David Brooks of Sparta (front, center) pauses for a photo on the scene of the movie “3” during filming in May 2004. In the background are other actors from the movie.

Taste of Fame

A local man made his debut in the movie business recently when he had the opportunity to take part in a movie about the life of Dale Earnhardt.

David Brooks, who owns a local floral shop, is very modest about his roles in the film, which was named “3” and first aired on ESPN in December.

“We first knew about this movie from the Internet,” Brooks said. “Some of the racing sites were posting the casting calls, one of them was held at Concord Mall.”

Arriving an hour early that April morning in 2004, Brooks found about 100 people already waiting in line.

“When the interviews actually started, the line was completely out into the parking lot of the mall,” he recalled. “After the interview, we were told that if they needed us, they would call within a week.” Although anxious about the prospective role, Brooks tried not to wait by the phone. “The days slowly went by,” he said.

After waiting for about a week, Brooks received the phone call from casting agent Tona Dahlquist that he had been waiting for. He noted that Dahlquist has worked on casting for movies including the 1997 remake of “That Darn Cat,” “Forrest Gump,” “The Program,” “Radio” and “Nutty Professor II.”

Learning of her husband’s opportunity, Connie Brooks said, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing and you have to go.”

The couple have two children, 6-year-old Kansas and 3-year-old River, and together own and operate Brookside Florist in

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