So my trip to the Jersey Girl set actually begins about 6 hours before call time, when I decide to leave my sleeping cohort, Matt, in the hotel and venture into Paulsboro to find the shooting location and a cup of coffee (The Ramada has no coffeemaker in the room. For an addict like myself this is tantamount to finding a dead hooker in the mattress). The directions the casting agency had given me are right on the money and I am soon pulling into a closed down shopping center where the shoot will be taking place. The strip mall looks as if it's been vacant for years, except for one freshly placed sign, reading 'Mub & Renee's Video Blast'. The crew is working around the area, putting the finishing touches on the store, which from what I can see, looks as authentic as any small town mom and pop video store would. I'd love to stop and have a look around, but decide that I didn't want to get kicked out by the same crewmembers I'll be spending the night with.

My friend Matt Blanchard and I officially arrive on set about ten minutes before the 5 o'clock call time. I had been informed by Mike Lemon Casting to report to the supermarket next door and wait there where shortly we met the other three extras in the scene and Kenyan, who is in charge of signing in and out the extras.

I won't say much about my fellow extras, with which we end up spending a good portion of the evening, except that they are rather eccentric in there own ways. All three are professional extras and have been doing this for years. They seem a bit jaded and none of them have any idea who Kevin Smith is (yes, hard as it is to believe, they got into the film and some of the most diehard fans didn't get a call back, but what can you do?)

Within an hour of arriving, Kenyan leads us all over to wardrobe to have our clothing approved. I check out fine and Matt is given a flannel jacket by wardrobe.

[It might serve to note that Matt was added as an extra two days prior, when I mentioned to the casting agency that he would be driving up with me (Matt, you are such my bitch now) and is an even bigger Smith fan than myself, so we were both rather giddy with joy.]

I soon meet a guy in glasses, kinda wondering around the back lot who turns out to be Paul "You guys look pretty badass" Dini of much comic book, Cartoon Network and JSBSB fame. He's a really friendly guy who Matt and I harass periodically throughout the evening with geeky movie, cartoon and comic questions.

The next person we meet is Gail Stanley, Kevin's personal assistant/mother-in-law. She is talking to Paul, when she suddenly whips around to introduce herself. She tries to take us right in to me Kevin, but they are blocking a scene at the time, so a few minutes wait is in order.

In the meantime we spot "Holy shit, it's" Ben Affleck and "Good God, it's" Liv Tyler walking from their trailers. (We were still a bit star-struck at this point. Shortly thereafter, Kenyan tells us that Kevin is getting food around the corner, if we want to meet him, though Matt and I decided to hold back the urge to bum rush the guy while he's getting some grub.

Next thing I know, I spot Kevin walking with Gail. I assume The Man isn't walking up to me and turn back around, only to hear Kevin call my name (fuck, already I'm snubbing the guy.) As I speak briefly with Kevin, all my nervousness is forgotten as the man just has this completely relaxing personality that really puts you at ease. In the course of the conversation Gail tells Kevin that she's sure I'm going to give him a great performance. Kevin looks me in the eye and, as deadpan as can be, says "Well you fuckin' better. Contest winner or not, I'll fire your fucking ass right off my set." Everyone breaks up laughing and thus, I am ushered into the world of View Askew.

While heading over to get some bagels, Matt and I spot "uber-producer" Scott Mosier, who, for my money, is as important to meet as Kevin. Gail introduces us and Scott makes a crack about whether or not they've gotten me into the bunny suit yet (Mallrats reference?). Matt (who is often much more quick-witted than I) comes back with, "No, but he's ready for the diaper" (obvious Drawing Flies reference). Scott jokes that the diaper was bronzed a long time ago.

A few things I should note at this point. One, movie sets aren't as glamorous as I had previously thought. Two, when you're an extra, there is a lot of waiting around. I mean a lot of waiting. Three, Kevin's set has this great atmosphere. Being as I've previously never been on a movie set, I can only guess what the average production is like, but I assume Kevin's is a couple notches above the norm. Everyone that I dealt with was really easy to get along with. Kevin seems to do a great job of cultivating a certain vibe on set, where egos are out the door and everyone works as a team.

Finally, after the sun goes down and what seems like an eternity, Kenyan calls the extras inside the video store.

