Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

   This summer I had the opportunity to act as an extra in the New Testament Project short films made by the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Not many people know about these videos, but they are short litttle clips of the savior's life with the purpose of helping people get to know Him better. I felt so blessed to be a part of it and I met so many wonderful people! The videos I got to be a part of were when Jesus feeds the 5,000, Jesus heals a man blind from birth, and Jesus foil a Pharisee's scheme. I had to get my hair and makeup done so I could look like a girl from ancient Jerusalem. They even painted me brown and put yellow/brown stuff on my teeth to make them look dirty! Pretty much I showed up on set clean and showered just to get dirty again. Haha! 

   When we were shooting outside, every day was at least over 95 degrees. We had a few people that got overheated and passed out or got delirious when Jesus was feeding the 5,000 (which actually happened to be about 300, I believe). Who could blame them? We were all wearing thick, rough fabrics that covered everything but our feet, hands, and faces. At least one of the hotter days we were able to shoot inside the Jerusalem Set. That set is amazing. It is not the actual size of the places in Jerusalem (duh) but it was built to look as authentic as possible and made so that the camera will be able to make it look bigger. Like I said, it's amazing.

   During the filming of the blind man receiving his sight I was able to be one of three women who sat by the pool he washed his eyes in and observe the miracle happening almost as if it actually were. The emotions on the actor's face were so real I nearly cried once. Every day I was there I could feel the spirit. It was one of those unforgettable experiences that strengthened me and my testimony.

   The last few shots I was in were taken after the sun went down on the last day and Jesus was near the temple talking to the pharisees. The crew got out their handy dandy rain making machine and it was pretty much the real thing. I enjoyed being able to act as if I was really experiencing life as one of those who knew Jesus when He was on the earth. The cool thing about it was that it gave me the opportunity to think about what I would really do if I had been there. Would I know it was Him? Would I give up everything to follow Him?  

   You will be able to find the videos at biblevideos.lds.org. I don't know when these will come out, but I will keep everybody updated. I would also have uploaded some photos of a brown me in costume, but I am not allowed so here is a little introductory video. :)