Notes from Working on the Set of Ben Stiller's The Heartbreak Kid

Ben Stiller's new movie, "The Heartbreak Kid," is due to open October 5^th, 2007. They needed a trim, athletic teenage boy to hang out with co-star, Michelle Monaghan for a beach scene. My son, Layne, got the call from Kids Management. Filming was in Malibu and we could not have asked for a more beautiful day.

By 6:30am we were on the 101 freeway, then Pacific Coast Highway which lead us to Zuma Beach in Malibu-ah, fresh air. The man in the parking lot booth handed us a free pass. Fried eggs and bacon sizzled as we approached the set. We parked close by, but even then, the assigned driver pulled up behind us in a brand new van and ushered us inside. He chauffeured us to our sandy office with white foamy waves, a gentle sun and an ocean breeze-tough day.

When the necessary school hours were completed, Layne changed into his trunks and got back into the van with the assistant director and Michelle Monaghan (Mission Impossible III, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, The Bourne Supremacy). Michelle introduced herself and started talking to Layne.

"Are you ready to do this today?" she asked. Layne smiled a very boyish smile. The rest of their conversation was about how fun the scene should be.

Five minutes later they were jumping, running and skimming waves. Layne's very small role was being Michelle's young friend who was teaching her how to use a skim board. This sixty-second scene would take all day to shoot. Ms. Monaghan actually had a bonafide skim-boarder give her on-the-spot lessons earlier in the morning. And though she was a quick study, Michelle fell quite a bit. The waves would overwhelm her at times and Layne, the gentleman that he was, helped her up repeatedly.

So I watched my budding star diligently working on the beach and occasionally splashed by this Hollywood starlet. There were a handful of pretty girls on that set, including Malin Akerman (Entourage, Strange Days), dressed in bikinis. I reminded Layne about respecting women. He rolled his eyes but whispered, "I know mom, don't you worry."

In any case, directors Bobby and Peter Farrelly, shot two scenes at the same time. This makes for a very busy and crowded beach with lights and screens and changing tents. Nonetheless, a jogger (apparently oblivious to movie making) ran right in front of one of the cameras. But instead of getting frustrated everybody had a good laugh.

As far as I could tell, besides the jogger, the shoot went rather smoothly. Malibu weather was to die for. I sat peacefully between the two cameras on the cool sand-no towel needed. Nobody disturbed me nor told me to get out of the way-rather surprising really since Mr. Stiller was sitting about twenty feet away from me. I guess I was quiet enough and they knew moms had the right to be within earshot of their children. Ben Stiller without a shirt on, by the way, is not quite the same as seeing Matthew McConaughey in his bathing suit. No matter, Mr. Stiller was quite entertaining.

When all was said and done, Layne had a fun day which he finished off by throwing mud balls to another character for the ending scene, of this day anyhow. He got paid way too much money for a fourteen-year old (all put away into his Coogan account) and was thanked by the director who said he hoped to work with Layne again. One can only hope.