After the successful bathroom scene, the crew took a short break to reset. Alex found himself standing near the craft services table, grabbing a soda, when Matt Dillon walked over, wiping some lingering water from his hair.
"That was pretty wild, huh?" Matt said with a grin, shaking his head. "That toilet water looked surprisingly realistic."
Alex chuckled. "It definitely smelled real enough."
A brief silence fell between them as they both took sips of their drinks. Then Matt turned to Alex, a slightly more serious expression on his face. "So, how'd you get into this whole acting thing?"
Alex chuckled. "It's been a bit of a whirlwind. I started with some guest roles on a few TV shows, then I did a bunch of commercials. And right after that, I was working on the 'Salem's Lot' miniseries." He still found it a little surreal listing his credits.
Matt nodded, genuinely interested. "Wow, 'Salem's Lot'? Is that based on the Stephen King book?"
Alex nodded. "Yeah, it is. Actually, the director of this movie, Tony Bill, he told me he offered me the role of Clifford because he saw me in a 'Little House on the Prairie' episode where I played a character named Dylan. He said he knew right away I was right for the part and he didn't even need me to audition." He still felt a bit like he'd stumbled into this world, albeit one he was quickly embracing.
Matt's eyebrows shot up. "That's wild, man!"
Alex nodded and chuckled. "Yeah, it is wild, man. So, how about you? How did you get your start in acting?"
Matt leaned back, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Matt leaned back, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Oh, it gets even wilder than your story… So, I was ditching class one day back in '78, just hanging out, you know? And these two guys approached me. Turns out they were casting directors for a movie called 'Over the Edge.' They just saw me walking around, cutting school, and thought I had the right look. They asked if I wanted to audition, and I was like, 'Sure, why not?'" Matt chuckled. "Next thing I know, I'm on a movie set. Just like that. Pretty crazy, huh?"
Alex nodded laughing.
Matt laughed. "And that's it. One minute I'm ditching school, the next I'm in a movie." He leaned against the table, looking thoughtful. "I grew up in Mamaroneck, New York, with my family. Big Catholic family, lots of us." He mentioned his parents, his mom being a homemaker and his dad a portrait painter who also coached golf at Fordham. "I've got a bunch of siblings too, four brothers and a sister. My younger brother, Kevin, he's an actor as well." Matt also mentioned a surprising family connection to the world of comics. "And get this, my dad's mom was the sister of Alex Raymond, the guy who created Flash Gordon. Pretty cool, huh?"
Alex was impressed. It was fascinating to hear how Matt, who seemed so comfortable and natural on set, had also started his acting journey in such an unexpected way. He did the mental math and realized he was born in October of '63, and Matt in February of '64, making Matt a few months younger than him. They were both so new to this big world of movie making, even if Matt had that one film under his belt already.
"That's amazing," Alex said, genuinely interested. It was nice to connect with someone else on set who understood, even just a little, what it was like to suddenly find themselves in the middle of a movie production.
********
The weeks that followed fell into a steady rhythm of early mornings and long days on set. The production team largely stuck to a chronological shooting schedule, which allowed Alex to experience Clifford's story unfolding much as it would in the final film. One day he might be filming the initial awkward encounters in the hallways, the next the more tense scenes with Moody and his gang. This approach helped him track Clifford's emotional journey, from the anxious new kid to someone gradually finding his footing. The energy on location at Lake View High School was palpable, a mix of focused work and the camaraderie that develops when a group of people are working towards a common goal. Alex found himself settling into the routine, learning the rhythms of a movie set, and building a comfortable rapport with the other actors.
After the confrontation of Clifford with moody and his cronies, Clifford gets scared. He researches about Ricky Linderman.
According to school legend, Linderman has killed several people, including his own little brother. Not believing the stories, Clifford consults a teacher who claims that the only violence she's aware of from Ricky's past occurred when his nine-year-old brother died accidentally while playing alone with a gun. Ricky was the first to find the body.
Despite the rumors, Clifford approaches Ricky and asks him to be his bodyguard. He refuses, but the boys become friends after Ricky saves him from a beating by Moody and his gang. He has emotional issues over the death of his brother, and although he's slow to trust Clifford, Ricky shows him a cherished motorcycle that he has been rebuilding. The friendship between them is strengthened as Clifford successfully helps Ricky search junkyards for a hard-to-find cylinder for the motorcycle's engine.