I gotta give Ratface a big hand on this one. This is not a "movie set" with phony fiberboard walls and cardboard furniture, this is a living, breathing video store that they have created. No way to tell it apart from the really thing (aside from the camera's and all the headsets, of course). I'm amazed at how small the place is to shoot in. And I thought the place looked small on the outside. Between what seems like a thousand crewmembers, lighting equipment and all the video racks, I'm amazed no one knocks anything over (namely, me). I swear, the whole place would topple like dominoes.

I spot Paul Dini again as I walk in, already positioned behind the counter, sitting in his chair, playing with a videotape. Once inside, the activity is a bit disorienting at first, but the Assistant Director, Michael Lerman (quite possibly the busiest guy on set) quickly guides us into our spots and goes over our scene with each of us individually.

I'm stand at the wall, picking out the movies I will be looking at during the scene (Hee, hee. I really hope a couple of them are visible in the final cut). Liv and Ben are in the store walking around and I decide to get all my star gawking done in between takes so I don't stare while film is rolling. At one point, shortly before one of the early takes, Liv looks up from her chair behind the counter and looks my direction. I smile and she smiles back. This is possibly the highlight of my evening. Fuck Kevin, Liv Tyler just smiled at me.

After a few more takes Kevin walks by me and I give him the international I'm-having-a-good-time thumbs up. He leans around the video rack and says, "This entire scene is resting on your shoulders. Win the scene" and walks away. The guy does this kind of deadpan humor throughout the evening.

A while later, Kevin is standing out in front of the store smoking and he asks me if I've met the cast yet. He quickly ushers me back to meet Ben and Liv who are hanging out behind the monitors. I get the chance to talk to the two of them for a few minutes, before the next shot is ready to go. Those two are so down to earth it's sickening. At some point you want some indication that they are typical Hollywood assholes, but no dice. Anything good you've every heard about them is true

A small bit of Jersey Girl trivia for you; the film I am given to hold in the scene is Wide Awake, which is a "Bob and Harvey" Miramax film, the parent company and an M Night Shyamalan film, who much of the crew had worked with on previous films. Also, as the shoot neared 5 AM, the title became something of a joke.

Take after take Ben, Liv and Raquel run through some great Kevin Smith dialogue. I'm telling ya, all bias aside; this scene is a work of genius. The performances are dead on and the chemistry between actors is amazing.

The only complaint I can possibly make about the shoot is that the lights in the ceiling and the fact that they couldn't run the AC constantly due to the noise factor during takes is slowly baking everyone inside there cold weather clothing. Makeup is constantly rushing around the set patting Ben and Liv down in between takes and I find myself blotting my forehead with the cuff of my jacket almost constantly as to not appear like a sweaty freak in front of the camera.

Lunch breaks around 11 PM and we all grab food.

After our midnight lunch, Paul and I are back for the second part of the scene. No lines, but this is where I get to interact with Liv a little on screen.

It's getting late and everyone is starting to get tired. Liv flubs a particular take and after Kevin says cut Liv just yells, "I'm an idiot!" It is fantastically cute. Not to mention Ben's various approaches to the scene, some of which are absolutely priceless. Although it was lacking Affleck's signature spontaneous dialogue that Kevin hates so much, when he starts doing little "Ben-isms" in a scene its so hard to not smile or laugh when your on camera.

When shooting wraps at 5:30 AM everyone is ready to collapse. I stand in the back with Kevin, Scott, Ben and Liv for a few minutes watching some of the footage. Unfortunately I don't get a chance to say goodbye to most of them. I run out to my car for a couple minutes and by the time I make it back in they have all split except for Liv, who is gracious enough to take a photo with me before she leaves set. (Although, once I saw the photo, I realized I should never have my picture taken at 5:30 in the morning and standing next to Liv doesn't help either.)

All in all, it was an amazing night, one that I'm truly grateful for. The next twelve months are going to be murder waiting to see the finished product. I can assure everyone though, that if the scene I was a part of was any indication of what the film will be like, Jersey Girl will be nothing short of amazing.

My heartfelt thanks go out to Brad and Chris, everyone on set and most importantly, Kev for creating this little corner of the world.

Here's to (hopefully) not ending up on the cutting room floor.