Silver Screen Dreams

January 21st, 2010

Amongst the bright lights and hot starlets of Hollywood, it’s easy for promising young actors to lose their way. But talented and charismatic rising talents Ezra Miller, Carter Jenkins, and Charlie Bewley won’t let burgeoning fame distract them from their silver screen dreams.

Styling/Casting James Worthington DeMolet

EZRA MILLER

Images Nagi Sakai Words Susan Locht

If you’ve seen Afterschool, an unnerving independent film released in 2008 about a New England prep school rattled by the violent deaths of popular twin girls, you already understand the buzz circling Ezra Miller. Miller played the melancholy loner who accidentally caught the deaths on tape, and took the role so seriously that he was plagued by existential angst for four months after production. “Playing Robert forced me to explore the most introverted, self-deprecating, victimized part of myself –– what I think is a part of every teenager. And I was sort of stuck in that struggle for a while, that void within the self.”

Afterschool was Miller’s first film. Since then he has performed in the tragicomedy City Island and the lead in the soon-to-be-released Beware the Gonzo. His most recognized role was on Showtime’s Californication, but his earliest performance was in opera, of all things. “When I was six years old, my teacher tried to get the entire class to listen to opera,” he explains. Miller was smitten, and his mother started taking him to the Met. Soon after, he was cast in Philip Glass’ contemporary opera White Raven. “It was such a trippy opera: I brought up the sun and conducted the orchestra… That pretty much sealed the proverbial deal on me needing to be artistic and exhibitionistic in my life.”

Photographer’s Assistants Maciek Jasik and Peter Panszczyk Digital Tech Lolly Koon Fashion Assistant Lauren Deleo Hair Andre Gunn at The Wall Group Make-up Kaori Yanagida at Marek & Associates Location Fast Ashley’s Studios

CARTER JENKINS

Images Jason Nocito Words Ileana Lagares

Make no mistake, young Hollywood actors have it tougher than it seems. Bereft of parents (and rules), they flail to stay afloat in a deepening talent pool as the tabloid maelstrom rages around them.

But Carter Jenkins was never set adrift. The Florida native started his career at the age of seven in community theatre and commercials, and, when he moved to California three years later, his dedicated family followed. He earned his kid-actor chops in the sci-fi television series Surface and Nickelodeon’s Unfabulous, and made his big-screen debut with Billy Bob Thornton in Bad News Bears. And this February, he shares the limelight with an ensemble of A-listers like Julia Roberts, Ashton Kutcher, Jennifer Garner, and many more in Valentine’s Day, a romantic comedy directed by Garry Marshall.

Jenkins admires the work of actors like Leonardo DiCaprio and Ryan Gosling for both their role choices and their staying power. “There aren’t many actors who have been able to make that kind of transition [from child actor] and come out good at the end and still have their career and have played good roles.” Jenkins is clearly focused on working on-screen, not playing off-screen. “If the actual act of acting isn’t the payoff or isn’t the reward, all the ridiculousness will get to you and I just don’t see it being worth it… I don’t want to be a celebrity, I want to be an actor.”

Fashion Assistant Ileana Lagares Groomer Lisa-Raquel at See Management Special Thanks Kristin Benedetto & John Aduna

CHARLIE BEWLEY

Images Ryan Pfluger Words Susan Locht

Only 10 short months ago, Charlie Bewley was working in a cocktail lounge in Vancouver’s West End when he got the phone call that changed his life: his agent told him he had landed a roll in the mega-popular Twilight Saga. He would play Demetri, the Vulturi guard in New Moon and the upcoming Eclipse. “I was so thrilled, so excited. That day, my friend and I went running and I don’t think I’d ever run so fast in my life. I was running and jumping and hitting branches on the trees. I was like a kid.”

Bewley, who grew up in Middle England, comes from a family of performers, but only recently started to pursue acting himself. Originally in Canada to snowboard and work in Whistler, he always knew he’d eventually work in some creative capacity. “I’ve wanted to do so many things with my life. I think I have a sort of creative A.D.D. I’m very indiscriminate when it comes to creativity. I just think every single art form is cathartic. Each one allows a different kind of outpouring, and I want to immerse myself in as many as I can.” Bewley believes his role as Demetri gives him a huge jumpstart into pursuing the things he loves. He writes and sings, and plans to direct and produce in the very near future. “To go from waiting tables and bartending to suddenly having all your dreams start to open up in front of you… I’m going to need to step back and assess what’s going on. It’s time to make good on all those things I’ve been dreaming about.”

Fashion Assistant Lauren Deleo Groomer Amy Komorowski