Transformation
Copyright© 2025 by A Well Traveled Man
Chapter 8
Alex meditated and exercised early Friday morning, grabbed the quarterstaff, and accessed Chi. Then I took off on my run through the subdivision with my senses focused on my route. At the halfway point, I practiced the body flicker walk, then resumed my run home. After stretching, I took a shower, dressed, and carried my bags to the car, and we took off for Universal Studios. We arrive on the set at 7:50 a.m. at a standing-room-only saloon. Sam Washburn welcomed everyone back from hiatus and said they were on an accelerated schedule and would finish within two weeks. In case some of you missed it, I am the director now, so let’s put this in the can. Updated scripts were outside the door, so everyone moved their asses, and it was chaos for the next hour with wardrobe and makeup. We finally went to shoot four scenes before the day ended. We will be shooting a night tomorrow, starting at 4 p.m. and ending at midnight.
He returned to the trailer, showered, and met Mom at the canteen for dinner. Mom said the gym was better than the one she attended, and enjoyed her workout. She also said Tom Larson, the Krav Maga instructor, called and asked about you. I told him you were on set acting in a movie at Universal, but would call him back tomorrow during a break. After dinner, we went back to the trailers. I read the updated script, and Mom watched TV. Then, I called Universal’s main line and left a message with the after-hours service for Rod Jacks, my acting coach. I asked if he had free time tomorrow morning to review my script with me and left my cell number. After saying good night to Mom, I returned to my trailer and swept it for bugs and cameras.
It was clean, so I stripped, sat in the lotus position, and attained Chi. First, I checked my energy stores, and they were full. Next, I scanned the surrounding area, and one man was out walking with a shoulder bag. Something looked suspicious about him, so I followed him. He went behind a trailer, removed the access panel, and crawled under the trailer. I got up and dressed, grabbed the quarterstaff, and walked out the door. When I arrived, he was backing out from under the trailer. I waited for his head to clear the hole, then hit him in the head with the quarterstaff. The shoulder bag was full of money, so the assumption was that it had contained drugs. I put him into a deep sleep with a pressure point and closed the access panel. Then I told him, every time you come to Universal, strip off your clothes and run around nude, yelling I’m free at last. I took his shoulder bag, keys, wallet, and cell phone, returned to my trailer, and crashed.
Alex meditated and exercised early Saturday morning, grabbed the quarterstaff, and accessed Chi. Then I put the cash from his holder bag into a duffel bag in the closet and took the other items on my run. I deposited them in different trash cans along my route and went to the gym. I did my weight workout, returned to the trailer, showered, and went to the canteen for breakfast. While eating, my phone rang, and I was Rod Jacks. He had some free time and would meet me at my trailer in 30 minutes. We spent the next four hours going over the script. He gave me tips on delivery, voice tones, and hand and face gestures. Rod said to relax, and you’ll do fine. He said the studio paid for it when I asked what I owed. Alex gave him $300 and told him to take his wife, girlfriend, or both out to dinner. Then I told him about my kissing problem. Rod laughed at first, then said Sorry if I forgot your thirteen. Alex said I wanted a professional coach, not a hooker. Rod said he would have Sandy call me. She’s an acting coach, but you must pay her for the instruction. Alex agreed, and Rod said he would have Sandy call me and left.
Mom and I went to the canteen for a late lunch and rested until it was time to go to the set. We started in the saloon, and the first two hours were saloon fights. We went through a lot of furniture. Then we moved outside, and I walked the boardwalk alone and with my girlfriend at night. Finally, we brought in the horses, and I rode up to the salon and went inside. I did it both fast and slow. Then, leaving the salon, both fast and slow. It confused me, but I did my job, and we ended at 11 p.m. In the end, I asked Sam about it, and he said it’s hard to explain without seeing it done. But when we get to the inside dialogue, we splice those in any time you leave or arrive. So, it’s quicker to do all the dialogue scenes at once. When you see the finished product, you’ll say I didn’t do all that, but you did it in pieces. Understand? Alex said yes but didn’t, and went to the trailer and crashed.
Alex meditated and exercised at 4 a.m. on Sunday, grabbed the quarterstaff, accessed my Chi, and took off for my run. I stopped midway, practiced my flicker walk, resumed my run, and finished at the trailer. Mom said the shoot today was canceled for a set change, so she was going home and would return Monday afternoon. Alex offered a sweaty hug, but she ran away. So, after giving her my dirty clothes, I showered and went to the canteen for breakfast. After returning to the trailer, Alex read Sensi’s hypnosis and pressure points books.
I was getting ready for an early lunch when Sandy called. She said I have a few hours free. Am I available? Alex said yes, and we met at the gate. She drove me to a sporting goods store, and I tried on a jockstrap with a cup, but it wouldn’t work, so I bought seven pairs of compression shorts and some extra running/workout gear. When we returned, I was instructed how to hold her by the waist or back, then the kissing instruction after breath mints. Three hours later, I passed the kissing test. She left $300 happier, and I was pleased I knew what to do. After that, I went to the canteen and ate two dinners, and took one back to the trailer.
