Lights, Camera, Action...

It was my last day of work.  The morning shift was slow, as they typically went.  I decided to visit my favorite coffee shop for the two hour mid day break, reading up on the places I was going to visit with Mike and Elise after they arrived.  The excitement of their visit had been growing for weeks and here I sat, sipping on a coffee, trying desperately to contain my excitement, only hours away from seeing them.  I even returned to work early, just to trick my mind into thinking the day was going faster.

Once back to Achiote, I went into my usual routine of playing guitar in the window, waiting for the first clients to arrive.  It was somewhat rainy outside and I was working on a song that I have been trying to figure out for a special occasion.  From around the corner, two men appeared and made gestures asking if the restaurant was open or not.  I waved them inside, put down the guitar after one more quick lick and started to wait the table like I would any other.  I was excited to get the night started, once we got busy the time would fly and I would be on my way to the airport to pick up Mike and Elise.  

The first man spoke with an English accent and ordered a beer.  The second man, the taller of the two with dark hard and a more sculpted face, stared at me with a funny look when asking for a water and then said one word, “Stephan”.  The other man gave a vague nod of approval and I walked away to get the drinks, slightly confused, but more or less just thinking about finishing work as fast as possible. When I returned, drinks in hand, they asked me what I was doing in Ecuador.  I gave my typical spiel and asked the same of them.  They told me that they worked for National Geographic and were in Ecuador for a month to make a tv show.  I told that how great I thought it was that their job allowed them to travel and do something they loved.  They each ordered pescado a la plancha and I left.

The next time I passed their table, they stopped me and asked if I would be interested in trying out for a part in the show, stating that they needed an American to play a small role.  Being skeptical, I asked for some identification.  They each produced National Geographic business cards and I was hooked.  

The second man spoke first: “We are filming for a show called ‘Locked Up Abroad’ and basically we need an American for a short bit.  You see, this bloke went to Peru, bought a bunch of drugs and tried to bring them to the US, but got caught in Mexico.  Essentially, you are this bloke’s friend and you stop by the prison he is being held in while you and a girl you met are driving up to California.” 

“Have you ever acted?” asked the first man.  I explained that my acting was limited to middle school, but I always goof around with my friends.  Seeming convinced enough, they asked if I would come to the studio the following day for a filmed audition.  Trying to act as cool and collected as I could, I agreed and went on the rest of the meal as if nothing was different.  

The rest of work went fast.  I was busy the whole time and before I knew it, I was in route to the airport.  About an hour later, Mike and Elise showed up and I was completely and utterly, all smiles.  Being late already, it was a night of brief catching up and quick to bed.  These two had essentially been traveling for 2 days and the next was a long bus ride to the southern most part of the country.  Before we headed to bed, I told them what had happened and asked if they would accompany me to the audition in the morning.  Looking about as shocked as I was, they agreed and we all passed out.

Nothing had really hit me as we started our day.  It wasn’t until we walked around the neighborhood, finding the studio and killing the final 45 minuets until any kind of nerves kicked in.  Naturally, we went to a bar.  One of the great things about Ecuador is that the beer is inexpensive and comes in a large bottle.  We each had a dirty glass to split up the beer.  We talked about Quito, what Ecuadorians are like, where we were going, just loving being together again.  Walking back towards the studio we laughed about the possibility of my goofy face being on tv.  It still did not seem like something that could happen, but alas, here I was at the door of a studio, about to walk in.

It really went fast.  The two men from the restaurant were there with their Ecuadorian counterparts.  There were no lines, they just told me to act out the scenario as if it were all real and the beautiful studio filled will mac books and camera gear was really a prison.  I did the best I could and apparently it was enough.  They offered me the role.  I went over some things with an Ecuadorian woman, shook hands and Mike, Elise and I went on our way.  Just like that.  Walking away it all felt unreal.  Turning around and looking back, the studio was real, this random moment of me playing guitar in a window and waiting on a table had turned into a pretty cool story.  

Monday is the actual shoot.  My part should not take longer than half an hour to film and then I’m off to finish packing and get on a plane at 6 in the morning.  When I breath fresh air again, it will be 20 hours later, the temperature will be significantly warmer and I will be trying to understand Uruguayan Spanish.  Oh, and I’ll be a star.  Too funny, right?