GEORGETOWN, SC — Extras from Andrews, Georgetown, Pawleys Island and Myrtle Beach showed their blue crab eating skills Tuesday as day two of filming for “The Bay” began on Front Street.

As Director Barry Levinson called for action, the group of participants ate Maryland Blue Crabs at a fictional festival in the town of Claridge, Maryland.

As real Georgetown Mayor Jack Scoville stood near one of the vending booths, Frank Deal, portraying Claridge Mayor John Stockman, shook hands and welcomed people to the festival supposedly held on the Fourth of July.

After that, the action really started as residents of Claridge began to become ill from eating blue crabs.

The aftermath of the ecological disaster will be filmed Wednesday, production employees said.

Traffic jam filiming

“This is a dream come true, working with Barry Levinson,” Deal said. “It doesn’t get any better than this. I’m having a great time. The townspeople are phenomenal.”

A frantic traffic jam was filmed Monday night on the bridges leading out of Georgetown.

The action on Tuesday featured many local residents, who set up booths during the fictional festival.

Everything from jewelry to wooden, painted boat paddles were on display, but not for sale, on Tuesday.

Jay Bazemore said he was going to give Barry Levinson a painted boat paddle with a picture of a crab on it as a gift.

Donna Ardito set up her booth, Bead a Lings, after she was asked to be part of the background filming.

“We have jewelry, fabric and quilling,’’ she said.

Miss Crustacean

Many people posed with Levinson for pictures, including Miss Teen Charleston, Keyla Childs.

Childs portrayed “Miss Crustacean,’’ a beauty queen, during the pretend festival.

Her mother said Miss Crustacean meets a sad end during the movie, which they just learned this week.

Monday filming

By Monday, American flags were already waving downtown and red, white and blue lighted decorations were in place on light poles.

Visitors strolled through the hurried filming on Monday, watching as extras were moved back and forth from the Strand Theater to the Buzz’s Roost.

“It’s been a blast,’’ said an extra, who says he lives on a boat in Georgetown. “It’s kind of a neat experience.”

The extras got a chance to meet Levinson, who also directed Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man.

“He’s funny,’’ said an extra in the film. “He’s nice.”

Scoville said the movie has been good for Georgetown’s economy.

 Some news outlets have said the movie will put at least $1 million in Georgetown’s economy.

The cast and crew have rented local homes, hotel rooms and used local restaurants for catering, Scoville said.

The filming was not stopping people from shopping on Front Street this week.

“It seems like there are more people in Georgetown than usual,’” Scoville said. “It’s created a lot of buzz and there is a lot of money coming in.  It’s good for the city and, hopefully, the feedback will be positive.”

Some people working in and around Georgetown on Monday were initially unaware they were near a movie set.

Lunch continued in the main area of the Buzz’s Roost, with no complaints from people munching on burgers and fries.

“We thought it was closed, but it wasn’t,’’ said Bonita Bick. “As long as we’ve got food, we’re good.”

By Kelly Marshall Fuller

Kfuller@gtowntimes.com