney and Vera Farmiga in Paramount Pictures’ “Up in the Air.” The feature, to be directed by Jason Reitman, will film throughout March and the first half of April. The production will use a number of locations in the metro area.

A casting call will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, at Crestwood Court, Watson and Sappington roads.

Joni Tackette, local casting director for “Up in the Air,” braced for an onslaught of people excited at the possibility of being in a major motion picture.

“The interest in being an extra in this movie is the highest I’ve ever seen,” Tackette, a St. Louis resident who cast extras last year in Nashville for “Hannah Montana: the Movie,” stated in a news release.

Anticipating a crush of responses to a call for extras, Tackette is working with the Missouri Film Office to give everyone an equal chance to be in the film. Instructions on how to sign up to be an extra are on the film office’s Web site at

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The casting call is open to men and women 18 years old and older. Children and teens are not being sought. Applicants are asked to bring a pen and a recent color snapshot; the photo will not be returned.

The following types of people are sought:

• Those with airport and airline experience — ticket agents, flight attendants and security screeners.

• Those with hotel industry experience, especially front desk.

• People to portray travelers, including international types.

• Men and women to portray corporate and business types.

In 2003, more than 8,000 people in St. Louis turned out to audition to be extras in “The Game of Their Lives.” Tackette expects an even larger response for “Up in the Air,” according to the release.

If those numbers hold up, only about one in four who audition will actually make it into the movie. But Tackette says that there are several things you can do to improve your chances:

• Be patient. The movie doesn’t start shooting until March. Pestering the casting director or production team quickly reduces your chances to zero.

• Be prepared. When it’s time to audition, be ready with contact information, age, height, weight, clothes sizes and a photo.

• Be available. When the casting director calls and you’re not there, the phone may not ring again. Tackette and her assistants work with short deadlines and will make thousands of calls. They won’t have time to keep pursuing you and will move on to the next name on their list.