It’s late, I look at my watch it’s 1:30 am Monday morning, but by our body clock it’s actually 2:30 am. We’re both tired, but not ready for any of this to end. I look over at Taylor and give her the look……..the “it’s time to go” look. Her head drops and I can see she’s disappointed. We gather our stuff and head for the gym door and out into the night air.
The next morning we’re off to the airport to head back home. As we wait for our plane I’m going over the weekends events in my head, the whole thing is still unbelievable to me. In one instance a couple of weeks ago Taylor came to me discouraged and said, “Mom, I don’t think it will ever happen.” What she was referring to was the fact that she has been sending resumes and head-shots to Disney and Utah Extra’s for about eight months, every month hoping to get something. I explain to her that it’s probably because we don’t live in Utah, it makes sense for them to use people locally. “Yeah, your probably right” she says sadly. Then on Tuesday the 13th of May Taylor gets an email notification, (a day before her birthday her 15th birthday)asking us to call. I’m in my room where our computer is located and Taylor’s on it. I hear a blood curdling scream and look over to her. She is hyperventilating and her eyes are bugging out of her head. I scream, “What! What Taylor!“ She can’t speak she’s just holding her chest. “They emailed” is all she could screech out. “Who emailed Taylor, Who?!” Her response “High School Musical 3, they want me as an extra!!!!!!” followed by a whole lot of screaming and running through the house. I stood there motionless. I couldn’t believe it……never would I have thought they’d contact us. Then, when it sunk in, I was screaming right along with her. We were hugging and screaming and screaming and more hugging. It was a really great moment. Plus, an awesome birthday present for her. I had so many plans to make at the last minute, plus I was getting ready for her family birthday party the next day. It was a crazy whirlwind. We ended up canceling her birthday party she had planned for Saturday with her friends, but believe me she was okay with it.
Now looking back over the whole experience, it was amazing. Something we’ll never forget. I know we were just extras, but we felt blessed just to be asked. All in all, we’ll consider ourselves lucky if we have a two second flash by and not end up on the cutting room floor. If we aren‘t cut, I’m sure we’ll have to wait until the DVD comes out so that we can slo-mo through the scenes we’re in to see if we can find our selves. And we’ll be so happy for that. We decided to have our own little premier party when it releases for our family and friends. Telling them they may not see us at all but we still plan on having fun with it.
You know that saying “like a fly on the wall”? And how many times as Zanessa fans have we wished to be that fly on the wall around them. I know I have. Well, for a moment in time Taylor and I were lucky enough to be that proverbial fly on the wall. We got a little glimpse into what their life is really like, how hard they work and their dedication to their craft, also how much they respect one another as a couple and others around them. I can’t wait until this movie is out so that you can relive our whole story. In closing I want to say Taylor and I are left with some really fabulous memories and a couple of t-shirts and MAYBE two minutes of fame (I think that leaves us 13 minutes left 
) and we will never forget our weekend together.
I want to thank every one of the ZA admins for their dedication to keeping up a spectacular Zac and Vanessa site, I love it. Also, for putting up with all of my turmoil, sorry. I luv you guys!
Remember Everyone……Love and respect yourself first, that way you’ll find it much easier to love and respect others. Think about it. Let’s get rid of the hate. And last, but certainly not least, as all Za’s would say “Live in Love” everyone……….Tootles!
May 25th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Kim, thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience with us! I thoroughly enjoyed reading your detailed accounts of everything you had witnessed, and now am disappointed that there won’t be any more reports to look forward to reading. Thanks again for thinking of all the other Zac & Vanessa fans, but hopefully we’ll be able to hear about Taylor’s experience when she starts her job as an extra! Congratulations, by the way, on being selected as one of the extras, Taylor!
May 25th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Once again, thanks for sharing your experience Kim. I teared up a little in the end. I could definitely feel your emotions, hence why we decided not to change your words. We wanted others to feel like they were with you. And with the way you explain things soo beautifully…it would have been a shame to butcher it up.
Anyways…thank you soo much!!
