The Big Bang Theory: My Son's Experience Working on the Show

Once in a while, my son Layne is offered an acting job (one which he did not have to compete for with hundreds of other kids) on a prime time television show. This came to pass when the people from CSI Miami needed a body double and just this Monday the folks at CBS' The Big Bang Theory asked Kids Management if they could browse through their clients' photographs. Layne's picture apparently fit what they were looking for --naughty boy image that could get him in and out of trouble. It must be that mischievous grin he likes to show off.

In any case, our day started at 4:30am with call time being at 7:00am. We decided to stay at our second home, Motel 6, since we were already in the neighborhood. It would only take us 30 minutes (60 in traffic) instead of the usual four-hour trip from home. Arrival time was early, around 6:35am which, I have said so many times before, will always impress the PA (production assistant) who takes care of the kids.

A hot breakfast from craft services; eggs, bacon, hash browns, salmon, bagels, fresh fruit etc. was there to welcome us. Then it was off to wardrobe and an introduction to the teacher. Thankfully, Layne is getting used to all the different teachers he deals with throughout the course of the year and does his work without complaint. Nonetheless, he must maintain a C average or the State of California will not renew his entertainment work permit.

The call from Kids Management, by the way, came in late Thursday afternoon. This would give us three days to prepare for our trip to Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank. Thank the Lord for giving the people at MapQuest and Thomas Guide the good sense to give us driving directions on the internet. I would be lost without them.

In any event, the extra few days allowed us to gather things for wardrobe and smooth out some of his newly acquired acne problems. It's always a good idea to bring your own clothes to set even though the costume department will undoubtedly add or create a whole new dress attire of their own. Still, bringing your own wardrobe is a big help for them.

I will say that Warner Bros Studios is a pretty amazing piece of property. After you are done walking the rows of buildings known as Stage 23, Stage 25 etc. you find yourself in a town all of its own with City Hall, a small mall, Main Street, apartment buildings and a local park with old fashioned lamp posts and a wrought-iron bench. It was in this park, complete with a family of cheerful chirping birds, just outside of Stage 25 where they filmed Layne and five other kids.

At any rate, our day's work on the CBS sitcom, "The Big Bang Theory," starring Johnny Galecki (remember him from Roseanne?), Jim Parsons, Simon Helberg and Kaley Cuoco (8 Simple Rules) was entertaining enough. It is quite a comical little show that follows the personal lives and careers of four nerdy geniuses. Kaley's character Penny, however, shows them exactly how much they don't know.

These kids are wonderful actors and it's always encouraging for Layne to see how professionals work and how much they practice their art. Basically, we get a glimpse of how the stars behave and perform in front of the camera as well as behind it. Lines are messed up, sometimes there's laughter, but most of the time they just continue on with the right lines. Weekly shows are on a tight schedule as you could imagine.

The episode is titled "The Jerusalem Duality" and will probably air Monday at 8:00pm in April of 2008. You can see Layne (if it doesn't wind up on the cutting room floor) as he hangs around with his friends, one of them is playing his guitar, and they're passing a bottle of booze around. Don't worry, the bottle is empty and they all did a good job pretending to drink. Layne said he'll explain himself to our pastor later. After all, it's just acting. Of course, we have drawn lines in the sand so to speak--no working on Sundays, no kissing and no bad language. You might want to make that agreement with your child if they have any inkling of working in this business.

Furthermore, they will need to have a strong work ethic and willingness, not to mention the ability, to take directions from directors, PA's and others. I did notice that I'm beginning to love this business, maybe a little too much, and I'm definitely learning the ins and outs of movie making. Keep it always clear that this is your child's career not yours (and I am taking my own advice). If at any point Layne has no desire to further his acting career I would definitely have to listen to his side of the story. For now, he's having a blast making enough money to pay for college (hopefully he's headed there) and he's definitely in a good place of his young life whenever he takes to the stage. There's no hurry for this boy to find his path to fame. And as long as he keeps his grades up, I'll be happy to drive him from one set to the other.