The casting person was looking for kids that had experience playing football so he was an easy sell for the gig.
When Zach was on the show last year, we went to the set where they film each episode. The shoot this time was at a high school in Pacific Palisades. A simple drive on the 101 to the 405 to Sunset or Ventura to Sepulveda to Sunset.
"The set" was a high school football stadium.
For the second year in a row, none of the women cast members were on the set. The scene featured Eric Stonestreet and the two young boys of the "family".
The first task on set was going to wardrobe. The extras were waiting in line when Rico Rodriguez appeared out of nowhere. He walked up to group and (politely) yelled "Yay Football!" and then disappeared. He seems like a nice kid who would talk to a brick wall if he had a chance.
The casting folks were a little panicked booking the actors to be on the football team. There appears to be a lack of teenage male actors who can actually play football.
Zach was cast as the center after it was discovered he was the only kid who knew how to play the position.
The players were put in position and the camera was ready to roll when the director realized something was wrong.
The director asked, "How big are these kids???" (They were supposed to look like freshmen in high school) He made all of the boys line up and had them shout their ages:
"16!", "14!", "16!", "25!", "23!"
The casting department couldn't find enough teenage kids to fill the spots so they had to resort to actors in their 20s. One of the "freshmen" had tattoos and a goatee!
All of the "older freshmen" were asked to leave for the day (they were paid!) and the director worked around the lack of players.
At least one of these players is a teenager...
It was a good news/bad news situation. The crew wasn't able to get all of their shots for the day but Zach got a call back to work another day on set!
Eric Stonestreet talking to the actors between takes.
Playing cards at lunch.
Zach walked away impressed with the cast and crew. It's always nice to meet people you watch on TV and find out they are just as nice in real life!
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