Cool Kids: Budding actor has lofty goals

Blake Alfson. Remember that name. It may not be long before you see it in movie trailers or possibly in a science journal.

The 14-year-old eighth-grader at Lakeland Junior High School is an articulate, talented young man who finished toward the top in seven categories at the World Championship of Performing Arts in Hollywood last fall and whose career goals include possibly becoming an astrophysicist.

“I was one of the 45 acts to make it to the final round out of 4,500,” said Alfson, who brought home two gold medals, three silver medals and two champion-of-the-world awards.

“I felt I was well-prepared, but I did not expect to do so well,” he said.

Alfson’s road to Hollywood began with an audition for Ain’t It Good Productions, which chose him as a contestant for the competition it held last August. The production company worked with Alfson and the other contestants, preparing them for the Hollywood competition, which had participants from more than 25 countries.

The eight-day contest consisted of competition in several categories, including modeling casual, formal and swimwear; acting in classical, contemporary, dramatic and comedic roles; and showcasing talent, which for Alfson included piano and a stage combat routine – a dramatic version of fencing, one of his favorite pastimes.

For the “spokesmodel” competition, Alfson received a gold medal. He performed a public service announcement about the effects of tobacco and the benefits of quitting smoking.

“All the monologues had to be 60 seconds,” said Alfson. “I spent a whole year fine-tuning them for the audition.”

In the commercial acting category, Alfson pitched a product that would be a sure hit with kids if it existed.

“It was for a parent pauser,” said Alfson, “so kids could put their parents on pause.”

His family came up with the idea while sitting around the dinner table brainstorming.

At the end of the competition, Alfson was approached by talent managers and signed with one.

“One of the managers wanted me to sign with her for the pilot and episodic season, which is just a fancy name for the fall season,” he said.

Alfson lived in Southern California during September and October, staying at a friend’s home with his father, who was able to work from there. His mother, a schoolteacher, created a curriculum for her son so he could keep up on his schoolwork.

“Hollywood was really interesting,” said Alfson. “My dad and I had a lot of fun, and it was definitely one of the best experiences of my life.”

Tifani Young, Alfson’s teacher in his honors English course, was impressed with how he was able to continue his studies while away from school for so long.

“Blake is a hard-working young man,” said Young. “He has a real thirst for knowledge. To be able to continue on with school, making such wonderful grades as though he never had missed, is really an accomplishment.”

Although he enjoys acting, Alfson said his career goal is to become an astrophysicist or an architect.

“Astrophysicists study how the law of gravity and physics relate to stuff in space. They also look for extraterrestrials,” he said.

In the meantime, Alfson is looking forward to his role with the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre, where he will play Nathan in “The Full Monty.”

“I received the only kid role for the whole summer,” said Alfson, who will begin rehearsals in May.

Since he was 6 years old, Alfson has been acting with the Lake City Playhouse, where his biggest role was the lead in “The Hobbit.”

When not acting and keeping up with his studies in his school’s gifted and talented program, Alfson participates in track and field and golf. He also takes fencing lessons.

Although he said he is a little discouraged by not yet being picked for a part in Hollywood, Alfson said his time there last fall was a great experience and he was pleased to have advanced so far in the competition.

But he said that while Hollywood was an adventure, he also missed the routine of school and chose to leave California at the end of October.

As for breaking into the acting world, Alfson is realistic about the challenges.

“What you hear about how hard it is to break into the business in Hollywood is absolutely true,” he said. “There is no such thing as a big break.”