Auburn family to make big screen debut as extras

When most folks think of a “family movie night,” they probably conjure an image of a family gathered around a television set.

But for one Auburn family, it meant spending time on an actual movie set.

Last month, the Wadsworth family took a trip to Tybee Island, Ga., where they were cast as extras in the movie “The Last Song,” starring Miley Cyrus. In the movie, Cyrus, who plays Veronica Miller, is a teen sent to a Southern beach town to spend the summer with her estranged dad (Greg Kinnear). Father and daughter eventually find common ground through their mutual love of music. Kelly Preston and Liam Hemsworth also star in the Julie Anne Robinson-directed film.

“Our kids, Madison, 9, and Mackenzie, 5, were cast as extras but once we got there the set directors needed more people so we were cast too,” said Annette Wadsworth.

The Wadsworths were among about 200 extras cast in the film set to hit theaters January 2010.

“We got to work toe to toe with Miley Cyrus for three days,” said Annette Wadsworth.

“The kids were absolutely speechless when she was around,” added her husband Howard Wadsworth.

The Wadsworths were part of a carnival scene that takes place during a beach volleyball match in the movie.

“Hair, wardrobe and make-up were words we got pretty used to hearing during the three days of shooting we were a part of,” said Annette Wadsworth. “But the make-up in our case was sunscreen, because our scene required us to be out in the sun a considerable amount of time.”

Wadsworth said the experience has given her a different view of actors.

“Being a movie star isn’t as glamorous as it seems,” said Wadsworth, who sells ads for cable television. “It’s a lot of hard work.”

As far as the money they made for time as extras on the set, Wadsworth said she will probably take her daughters to a Hannah Montana concert.

“She (Miley) is such a neat girl, and the kids really look up to her,” Wadsworth said.