Through My Eyes: Wild Child

"Hello?" I asked to an unrecognized phone number.
"Collin."
"Yes..."
"It's Teri," the voice now seemed familiar.
"Hi, Teri."
"I have a booking for you for September 11th, 12th and 13th for your SAG vouchers."
"You're kidding! That's fantastic. Yes, I can make it. No Problem. Can you email the contact information."
"You'll have it in 5."
"You're a doll, Teri. Thank you. Oh, wait. What's the name of the film?
"Wild Child."

I rose at 530 am that morning. Perhaps not a grand feat for some, I was not a morning person. I wore my favorite blue jeans and overly decorated black designer shirt. I was supposed to be a "rich kid" from Malibu. In fact, the recording description was something of the Justin Timberlake fashion. I grabbed suitable waiting material as I was hired as background or extra work which has a stigma of a lot of down time.

The sun was just climbing the mountains behind me as I bent around curving mountain roads. The ocean opened before me just as the sun touched my back. It was barely 630 am and it looked like I was going to be early.

I showed up to check into the lines of the next three days of my life. Extra work has taught me that you stand in one line, so you can stand in another, so you can move to one place and then another. Background is essentially living decoration.

"Hi, Collin Pelton," I spoke as if it were rehearsed.
"Hi Collin, I have you for all three days."
"Is that Non-Union?" Worry rose in my voice. I'd waited for this opportunity my entire career and it was slipping.
"Yes."
"I was told I was booked for three vouchers." I forgot to breathe. The Extra Wrangler, as they're called, looked over her list. I fainted and regained consciousness before anyone saw and was now breathing again.
"Oh, well I don't have that," My life was over. "But we can just move you on to that list."

No congratulations. No ceremony. Nothing. I just gained my eligibility into one of the hardest Unions to join in the world. Sweet. On the inside I was jumping. On the outside I slipped to my seat to fill out the three most important documents of my life. Next to me sat a lovely lady doing the same. She had not been as lucky with the vouchers. We were both non-union. But that life was going to be over after these three wonderful days.

"I'm going to sit with you guys," A stunning blonde haired young woman said. She plopped down next to me. Her eyes seemed like a window to the mixture of ocean and sky behind her. Oddly enough, her character's name was Skye. "I'm Kelsey." I'm... in trouble.

I could see that this one was going to cause me problems. She was as smart as she was beautiful. And she had been in the industry for a while. A quadruple threat. Or the five version. And I didn't like her ability to change my temperature. Not only that, she listened. We talked about Subconsciously, the first draft of my first feature length screenplay, and what it meant to have strong women in film. She loved the story and I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out how old she was.

"No, only 17!" Well, that worked out well. I can now go on with the rest of my shoot not looking at the underage goddess.
"You're not doing background work though," I commented.
"No," She spoke like a song. "I'm one of Poppy's Posse."
"Nice. Emma Roberts, right?"
"Yup. I actually read for this part. But Emma really liked it. I think it was down to me and one other girl before Emma. It's good script."
"Kelsey?" She looked away toward the voice. "We have you down here by the house."
"Okay, great. I guess I'll see you on set." I doubted it.
"We'll see." How could you hope not to see someone while also hoping you do? Seemed liked just the right amount of conflict for this hero.

My Non-Union partner, Stacie, and I were not as good at talking. But we tried until the fun started.

We were lined along the driveway of a huge white mansion. Cars drove by us as we filtered towards the house and the front door while the cameras rolled. It looked a lot more chaotic than it was. A few takes and camera moves later, I found Stacie by herself during a take. I ran to her and threw my arms around her. She turned ecstatically and hugged back. I turned around for just a second. Oh crap! The camera was right there. I spun and we jumped towards the door. I hope I didn't look into the camera. That's a big no no. It's called spiking the camera.

"Cut!" Linda, the Assistant Director yelled. "That's great! Let's hold here background." Which basically meant stand still where you were. It was creepy. Imagine 150 kids just standing there. Not really talking. The crew moved about.

"Where's the girl in the bikini?" Linda called. Stacie was that girl. Crew located her and pulled her to a spot. Like I told you, living decorations. "Oh you too. You hugged her, right?" No way.
"Yes."
"Great. We'll set you two up here." She pointed at the camera man. The crew does their thing for the next set up.

