Disney film a rush for Dixie extras

ST. GEORGE — What time is it?

Well, if you're a Dixie teenager lucky enough to have won a role as an extra in the upcoming Disney movie "High School Musical 2: School's Out!" it's party time.

"It was my first actual film, and it was really exciting," said Taylor Vaifanua, a 15-year-old singer and dancer from Hurricane who got the call to be a backup dancer in the sequel to the blockbuster hit that premieres on the Disney Channel at 7 p.m. Friday. "We did three days of filming and got to meet the stars. Some of them were really friendly."

Vaifanua and her sister, Shanae, 17, were among dozens of local teens tapped by the movie's producers during their 30-day shooting schedule in St. George. Much of the film was shot in and around The Inn at Entrada, a plush resort and country club featured prominently in the movie, and at The Canyons Softball Complex in St. George.

"It was really a fun, exciting time. The crew was here for a month and it was great to have them here," said Entrada's general manager, Rheanne Laubscher. "I think people are going to want to come and see where some of the scenes were filmed. We could tell them where the stars stayed and they can stay in the same casita."

Being an extra on the movie set meant showing up early, working long hours and keeping a high energy level for take after take, said Megan Lundgreen, a 15-year-old backup dancer who spent one day mingling with the film's stars.

"It was kind of crazy," Lundgreen said. "We showed up and immediately had to go eat breakfast, then do our hair and makeup, then show them the outfits we brought to wear in the film. They said whether they liked what we were wearing, or if we had to change it and if our makeup looked good or not."

Director Kenny Ortega was "really nice, outgoing and kinda cool," she said.

"He would show us the moves he wanted us to do, have us practice it for about five minutes, and then shoot it," Lundgreen said. "We were kind of the cheerleaders during the baseball game."

Mike Wilson, whose band played in the film's theatrical dance scenes, said he loved the high energy of the filmmaking process.

"It was amazing how you had to spend the entire day trying to get 10 seconds of film," said Wilson, who plays the drums. "They would do take after take after take, but it really was a lot of fun."

So what did the teen extras think of the Disney stars they met on set?