I snap a picture of the homeowner’s nice suburban living room. Then, I notice a book on the shelves, a book I happen to be reading at the moment. I don’t know it yet, but this book is about to make things get very strange.
It’s a history book about the making of a particular movie, a massive tome over 400 pages long. The movie is well-known, but this is a book few people have ever read. And yet, their copy looks well-worn and dog-eared.
Then I notice the homeowner has several editions of the book: the hard cover, a revised version, etc. I’ve been driving around with a copy in my car knocking off a few pages between scouting appointments for the past few weeks, and it’s just too funny a coincidence not to mention.
“You’re a fan?” I ask, gesturing to the book. “I’m about halfway through. It’s such a great book.”
A chill suddenly settles over the room. “You’ve seen the movie it’s about?” the homeowner asks, a strange suspicion to their voice.
“Oh yeah, it’s a favorite,” I say slowly, rapidly trying to get a read on what I’ve done to cause such a shift.
“What did you say your project was again?” the homeowner asks, as if they don’t believe the reason I’m in their home.
I immediately pause my picture-taking and give a very detailed rundown of the job that leaves little doubt that what I’m saying is true. It’s extremely important to me that a homeowner is comfortable with my presence at all times.
After my explanation, the homeowner seems satisfied, but the mood remains awkward for rest of the scout.
Later in my car, I can’t stop thinking about why the mention of a book could lead to such a dramatic shift in tone. So I start working it through. Who would have so many copies of such an obscure making-of film book on their shelf? Maybe someone involved with the movie?
I recheck the homeowner’s name in my notes, and suddenly, I realize it’s a name I know. And then, the world comes into focus and I understand exactly what happened.
The homeowner is an actor, and not only had a role in the film, but a major role. A fourth or fifth billing role. The sort of role that any fan would know, and should recognize them for.
Except, I didn’t recognize them. Because the homeowner no longer looks the same as they did in the movie. Not due to age, but because of the changes they’ve made to their face. It is now so pumped up and puffy and taut and emotionless, it takes a serious amount of mental photoshopping just for me to connect the them to the person I know in the movie.
And that’s when I realize: I don’t know if the homeowner was made uncomfortable by the idea that I had recognized them, or that I hadn’t.
Edit: to be clear, the picture is my bookshelf! And all highly recommended reads!