In addition to their sun, sand and surf, Bonita Beach-goers also get the little shoreline bonuses like tourists, seashells, insects, stringrays and the perpetual hunt for parking that can make the experience more enjoyable or annoying.

For the past month, Uncovered Productions has added another feature to the usual beach-going fair as it shoots the film "Still Green" right out for all the public to see.

"It is cool because everyone loves film," said actor Doug Spain, who plays one of the main roles in the movie. "Places like Los Angeles are so used to it they seem annoyed, but here they are very accepting, kind and courteous to what you are doing. In Los Angeles, some places they are like, 'No filming, please.'"

Uncovered had initially intended to shoot "Still Green" in California, but owner, producer and writer Georgia Menides reworked the entire script as a Bonita Springs movie after the company visited Naples while promoting another film and decided this was the perfect location.

"We totally fell in love with the community and the beach and everything here," Menides said. "The area has a lot of money, so you might expect a little bit of a snobby attitude, but here you don't have that."

"Still Green" is Uncovered's second feature film. It is about eight high school friends who vacation on the beach for one last hurrah before college when the drowning death of one of the friends forever changes their relationships. The title refers to the character's youth, the Bonita Springs' natural environment and the color of the Gulf of Mexico.

"The community has been great to us," Menides said. "We will definitely make more films here."

In the shooting running from Aug. 12 to Wednesday, the cast and crew said the reactions of the locals have fallen into two categories. Because the main interactions with the public are either the crowds who are gathered to watch or the people who are asked to step aside so they don't interrupt filming, beach-goers are either annoyed with the concessions they must make or fascinated by the movie-making process.

"For the most part, it seems people have been pretty cooperative," said actress Sarah Jones, who plays one of the friends. "This is definitely a new experience."

Even though she is making a product meant to be viewed by large audiences, Jones is bashful about standing in front of the crowds in her character's outfits, which are usually bikinis.

"I am very self-conscious," Jones said. "It is something I've had to deal with."

For most of the shoot, the crowds haven't been too large, said producer Paul McKinney, which is good because mobs create uncontrollable background noise and distractions for the actors.

One constant audience for the cast and crew has been the neighbors of the movie's beach house near Access 3 of Hickory Boulevard. They have been mostly helpful, Menides said, but do get frustrated when they are told to go inside if a particular scene calls for a deserted beach.

"I feel bad because they paid money to rent this place, but we still have to get the shoot," she said. "But we brought them some beer, so now it is all good."

The only real problem shoot was when the script called for an arm to wash up on a deserted beach. Because the Bonita Springs tourist season is still months away, the crew never had too much trouble making the beach look empty — except for this scene, which was shot on Labor Day.

"Normally this beach isn't that crowded, and it was only crowded here last weekend," Menides said.

Other than that, the filming has been going well, and everyone is pleased with how the movie is turning out.

"Every single scene is stunning because we are in paradise," Menides said. "This area is definitely paradise."

(Contact Staff Writer Brad Kane at 213-6041 or at bjkane@naplesnews.com)