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 Title:
Leatherheads, feature film
Cast: George Clooney, Renee Zellweger
Extra: Gerry and Beth Lindsey
Producers: Grant Heslov, George Clooney, Casey Silver
Director: George Clooney
Script: George Clooney, Stephen Schiff, Duncan Brantley,
Rick Reilly
About
Gerry and Beth
Character:
Fans.
Business: Both are retired.
Family: Son Keith, daughter Lee Ann Hopkins, and 5 grandchildren.
Did you know: Gerry worked for NASA in Quality Assurance
in Huntsville, Alabama before the first lunar landing. “I got
to see a Saturn 5 launch before I left to become a general contractor
in my hometown, Columbia, Tennessee, in 1968.” Gerry retired
in 2003, and he and his wife, Beth, moved to Charlotte to be near
their children and grandchildren.
Gerry
and Beth encouraged to sign up
Gerry and Beth, didn’t even think about becoming extras for
“Leatherheads,” even after his son, Keith, told him about
his experience as an extra in South Carolina. “He was so excited
when he called and told me he had so much fun,” Gerry said.
Within two weeks Gerry and Beth were standing in line at Concord
Mills, North Carolina signing up for the filming in Charlotte.
“We were at the set for eight days,” Gerry said. “The
first day we were there it was kind of pleasant and I had on a big
cashmere coat with a scarf and gloves. We arrived at 4 a.m. and
stayed at Memorial Stadium for 14 hours. It was a long day and I
didn’t think I would be back. There was a signup sheet asking
us if we were returning and I didn’t sign it. We were off on
Friday and the next week. By that time I decided that it was a once
in a lifetime opportunity so we went back. But before that, a couple
days before filming, we were called asking if we were coming back
and we said ‘yeah.’
“We enjoyed it but they were very long days. We got up at 2:45
a.m. and left at 3:30 to get there by 4 a.m.”
12
turned into lucky 13
Gerry said he and Beth started in the stands as fans but ended up
in the box seats at the scoreboard. “One day we were sitting
and talking in the holding area when Ian (Calip, second, second
assistant director) came by and said ‘I need 12 people.’
As we were filling out my wife and her friend got to go and Ian
was counting and when he got to me I was the 13th person. Beth and
her friend waved goodbye and Ian looked at me and said, ‘Oh
go ahead.’”
There was one scene Gerry was close to actor and director George
Clooney. “It was during the final touchdown of the game. The
players were so muddy we couldn’t tell the players apart and
we first thought Clooney’s team didn’t score. But as the
players were removed from the pile it was ruled a touchdown. The
crew had big hoses that wet down the field where the players were
filming. It was a warm day and they had to frequently wet the field.
“I really enjoyed seeing how the movie was put together. Unless
they cut my scene I should get in. It was fun to hear them say ‘Rolling,
background, action!’ I’m looking forward to seeing the
movie but I’m sure a lot of us will get the DVD and watch very
closely to see if we’re in there.
Gerry missed Renee’s greeting
“I didn’t get to see Renee. I think she was only there
one day. That was the day I had my head in my lap while playing
a spectator. I was told that Renee came up to the press box and
leaned over and said, ‘Hi fellas, how you doing?’ Beth
asked if I saw Renee and I told her no. She said I must have been
sleeping!’”
Gerry said he would enjoy being an extra again but only if it was
in the Charlotte area.
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