Nearly 700 extras carrying shopping bags, bottles of water and expectations of seeing the stars took over Front Street in Natchitoches today for the filming of 'The Year Without a Santa Claus,' a Christmas TV movie.

They caught glimpses of John Goodman, Eddie Griffin and Ethan Suplee filming scenes with reindeer downtown, where Christmas trees decorated storefronts and wreaths adorned traffic signs.

Extras seemed to be happy sweating out the experience.

"I just wanted to watch. It’s interesting," said Tina Oliver, of Natchitoches. She and her daughter, Rachel Oliver, are serving as unpaid extras in the sweltering heat under sunny skies.

Added Tina: "Oh, it’s ridiculously hot." Rachel was thrilled to watch the stars work from up close.

"I love it," she said, while waiting to walk through the background of the scene. "I’m wanting to be in the picture."

Her mother said the disruption of downtown Natchitoches life was not unusual.

"We’re always closing down the streets for dances, festivals and Christmas lights, so we’re pretty much used to it."

Elston Howard, location manager, said shooting in Natchitoches is going smoothly. Local businesses are being cooperating, he said, even allowing Goodman, who is dressed in a full Santa suit and beard, to duck into storefronts to cool off.

"Small towns are great," said New Orleans native Howard, who has worked on many films in Louisiana.

"This is probably the most challenging production for me," he said, referencing creating a winter scene in the middle of a Louisiana summer. "But this has been the easiest shoot. There is never a question of how to get into a store or who to contact when we need to get things done."