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| Ed Connolly and movie wife |
Title: Leatherheads, feature film
Cast: George Clooney, Renee Zellweger
Extra: Ed Connolly
Producers: Grant Heslov, George Clooney, Casey Silver
Director: George Clooney
Script: George Clooney, Stephen Schiff, Duncan Brantley, Rick Reilly
Characters: Game official and fan
Set site: Travelers Rest, Charlotte, N.C.
Real job: Director of Academic Assistance, Broome High School
All in the family: Wife, Becky. Sons, Matt, Trey, Drew.
Hometown: Spartanburg, S.C.
Did you know: Ed’s wife, Becky, and sons Trey and Drew were also extras.
Ed runs out of gas before arriving on set
I had given some thought to being an extra when I first heard they were going to shoot the “Leatherheads” movie in the Upstate. After seeing on the morning news that extras were still needed for the Travelers Rest shoot, I told me wife that I was going to head over to the mall to submit my headshot and resume. I was shocked to walk in the main atrium and see it full of people.
The next day I received a phone call to report to the warehouse off Pelham Road to get a wardrobe. After being fitted, I was told to go to hair and makeup. I really didn’t know what to expect. I sat down in the chair expecting them to look me over when I heard the clippers click on. Oh no! I didn’t know I was going to get a haircut! It all worked out just fine.
The call time for my first day on the job was 4:30 a.m. I never heard my alarm! When I awoke around 4:30, I hopped in the car and took off. I was flying down the Interstate about half asleep when my car began to sputter. The next thing I knew, I was sitting on the side of the road. I had run out of gas!
What a way to start my day, running for gas on the Interstate! I finally arrived at the film site and caught the shuttle bus over to set. The driver assured me that everything would be OK.
When I arrived on set, I filled out the paper work and headed to the tents for wardrobe, hair and makeup. After shooting a few scenes in front of the stadium, we were allowed to go past the “fake” brick wall and into the stadium to take a break.
I kept hearing everyone ask, “where’s George? Where’s George?” A few minutes later I found him. In fact, I almost ran straight into him with a cup of water in hand; close call!
I was very impressed with the set at Travelers Rest Middle School. It is amazing how real they are able to make everything look.
After a shaky start to my day, things finally calmed down. I got a kick out of watching the same guys trying to maneuver their way to the front just before a scene was to be shot.
One day, I was asked to stand along the wall down on the field. My big chance to be seen. When we were just about ready to shoot, the same guy that I had seen all over the field walks up and leans over the wall right in front of me. He didn’t stay long. They moved the camera to a different angle and he was off to annoy someone else. Guess that’s the price you pay for stardom.
Upon learning of my part as an extra, my dad decided that he too would like to become famous.
I had this bright idea on the last day of filming to ask if my dad and my youngest son could film in Charlotte. Since my dad lives close by, I knew it would work perfectly.
Tona gave her approval. I was happy to give my dad the news. I decided that I would drive up as well for a few days. Before it was all over, my wife, two of my sons and my dad had all become movie stars. It was truly a family affair.
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