A horde of aspiring werewolves, trolls and fire-breathing dragons lined up outside the Lloyd District DoubleTree hotel on Sunday, hoping for a brush with fame.

The crowd, more than 500 in all, gathered for an open casting call to be extras on

the set-in-Portland, supernatural procedural that will air its third season on NBC this fall. Some were aspiring actors. Others just looking for work. Some were fans of the show. Others hadn't seen an episode.

Just in front of the hotel doors, Audie Collins, 60, said he arrived about 7:30 a.m. to be first in line. Collins said he was just looking for work. A little ways down the line, Portlander Ken Body, his long black hair falling around a pair of mirrored shades, said he'd seen only one episode of "Grimm," but he "liked the whole demon thing going on."

Around the corner on Northeast Multnomah Street, Conan Harmon-Walker stood in the shade in a long black duster and explained why he was spending the bulk of his Sunday waiting in line.

"My friend Anthony posted a link about the casting call," Harmon-Walker said. "As a fan, I'll do anything to support the show."

Harmon-Walker said he follows several supernaturally inclined shows, but "Grimm" might be his favorite.

"They have a very sophisticated and intelligent plotline, engaging characters and Portland is beautiful," he said. "What's not to like?"

Further back, Jordan Davis, in a skinny tie and plastic sunglasses, said he tried out unsuccessfully for an extra job on the

film "Last Days." He had more success with IFC's

nabbing an extra role as "background dancer." He did a little jig.

Davis' friend Becca Therkelsen says acting could be fun, but her passion is costume design. Still, if she's chosen, she said she'd love to be "a zombie or something with a lot of makeup."

That's unlikely, says Eddie Harris, an aspiring musician. Even those picked Sunday are unlikely to be cast as Wesen, the mythological creatures hunted by fictional Portland Police Bureau detective Nick Burkhardt.

"I've been an extra in a few of these before, (including)

Harris says, referring to the recently canceled TNT drama. "There's a lot of waiting and sitting."

-- Michael Russell