Two employees and some of the residents of Merrivista Senior Community will appear in a major movie to be released next year.
"This Side of Truth," starring Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe and Ricky Gervais, who co-wrote the script, was filmed in several area locations, including Merrivista, an assisted-living complex in Haverhill.
The film is a comedy about a world in which no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain.
Workers and residents at Merrivista had the chance to meet Gervais, a British actor and comedian.
Warner Bros. filmed several scenes at the Merrivista Senior Community assisted-living complex on May 9, during which some of the residents were cast as extras and will appear in the film.
"The residents were so excited and Ricky was so nice. He was always talking to them," said Debbie Costa, program manager at Merrivista.
Costa and co-worker Linda Pelletier, the center's assistant property manager, were cast as extras in the film. So was Costa's mother, Barbara Mirandette, a resident at Merrivista. For her part in the film, she will be shown being led away by a nurse.
The crew made a few changes to Merrivista to complete the look for the film, including redecorating the entrance, Pelletier said.
"It was really cool. I snuck in and sat there before the actors did, so I could get a picture. It was so exciting," she said.
While watching the filming at Merrivista in early May, Costa and Pelletier decided they wanted to be a part of the movie if they could. They began asking around to see if anyone needed any help with anything, and after several e-mails with a casting director, they were cast as extras during filming in Lowell on May 23.
"We thought we would be in the wedding scene, but we found out that had already been filmed. We ended up getting to be fans at a movie premiere instead," Costa said. "My anxiety was up so much I couldn't sleep the night before shooting. When we got there, my adrenaline was up so much."
Before they could step in front of the cameras for their debuts, Costa and Pelletier were sent to the wardrobe and makeup trailers.
"They did our hair and makeup and had us change our clothes to look very plain. We both had some brighter colors on, so they put us in browns and greens," Costa said.
For the scene, the film crew remade the front of a bank in downtown Lowell to look like the entrance of a movie theater. Red carpet was set down and velvet ropes hung.
"They gave us autograph books to get signed by Ricky. They told us to act excited, but we didn't have to act. My heart was beating so fast," Pelletier said. "They pulled the limo up for the scene and we were right behind the ropes. It was so cool."
"I really wanted Ricky to autograph my picture that was taken of us at Merrivista, so I put it inside the book to try and get him to sign it. He only ended up making a few marks on it, but it's great anyway," Costa said.
Costa's car was also used during a scene filmed on a bridge in Lowell. During the first take of the scene, a police officer on a motorcycle pulled over a car that had Gervais in the passenger seat. The actor playing the cop got off the bike and forgot to put the kick-stand down and it completely tipped over, Costa said.
"We wanted to laugh so bad, but when they told you to be quiet on the set, you stayed quiet," Pelletier said.
Both agree that this was an experience they will never forget and would love to try again.
"It really makes me appreciate a movie. One five-minute shot can take up to three hours to film. Plus, there's all the money they have to pay just to make it," Pelletier said, admitting that she would never want to be an actress, because of the constant repetition of scenes.
Pelletier said when she watches a television show now, she can pick out the extras and where the cameras are set up for the scenes.
