In the film Bug Boy, directed by Tara Anderson and produced by the Rolling Stone photographer Ken Regan, I played the role of Danny. He was a teenage boy who grew up without a father and was raised by an alcoholic mother. In an attempt to escape reality, day after day, Danny travels to a horse farm far away from home. He learns how to care for the yearlings and eventually how to ride but more importantly he learns how to survive in the unfair world he lives. The confidence Danny gains by being a ranch hand teaches him how to stand up to the evils in his life. He is completely devoted to protecting his innocent little brother and as the story unfolds you see how his character evolves.

I was 15 at the time Bug Boy was shot and Being Danny was a great learning experience for me. He was strong and brave yet still a boy. He had no positive role models but he still became one for his little brother.

I worked with a real jockey who taught me to ride for the film. At first, the horse was so ornery and I was having a hard time with it but then he calmed down and we got used to each other. Once we started filming he went a little nuts on me and they had to hold up filming to bring in a new horse.