Last winter, I got the opportunity to be an extra in the Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1. This is my story.

4 a.m., February 2014, underground parking lot near the Westin Hotel

I arrive at the front of the extras’ holding area in the cold winter night. Atlanta is eerily quiet; nobody is out on the streets, and the only sound I hear is the occasional car door closing as another extra is dropped off by a friend or family member.

We were told to walk into the garage of a rented-out hotel and take the escalator up to the meeting point. I join a group of people and head upwards, noticing the myriad of camera light stands and other random film equipment scattered throughout the empty garage. Most noticeable, however, is the giant curtain blocking us (and potential paparazzi) from seeing what must be the film set. It won’t be too long before I’m behind that curtain filming a scene for the highly anticipated movie Mockingjay, Part 1.

We walk into the holding room. The makeup stands with their bright lights glow right next to the costume changing area. Rows and rows of tables have been set up for us to hang out at until we’re called.

Today we’re filming a District 13 scene, so everybody will have the same costume and will have to look as pale as possible. The makeup artists already looked frazzled. I don’t blame them.

I move to get into the line leading to the costume area, making sure to hand in my cell phone along the way (if you’re caught having a cell phone at any time, no matter the circumstances, you are kicked off the set and never allowed to come back). I pull out a book and start reading as I wait to become a citizen of District 13.

9 a.m.

I’m sitting at a table doing a sudoku puzzle in my District 13 costume, my hair gelled into the same military style all of the men have to wear. After a quick stop by the makeup department I was as pale as possible and ready to go.

A few minutes ago the casting people described to us the scene we would be filming today: Katniss is sitting in the District 13 cafeteria when a surprise message from Peeta comes in on a T.V. screen, to which we respond angrily and begin yelling at him. Sounds like fun to me.

I put down the sudoku puzzle and start a game of cards with the guys at my table, still waiting to be called down to the set. I’m not holding my breath; some days we wait the entire day without ever being called. I’m hoping today is different…

10:30 a.m.

They just called us a few minutes ago. I’m moving behind the curtain and can see the set clearly for the first time: futuristic-looking tables have been spread across the parking garage to simulate an underground cafeteria. I notice two movie-star chairs off to the side with the letters “J” imprinted on one and “L” on the other, designated for two of the movie’s biggest stars. This is clearly a big scene for the movie.

I’m instructed to sit at a table on the far side of the room, where to my surprise there is actual food in front of me to eat during the scene. I look at one of the tables further down the garage and notice that giant cameras and lights have been set up all around it. Francis Lawrence, the director, is over there speaking to a crew member.

Suddenly I feel a hand on my shoulder; a woman’s voice yells to someone, “What about this one?” I barely have time to look up when she hurriedly tells me, “Come with me.”

I walk with her towards a row of about twenty extras or so standing near the table with the cameras and lights. Suddenly I’m excited; could I be sitting near the table Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth will be at? That would be an extra’s dream come true.

My suspicions are confirmed when a friend at my old table excitedly runs up to me and says, “Dude, you’re at the Hero Table!” I can’t believe my luck. Just a minute ago I was in no-man’s land on the other side of the garage, and now I have the chance to share the screen with Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth. I savor the moment.

5 p.m.

I’m watching a T.V. screen intently. A camera is pointed directly at me, and I dare not look anywhere near it, keeping my eyes glued to the image of Josh Hutcherson on the screen. Suddenly a voice from deep in the garage shouts “start yelling!,” and we all go ballistic, pumping our fists and yelling out curses. A guy sweeps a sound boom over us, recording every sound we make. Shortly afterwards another voice shouts “cut!” over the ruckus, followed by “you all went from zero to sixty a little too fast, don’t rush to get so angry. Try again!”

I sit back down and pick up my fork, ready to pretend-eat my gruel for the seventh time. Jennifer takes her seat directly across from me, chatting amicably with Liam. Everyone at our table has had a lot of trouble today trying not to laugh at Jennifer’s jokes; even the grumpiest crew members have barely been able to hold it together. It’s no wonder everyone in Hollywood and America loves her.

A voice suddenly says “rolling!” Jennifer is still talking to Liam though; in fact, she doesn’t stop until the director finally yells “action!” Now we’re doing the scene, and I hear Liam quietly murmur to Jennifer, “you should try to eat something.” Jennifer then says her lines, and I marvel at how she’s able to switch into her character that quickly. I’m getting a front-row lesson on Hollywood filmmaking. Incredible.

7 p.m.

I watch as Jennifer sprints off the set, yelling “thanks everyone!” as she goes. Liam shakes hands with all of the crew members, spending a minute afterwards to talk to the director. I can tell this was a big day for everyone on the set, and both the cast and crew look relieved to have it over with.

I walk back with the hundreds of extras to the costume area, ready to change into my normal, comfortable clothes and head home after the long day; I try not to think about the fact that I will have to be back here again at 4 in the morning. I focus instead on how ridiculously lucky I had been today: I now have a real chance to be in Mockingjay Part 1! And at the very least, I have the experience of today, which is just plain awesome.

I retrieve my cell phone and walk out into the freezing Atlanta night, ready to start again tomorrow.