My Day with J. Lo

I stared into J. Lo's brown eyes. We were a few inches apart from each other, trapped in a random gaze, her face leaning slightly towards me. I could smell the spray in her hair. The director then called out, “Cut!”

It was the summer of 2016 and I was acting in an episode of an NBC crime drama called “Shades of Blue.” I used the term “acting” roughly because I had just one line.

I had never seen the “shades of blue” before trying it out. All I knew was a police show set in New York City starring Jennifer Lopez and Ray Liotta. To be honest, when I was in the stage where I was showing my life, I thought up my role as a potential stop. I was in a soap opera a few years ago and since cancelling I had mostly checked out from the audition circuit.

The audition took place in an office building in Midtown. Casting Director Rob read three roles: “FBI Commander,” “Enforcement Officer,” and (terrifyingly) “old cop.”

Before I left, Rob told me: cool. ”

There were no callbacks. I was hired by a part of the “Execution Officer.” My duty consisted of asking a character named Harley.

Once I got the part, I Googled “Shade of Blue” and got me out of breath. Harley was played by Jennifer Lopez. This sent my imagination out of the deep end. I enjoyed the concept of bonding with Jenny from the block with briefly. I thought up everything I could tell her: You were great in “Serena”. I cried at the end of “Maids of Manhattan.” You should never have been with Mark Anthony anyway!

Then I stopped myself. I was hired for work. I was an expert. I was going to make it cool. What's more, even a small TV job is hard to get, and I decided not to ruin this.

Filming took place in Bronx County Courthouse. When I got there, I was put on my assigned uniform and was led to court for rehearsals. I met the actor playing the judge and the young woman who was in the place for Lopez. Before I asked her name, I was distracted by the prop guy who pulled me aside and secured a badge to my uniform. He then handed me the Bible and the director called “Place!”

I returned to my place before the courtroom. Buzz swept the background actor playing the audience in court. Immediately, I was meeting with Sheen's partner. She smiled and reached out and said, “Hello, I'm Jennifer.”

I nodded and waved her. I couldn't put simple greetings into words, so I felt like an idiot. The director then began rehearsals. I offered the Bible and we ranthrough.

The scene's star wasn't me or even Lopez. What she placed in the Bible was her left hand. The gesture has its own close-up, and the director spent a lot of time making sure he got a shot.

“Raul, can you raise the Bible? Great. Well, uh, Raul, can you lower it a little? Great.”

Over and over again, the woman became J. Lo and applied makeup, lotion and nail spray. My hands were sweating and my arms were convulsing from holding the Bible in place. I spent over an hour on this shot.

Perhaps she had heard the director scream my name from the entire set, so Lopez glanced at the tag with my name that read “Smith.”

“Oh, that's not you, is it?” she asked with a laugh.

I shook my head. I still wanted to introduce myself and speak real language like an ordinary person, but I couldn't.

“Haha, that's funny,” she said.

A small army of hair and makeup staff then helped prepare the camera. They made a fuss over her, like bees swarming their nests. She had one makeup artist who seemed to be her eyelashes alone.

During the break, the young production assistant said the day was well underway as there were no fans or paparazzi lurking outside the courthouse.

“We don't list Jennifer on the call sheet,” she said.

At lunchtime, the cast and crew ate in the courthouse basement. The atmosphere was hilarious, but I was troubled by myself by being so upset in the presence of J. Lo. When the camera rolled over, I was fine. The only time I was inappropriate was when I had to work as a real person. I decided to cool off around her in the afternoon.

After lunch we continued our courtroom scene. There, Harley stood up and was cross-examined by a handsome prosecutor. Their dialogue crackled. I was envious of their relationship and for a moment I wished for his role.

Later, as the camera was rearranged, Mr. Lopez, the actor playing the judge, sat in a canvas chair in a nearby hallway. The judge asked J. Lo for a selfie, but she was obliged to do so.

I pulled out my book. Next to me, Jennifer was texting and consulting with her assistant. It was warm in the hallway as the building's air conditioning was closed for filming. I pulled the collar. Jennifer looked around and asked, “What are you reading?” I couldn't speak again, so I handed over the book and showed me the title. “Nice!” she said.

At that time I was able to punch myself. I was probably one of the few people she had met who she had acted with. What was my fault?

When I was leaving at the end of the day, I handed her and her assistant as they were back in their trailer.

“Thank you,” I somehow said.

“Goodbye!” she said.

When the episode aired, it was entitled “The Eye of Hurricane.” The courtroom scene was scattered with steamy shots of Harley in bed with a handsome prosecutor. I was one wide shot and only easily on the camera. My lines were essentially narration. J. Lo's hands looked amazing.

Raul A. Reyes contributes to the opinions of NBC Latino and CNN.