Stacie and I stood there, talking, watching, being living decorations.
"So," I tried to break the ice with the crew. "How long have you been behind a camera?"
"Since I was 18," the camera guy offered. His hair had silver tone to it. I would guess in his late thirties or early forties.
"So what is that like a year, that's not very impressive." Terrible, I know. Bad, horrible, you shouldn't use people's vanities to open up a line of dialogue.
"Nice." Oh thank God he laughed.
"I'm Collin."
"Peter." Funny, when I tried to look him up on imdb.com... I couldn't find him.
"Picture's up."
"Time to work. Just cross in front of you, right?"
"Yup, the two of you together."
"Start on 'and'," Linda added, now just behind Peter. "AND! Action!"

We did a few takes. Peter and I talked about film making, and writing. We talked about the crew and his favorite styles. Then suddenly, the day was over. Already this was proving to be a wonderful experience.

"Before you go, if you want to bring a swim suit. We need alternates for people and some may spend the day in the pool." Someone is going to pay me to play in a pool all day at a packed party? I love my job.

Another early wake up. Same clothes. I forgot coffee this time. In a college dorm, no one was moving at that hour. The drive was such a treat. I wished I could do this everyday. Winding, passing and following over the pavement to the Malibu shores. Subconsciously rode shotgun. It was bound for Kelsey's hands.

I changed into my swim suit and stood before the costume designer and 80 extras in my suit realizing possibly too late what I had subjected myself to. Of course she approved. I packed my former costume away and stepped carefully with bare feet to the set. Half way up, I realized new problems. I didn't have shoes and it's drafty by the ocean. I wasn't wearing much.

The second day was kind of a blur for a while. At one point, I was told to lay by the pool.
"You know, put your feet in the water, enjoy the sun. That kind of thing." I nodded at the Second Assistant Director standing under a huge light.
"I think I can manage that." She smiled. We were in on the same joke.
And there I sat. I bathed. I talked. It was the easiest job I had ever done to date. I had to be myself.

"Sunscreen?"
"Oh my god, yes," I replied without looking. "Andrea?"
"Hey. It's been a while." Andrea didn't remember me. Or at least my name.
"South Pavilion, with Brenda."
"Yes!" She shook her head. "I don't remember your name."
"It's fine. Collin." It was nice to see a familiar face when you are trying to grow in the film industry. The more familiar faces, the more it felt like I was on my way.

On a lunch break. I was finally able to check my voicemail.
"Hey Collin, it's Tom. Wow. I just finished your script. Truly an emotional roller coaster. I'd like to talk to you about it. Call me back when you can." I was shaking. I knew this gentleman had read a ton of scripts. I think I had something. And to find out while on this set was pretty intense.

The day went on without much more event. The spot that I occupied while off camera became the focal background to the new camera angle.
"Here," the Second Assistant Director (2nd AD) offered. "When we reset, I want you to take these two drinks to these lovely ladies." Look at that, more direction. And now I know like four crew members. We ran a few takes. Back and forth I went with plastic cups in hand.
"I think you're good for a minute or two." The 2nd AD, now I'm wishing I knew her name, suggested. She didn't move from her spot. Every time we reset I went to her, she gave me the cups and I walked back to the girls. I couldn't even see the camera. But there I stood.

A new gentleman came up to me. He wasn't old but he looked wise. He had no radio and he seemed pretty happy.
"Hi there," he said in a wonderful British accent.
"Hi!" I offered. "How's your day going?"
"Pretty good, I'd say. You?"
"Great. My job is to get a tan." I looked myself over. "I think I got a few shades darker."
"Make sure you have plenty of sunscreen."
"I do. Yes. It seems like half of your crew is British."
"Yeah, we shot over there for a while and we're just wrapping up here."
"Awesome. Where are you from?"
"My dad was in the US Air Force. I was born at Lakenheath."
"Really? I actually served in the Air Force. I just got out last year."
"No kidding. That's great."
"What are you doing on this project."
"I'm directing." Oh words. Bad explicit words.
"Nick, is it?" Nick Moore. Wow.
"Yes, actually."
"You have an amazing resume. You've edited everything. Love Actually! Just amazing work." This research can make your career.
"Thank you. This is my first directing experience though."
"Not true."
"I'm impressed. You're right." Research...
"You did a short a while back."
"A long while back."
We continued about editor career trends. Responsibilities of the editors in Hollywood and how awards are so hard to gauge because of the nature of the art.
"Nick?" The 2nd AD politely interjected as if we were old friends.
"Yeah."
"We're ready."
"Ok. Collin?"
"Yes." How many more religious experiences was I going to get before this was over?! The director and I just had a one on one for ten minutes and he remembered my name. Is this the moment that everyone talks about. That 'IT' moment. Was I awake for it? Did I enjoy it? Oh man, I think I blinked.
"Nice talk." And he walked away. I floated.

