JURASSIC WORLD: THE NEW ORLEANS EXTRAS EXPERIENCE
ANTHONY FELICIANO, BO MONARCH, & BRENT KAPPEL
A FOUR-PART VIDEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Featuring Incredible Behind The Scenes Memories, Images, & Footage!
Conducted In February 2023
Derrick Davis recently had conversations with three fans who were lucky enough to have been extras, background cast members, in the massive New Orleans sets of 'Jurassic World': Anthony Feliciano, Bo Monarch, and Brent Kappel. Their discussions were edited into a 4-part video series that dives into the memories of their incredible experiences on the impressive sets. Not only do we get to hear their fun stories, but we also get to see some rare behind the scenes photos, video footage, and other cool imagery that helps bring us along on their thrilling ride. Click here for the full playlist!
'Jurassic World' was released to theaters nearly a decade ago. Let that sink in for a moment. For many, the memories of seeing the film are already nostalgic. Despite this year, 2023, being the 30th anniversary of the original 'Jurassic Park', it is also a time to be reflective over the entire series. The fourth film in the story of 'Jurassic Park' came after 14 years of nothing between it and the previous film, 'Jurassic Park 3'. During that huge gap, fans imagined endless ideas as to what the next adventure in their favorite series would be.
In 2013, it was finally announced that a new film was on the horizon. Rumors that it would feature a fully-realized theme park on Isla Nublar, known as 'Jurassic World', led to many questions running in everyone's minds. It was quite a surprising direction for the story that most people didn't see coming. When filming began in 2014, many fans flocked for the chance to personally take part in the experience. Cameras rolled in Hawaii first, but soon after that their lenses focused on several massive sets in New Orleans. That's when the three fans in this program embarked on a trip that would change their lives...
PART ONE: Mosasaur Stadium & Old Visitor Center
Watch directly at YouTube
Anthony and Bo first describe what it was like filming the famous Mosasaur Stadium sequence. We learn how little of the set there actually was, and the simple methods used to create a much larger effect on screen. They also catch a glimpse of the original 'Jurassic Park' Visitor Center's eerie ruins. Despite seeing the set from afar, it was enough to give them immense excitement.
PART TWO: Hammond's Lab & Innovation Center
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In the second segment, Anthony and Bo look back at their experiences inside the highly-detailed Hammond Creation Lab and Samsung Innovation Center sets. We get a fun recollection of what they thought their scenes were about while being filmed, as well as some props, like a map, that they were able to take home with them.
PART THREE: Main Street
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For the third segment, Brent details the stunning Main Street set that was built next to an abandoned Six Flags amusement park. He gives us detailed descriptions of many Main Street locations, including the mostly-unseen Jurassic Traders Gift Shop, and the shock of Katie McGrath (who played Zara) performing some of her insane stunts on set.
PART FOUR: Deep In The Creation Lab
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The final segment of the series features Brent describing what it was like portraying a scientist in the Hammond Creation Lab, then reveals several props that mysteriously left with him. He tells a funny story involving Chris Pratt, and one of the props he shows us features a dinosaur dietary chart.
These three fans, and surely many others, finally got to see their work in theaters in 2015 when the film premiered around the world. No matter what they thought of the final product, seeing themselves on the big screen was a huge thrill. While the rest of us may be envious of their experience, it is wonderful to have their recollections joined with the imagery to finally get a real sense of what these sets were like in-person. And, if only for a short time, we can also imagine we visited 'Jurassic World' just as they had.
Interview conducted & videos created by Derrick Davis. Article portions originally published on Jurassic Outpost by the author.