Ryan Reynolds may be the main reason moviegoers fill in the theater seats  this weekend for the Warner Bros. production of “Green Lantern,” but if you blink, you may just miss a familiar face. Amidst the headlining stars and special CGI effects, you will see one of Southeastern’s own in Martin Campbell’s film adaptation of the popular comic series.

Assistant professor of acting James Winter was given the chance to be involved in “Green Lantern” as one of the background extras seen in the film. With the movie opening this Friday, Winter sat down with The Lion’s Roar to discuss his role in the film, his experiences working on the summer blockbuster and some of the special requirements for his role.

The Lions Roar: What made you decide to try out to be an extra?

James Winter: “Well, really anyone can be an extra if they want. As long as they are the right type of person for the scene being filmed. I do film work from time to time, and extra work on a big film like this can pay pretty well because it is a few weeks or more worth of work. For me, it was mainly a monetary decision.”

Are you a Green Lantern fan?

“Not really. I read some of the comics as a kid, and he’d pop up in some of the other comics I was more interested in.”

Do you think moviegoers will enjoy Green Lantern?

“I really don’t know. He’s not as big as Batman or Superman. The previews make me uncertain about the CG used in the movie. But, the director’s really good, and it has a strong cast, so who knows?”

What can you tell us about your role in the movie?

“I’m a bartender at this upscale party being thrown by Ferris Air. He’s having fun and, more importantly, making sure the customers are having a good time.

He’s also the kind of bartender who listens to other people’s problems. I can’t really say much more than that, because most of the time it is about keeping busy, and looking like you belong in the background of the shot.”

Did you have to do any preparation for the role?

“They made me get a manicure in case there were any close ups of my hands. And I had to be clean shaven, since I was a bartender at a high-end event.”

Who were you most excited to work with on set?

“Peter Sarsgaard. He’s a really great character actor who plays Hector Hammond in the film. I had the most direct interaction with him and we even joked around and improvised a little bit.”

Were there any characters that you really liked?

“It is hard to say. On the set you don’t really get much of a sense of how the characters will play out in the movie.  Peter’s character seems like he’ll be pretty creepy.”

What was it like to work with Ryan Reynolds?

“He’s pretty tall. I got to meet him, but I didn’t want to bother him too much. The guy’s at work, you know? He seemed nice enough.”

What was the atmosphere on set like?

“It was pretty cool. I’ve done some pretty big films, but never a blockbuster action movie. It was cool to be acting, and reacting to helicopter stunts and parts of the set exploding. It was fun.”

How long did it take for the set up of each shot you were a part of?

“Oh my, it really varies. This party scene is apparently a rather large scene with lots of little mini scenes between the major characters contained within it.

For some of the stunt shots, set up could take awhile. Since it was a night scene, some of the shots right before sunrise didn’t take long to set up at all, because they were in a hurry.”

How different is it acting in a movie versus onstage?

“The two are very different in many ways but the basic rules are the same. On film, everything is really subtle compared to a lot of stage work.

You want to strive for truth in both but onstage your choices have to read to a larger audience. On film, the camera is right there, so you have to be very real. The camera can tell the second you are faking or overacting.”

How difficult is it remaining in character during takes?

“It isn’t that hard. In film, they really create the total environment, which helps a lot.”

Tell us about your history in films. Are you currently involved in others?

“I’ve done extra work on several feature films and I’ve had leading and supporting roles in many independent films. I’m not working on any films right now, but an indie film I shot last summer should be getting released soon.”

What does it mean for you to be in this production?

“It’s cool to be a part of a big action movie but, in the end, it was a paycheck more than anything.”

What was your fondest memory during production?

“Probably the night I got to work with Sarsgaard. That or just working with Martin Campbell, the film’s director.

He’s really passionate and he really gets into it, making his own sound effects and what not to give us a real sense of what would really be happening with all the computer generated effects.

Plus, he was very kind to the extras, and made us feel like we were a really important part of the film. That is not always the case.”

Any advice you can give for others who want to audition for the big screen?

“If you want to be an extra, go online or open a newspaper. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs every week in this area for film extras. You can make between 80 and a couple of 100 bucks a day doing it. But don’t expect to become an actor doing so.

Extras are more like scenery or furniture pieces than actors. And expect long hours. Twelve to 16 hour days are the norm for extras. If you really want to act on the big screen, get an agent so you can audition for roles where you actually have lines and get to act.”