As you know by now, STAR TREK BEYOND will be traveling to the Middle East this fall for Star Trek‘s first overseas shoot — and this week local fans and movie buffs in Dubai are lining up to nab coveted background extra roles in the upcoming production.

Miranda Davidson Studios held the first of a three-day casting call for “the largest feature film to shoot in Dubai in five years” today, with the open call running through August 13.

Local reporter Marwa Harwad of GulfNews.com went through the casting process today, and shared her experiences online:

Earlier in the year, we learned that “Washington” was the code name for the production, as seen on some signs in Vancouver, where the movie had also filmed. Sure enough, signs around Dubai Studio City, Soundstage B, declared a “Washington casting” was taking place, all but confirming our suspicions. A strict no-photo, no-video policy was in place, and enforced. Someone walks in with a little whiteboard with my name and phone number on it. I’m led into a cramped room where a singular studio light is aimed towards a blank wall, and a really kind and encouraging woman is taking photographs. I stand tall in the glare of the spotlight and smile. I’m told to show my teeth, even though I look cuter with my mouth shut. After a couple more profile shots, I’m asked to take off my shoes and go next door for measurements. As they measure me from head-to-toe, my mind is whirring with possibilities of what I would be wearing for this potential extra role. An alien costume? A metallic leotard? A high-tech robot suit? They took all the standard measurements — height, shoulders, crown, bust, waist, sleeve inseam. But intriguingly, they also measured my ‘glove’, or the space between my wrist and the tip of my middle finger, and my ring finger. (Was Idris Elba going to propose to me? Or was this a sign that the extras would have to wear some sort of full armour?) At the end of it all, they put me in a couple of blazers to see which one fell right on my shoulders, jotted down my shoe size, and sent me on my way.

One of the casting hopefuls told us that they won’t know if they’ve made the cut for another few days, until at least after the end of the week’s casting sessions.

Are you reading this and you’re in Dubai? Then get over to Dubai Studio City and try your luck at getting a part in “Washington” — that is, STAR TREK BEYOND.