Four years ago, I attended a casting call held by The Pro Model & Casting Agency's Bethlehem office on Broad Street for the "Forensic Files" TruTV series. I figured that I had enough talent to play a corpse and it would be an interesting experience. Sometime afterward, I did get a call to audition for the part of someone I resembled for an upcoming episode of "Forensic Files" that was to be shot in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, a blizzard buried Philly and the show was taped in Florida. So much for my small-screen debut.

Last summer, after receiving an email from The Look Agency, formerly Pro Model, I auditioned for a part in a movie at an open casting call held at The Main Street Marketplace in Doylestown. "The North Star," written and directed by Thomas K. Phillips and based on a true story about slavery and the underground railroad, was to be filmed at several historic sites in Bucks County. After a long wait, I read the lines I had been provided for a character named Jeremiah. The blinding spotlights made me feel like a deer in the headlights. I was criticized for "not smiling enough," but they seemed impressed that I had let my hair grow out and had grown a beard for the audition. The lead producer, Nathan File, gave me his phone number as I exited.

Although I did not get the part I read for, Nathan encouraged me to keep checking back if I was interested in being an unpaid "extra." After pestering him for a couple of months, I grew discouraged, got a haircut and shaved off most of my increasingly itchy beard. Just for the heck of it, I did keep enough facial hair to form a goatee.

Moland House

On the evening of Sept. 6, I got "the call" to report to the set at the Moland House in Hartsville. I was asked to play a "conductor" on the underground railroad and needed to bring a white shirt, dark vest, black pants and shoes with me. With what I found in my closet, augmented with what I was able to pick up at a couple of thrift shops, I arrived at the Moland House at 7 p.m. the next day, where my goatee, outfit and grandfather's pocket watch and chain were given "two thumbs up" by Sean Kling, the film's set historian. I was provided with a cravat and frock coat for the scene. The wardrobe assistant also placed a railroad conductor's hat on my head.

"I don't think that I'm supposed to play that kind of conductor," was my response. She just shrugged and said that she had been instructed to have me wear the hat.

While waiting for my scene to be filmed, I became acquainted with some of the crew and learned the history of the property. The house had been built by John Moland in the mid-1700s and it later served as headquarters for General Washington in 1777. Meanwhile, Caitlin, a pretty blond in a black leather outfit kept calling "Rolling," our cue to be quiet and "Cut" when we could start chatting again.

Around 10 p.m., it was finally time for the "conductor" scene. Since it didn't involve a train, I suggested to the man in charge of keeping everything consistent, that I should lose the hat. He agreed. I was directed to come out of the basement with a lantern to allow runaway slaves, portrayed by Thomas C. Bartley Jr. and former Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, led by an abolitionist, played by April Woodall, admission.

I kidded my family later, that the role I played was something between a prairie dog and lawn jockey. After several takes, where camera angles were changed and close-ups shot, we were done for the night. Trotter was gracious enough to pose with me for a snapshot when the scene was finished. I was also allowed to tour the house as they closed down the set.

Newtown Theatre

Among the preview screenings and red carpet events held for "The North Star" during the first week in May, was a special screening for the cast and crew at the historic Newtown Theatre, in Newtown. This is where a scene from the film, featuring Keith David as Frederick Douglass, had been shot on the same stage where the real Frederick Douglass had once delivered a speech. The rest of the extras and I all waited breathlessly to see if our scenes made the final cut. My "conductor" scene made it in. We all stared wide-eyed at the screen for our names during the end credits. Unfortunately, I blinked, so I still don't know if my name made it into the credits.

Thomas K. Phillips, told me after the screening that he hoped "The North Star" would start appearing at theaters in the Lehigh Valley sometime this July or August. Maybe then I'll get a chance to see my name on the big screen.

For more information, go to http://thenorthstarmovie.com.

As the late Roger Ebert would say: "I'll see you at the movies."