SubmittedJamie Springs (left), 16, and her sister, Samantha Springs, 10, are photographed recently on the set of Tim McGraw’s music video “Southern Voice.”

Fifty-three seconds into the new Tim McGraw video, some familiar faces make an appearance.

That’s because local sisters Jamie and Samantha Springs are seen whispering beside the country artist’s band before giggling and dashing in front of the cowboy-hatted crew.

The girls said they began modeling in February when they were recently called by their agency, Advantage Models and Talent, to audition for the music video of McGraw’s song “Southern Voice.”

When they didn’t hear back from directors in the days that followed, Jamie, 16, a sophomore at Greenwood High School, and Samantha, 10, a fifth-grader at Briarwood Elementary School, said they were looking forward to the next big break.

But a phone call came on a Friday that had them packing their bags and heading to Watertown, Tenn., the following Monday as they were selected from more than 100 kids and adults who auditioned.

“It was really exciting, especially when we thought we didn’t get the part but actually did,” Jamie said. “So it was exciting … I was at a friend’s house when I got the call for the audition so I had to tell that friend I got the part. Then I got to tell my whole soccer team about it because we had a game coming up.”

Dressed in “simple Southern” attire, the girls said it took more than 30 takes before the directors called it a wrap. The girls didn’t mind too much though, as they were just feet away from the famous country star and the members of the band kept them entertained with some off-stage humor.

“We had to walk in from the side, say ‘hey’ to the band and then walk right in front of (McGraw),” Jamie said. “His band talked to us. We were having a casual conversation. They were really down to earth.”

Samantha said she never knew how much work a music video took, but learned so much about the process.

“I thought it was going to be really simple,” she said. “Every time we’d say ‘hi’ to him I thought, ‘phew,’ that was it. But we kept doing it over and over again. It was a really fun experience though.”

The girls had their makeup done and said they felt like stars on their first big gig as residents of the Watertown community were standing off the set and watching the filming.

“They kept saying: ‘You are so lucky right now. I’d give anything to be in this video and walk past him,’ ’’ Jamie said.

Nise Davies, founder of Advantage Models and Talent, said she knew when she met the girls that they had something to offer. Davies, who represented Miley Cyrus until the child star moved to California, said Jamie and Samantha are extremely coachable and practice what they learn to continually enhance their skills.

Davies said she has been impressed with the can-do attitude the girls bring to modeling and acting that keeps them learning and gaining confidence.

“They’re like pretty girls next door,” Davies said. “I think they will do really well.”

The actresses’ mother, Gabbie Springs, said Samantha has always been a natural actress, once encouraging her entire kindergarten class to join her in karaoke. She said she wanted to lightly introduce the girls to modeling as a project to see if they would like it.

Samantha actually encouraged Jamie to pursue the field, Gabbie said, and the older sister has gone on to sign with Elite Model Management Corporation of Atlanta.

“Sam was like ‘what do you have to lose,’ ” Jamie said, patting her younger sister on the back. “Whatever happens to me in life, I have to give Sam credit.”

Gabbie Springs said the girls have gone on to audition for other projects, and Sam is waiting to hear what role she will have on an upcoming Nickelodeon show. Jamie will appear soon as an extra in a movie made for Lifeway Christian Book Store.

The mother said even when the girls don’t get a part, they both agree that they learn a lot from the experience and carry that forward to the next audition. She said she has watched her daughters’ confidence level soar as they gain communication and character building skills they can use throughout life.

“This is such a huge learning experience and learning curve,” she said. “We’ve always been sports oriented, but this is a whole new area of experience to make great memories with. We went into this with blind faith and it seems like doors have just opened up.”