I used to be taking a look at J. Lo’s brown eyes. We have been centimeters from one another, locked in a even look, her face barely tilted to mine. I felt a twig for her hair. Then the director known as, “Lower!”
It was the summer time of 2016. And I acted in an episode of the NBC crime drama known as “Shades of Blue”. I take advantage of the time period “performing” freely as a result of I had precisely one line.
I had by no means watched “Schangi on Blue” earlier than I strive it for him. All I knew was that it was a New York cop present that includes Jennifer Lopez and Ray Liot. To be sincere, I considered the position of a possible cease at a time after I was within the determine part of my life. Though I had appeared in a cleaning soap opera earlier, as its cancellation I had checked the many of the audition chain.
The audition was held in an workplace constructing in Midtown. The casting director, Rob, made me learn for 3 roles: “FBI Commander”, “Bid -minded” and (horrifying) “Previous Cop”.
Earlier than I left, Rob instructed me, “Look in the event you get one in every of them, simply be cool, okay? Be cool. “
There have been no again calls. I used to be employed by a “enforcement agent”. My duties consisted of asking a personality named Harley: “Do you swear that you’re telling the reality, the entire fact and nothing however the fact, so show you how to?”
After receiving the half, I Google’s Harlee on Shades of Blue and gasped. Harley was performed by Jennifer Lopez. This despatched my creativeness from the deep finish, as I briefly entertained the idea of connecting to Jenny from the block. I used to be pondering of all of the issues I might inform her: You have been nice at Selena. I cried on the finish of the Manhattan Maid. You need to by no means be with Mark Anthony anyway!
Then I ended. I used to be employed for work. I used to be knowledgeable. I might be cool. As well as, even small tv jobs have been tough to get and I used to be decided to not confuse this one.
The taking pictures was held on the Court docket of Justice of the Bronx County. After I acquired there, I dressed my sure uniform and was launched right into a rehearsal courtroom. I met the actor who performed the choose and a younger girl who was Mrs. Lopez. Earlier than I might ask her, I used to be distracted by the person from the props, who pulled me apart and the badge of my uniform. Then he handed me the Bible, and the director known as, “Locations!”
I returned to my place in entrance of the courtroom. He was buzzing by way of the background actors taking part in viewers within the courtroom. In a second I used to be head to head with my companion on stage. She smiled, reached out, and mentioned, “Hello, I am Jennifer.”
I nodded and shook her hand. I felt like an fool as a result of I could not verbize peculiar greetings. Then the director started a rehearsal. I endured the Bible and made a mileage.
The star of the stage was not me and even g -huh Lopez. It was her left hand she placed on the Bible. This gesture had an in depth -up of his personal and the director spent a number of time, ensuring he had obtained a shot.
“Raul, are you able to increase the Bible?” Nice. Now, fory, raul, are you able to decrease it a little bit? Nice. “
Repeatedly, a lady is liable to J. lo, making use of make-up, lotion and nail spray. My hand was sweating, my hand crammed from holding the Bible in place. We spent far more than an hour on this shot.
Perhaps as a result of she had heard the director shouting my identify from the entire set, G -Ja Lopez checked out my identify, which reads “Smith.”
“Oh, it isn’t you, aren’t you?” she requested with laughter.
I shook my head. I nonetheless wished to introduce myself or converse actual phrases as a traditional individual, however I could not.
“Haha, that is humorous,” she mentioned.
Then a small military of hair and make-up employees helped to organize the digital camera. They rushed over her, like bees, a piano hive. She had a make-up artist whose duty seemed like her lashes.
Throughout a trip, a younger manufacturing assistant talked about that the day was going properly as there have been no followers or paparazzi who have been lurking exterior the Court docket of Justice.
“We do not checklist Jennifer on a name checklist,” she mentioned, “as a result of it could run out after which now we have to surrender these strangeness.”
Throughout midday, the solid and the crew ate within the basement of the Court docket of Justice. Though the ambiance was welcoming, I used to be irritated on my own that I used to be so blurred in J. Lo’s presence. I used to be effective after the cameras rolled. It was solely after I needed to interact myself as an actual individual did I not have inappropriate. I made a decision to be cool round her within the afternoon.
After midday, we continued the scene within the courtroom, the place Harley took the place and was crossed by a good-looking prosecutor. Their dialogue cracked. Envying their relationship, for a second I wished to have his position.
Later, because the cameras are diverted, Da Lopez, the actor who performed the choose and I sat on chairs on a canvas within the close by hall. The choose requested J. Lo for selfie and he or she was obliged.
I took out my e book. Jennifer was sending textual content messages to me and was offered to an assistant. It was heat within the hallway as a result of the air conditioner of the constructing was off for taking pictures. I pulled on my collar. Jennifer seemed and requested, “What are you studying?” As soon as once more I failed to talk, I exported the e book, exhibiting the title. “Good!” she mentioned.
Simply then I might hit. I used to be in all probability one of many few individuals she had encountered, who have been holding on to her. What was fallacious with me?
As I left on the finish of the day, I handed her and her assistant as they returned to their trailer.
“Thanks,” I used to be capable of say.
“Bye!” she mentioned.
When the episode aired, it was entitled “The Hurricane’s Eye”. The scene of the courtroom was intertwined with Harley’s steam in mattress with the attractive prosecutor. I used to be solely briefly on the digital camera, in a large shot. My line was virtually a voice. J.’s hand. Lo seemed nice.
Raul A. Reyes is an affiliate of the opinion of NBC Latino and CNN.
