After making the cross country road trip to LA with my mom, I arrived in town on Wednesday, January 30th. I was ready to take on pilot season and all it had to offer.
I was excited about some scripts that had been sent to me, especially one from NBC. Mom would drive and I would read. We’re a great team. The NBC script was good and I couldn’t wait to take a meeting. Right away other meetings and scripts started to roll in. I was reading one script after another and taking meetings for TV and film projects. I jumped right into a whirlwind of pilot season activity.
By close of business on Friday, February 8th things were really looking good. I had been to two producers sessions and negotiations were underway to take me to network test for NBC and the WB. Both of the projects were equally great. Then came the big decision. I had to decide what position I would test in. It was a tough choice. I felt loyalty to NBC since I’d been an NBC kid twice before with The Mommies and The Pretender. I finally decided to put the WB project in first position because it was a stronger role. At that point I would have considered an offer to do either role a major career opportunity. I was feeling great about everything.
On Monday morning the 11th, I was all set for my studio test and network tests were set for Tuesday. Then it happened. I got a call from the director I had just worked with on Taken. He had a new project called Veritas for ABC that had just been given the “green light”. That’s showbiz talk for approval to move forward with a project. He thought of me for the lead role and wanted me to read the script and take a meeting as soon as possible. We had to move fast since I already had two test deals lined up. That morning while I was going to studio test for NBC, my mom and manager were reading the script. By the time I stepped out of that meeting my manager had put the ABC project in first position. My agent thought she was nuts. I was on my way to ABC to take a meeting for Veritas. Everyone had read the script but me, but they told me what I needed to know. I had one hour to look over the scenes and do my thing. The material just came to me, like someone had gotten inside my head and wrote the script especially for me. I went in there and did the whole “Rock Steady” thing. By the end of the day on Wednesday the 13th, I was cast as Nikko in Veritas and making plans to go to Montreal for six weeks to shoot the pilot film that will launch this amazing new series.
If all goes well and the show gets a “pick up”, I’ll be living in LA and working every week on this awesome new TV show. Veritas (Latin for the truth) is the story of a father and son archeologist team who travel the world in search of the truth. Think Indiana Jones meets Tomb Raider, toss in some Star Gate, add action, adventure, romance and a few bad guys and that’s Veritas. How lucky am I?!
Pilot season was a real road trip that took me to an amazing place. So I give you this to encourage you. From the words of Dr. Seuss’ book, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go”&”Step with care and great tact and remember that life’s a great balancing act. Never mix up your right foot with your left. Will you succeed? Yes, you will, indeed! (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.) KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!”
