School's Michelle Jones Describes Experiences in Clooney Movie

Ann Arbor, MI — April 8, 2011 — Ask Michelle Jones about her role as a movie extra, and you will hear the excitement in her voice as she talks about “a day that was long and tiring, but one that was fun and one I’ll always remember.”

Jones, a conference and workshop education coordinator in the School of Dentistry’s Office of Continuing Education, was invited to be an “extra” in the movie, The Ides of March, starring George Clooney.  Portions of the movie were filmed in the Michigan League Ballroom on March 17 and earlier that week on North Campus.

When she heard that a film crew would be in Ann Arbor and needed extras, Jones said she sent some biographical information and a photo to the movie company.  Not hearing anything for several weeks, she didn’t think she would be invited to participate.  But that changed when Jones checked her e-mail the evening of March 16 and learned she had been chosen and was directed to be at the Michigan League by 7:30 the next morning. “I was so excited I didn’t sleep very well that night,” she said.

Jones and other extras were given plenty of advice that included to be prepared for “a lot of ‘hurry up and wait’ situations,” long hours, and possibly some work outdoors.  She and other extras were also advised to bring three changes of clothes ranging, in the case of women, from business casual to women’s suits, or dresses.  “But I brought four outfits with me, just to be safe,” she said with a laugh.

The next morning, St. Patrick’s Day, Jones said, “I was so nervous, I couldn’t eat breakfast.”  Leaving home at 6:30, Jones arrived at her office in the Kellogg Building at seven o’clock, and then walked across Fletcher Street where other extras were instructed to gather.

A News Reporter

Jones said a crew member later approached her and asked to take a look at the clothing she brought.  “After seeing my outfits, I was told to wear this particular outfit, a tan suit with a skirt and told, ‘You’re going to be one of our reporters’.”

In her role as a reporter, Jones said she took notes during a campaign rally as Clooney, playing the role of presidential candidate Mike Morris, was about to be endorsed by another politician at the rally staged in the Michigan League Ballroom.  “I took notes but didn’t get a chance to ask any questions,” she said.

The rally “resembled everything you see on the news ranging from campaign posters to banners on the wall.  As the presidential candidate, Clooney was surrounded by actors who played roles as Secret Service agents, police and campaign advisors.  It was very realistic,” she said.

“Since multiple retakes of some scenes were needed,” Jones said, “we always had to remember exactly where we were and the position of our bodies in relation to the camera so that when follow-up filming of the scene began, one scene could flow smoothly into the next,” she said.

Jones said she did not get a chance to talk to Clooney, who also directed the movie, or other actors including Ryan Gossling or even 9-year-old Talia Akiva of Ann Arbor, who played the role of Clooney’s daughter.  The closest Jones got to Clooney, she said, was when he paused after filming a scene to check a television monitor that was within a foot or two of her.

“There were two reasons I applied to be an extra in the movie,” Jones said.  “One is that George Clooney is one of my favorite actors, the other is because the filming was in Ann Arbor.  It was an incredible experience.”  Although she was invited to return as an extra to participate in a mock funeral that would be filmed in Bloomfield Hills the following week, Jones declined because of her work schedule.  For being an extra, Jones said she was paid about $60 for her 10-hour day that ended around 5:30 p.m.

Although the filming was on the U-M campus, the movie will be depicted as taking place in Dayton or Kent, Ohio during the winter.  The Ides of March will open either later this year or early next year.