Oh crap! I over slept! Oh all the days to over sleep for work, I chose the day after I impressed the director on the last day of shooting. I nearly forgot my swimsuit leaving the dorm.

I parked my car as quickly as possible. Let this be a lesson. Take an extra second to ensure you are ready to walk onto the set of all your dreams coming true. You may not actually know what you may go through that day. You might try a checklist that includes, I don't know, the parking break?

I jumped onto the bus just as the parking attendant describes a car similar to mine that just rolled into another car. You have got to be kidding. My car hit another car with no one in either car? So after an embarrassing moment of returning my car, now in gear with the parking break on, I tracked down the owner of the car. It took an effort. Not only did I have to track her down, but I had to force her to look at the damage. It wasn't much. But I couldn't walk on to set without making sure she had my information to fix the scratches. I found out days later she said that if I hadn't pursued her, she would have had to pay for it herself. I felt good about that. Karma, Karma, Karma.

After the mornings drama, I went to set early. I was one of the only kids there. Linda greeted me with the best words you could ask for as background.
"You have direction today."
And I did. She took me and another through the motions of our scene. I looked at my partner, who was originally background as well.
"I think we're featured now."
"I think you're right."
But if we are featured, that means we are going to be near Emma Roberts. That also means.
"Hey you." That I'm going to be dramatically closer to Kelsey. I spun around.
"I changed."
"I see that."
Background started pouring in around us. Crew set up in the main entrance, our final mark to this take. Linda appeared like ninja.
"You don't have shoes." Oh no. My moment was gone because I was going Hawaiian style. "Hey! Yes you. I need your shoes." She taunted another extra and gave me his shoes. What was going on? I'm sure the kid was crushed.
Before I knew it we were almost ready to shoot. A make up artist appeared from no where. Oh, there was a staircase behind me.
"Lift up," said a soft woman.
"What are you doing?" I asked as she panned over my face.
"I'm just making sure you shine like the star you are." I couldn't have melted more.
"Thank you..."
"I'm evening out the color."
"This is a first for me. I've never had make up put on my body before, especially not my stomach. So be gentle." Shut up. I know.

Then Emma Roberts plopped down in front of me. I knew who she was. I'd been seeing her around for the past two days. And there she was. She had some last minute discussions with the director and we were ready for our places. Let the cameras roll.

She was a very professional, hard working girl. She knew her job well. And when she wasn't needed, she was studying. I was impressed. We didn't talk much, she and I. Everything moved so fast. Then suddenly stopped.
"What's going on?" I asked Kelsey who had been stationed with me at the entrance of the mansion, raised above the rest of the extras and displayed before the cameras and crew just outside the door. "New angles, I think."
"Do you spin?"
"Spin?"
"Yeah, like dancing. Spinning around."
"I love to dance."
"Fantastic. You're like the perfect height for this." I showed Kelsey a few moves I had picked up in my two years of ballroom dancing. We did the Hustle before 150 pairs of staring eyes and entertained crew. I spun her this way and that. She was a good partner. I'm sure it was quite a scene, one designer dressed girl and a boy in surfer shorts, dancing the hustle in the entrance of a multi-million dollar home. I spun her out and dropped her in a dip. She was laying across my right thigh. She was way too beautiful to be this close to her. I could have been down there for days when I realized how many people were staring at us. I picked us up and nervously took my first position.

Emma plopped down next to me.
"Can I change this line?" she asked Nick. They discussed and she returned to my side.
"You normally have brown or like auburn hair, don't you?" I offered trying to break the ice. I had no idea how long this scene was or how much time we'd spent together.
"Yeah, normally."
"Do you have a preference?"
"Not really."
"Picture's Up!" Let the fun begin.

Five hours. That's how much time I'd spend with Emma and that scene. I was established and was no longer allowed to be background. It was like I crossed over from background to principle. Granted, I had no lines. But now, I got to hang out with Poppy's posse between sequences. I got to talk to the Producer Diana Philips and the writer Lucy Dahl. They told me about their jobs and about the process of making a film come to life.