Upon arriving, I put the dinner in the refrigerator and called Tom Larson, the Krav Maga instructor Sensi recommended. I was surprised, he answered. Tom Larson, how can I help you? Alex said, Mr. Larson, I’m Alex Wilson or Alex Hollister, depending on which day and set I’m on. My Sensi wrote me a letter to contact you for my future training. Mr. Lawson laughed and said Not sure who you are today. Alex said to tell you the truth. It mixes me up sometimes. My acting agency, CAA, wants me to use Wilson while acting or doing anything in the entertainment industry. Then there’s Alex Hollister, CK model, college student, and ordinary thirteen-year-old boy. Wilson is one of my middle names and my mom’s maiden name. Mr. Larson said, based on what your Sensi told me, there’s nothing ordinary about you.
Mr. Larson asked What is your status with the movie? Alex said it should wrap up in 10 days or so. Sensi had me training with light weights three times a week, and I trained with him for the same. Then I run seven or eight miles every morning after doing exercises or forms. Universal has a weight gym, boxing, and a mixed martial arts gym, which I use every other day. Mr. Larson asked if Tom was still in charge of the mixed martial arts gym there, and I said yes, I had to demonstrate my talents before he would give me a 24-hour pass. Mr. Larson laughed and said it sounded like him. He then asked me to leave him a pass at the gate, and he said he would visit me in the next few days. Alex told him I would, and we said goodbye.
I called Mom and said Hey, baby, what are you wearing? Something sexy for me, I hope. Could you send me a selfie so I can see? Mom was laughing so hard that she dropped the phone. When she recovered, Mom said Damit, Alex, I was reading when you called, and I lost my place. Sorry, I called Mr. Larson tonight. He wanted me to leave him a pass at the gate. How do I do that? Mom said she would do it when she came tomorrow. I said ok, thanks, and goodnight. “I was still waiting for that selfie, and the line went dead.” Then I stripped and sat in the lotus position and gathered my Chi. I scanned the area, and no one was out, so I checked my energy stores, topped them off, and went to bed.
Monday at 4 a.m., Alex meditated and exercised, grabbed the quarterstaff, accessed my Chi, and took off for my run. I could see activity inside the saloon when I passed. Then it was quiet and eerie, almost like a ghost town. I stopped at my halfway point and practiced the body flicker walk, then resumed my run to the mixed martial arts gym and worked out for 45 minutes. Returning to the trailer, I showered, dressed, and went to the canteen for breakfast. After breakfast, I went to the saloon, and two buses were parked in front. We were going to the San Bernardino mountains for a remote shoot.
It was my character’s remote cabin in the woods. We filmed some of my arrival, departure, and living in the cabin. Then we moved to the woods, and I was filmed riding a trail. At one point, I stopped, climbed onto some rocks, and shot a man following me with my rifle. Then, at dusk, I shot two riders who came to the cabin. I was standing on the porch when they rode up, and after a brief argument, we exchanged gunfire, and they died. That scene took four retakes to get right. When we returned to Universal, it was after 11 p.m. Sam told me to take tomorrow off and report Wednesday morning. So, I went to my trailer and crashed.
Early the next morning, Alex meditated and exercised, grabbed the quarterstaff, accessed my Chi, and took off for my run. I stopped midway, practiced my flicker walk, resumed my run, and finished at the trailer. After stretching, I showered, dressed, and met Mom at the canteen. I told her about the remote shoot and didn’t know what was happening. Mom laughed and said she saw a documentary on filmmaking. They explained the process of cutting and pasting scenes. I said that’s fine, but it’s confusing as an actor. Mom left for the gym, and I returned to my trailer. My phone rang, and it was Tom Larson, so I gave him my location and waited out front. A golf cart driver dropped him off. We shook hands and went inside.
Mr. Larson asked about my training with Sensi and what belt color I had achieved. Alex told him I wasn’t into competitions or belt colors. All my training was one-on-one with Sensi. We sparred full speed in protective gear until we were tired. Then rest, and he would set up surprises for the last hour. I told him about the obstacle course, and Mr. Larson shook his head. In Sensi’s letter, he said I taught you everything I know. Now it’s time to learn a new discipline to round out my training, which has referred me to you. Mr. Larson asked to see it, so I gave it to him. He read it and said fuck me and returned the letter. Mr. Larson said Krav Maga is close-quarters combat and restraint. It uses strength and leverage to gain control or put down an enemy. He asked me to remove my shirt and said ok, so I put it back on.
