Film student Dean Satriano has heard plenty of horror stories about life on a movie set.
So the 21-year-old didn’t expect to be treated kindly when he landed a small part in the new horror film “Let Me In,” the American remake of “Let the Right One In.”
“They were worried about us … are you cold? Can I get you anything?” Satriano recalls of the attention he and his youthful colleagues received during his two days on the shoot.
He even had his own trailer with his character’s name on it.
The Denver resident isn’t on screen long, but he appears during a pivotal sequence involving Oscar nominee Richard Jenkins.
“It was my 12-year-old girl moment. Oh, my God, he’s a real person. I grew up watching him on [HBO’s] ‘Six Feet Under,’” he says.
Jenkins plays a father figure of sorts to the film’s teen vampire (Chloe Grace Moretz), a role that has him doing her sinister bidding.
“When he arrived on set not too many people ran up to talk to him. He was getting into character,“ Satriano explains, adding Jenkins brought a professional demeanor to the task at hand. Once the more intense part of the sequence was behind them, Jenkins shook off the somber mood.
“He gave me the time of day which I thought was awesome,” he says.
Satriano landed the part after submitting an audition tape through his agent. He originally tried out for the teenager who gets attached by Jenkins in the scene but ended up playing one of that poor fellow‘s pals.
“Let Me In” was shot in New Mexico, the new Mecca for film production thanks to generous film subsidies. But film studios have been coming to Colorado to find talent for New Mexico-based shoots, the young actor says.
He had no idea what project he was auditioning for at the time beyond the basic scene information. As luck would have it, he had recently rented “Let the Right One In” on a friend’s recommendation.
“Why would they remake that movie? It was so beautiful,” he says. Satriano finally saw “Let Me In” late last month along with his father and grandmother at a Denver screening and was relieved the film stood tall next to the original.
The young actor, currently studying at the Colorado Film School, plans to stay in Denver and keep gathering experience.
“There’s plenty of work here for actors, I’m finding,” he says, but adds he’ll likely move to L.A. at some point. For now, he’s still soaking in what it feels like to have made his first movie.
“I’m nothing but grateful for the opportunity. It’s made me all the hungrier for success,” he says.
(Photo: Colorado Film School student/actor Dean Satriano)
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Very cool interview, Mr. WWTW. It was nice to be able to see the experience through his “inexperienced” eyes.
The back story: I sat next to Dean’s grandmother at the “Let Me In” screening. She mentioned her grandson was in the film – and I thought it would be fun to get a behind the scenes look at a film production like this.
Many of the best things have a grandma in them somewhere! That day, you made a fortuitous seating choice for your readers. Great post.