10 years ago, ‘Jurassic World’ brought the ‘Jurassic Park’ franchise back from extinction. Since then, two sequels have come out, with more underway. But for many, the first ‘Jurassic World’ holds a special time and place, bringing to life the excitement of what a functioning dinosaur park could have been like.
In 2013, it was finally announced that the fourth film was on the horizon. Rumors that it would feature a fully realized theme park on Isla Nublar, known as Jurassic World, led to many questions running in everyone’s minds. It was quite a surprising direction for the story that most people didn’t see coming. When filming began in 2014, many fans flocked for the chance to personally take part in the experience. Cameras rolled in Hawaii first, but soon after that their lenses focused on several massive sets in New Orleans.
Featuring Incredible Behind The Scenes Memories, Images, & Footage!
In case you missed the original 4-part series, below is a rundown of what has come before. Otherwise, jump down to the new ’10th Anniversary Special.’
During 2023, Derrick Davis of Jurassic Time conversed with three fans who were lucky enough to have been extras (background cast members) at New Orleans: Anthony Feliciano, Bo Monarch, and Brent Kappel. Their discussions were edited into a 4-part video series that dove into the memories of their incredible experiences on the impressive sets of ‘Jurassic World.’ We got to hear their fun stories, along with a plethora of rare behind the scenes photos, video footage, and other unique imagery.
Anthony and Bo first describe what it was like filming the famous Mosasaur Stadium sequence. We learn how little of the set there actually was, and the simple methods used to create a much larger effect on screen. They also catch a glimpse of the original ‘Jurassic Park’ Visitor Center’s eerie ruins. Despite seeing the set from afar, it was enough to give them immense excitement.
In the second segment, Anthony and Bo look back at their experiences inside the highly-detailed Hammond Creation Lab and Samsung Innovation Center sets. We get a fun recollection of what they thought their scenes were about while being filmed, as well as some props, like a map, that they were able to take home with them.
For the third segment, Brent details the stunning Main Street set that was built next to an abandoned Six Flags amusement park. He gives us detailed descriptions of many Main Street locations, including the mostly-unseen Jurassic Traders Gift Shop, and the shock of Katie McGrath (who played Zara) performing some of her insane stunts on set.
The fourth segment of this series features Brent describing what it was like portraying a scientist in the Hammond Creation Lab, then reveals several props that mysteriously left with him. He tells a funny story involving Chris Pratt, and one of the props he shows us features a dinosaur dietary chart.
Now, for the 10th anniversary of ‘Jurassic World’ in 2025, Derrick engaged in conversations with a new group of extras from New Orleans and Hawaii. Through these discussions, a wealth of new stories emerged, accompanied by a vast array of images and footage. This special retrospective on the ‘Jurassic World’ extras experience was compiled into another 4-part video series to celebrate the occasion.
In the first segment, New Orleans extras Mariah Lambes, Chris Topher, Rob Miranda, and Brent Kappel discuss the Mosasaur Stadium, Samsung Innovation Center, and Main Street sets. For the first time, we learn about the hangar set, which is seen at the end of the film, where the survivors of Jurassic World gather after their terrible ordeals. An extraordinary act of kindness by the film’s director, Colin Trevorrow, is also revealed.
For the second segment, Mariah, Chris, Rob, and Brent describe more about the Main Street set in New Orleans, including a minor injury that occurred and the full version of Jimmy Buffett’s cameo. Attractions inspired by the film at Universal Studios theme parks, the use of digital doubles, and other surprising stories are also revealed.
The third segment takes us to Hawaii, where a whole new group of extras tell their stories about this location’s incredible sets. We begin with Audrey Chang, who describes the process of being an extra in Hawaii, what it was like being on the ferry that took visitors to Jurassic World, and arriving at the dock set. Cody Easterbrook continues the conversation as he describes the Indominus Rex paddock set, the original name of the hybrid dinosaur, his role in the film, and much more.
In the final fourth segment, Hawaii extra Ryota Takuma recounts stories about the Gyrosphere Loading Station set at Kualoa Ranch and the Hilton Isla Nublar Hotel set at the Hawaii Convention Center. Ryota also describes being part of a deleted scene, with some rare images and footage to help illustrate it. The concluding conversation features film enthusiast and photographer Charlie Chai, who reveals one-of-a-kind images and footage that he captured from several of Hawaii’s sets. We even get an incredibly rare look at the ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ version of Main Street in ruins.
All the extras Derrick spoke with, and surely many others, finally got to see their work in June 2015 when the film premiered around the world. No matter what they thought of the final product, seeing themselves on the big screen was a huge thrill. While the rest of us may be envious of their experiences, it is wonderful to have their recollections joined with all the imagery to finally get a real sense of what these sets were truly like. And, if only for a short time, we can also imagine we visited ‘Jurassic World’ just as they had.
One can’t deny that Jurassic World brought a franchise back from extinction. After a decade, hearing memories from the film’s extras made me recall the excitement and fun that Jurassic World brought to my life. Learning more about the incredible sets with detailed images and footage made me appreciate the artistry even more. It truly feels like a real place, and for Jurassic World’s extras, it was. For the rest of us, every fan has their own special stories of what the entire Jurassic Park series means to them, and it’s in these stories that life has truly found a way to bring us all together.
Which set from ‘Jurassic World’ do you wish you could have visited the most? Were you also an extra in the film, and if so, what scenes were you in? Share your comments below, and as always, stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest!
Interviews conducted & videos created by Derrick Davis. Article written by Derrick Davis, duplicated at Jurassic Time & Derrick Davis Media.
