While en route from Houston after our once in a lifetime trip to the Johnson Space Center, I got a phone call from a local casting director requesting the boys as photo doubles in the Ryan Gosling film they had previously auditioned for. We were completely at peace when the boys hadn't booked the role, as the film would have really pushed us to the very edge of what we would ever even consider exposing our boys to at this age. We had prayed that God only open the doors He means for us to walk through, and when that door was closed we figured it was meant to be that way and were just thankful for the wonderful experience the audition process had been for the boys. But there we were, the door wide open in front of us. The little boy they had cast for the role was having trouble finishing the film and the boys were requested to fill in as photo doubles. We didn't even have time to unpack our suitcases in time to be whisked off (down the street, as the movie filmed in Detroit) on yet another adventure of a lifetime.
We knew the film was very adult themed and that the young character had some scenes that would be really tough for any toddler to handle. We were nervous. We were asked to buzz the boys' floppy blonde baby hair. And when they hit us with 7pm and 11pm call times for the boys on their first night of filming (allowing the boys to legally be on set until 5:00am), we came very close to cancelling. We felt certain that we were setting the boys up for failure- there was just no way they could accomplish anything, much less something so important- in the middle of the night. And we've always been a bit over-protective of our boys when it comes to this business. So we really almost pulled the plug. But what unfolded was something we could never in a million years have expected from our little boys and we learned right then and there, on the dirty blacktop of an inner city street on a chilly spring night- to never, ever underestimate our little champs.
The boys filmed for four nights- all overnight shoots, two of them lasting past 4:00 in the morning. Due to some creative and intricate explaining on our part- and the outstanding support of the cast and crew- the boys never once realized that they were in what should have been some frightening situations... but they filmed in front of a burning building, in a simulated fire, and with a man in full horror make-up. They filmed after falling asleep and being woken up again. And they were rock stars. On the first night, Caleb rocked a scene with Ryan Gosling who gave him a high five and said, "Wow, that was incredible buddy!" when the scene wrapped at 3:30am. On the third night, Matthew got a round of applause from the entire cast and crew after nailing a scene full of smoke and fire. While there wasn't really any acting on his part, they were all so proud of the simple fact that he held his tiny 3 year old composure in such a setting. The next night Caleb got his own round of applause after the scene that required him to act like he was asleep. The kid took upwards of 30 different directions in a matter of 5 minutes and he was just awesome. It was the first time he actually had to act, and I felt a twinge of sadness as I stood there watching- the same twinge of sadness every mother feels when they are struck with the realization that their baby is no longer a baby but a boy, and that he will never again be a little baby but briefly be a boy before turning into a young man.
The boys finished filming last Thursday night, early into Friday morning. They actually both fell asleep during the scene and each finished the night by taking an hour long nap on Christina Hendricks's chest (which someday in the far future they will realize the significance of :). They woke up the next morning quite sad that they were finished filming and that they hadn't gotten to say goodbye to their buddy Mr. Ryan. There was something so innocently beautiful about them that morning, about the fact that they just couldn't understand why we couldn't call Mr. Ryan over to play after their audition, or why Miss Saoirse couldn't come to the Village with us, or why we would never get to see any of their "friends" ever again. They simply don't understand "them" vs. "us" or that these people are any different than we are. They made friends with Mr. Ryan and Miss Christina and Miss Saoirse and Mr. Iain and to them, they are just people. To be honest, it is so sweetly refreshing to see such friendships through innocent eyes. I just couldn't find it in me to explain to them that this is not how life works. So for now they continue to talk about making movies with Mr. Ryan and playing Duplo blocks with Miss Saoirse and Mr. Ian and the time that they are all going to come to the Village with us. And it makes me smile a little smile inside.
I have to admit, I'm a little sad it is all over too. The role wasn't big. In fact, there is very little chance you will ever be able to even recognize either of the boys in the final edit of the film. But we've never taken a single opportunity because it was going to make the boys rich or famous. We've taken every opportunity that we have because we saw each one as an enriching experience for our boys. Because it exposed them to something new or exciting. Because it tested their ability to separate from us, it tested their listening skills and their ability to follow directions, or because it took us to a new part of the country that we could never in a million years exposed the boys to were it not for them working. But this one... this one was different somehow. Our intention has never been for the boys to act. In fact, the thought of such a future is downright terrifying to us. But we've made some amazing contacts and we've tried to keep them involved while they are young- at least until they are old enough to tell us if this is something they want to continue or not. We just didn't expect them to tell us at 3 years old. But the entire cast and crew made this experience so much fun for our boys that they literally have not stopped talking about it- about auditioning and working and filming and the next time they have to help out Mr. Ryan with his movie. And maybe all of that will change- tomorrow or next week or a few years from now. Because they are, after all, only three years old. But right now they have this passion for acting and filming, and Jon and I are eternally grateful for a little guidance in this adventure from the only two people whose guidance really matters at all- our little boys. Correction. Our not so little, little boys.
So thank you to all of our new friends. From Mr. Eric the chef, to Mr. Jim the paramedic, to Ms. Lana the PA, to Ryan Gosling himself. Thank you for the time you spent with our boys, with our family. Thank you for protecting them when things should have been scary. Thank you for preserving their innocence. Thank you for playing with them. Thank you for clapping for them and high-fiving them and teaching them that they should be proud of what they are doing and who they are. Thank you for inspiring them. Our paths will likely never cross again and all we will have are our memories and photos. Or maybe you have inspired something in the boys that we cannot yet comprehend and maybe we will see you again someday. Until then- Thank you.
Wanting to be respectful of the actors and the entire production, I will keep my captions quite brief. I struggled with whether or not to share them at all, but I want them to be included here for the boys to have in the far future. Please, please be respectful of our property and do not copy or share any photos outside of this post.
Best make-up a 3 year old boy could ever hope for!
Keeping busy in between scenes- The firemen let us borrow their light to read one of our new space books in the street.
Middle of the night coloring :)
A wonderful woman who so kindly gently set our minds at ease by taking great care of our babies
A remarkable young woman. Once I realize how young she was, I was truly blown away. Mature and professional beyond her years, but not so much as to keep her from a little bit of play time :)
Mr. Eric- head chef, a fellow identical twin, and the father of a friend of ours- the young Mandalynn Carlson
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