It’s not every day that Hill Country residents get a taste of Hollywood, but this month, directors, producers and actors are residing in one tiny Texas city.
"It’s real exciting getting to see a movie being filmed here,” said Lori Taylor, a Fredericksburg resident.
It wasn't the red carpet -- more like the green carpet -- being rolled out as an entire production crew worked on the Lady Bird Johnson Golf Course in Fredericksburg to film a new movie called “Seven Days in Utopia.”
The movie is based on David Cook’s best-seller "Golf’s Sacred Journey."
“It’s the story of a young man who’s a really good golfer who’s come to a sort of crossroads in his life, where he doesn’t know if he wants to continue on,” executive producer Mark Mathis said.
Mathis, who's known for his storytelling, also helped produce the Oscar-nominated film “Precious.”
“It was a tough story,” he said. “It was a period piece, but everything came together very well for it.”
Now Mathis and his team want to tell a different story, one from deep in the heart of the Lone Star State.
“It’s a story for all people everywhere, but it takes place in Texas, and Utopia actually exists, you know... it’s in Texas,” Mathis said.
Big-name actors such as Robert Duval and Lucas Black star in the movie, but another familiar face you’ll see in front of the camera is KENS 5 sports anchor Joe Reinagel.
Reinagel and sports photographer Marcus Floyd make a cameo in one of the movie scenes.
And while they got to rub elbows with actors and directors, being behind the scenes is far from glamorous.
“It’s a lot of work,” Mathis said. “But it pays off when you see the movie in theaters.”
The big difference from a California movie set to a Texas movie set? The sweltering heat. But, many locals still lined up to be a part of this huge production.
“It’s hot, but it’s still exciting,” Taylor said.
Some, like San Antonio resident Oscar Soliz, aspire to be in the filming business.
“I signed up to see how productions are made,” Soliz said. “It caught my attention.”
Other extras were hoping to make it big.
“I’ve always wanted to go to a casting call,” said Fredericksburg resident Meagan Hellums. “It’s not your average movie. I’m really, really excited.
And one of the youngest actors on set seemed to be more excited about the sport than the movie.
“I want to be a golfer,” said young actor Cody Thurber.
“Seven Days in Utopia” will come out in theaters across the country next summer.
Mathis said he’s hoping this true story will make it to the Oscars.
“I hope to be back in 2011,” he said.
The film crew has moved on to Utopia for the rest of the week to shoot scenes there.