May 25th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Kim ,
Thanks for sharing your incredible experience with us. I know how you must have felt being able to bring your 15 year old there. I seriously considered bringing my 15 year old daughter and 16 year old son who are really into the arts too but we couldn’t swing it financially. Again, thanks for sharing and good luck to your daughter on her career.
May 25th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Kim, thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience with us. I teared up sometimes. I´m 33 years old, from Brazil and so in love with Zanessa. Thanks again for thinking of all the other Zac & Vanessa fans.
May 25th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Thanks everyone! I really appreciate your responses and I’m sorry if I upset anyone in the process. That certainly was not my intent. I am really looking forward to the movie’s premier as are you and then finally giving you the whole experience. It’s only five months and I’m sure we’ll get lots of news to keep us going during that time. Quite frankly, I am now really looking forward to the MTV movie awards with Audrey and Dee’s experience. How exciting for you two. And you’ll be able to take pictures!! lucky you. Again, everyone thanks for taking the time to read. I just wanted share our wonderful experience with you.
May 25th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Thank you Kim and Taylor for sharing your story….it has been so much fun to read and imagine myself and my daughter in your places….what an amazing time !! Thanks again for taking the time to share it !!
May 25th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
thanks kim and taylor for the story u gave us on zac and vanessa
May 25th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Thank you Kim and Taylor for sharing your story!
i enjoyed reading it!
you rock!
May 25th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
i love it but there was no sightings this time and im sad you didnt get to meet the cast was ashley there at all? can you tell us a bit about the other cast membders plz? why didnt you stay the whole time? i wonder how they went abpuiyt choosing the extars well good job and congrats
May 26th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Charlene,
We have asked repeatedly now that you PLEASE refrain from your repeat postings concerning obtaining personal information about Kim and/or other extras visiting the ZAAngels Blog. We insist you cease doing this. Thank you.
May 26th, 2008 at 3:10 am
Aaw. Kim thanks for your story, I know I personally waited on it! Thanks for your story..
I’m glad you and daughter Taylor enjoyed your time at SLC..
Hope we can speak at the rooftop sometime.
xx
May 26th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Thank you sooo much for sharing this! I loved reading it. Congratulations on being extras!
May 26th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
thanks amazing
May 26th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
thanks for sharing your experience with us. i can’t wait for Hsm3
May 26th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Thank you, Kim for your dedication to Zanessa and I thoroughly enjoyed the Zanessa moments. Audrey and Dee, you lucky, lucky girls! Hope Zac gets to be there with Vanessa and I do look forward to your accounts.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Thank you for sharing your experience…. Love all the Zanessa moments….
October 28th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Many thanks to Kim and Taylor for sharing your great experience with us!! It was amazing to read how much repetition goes into movie filming, until the scene is just right! The final product proves what a perfectionist Kenny Ortega really is. The Zac and Vanessa moments show how caring these two are; and those were just glimpses of how they really feel about each other. We don’t like to pry, but geez, they just make us believe in romance again!!
Thanks again, and so thrilled you had just a wonderful mother-daughter experience together!! Memories for a lifetime!!
October 29th, 2008 at 1:06 am
Thanks so much for sharing your experience! It was wonderful to read about butt pads and more.
Maybe I’ll try to become an extra for HSM 4 (though, without the original main cast, I don’t think I’d be nearly as excited)!
October 29th, 2008 at 6:26 am
Dear Kim, I had the EXACT experience you wrote about in the 6 parts to the letter. I must have been right by you with my daughter, we were in the first row right behind the WH Knights.Email me (amenfamily@msn.com) I would like to tell you something additional. I printed and saved your words for they were the same things we went through, its as if I wrote them myself, amazing!!!
Thanks so much.
October 30th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Thank you so, so, so, so much Kim! This was so awesome and it was so cool to get from a real POV what Z&V are like. I wish it were me out there ;P
December 15th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Thank you so so much for sharing your experiences with us..
You have no idea how much THAT MEANS to me…
I haven’t watched High School Musical 3 cuz it hasn’t arrived to my country and im living in a country which has no way of seeing Zanessa or any others celebs
Thank you a milllion times for sharing that.. I feel so lucky even just to get to read this …this means a world to me…
Thank you Kim and your daughter Taylor.. =D