How many times has a parent said, “What are you daydreaming about? Turn the TV off! Why don't you read a book or do something else?”

Paris Jones responded to his mother by saying, “I want to be different.”

Paris H. Jones is the son of Alvin Jones, of Richmond, and Angeline Jones Holliman, of Prospect. He a 2010 graduate of Prince Edward County High School and is currently a student in computer programming at Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg. Paris is also an employee of Central Virginia Regional Library in Farmville.

When Paris heard an announcement on television making a casting call for extras for Steven Spielberg's movie about Abraham Lincoln it immediately caught his attention. Spielberg was searching for specific “people types.” The movie “extras” had to be a certain height and weight and had to have a beard or be willing to grow a beard. Jones was ready on the last day of casting for the “extras.” He asked his mother to take him to Richmond, and she said – “Let's go!”

Paris and his mother found the location, and he filled out the necessary paperwork. Paris got in line with the other “extras” that had heard the same TV announcement. Paris was #667.

The rest of this story about this movie enthusiast is now, as he described it, “pure history.” Since Jones showed up for the his first “casting call” in Richmond, he has had the opportunity to appear in six movies and television productions under the leadership of Director-Producer Steven Spielberg and additional directors Justial Rossbacher, Praheme Prophet, Timothy Messler, Kevin Hershberger and the Public Broadcasting System. Recently, Paris has been called to be in several television commercials – one of which was filmed in Farmville.

Jones has always been a movie buff. He goes to a movie theater at least once a week to enjoy his favorites types of films – action films and comedy and historical films. His favorite actors include Tyler Perry, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Bruce Willis, William “Bill” Cosby, Johnny Depp, Danny Glover, Clint Eastwood, Samuel L. Jackson, Vin Diesel, Nicholas Cage, Jason Statham and Brad Pitt. Female actress favorites are Sandra Bullock, Philicia Rashad, Whoopi Goldberg, Angelina Jolie, and Jessica Alba.

Paris's experiences in movie making have allowed him to travel to various parts of Virginia. In Petersburg, he appeared in locations on Joseph Jenkins Roberts and River Streets. He has had the privilege to meet Tim and Daphne Reid at their New Millennium Studios and will appear in their upcoming movie, Troop 491.

In Richmond, Paris was filming on the grounds of the Capitol. Filming also took place in Powhatan County, Goochland County, and on the grounds of the James River Correctional Center State Farm. Paris has also been involved in the filming that was done on the campus of Liberty University, Lynchburg, when they made Finding Faith starring Eric Estrada.

In addition to “extra” roles, Paris has had the opportunity to play bit parts. In the upcoming Lincoln movie, which opens in theaters Nov 16, Paris plays the role of a young father with children. In another film, Paris didn't know he was scheduled to be close to deceased people and dismembered body parts. Steven Spielberg wanted the camera facing Paris's face to capture his initial facial expressions when he discovered the dead bodies and body parts.

Paris has also had the opportunity to do a “stand in” with Daniel Day Lewis, the actor who plays Lincoln.

Since answering that first casting call, Paris Jones has been floating on “Cloud Nine.”

“All the things that have happened to me have been awesome!” he concluded. “It has been my chance of a lifetime.”