If you are stepping out in Warrawong tonight, don't be surprised if you spot a vintage Rolls-Royce and actors from The Great Gatsby dressed in period costume.
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Up to 10 Illawarra people who had parts in the movie will get back into character tonight to give the red-carpet treatment to 400 people who have bought tickets to a special charity screening of the movie at the Gala Cinema.
The actors each worked up to three months on the film and are reliving their parts following an invitation from Wollongong hairdresser Sue-Ellen Heycott, who organised the event to raise money for a small local charity called Interchange Illawarra.
Ms Heycott initially raised the idea with friend Dave Gorr, who was an extra in many of the film's party scenes.
"I do fund-raisers and said we should do a local event using all the extras from Wollongong and encourage people to go to an op shop and dress up for it," she said.
"It is also an opportunity to give our local actors a little recognition."
Ms Heycott is also friends with Interchange respite co-ordinator Kylie Ramstadius and was aware of the local charity's needs.
Mr Gorr contacted all the local people in the film as well as others from Sydney, who have agreed to come down tonight.
Gala owner Ian Hyslop agreed to make the cinema available to help the cause.
Many of the Wollongong actors have stories to tell about their close encounters with major stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio during filming of The Great Gatsby.
Frank Kuulkers, of Mount Ousley, has never acted before and got his part because of the car he owns, an early model Rolls-Royce.
He drove some of the stars around in scenes in the movie and even got to chat to many of them.
"It was unreal," he said.
Mr Kuulkers said there were so few early model Rolls-Royces in Australia that the producers spent $3.5 million importing some, including a Duesenberg, from the United States.
David Adams, of Berkeley, has been acting for six years and, like Mr Gorr, has played parts in several television programs.
"I played one of the Warner Bros, Sam Warner," he said.
"A whole group of us from Wollongong became very firm friends."
Melinda Wenig is a make-up artist who has been a dancer and a film extra.
She said she enjoyed her role as a well-to-do-lady in the party scenes so much that she looked forward to doing more movies.
