The 20 Year Old Virgin | Herophine

Chapter 1: The Saint and The Black Sheep

Hero

They say that to be an effective actor, you have to immerse yourself in your craft. Live your character's life, feel its emotions, embrace its strengths and also its flaws.

When I first got the call from my agent about this role in an indie movie based off a book, I immediately jumped on the boat thinking that book-based movies are the way to propel my career in the acting business since books, in general, already have fan bases and it's easier to understand the character since everything is basically in the book itself. I should know; I did take a small part in one of the biggest book-based movie franchises of all time as the young villain in one of its movies. But when I got the material for my scheduled audition, I had every intention of backing out after reading it. There was just so much explicit language and the movie was said to be rated R. This isn't the kind of movie I'd want to be part of. It goes against everything I stand for. It involves underage drinking, premarital sex and even use of recreational drugs. I tried to explain to my agent but he wouldn't have it, saying that it would be totally unprofessional if I didn't show up to the audition, convincing me further that anyway it is still an audition and that nothing is certain yet. Not one to be called unprofessional, I went to audition and managed to pull the character off as best I can, considering my lack of experience compared to the character I was auditioning for.

I've long since forgotten about that role, thinking that I had low to non-existent chance of bagging the role. To say that the news of my being casted as Hardin Scott in the movie After based on the book by author Anna Todd is unexpected might just be the biggest understatement of the century. I couldn't believe it. How come? Why me? What did they see in me?

Thus, I was given the difficult decision of whether to accept or to decline the project. It may just be the hardest choice I had ever been dealt with my entire life. If I chose to decline the role, I maintain my values but nothing would change in my career. If I chose to accept it, on the other hand, it would most likely boost my acting career and would open more doors for future projects; but it would also mean that I'd have to portray a character that is way out of my comfort zone.

I don't even know how to act drunk for heaven's sake, what more do intimate scenes!

Confused, I sought my parents' advice since both are directors, having established their names in the industry.

"Hero, honey, you're an actor. You can't avoid every role that makes you uncomfortable. At a certain point in your career, you will have to face that. What are you most worried about, honestly?" Mum says cautiously.

"It's just not the image I want to project as an actor mum. I'm afraid that if I take on this role, I'd be stereotyped into the bad boy roles... or worse, I'd be sexualised by the fans of the book. It is very..." I wrack my brain for the right word to use, finally settling with the term. "Risqué." I'm not quite sure if my parents have heard of the book but I'm uncomfortable using the word erotic in front of them. Don't get me wrong, I can easily talk to my parents, we just don't talk about sex in our home.

"You're mum's right Hero. You can't avoid all roles that don't make you comfortable, it's just as much stereotyping... like what you said. Acting is a form of art, of storytelling. You are apart from your character, you just have to compartmentalise. But of course, this is just us being directors. As your parents though, we will always be supportive of whatever decision you come up with," dad says reassuringly, squeezing my shoulder.

After that conversation with mum and dad, I finally came to the decision to accept the role. Two months. Rehearsals and filming will be done in just two months, how hard could that be right?

So now, here I am in Atlanta, checking in to the hotel where all cast and crew will be staying for the duration of filming the movie. With my key card on hand, I use the lift to take me to my floor whilst pulling two large suitcases along. I'm exhausted but Anna, the book author slash movie producer, has already informed me about the welcome dinner for both Josephine-my co-star-and I with our director and producers. I have to be down at the lobby to meet Josephine and we were to join the others at some Italian restaurant downtown. No time for entertaining my jet lag then, since it's already three in the afternoon.