Kelsey and I talked a little more. She was up and down for the remainder of the day. I was just sedentary. I did get to say, "I love your work," to Aidan Quinn. He said thanks. I took pictures for the posse to remember. They were fun. Of the group of them, I really only remember Kelsey and Shelby. I think it was because Shelby's (or Ruby) dress was BLUE. I mean hyper blue. You could see her from across set.

At least I was conscious now.
"Hey, dude!" I spoke into the phone. "Nate got you then I take it?"
"Yeah," my best friend Aaron replied having just been picked up from the Airport. "We had a nice drive back."
"Perfect. It looks like I'm going to be done at five today. Wait till I tell you what happened. I'll see you at the dorms. And, Aaron... Thanks for coming. I know why you're here but you're like my good luck charm."

Before I knew it the day ended. I finally got to wear my shirt again. I raced home, calling my mom along the way. I wound around the windy canyon road and I wound through the events that just ceased. I called my father and left a message. If there was an "IT" moment, these three days had to have had it. I wasn't blinking. I remembered far too much. From the extra that I talked to from the first set up to Emma and Nick. He needed to know, even in a recording.

I dropped my backpack anywhere and sat my two friends down to tell them the past three days. By this time, I'd added cinematics and special effects to enhance my story. Except, I didn't need to enhance it. It was virtually unbelievable. A director hand picked me out of background and gave me a really featured part. If I had lines, I would've probably died. Not because I have never had lines before. I have been the lead in thirty films (mostly indie) to date. This was different.

"We have plans tomorrow night," I explained. "Sorry for the rush, but a young actor's mom got in touch with me. We are going to record the final scene from Subconsciously together. He's going to play my younger brother."
"You're going to be Nick," asked Aaron having known every portion of the story as he watched many of the scene being conceived.
"Yes. I'm really excited about it. The actor's name is Joey Luthman. He is really talented. I think he's going to be big."
"Why are you recording it?"
"It was the best piece he's read to date. He wants it for his reel."
"You're kidding?! Subconsciously?!"
"I know right. Here I was worried that it wouldn't even be good, let alone amazing." I showered and probably revisited that set a hundred times. Did that really just happen?

The next night, we got together with Joey Luthman and mom, Tess. They were as wonderful as I remember them the first time. We set up our scene and Joey and I cried for three hours. I think I wiped out an entire Kleenex box and needed like eight glasses of water afterwards. Tess picked up a tired Joey at almost twelve that night and I spoke with the host of the evening, John. He talked to me about his career, the seventeen years he spent in various parts of the industry and how he has returned to the beginning of the careers. He said he likes to watch the newcomers become discovered.

"I've watched you handle yourself as a director tonight, getting exactly what you want. You are extremely professional and very polite. That will take you far in this industry. And, do I have this right? You wrote this scene?"
"It's a feature length, but yes. This is my baby. My first."
"You are going all the way, Collin. I'm sure of it. I've watched others like you break into this industry. I have no doubt. You are clearly a gifted actor as well."
I told him the brief version of my Wild Child experience by Aaron's beckon. He's always so excited for my success. He hardly allows me to be humble. I will say this, every time he visited something amazing happened. A film festival, a promotional escapade, a script revamp. Like I said, he's kind of a good luck charm.
"This is going to be how it happens for you," John said as if he were reading my film horoscope. "It will take you three years to 'make it'. The following two years will be a complete blur it will happen so fast. But by year five, you will be a household name." Five years and I'll be household?! Wait, five years from what? When does that time start? I'm not sure it mattered. I had gotten my prophecy speech. Dustin Hoffman got his before he blew up. His was ten. Maybe things just happen faster now.

There are many theories for me when that three year mark started. One idea was on my first paid acting gig in Boston on March 8th, 2005. Another idea was when I first moved to LA, August 17th, 2006. Or when I had my first big gig in LA. You know that date. I'll be happy to reclaim September 11th as a beautiful date and filled with love, rather than anything else. I still do not know which date to start with. As I have your attention with this reading, I may have already accomplished what many dream of accomplishing. The first major leap has already happened and it wasn't that hard. The events that led up to it were. Very. The representation I've had to deal with. The people that have taken advantage of me or tried to change me to fit their own needs. I have been through quite a bit in my first years out here. I am lucky. I am extremely fortunate to have had such good and bad experiences. They have taught me a great deal.

I will leave you with this final image for the best week of my life to date. Kelsey is just over my shoulder.