Despite operating under the code name "Corporate Headquarters," there was no mistaking on anybody's part that the open casting call for extras that took place Saturday in Burbank was for the "Star Trek" movie now in production.

In fact, the local CBS affiliate Channel 2 had a cameraman out there getting footage for a news report that evening (see the video at this CBS2.com link). And the Los Angeles Times certainly wasn't fooled either.

There were at least 500 people who stood in line outside the small office of the Hollywood OS casting agency, winding around the corner through a parking lot and down the alley for more than two blocks. The hopefuls were a combination of Star Trek fans who found out about the open casting call through this and various other sites, and other frequent background performers who normally respond to such calls.

An employee of the casting firm told us that the turnout for this call was "larger than normal," but "not unprecedented." After all, they've done casting for the "Indiana Jones" films and other popular blockbusters.

The call was for "military types" — apparently for Starfleet officers or cadets — and those whose eyebrows can be shaped into a "Vulcan"-like fashion. They were also seeking extras with "interesting and unique facial features," apparently for a variety of aliens. But for the most part, those who showed up were pretty much regular-looking people.

Despite the buzz among fans about this casting call, the crowd that turned out did not exactly look like a Star Trek convention. No Starfleet uniforms, pointy ears or other costumes or makeup designed to convince the casting people that they'd be perfect for the part ... well, except for one guy who came in a Starfleet redshirt... (See photo gallery.)

One person in line who caught our attention was David Lilly of Inglewood, California, who looked like he was vying for the part of a Klingon — very tall, sporting dreadlocks, and wearing a bulky leather outfit ... he's a motorcyclist, but he thought it would be cool to show up that way regardless. "I dream about being on Star Trek," Lilly said, explaining that he's a fan of the Original Series and that he heard about the call from his acting coach. But he wasn't looking to be a Klingon: "I do have something in mind. I think it's the Ferengi character, the big guy with the massive headache that he always has?" Actually, perhaps he's thinking of a Talosian... "Maybe with the dreads they can see something in me," he concluded hopefully before he went inside.

Though people waited in line for hours — the first showed up at 9:30 a.m. for the 2:30 call — the process, once they got inside, was very quick: basically, filling out a form and getting a photo taken.

Trek fan Justin Greenway of Sacramento has provided a first-hand account of the whole experience, from driving to L.A. to standing in line and meeting other applicants, to chatting with the casting people. Share the adventure vicariously on Page 2.