Through Clifford's friendship, Ricky comes out of his shell, proving to a few classmates that he's not the killer the school rumors allege. As Clifford, Ricky, and a few other friends from school eat lunch in Lincoln Park, Moody and his gang approach. Moody has enlisted older bodybuilder Mike to be his bodyguard. He intimidates and physically abuses Ricky, who refuses to fight. Mike vandalizes his motorcycle before Moody pushes it into the lagoon. Ricky runs away, ashamed and angry.
Ricky later appears at Clifford's hotel, asking for money before leaving again. Clifford follows him and they argue before Ricky finally reveals that it was he who accidentally shot his brother while playing with their father's gun, and lied about finding his brother after the fact. As a result, he is overwhelmed with guilt and remorse, leaving Clifford behind as he takes a subway train into the night.
Later, Moody is back at the park to continue bullying Clifford and his friends. Ricky is also there retrieving his motorcycle from the lagoon. Moody notices, demanding the motorcycle, which Ricky silently refuses.
Moody summons Mike, who starts to push and intimidate Ricky again.
The setting of Lincoln Park buzzed with the energy of the final days of shooting. Today was dedicated to the climactic fight scene by the lagoon. Tony Bill gathered the actors – Alex, Adam, Matt, and the actor playing Mike, Hank Salas - for a final briefing before they started rolling.
"Alright, guys," Tony began, his voice clear and focused. "For this fight, I want to keep it raw, real. Think about how high school kids actually fight. It's not going to be any fancy martial arts or anything overly choreographed. It's going to be clumsy, driven by adrenaline and emotion. Lots of grabbing, shoving, maybe some wild swings. We want it to feel authentic."
He looked at Matt and Adam. "Hank, you'r the experienced bodybuilder, but Ricky's got a lot of pent-up feelings. Adam, let that desperation and protectiveness for Clifford drive your actions. And Alex, your part in the fight with Moody needs to feel hesitant at first, then a burst of unexpected courage. Remember, this isn't a trained boxer; it's a scared kid finding his inner strength."
The instructions were clear: no flashy moves, just a raw, amateur brawl fueled by teenage angst and loyalty. This approach resonated with Alex, making the scene feel more grounded and believable. He knew he could tap into Clifford's vulnerability and the reluctant bravery that had been building throughout the story to make this final confrontation impactful.
Ricky and Mike charged at each other, exchanging clumsy punches and grapples by the edge of the lagoon, while Clifford watched with a mix of fear and anticipation, and Moody egged Mike on with shouts of encouragement. Suddenly, Moody, seeing Ricky might have the upper hand, jumped in and grabbed Ricky from behind, holding him in a tight headlock. Enough was enough for Clifford. He charged at Moody, grabbing him and pulling him away from Ricky, and a clumsy fight between the two began. Just then, Ricky managed to break free and landed a final blow that knocked Mike unconscious. Turning his attention to Clifford's struggle with Moody, Ricky started yelling instructions, coaching Clifford on where to punch and how to move. Clifford, taking Ricky's desperate advice, landed a solid punch on Moody's face, and the satisfying crack of bone signaled the end of the fight as Moody's nose broke.Moody sits on the ground, humiliated, bleeding and complaining, revealing himself to be a coward.
Ricky retrieves his motorcycle, and jokingly asks Clifford to be his bodyguard as they leave with their friends.
"That's a wrap, everyone! The shooting of 'My Bodyguard' is officially finished!" Tony Bill's voice boomed across Lincoln Park, his words met with a collective cheer from the cast and crew. A wave of relief and accomplishment washed over Alex. Weeks of early mornings, long hours, and intense scenes had culminated in this moment.
Alex felt a mix of emotions as the final scene wrapped. There was a sense of pride in having completed his first major film role. He had given it his all, embraced the character of Clifford, and navigated the challenges of a movie set. But there was also an underlying nervousness. He had just "written his first exam," and now it was up to the audience to "grade the results." The months ahead would be filled with anticipation, wondering how the movie would be received and if his performance would resonate with viewers. It was the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new, uncertain, but exciting one in his burgeoning career.