A new Netflix original TV show “13 Reasons Why” has attracted quite a following since its release on March 31.

The show is based on the novel of the same name, written by Jay Asher, and it is co-produced by Selena Gomez.

The plot revolves around the fictional suicide of high school studenr Hannah Baker, and the cassette tapes, which she left behind for various students whom she held responsible for her death.

The show was shot entirely in Northern California, primarily Vallejo.

Junior Noelle Jones was able to participate in the making of the show by serving as an extra.

Jones said her friend Jason Wong, who is a junior at Foothill High School in Pleasanton, was the one who first discovered the opportunity to serve as an extra.

“I saw this article online that they were looking for extras to be in this show that Selena Gomez was producing,” Wong said. “They said it was a show based off the book ‘13 Reasons Why,’ so I basically just looked up a summary. I thought it was interesting.”

Wong told Jones about it, who also found the story intriguing, and she agreed to be a part of it. The two friends spent one day on set last July during the filming the first two episodes.

“Our call time was 7 a.m. and we didn’t leave until 5 p.m.,” Wong said. “And it was in Vallejo, so we had to wake up at 5 a.m.”

Their entire day was spent filming only two scenes, one of which was only about one minute in total, but took about two hours to shoot, Wong said.

“We were on the bleachers, [and we had to] redo different scenes over and over and over again,” Jones said.

The tedious work paid off for Jones when she was able to meet Steven Silver and Justin Prentice, the actors who portray characters Marcus and Bryce, respectively.

“It was cool! They were both really nice and seemed to have a real positive attitude,” Jones said of the meeting. “They didn’t hesitate to talk to the other extras there and were both very kind.”

Wong got the opportunity to converse with the casting directors and the book’s author, Asher,  himself. Wong said Asher and the casting director were in the tent with the extras waiting for their scenes.

Much to the disappointment of Jones and Wong, Gomez was not on set that day.

Recently, there has been controversy over the show’s material. Some say that the series trivializes suicide, while others praise it for spreading awareness.

“I can see where they’re coming from,” said Jones,  referencing those who are upset about the show. “But I think it’s good. I haven’t seen a TV show like that.”

Regardless of conflicting opinions about the show, the personal experiences of Wong and Jones behind the scenes were all positive.