Behind the Scenes

Hopefully this will answer some of your filming and casting questions.

How can I be an extra?

If you want to extra, you need to get an application into Fincannon. Here’s how it works. If you’re an American citizen, either visit their office in Wilmington at

Fincannon & Associates
1235 N 23rd Street
Wilmington, NC 28405

or mail them a self-addressed stamped envelope requesting an application. Once it gets to you (and you’re really confused why you mailed yourself something LOL), fill out the card…it’s simple..just your contact info and some measurements, include a picture and send it back. I’ve had people ask me what type of picture is best and I have no idea. Heather sent in a full body shot of her going out for the night in Vegas. I sent in a professional type headshot. Anyway, after you send your card in, call the office at

(910) 251-1500

and ask if they need any extras for when you will be in town. Unfortunately they only seem to know a week or two in advance what they’ll need.

As for the extra experience itself, I personally have never done but from what I gather:

You do get paid. I hear it’s $56 for every 8 hour increment minus taxes. (thank you, Bri!)
You do sign an agreement not to talk about it
You don’t get to talk to the cast unless they speak to you first
Sometimes you don’t even get to extra even if you go. I believe I’ve read stories of people just staying in the extra holding room all day.

Where are they filming [fill in date]?

Usually, I don’t know. There is nothing that is published saying when and where they are filming. The local WIlmington paper used to publish that info a week or so in advance but they quit doing it at the end of Season 5 filming. I really miss that

If people are signed up as extras, sometimes you here about it online in the forums and they will tell you when and where. Others sometimes here from local sources.

In most cases, no one knows anything more than a week or so in advance. I will post on it in a regular post on the site if I hear of anything or you can always email to see if I’ve heard anything.

Fincannon has said they are filming Season 6 until March 2009.

Do you know where the filming locations are?

Yes! I do! Yay, I know this answer! I have been to Wilmington once (and soon twice) to see all the filming locations around Wilmington. Before I went, I went to this page and printed out the map and addresses. Once I got to Wilmington, I got a local map from our hotel and marked it down on the larger map so I got a good picture of what order we needed to do things in.

My favorite location I think was the RiverCourt. It’s just so “One Tree Hill”. It’s probably the “hardest” to get to just because it’s back over the bridge but it only takes a few minutes and it’s definitely worth the effort. When we went the goals were down and stuff but still, you knew how it was supposed to look.

I highly recommend people to go see it. My appreciation for the show grew so much after going to see all of that. Even though everything looked less real in real life, Tree Hill seemed more real somehow. It’s weird. You start to notice stuff you didn’t before and people are driving where you wouldn’t be able to drive in real life. It’s kind of funny actually. Definitely worth every minute and dim we spent.

Where should I stay?

It’s probably the most expensive (except for the beach locations I’m sure), but The Hilton in downtown Wilmington is very close to several filming locations. You can also see the RiverCourt across the water from some rooms. There is nowhere to stay where you could walk to all of the locations so you have to drive either way. Downtown is nice though because of the shopping and restaurants close by.

We stayed at the Hampton Inn at Medical Park which was not right downtown but it was extremely nice and not as expensive as the Hilton although we had to drive everywhere we went. It was close to some of the houses, the mall and Keith’s Body Shop. In fact, everything is within a 10 minute drive so there’s not really a bad location although I’ve heard some hotels are nicer than others.

Here are some other reports I’ve found on this page & this page:

i just stayed at the baymont inn for the charity game and really liked it ….great area and close to stuff

extended stay america. its cheap, clean and it has a kitchen

Sleep Inn, it was cheap , free breakfast, clean and right on market street by the walmart, real easy to get to

ramada inn is great and have a free breakfast too… and the days inn is cool too but no free breakfast

green tree inn is really sketchy, microwave smokes, smells bad, holes in the main bedspread, BUT its the hotel that nanny carrie took jamie to

Holiday Inn Express (on Van Campen right between College Road and Market St.) is really nice too. (I like the other better though.) It also has a free breakfast and free wireless.

i stayed at the comfort suites off market st when i was down there in december….
it had complimentary breakfast, free wireless internet, very nice clean rooms and maid service…

What about the set tour?

You can go see the set which is at Screen Gems Studios during set tours they have on the weekend. Tours are offered at 12PM and 2PM on Saturdays year round, and on Saturdays and Sundays at 12PM and 2PM from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The web site used to say if you have 20 or more people they will make a reservation on a weekday when they aren’t filming so I think the best thing to do is call in advance to make sure of the times although a reservation is not required for weekend tours. Admission is $12 for adults and $5 for kids under the age of 12. There is a discount for students, military, seniors and children. Also, it is a one hour walking tour so make sure to dress for the walk and it may be canceled due to inclement weather.

Screen Gem Studios
1223 N 23rd Street
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 343-3433
tours@screengemsstudios.com

You don’t call to get reserved tickets, just show up at the studios. When you pull into the entrance at the security guard, go to the parking lot on your right and then walk back up to the building in the parking lot and go in the door. They will be in there selling tickets and getting you into groups. They take cash or check…no debit/credit cards!

You will be taken to the screening room and then to one or more sets but probably not all of them. We saw Naley’s house, the school, Peyton’s office and BP’s apartment. Lucas’ house tends to be left out a lot it seems. Absolutely no pictures are allowed. They will make you delete them and then kick you out. So be ready to have a photographic memory and then email us with spoilerish info lol. And enjoy!

Can I get an autographed picture of [fill in the blank]?

You can send your request to:

One Tree Hill
C/O (The actor or actors you want an auto from)
1223 N. 23rd Street
Wilmington, NC
28405

You need to include a self addressed stamped envelope. And the best way to get something back signed is to send something. So send the picture to be signed.