CHAMPAIGN – "Who wouldn't want to be in a movie?"

That's the reason Madison Rice, an 11-year-old from Champaign, cited for showing up early Saturday morning at Franklin Middle School, ready to shoot a scene as part of the crowd in an amateur dance competition that's part of "Leading Ladies," a movie currently filming around the area.

"Strangely enough, we're shooting the first scene in the movie and the last scene today," said Jenna Weglarz-Ward of Champaign, casting director for the extras. Both scenes are dances taking place in the Champaign school, one set in the fall and one set in spring.

Decked out in a shiny brown dress, Madison waited patiently with her mom, Tiffany. Eventually, Madison would join the other extras in populating the movie's dance contests, making them feel real. They weren't the only ones waiting.

"We call them early to get them organized," Weglarz-Ward said. "It's a lot of 'hurry up and wait' – that's the motto of moviemaking."

At just after noon in the daylong shoot, the actual shooting had yet to start, but about 75 extras waited, most chatting and nibbling at the food set out for them.

"Most of the extras are actually paid in food," said Weglarz-Ward, adding that 99 percent of cast and crew weren't paid upfront.

The pay didn't stop the future movie crowd members.

When Shira Stolarsky's mom saw a notice about the movie needing extras in the newspaper, the Washington University senior from Champaign jumped at the chance to perform in her old middle school.

"I just thought it would be a good opportunity," she said.

While she waited, she chatted with fellow extras and University of Illinois students Mary Blazier of Champaign and Amanda Watters of Frankfort.

All said they're looking forward to seeing the movie when it comes out. Weglarz-Ward said the plan is to complete the movie by September, in time for selection into the Sundance Film Festival. She said filmmakers hoped for a Champaign premiere in January.

Not all the extras are movie novices. Glenn Heminover of Urbana said "Leading Ladies" was his third movie. Tim Durham aspires to be in movies and TV, and said Central Illinois has many opportunities, both itself and because of its proximity to Chicago and St. Louis. The Springfield native is an extra "for the networking," he said. "I just love acting."

Marcy Walker hasn't been in a movie, but the recreational dancer from Champaign said it's been on her life's to-do list.

"It's a dance movie and, you know, there are just certain things you want to do," she said.

Jane Marshall of Urbana wanted to participate in the arts. Tom Jackson of Leroy said working on the movie was a good blend of his passion for filmmaking and his wife Deb's passion for dance.

Lee Shaffer, who goes by "Ms. Lee" onstage, is a part-time comedian from Savoy, and thought she might find some comic material to mine for later laughs from the filmmaking experience. Being an extra also provides a nice distraction.

"I recently got laid off," she said. "Nothing to do except finding a job."

In the meantime, Madison Rice learns the lingo of the acting profession, such as "Break a leg."

"That's what my dad said," Madison replied. "I said, 'I don't want to do that.'"