Here's What It's Like to Film on 'Empire'

A movie or TV show filming in town is always exciting and one man got to experience the filming first-hand.

Jake Weaver, a 19-year-old resident of Channahon, has already made appearances on Chicago MED,” but when he learned of the casting for extras for “Empire” in Joliet, he decided to try out.

For the extras casting, he had to show up at the Rialto Theatre with a headshot that included his personal information on the back.

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“After that, you go in and they’ll talk to you and you have to let them know the dates you’re available for filming,” Weaver said.

From there, you either got a phone call or an email saying you’ve been selected to work. Weaver said you’d also get an email saying what time you should show up on set.

Weaver had to sign a contract saying he wouldn’t take photos or release any information about what was filmed on the set.

“Obviously, people know that we filmed at the Rialto because it was all over the place,” he said.

However, he had plenty of details to share about what an extra’s day is like.

It was a long day for a lot of the people. Some had to show up on set at 8:45 a.m. and filming didn’t get done until midnight. Weaver had to arrive on the set at 9:15 a.m.

“When you get there they check you in, you sign the contract and then you fill out your work form for the day,” Weaver said.

But for the most part, it was a lot of waiting.

“Some people had to wait eight or nine hours until they were on set,” Weaver said.

But with all the waiting, the extras were fed well. Weaver said that there was food always available and at the end of the day they brought in a lot of pizza for everyone. And they got paid for it.

“It was great,” Weaver said.

But with all that, it’s still a long day.

“After they wrapped with the extras, they were still filming,” Weaver said. “I talked with someone from ‘Empire’ and they said they’re usually here for 12 hours.”

Of the people that came out, Weaver said most of them were from Chicago and that there weren’t a lot of locals there. One man even came from Milwaukee.

“A lot of them we’re like, ’Okay, we’re wrapped. Now I’ve gotta go drive the hour home,’” Weaver said.

Some of the show’s stars were also on set, but Weaver, who claims he’s never watched an episode of the show, couldn’t name them.

“I had to ask people, ’What is this show even about,’” Weaver said.

According to IMDb, “Empire” is about a hip-hop mogul and the drama that unfolds between him and his family. It stars Terrence Horward and Taraji P. Henson.

As of now, Weaver doesn’t know if he’ll be doing anymore filming for “Empire,” but he’s open to it.

“If ’Empire’ ever comes back to town I’d love to work for them again,” he said.

“Empire” airs at 8 p.m. central Wednesdays.