Mr. Larson pulled out a small folder with about twenty or thirty pages. He said these are the basic moves, punches, kicks, and holds of Krav Maga. Practice the moves, punches, and kicks close to a heavy bag to simulate close-quarters combat. Tying it all together with the holds needs two people. A link is listed on the first page; you can see each movement in live action. Practice every other day until you are done here, and we can schedule some training. Mr. Larson stood up, shook my hand, and said I’m going to see an old friend now. Good luck with the film, and call me when you’re done.
I watched all the videos, and it looked like street fighting, which I was not interested in. Some of the moves looked beneficial, so I would practice those, but this wasn’t for me. Mom returned, and I told her what I thought, and she agreed. Sensi must have had a reason to expose you to this art. I said maybe the answer is in those boxes in the garage. We lounged around until lunch and went to the canteen. After lunch, we walked to the trailers, and there was a golf cart in front of Mom’s trailer. We step inside, and everyone yells Happy Birthday, Alex.
Shit, I forgot it was my fourteenth birthday today. Ali, Andrew, Kimberly, Paul Lamb, and Sam Washburn were there. There was cake and ice cream, and everyone but Ali, Paul, Mom, and me filtered out. CK gave me a golf cart, and CAA gave me a baseball hat, pen, sunglasses, lapel pin, and belt buckle, all with miniature cameras. CK and CAA had worked together before and liked the name change. Both thought it would cause everyone to talk about movies and modeling more.
Then Paul told me about my planned appearance on Kimmel tonight. Guillermo Rodriguez and Paul were friends, and Guillermo devised a plan to surprise Jimmy. The producers were on board for the free publicity. Props gave me a fake gun like the one I practiced fast drawing with at home. I would wear my outfit from the movie, a hat, shirt, jeans, boots, spurs, and a slicker, all in Black, with my gun belt. The script between Paul and Guillermo was worked out over the phone. Then we ate dinner at the canteen and rode in a limo to the show. Security checked the gun, and then we were ushered into a green room to wait. When the first guest left, and the show was on a commercial break, I was directed to the staging area.
When they went live, Jimmy said, We have a last-minute change. Our next guest is acting in his first movie, which is currently being produced at Universal. The film is called Showdown at Carver Hill. Please welcome Alex Wilson. Guillermo waved at me. I entered with my head down and spurs clinking. Jimmy said What the fuck. I lifted my head and said,” Jimmy, I warned you to stay away from my girl. I stopped, took the gunfighter’s stance, threw back my slicker, and said Time to pay the price, Jimmy. Jimmy said to wait. I drew my gun and said BANG. Guillermo fell on the floor laughing hard, and the crowd went wild. I took off my hat and slicker, and then everyone recognized me. The crowd cheered, and Jimmy said, Alex Hollister?
We sat down, and I apologized for the entrance but said it was Guillermo’s idea. Guillermo yelled, “He’s lying, Jimmy. “ Jimmy asked about the name change, and I told him about using both and why. Then we talked about the movie, and our time was up. It was after midnight when we got back to the trailers. I crawled into bed and crashed.
The next ten days were rough on the set. There were no more days off as they pushed to finish the movie. The dialogue was the most challenging part of the movie for me. We jumped around so much that it was confusing and hard to get into the right frame of mind for the scene. That caused numerous retakes not only for me but for the rest of the cast, too. But we finished the film on time.
The final showdown was the only part of the film that was filmed in sequence. Joe’s three brothers arrived to get revenge for his murder, they claimed. They called me out in the street in front of the saloon. The producers must have hired many extras because both boardwalks were packed with people. Joe’s oldest brother said You are going to pay for killing our brother as I walked out to face them. I took my shooting stance, lifted my head, stared at them, and said I was looking at three dead men. They went for their guns first, and I killed them before they got shot off. Then I saw movement on the roof of the dry goods store, so I turned and emptied my gun into a man on the roof. He fell off the roof into the street, and the director yelled Cut!
Medical personnel rushed to the man lying in the street. Sam Washburn, the director, yelled Who the fuck was on the roof. That wasn’t part of the scene. Someone said it was Davie Thoms. Then they discovered his rifle had live ammo in it. Davie Thoms died from a broken neck from the fall.
Then the suits, site safety, and police arrived, and the shit show started. The police wanted to arrest me for murder, and I called them fucking Moran’s. I was shooting blanks from 30 feet away, you fucking idiots. Arrest me and I’ll have your badges in the morning. I went back to my trailer and met with Mom. She said, Let’s wait until they get all the facts, so we waited, and two detectives knocked on my door an hour later. They wanted my statement, and Mom said to come back at 8 a.m. tomorrow, and he will give you one with our attorney present. Then she told the detectives to remember that my son is a minor. Any statements or leaks to the press that my son is a suspect or person of interest will not end well for you, your department, or the city. Mom then called Andrew Givens and told him what was happening, and Andrew promised to be here in the morning. We went to the canteen for dinner and then went to bed.