Waukesha Resident Earns Role as Extra in 3rd Transformers Movie

Jeff Porter is no stranger to show business. An avid lover of theater and film, he has had small roles in several movies, TV shows, and commercials. Until recently, however, he has never been a part of a blockbuster hit. He finally got that opportunity as an extra in ‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon.”

“It was one of the funnest experiences I’ve ever had,” said Porter, who stood in as a fortune-500-type business man in several scenes at the Milwaukee Art Museum. “It was fun to be there and watch the process.”

When casting auditions for extras came to the Milwaukee area in July of 2010, Porter jumped at the chance.

“It was spur of the moment,” he said.

According to Porter, several thousand applicants showed up, hoping to find a spot in the film. Of those who attended, only around 30 were chosen to be extras for the scenes that were shot at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Porter was one of these fortunate few.

“Before, I’ve always had an audition,” said Porter when asked how he was picked to be an extra. “But with this one, you filled out some paperwork; they took your picture, and said ‘See you.’”

Despite a blunt shoo-off, Porter did not have to wait long for his chance. He received a callback and was almost immediately used on the set.

The shoot lasted two days, during which Porter says he worked around 13 hours each day. In his scenes, it sometimes took seven or eight attempts of shooting and reshooting before the perfect shot was filmed.

Though Porter did not get the chance to personally meet any of the stars of the film, he was specifically picked out of a line-up by director Michael Bay to be an extra for scenes shot inside and outside the museum. During this time, he was only a few feet from actors Shia LaBeouf and Patrick Dempsey.

Porter has been an actor in a Rescue 911 episode, as well as a photo double in the 1995 film To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar. He’s also been in several commercials, including one for Farm & Fleet.

But, by day, Porter is the IT director at New Tribes Bible Institute. He is married to Nicky, and the couple has an 18-year-old daughter who plans to start college in the fall.

To see Transformers this week at the Marcus Majestic:

• Tuesday;12 p.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:25 p.m., 6 p.m., 7:35 p.m., 8:30 p.m.; 9:35 p.m.
• Wednesday; 12 p.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:25 p.m., 6 p.m., 7:35 p.m., 8:30 p.m.; 9:35 p.m.
• Thursday; 12 p.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:25 p.m., 6 p.m., 7:35 p.m., 8:30 p.m.; 9:35 p.m.
• Friday; 12 p.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:25 p.m., 6 p.m., 7:35 p.m., 8:30 p.m.; 9:35 p.m.

To see Transformers in 3D at Marcus Majestic:

• Tuesday; 11:30 a.m., 3 p.m., 6:35 p.m., 10:05 p.m.
• Wednesday;11:30 a.m., 3 p.m., 6:35 p.m., 10:05 p.m.
• Thursday; 11:30 a.m., 3 p.m., 6:35 p.m., 10:05 p.m.
• Friday; 11:30 a.m., 3 p.m., 6:35 p.m., 10:05 p.m.