Monuments and landmarks are not the only thing Black Hills residents might recognize in "National Treasure: Book of Secrets."

More than 100 local people were cast as extras in the film for scenes shot in April at Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

Jenny Johnson of Hill City was an extra in the film, which premieres in theaters today. She played a tourist at Mount Rushmore.

Johnson heard about the movie's casting call in Rapid City and thought it sounded fun to be an extra. She said as an extra, there was a lot of waiting around while the scenes were filmed.

"Then they would say, walk from here to here and then start again from the beginning," Johnson said.

Although she knows there is a possibility the footage she was in was not used in the finished movie, Johnson said she still plans to see it.

Johnson's only other acting experience was several years ago when she played a teenager in an episode of the television series "Power Rangers."

Johnson was living in California then. She laughs about the experience.

"In that one, I got to dance around at a school dance," she said.

She said one of the most interesting things about being an extra in "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" was observing the scenes being shot.

Although she did not meet any of the actors, she said one of the scenes involved her walking next to Nicolas Cage.

"I had to walk right next to him and act like I wasn't looking at him," Johnson said.

While she is not interested in acting as a career, she would jump at another opportunity to be an extra.

Dan McBee of Black Hawk took time from his job as a certified nursing assistant at Rapid City Regional Hospital to try his hand at acting, a career that has intrigued him for some time.

McBee also played a tourist in the crowd at Mount Rushmore.

"I have an interest in acting but haven't been involved for a while," McBee said.

He was involved in plays in college and was in a local commercial several years ago.

"It's something I've always kind of wanted to do, but never really pursued it more," he said.

The day of filming at Mount Rushmore was long and involved a lot of waiting around, but McBee did not mind.

"I was just on cloud nine that day," he said. "It was exciting to be a part of the process and see what it was like."

He said some of his co-workers at the hospital began calling him "Mr. Hollywood" after the movie shoot.

"I wouldn't go that far," he said. "But I do have some aspirations toward acting."

If you go

What: "National Treasure: Book of Secrets"

When: Today, Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 4:25 p.m., 7 p.m., 7:20 p.m., 9:55 p.m. and 10:10 p.m.

Where: Carmike Stadium 10

Contact Katie Brown at 394-8318 or katie.brown@rapidcityjournal.com