Since Disney announced its decision to film the move Secretariat in the Lafayette area all Acadiana has been a buzz.

From the very beginning we've been monitoring their almost every move

The doors were held wide open for production of Walt Disney's new silver screen flick during a time when movie makers are on a tight budget and looking for a way to get it done.

Secretariat Director Randall Wallace, coincidentally also the man responsible for writing 1995 blockbuster Braveheart, says some of the big reasons they choose Lafayette was the 30% tax incentive the state offers companies to film in Louisiana, as well as the versatility and freedom the area offers them.

Just as soon as the announcement of filming was made, buzz over the chance to be an extra began to condensate into the air.

Surprisingly, two weeks was enough time in Lafayette to bring in droves of people hoping to get their names in the credits, widening the eyes of casting directors.

Eight hours of casting packed the Cajundome with aspiring actors, over eager moms, and even some just looking for a little extra side cash.

But as exciting, and exhausting as the casting call was the movie industry is as competitive as no other, with close to 10,000 people applying for parts, only a fraction were cast, ready to take on any task.

Unfortunately most wouldn't get that 15 minutes of fame phone call for nearly another month, leaving them to scour the Internet for any information on Secretariat until that time.

Robert Burns