Title: Leatherheads, feature film
Cast: George Clooney, Renee Zellweger
Extra: Dave Carpenter
Producers: Grant Heslov, George Clooney, Casey Silver
Director: George Clooney
Script: George Clooney, Stephen Schiff, Duncan Brantley, Rick Reilly

About Dave
Children: Jonathan and Lindsay. Lindsay is a senior at Appalachian State. “You know, that great football powerhouse at Boone, N.C., that beat Michigan!” said Dave proudly.
Hobbies: Boating
Role: Chicago Tribune Reporter
Don’t look at the Camera!  "I made the mistake of looking right at the camera and got yelled at,” Dave said with a hearty laugh. “It was just a reaction but they didn’t want us looking into the camera!”
Multiple scenes:  Dave was one of the guests walking behind George Clooney’s group at the Vance Hotel but he most likely won’t be in that frame. He also appeared walking in the entrance at Memorial Stadium in Greensboro.
Star quality: Dave’s CEO for La-Z-Boy, Inc. and other business acquaintances and friends sent e-mails applauding him for landing a part in “Leatherheads.”
Next film: Dave has been cast in the movie “Red Dirt Rising”, a storyline that follows the beginning of NASCAR.

Dave: Somebody had to chase after Renee!

Never in Dave Carpenter’s wildest dreams did he think he would get paid to chase Oscar winner Renee Zellweger. In the scene, Renee was angry, upset at Dave and his reporter friends and shouting at them as she frantically outraced them to an exit.

And then, a few minutes later, there was Dave winking at Renee and the beautiful co-star of “Leatherheads” winking back at him. They both exchanged Happy Birthday greetings since Dave’s was two days after Renee’s birthday.

“I had absolutely no idea this would happen to me. It was such an adrenalin rush,” said Dave.

Dave, like many other extras, went to a final casting call at a High Point, N.C., mall, not knowing what to expect. “As I was driving past the mall I remembered an announcement on TV the night before announcing a casting call for the movie “Leatherheads.” “I decided to go on a whim.

“When I got to the casting line I was told to report to wardrobe and I would be a reporter,” said Dave.

Dave and the group of seven Tribune reporters were given a notebook and pencil as part of their props. A paper with the date and year 1925 was also produced. The reporters wore hats with a  “Press” card tucked into the band above the brim. “We didn’t have any questions. Everything we had to say was scripted. I had a phrase that I am hoping will get into the scene.

The scene Dave is referring to is when Lexi Littleton (Renee) is reporting that war hero Carter Rutherford (John Krisinski) was not the war hero his teammates and fans thought he was. Rutherford’s agent lambasted Lexi for writing lies. She shouted she knew the truth and would report it. Lexi then ran from the reporters when they began asking her questions.

Dave said as the scene concluded the reporters, with him last, ran right off the set and Renee went left. I was the last one out we both were standing across from each other as the scene was reviewed.  That’s when Dave and Renee exchanged winks and birthday greetings.

George Clooney directed Dave in one scene. “Here I was being directed by Clooney. It was unbelievable!” Ian Calib, the second director, did most of the directing during the remaining scenes with Carpenter and reporters.

“Clooney treated us with such respect,” said Dave.

The vacation days Dave took off for the filming was worth it many times over, he said. “I was very happy for the days’ vacation.  I got to meet so many nice people. I got to talk to people from all walks of life. It opened my eyes to be outside my comfort zone.”