New York
NCS
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We’d been on the highway by 2 a.m., and after a missed flight and a seven-hour drive from upstate New York, I was lastly in the metropolis. I was with my girlfriend, one in all the few individuals — alongside my mother and father and a handful of pals — who knew what I was about to do. I wasn’t scheduled to work at my job at a fishing retailer (the place I promote bait and sort out, and maintain moored boats topped up with gasoline) this weekend. For that I’m grateful, as a result of I’m undecided how I’d have defined the scenario to my boss in any other case.
How do I ask for time without work to enter a Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest?
I noticed the competitors flier on the web a couple of weeks in the past and thought it may very well be enjoyable. My girlfriend is a large Chalamet fan, and was excited by the entire concept. So, I registered as a contestant and posted a selfie to the organizers — all that was wanted to enter — simply as a joke. I wasn’t positive if the Manhattan occasion was even actual or not. But because it turned obvious that it was legit, I purchased a airplane ticket. It didn’t value a lot, with transport and a few nights keep coming to round $400. After all, this can be a once-in-a-lifetime alternative.
I wasn’t nervous. If something, I was pumped. I’ve been considering of shifting to New York City for some time — hopefully as soon as I end learning graphics and multimedia advertising and marketing at the State University of New York Canton (SUNY) — so this felt like a very good alternative. I need to do one thing inventive, like making garments, taking pictures movies or modeling, so I reasoned that the occasion may very well be a very good networking alternative. That’s how individuals get jobs isn’t it? Through connections?
The Chalamet comparisons started earlier this 12 months when I grew out my darkish, curly hair. People have joked beneath Instagram posts that they preferred me in “Dune 2.” I get seems to be from passersby on the avenue and a piece colleague calls me Willy Wonka.
Friends make jokes about the likeness, too. But the weirdest second happened final winter, when I went to Toronto with my girlfriend throughout the holidays. We had been in a mall and noticed a “Wonka” pop-up with big posters and an enormous pink “chocolate” tree, similar to the one from the film.
I wasn’t standing there lengthy when a man working at the pop-up ran over to me. “I’ve seen so many people come through here, and you’re the only one who looks like Timothée. You should sign your name next to his!” he stated, pointing to Chalamet’s signature on one in all the posters. I instantly felt like an imposter. “I can’t sign that,” I instructed him. Disappointed, he insisted I take an image in the photograph shoot space. Before I may say no, he and his colleagues rushed over holding a Wonka-style coat and snapped an image. I nonetheless have that photograph.
It’s humorous to assume I felt awkward posing for that image, and but I was touring to an occasion the place individuals take a whole bunch and even hundreds extra prefer it.
When I bought to Washington Square Park in Manhattan on Sunday, half an hour earlier than the contest was as a result of start, there have been already at the least 1,000 individuals in the crowd.
For some time, all I may see had been telephone screens — individuals recording me, taking my image and asking to talk to me. At first it was overwhelming. I felt hounded by the TV cameras and journalists, as if I had been an animal in the zoo or a circus. I was scared that contestants could be requested to carry out or stroll in entrance of all these individuals. I heard some boos and cheers at the different finish of the park (I later noticed on-line that it was the crowd judging different contestants), however I stayed beneath the Washington Square Arch.
I met a couple of different lookalikes and we caught collectively amid the pandemonium. The NYPD issued a dispersal order and, at one level, an officer approached me and screamed that I wanted to go away the park. I ignored him and moved away, however I noticed one other contestant get handcuffed and dragged out of the space. (The NYPD has since confirmed that it fined organizers $500 for an “unpermitted costume contest,” and at the least one contestant was taken away in handcuffs, although a police spokesperson instructed the Associated Press that costs are pending.)
When the real Timothée Chalamet made a surprise appearance, the power intensified. He was gone in a flash, nevertheless, disappearing by way of the crowd and heading again to a automobile on the outskirts of the park. I assume he knew issues would have escalated if he’d stayed too lengthy.
I had deliberate my outfit earlier in the week: A grey T-shirt, black leather-based jacket, ankle boots and straight-leg denims to make me look skinnier. I was making an attempt to recreate Chalamet’s look from the Chanel fragrance marketing campaign he starred in this summer season. Some of the different Timothée’s, together with the winner, dressed up as Willy Wonka. I didn’t get a very good take a look at him, however I assume they gave him the $50 prize (and a trophy) as a result of he dedicated to the bit by giving out chocolate. I didn’t care about successful, however it was flattering when individuals later instructed me I ought to have taken first place.
This can be my one and solely lookalike competitors. While I beloved my three hours of fame (I should admit, I felt a buzz from being “recognized”) it had its downsides. The stares, individuals pulling and touching you, photographing you. Luckily for me, as quickly because it was over I may go and eat tacos with my girlfriend — no followers crowding the desk, no disguises, no sneaky footage being snapped from throughout the restaurant. Next week, I’ll return to highschool and my job at the fishing retailer like nothing happened.
And as a lot enjoyable because it was to be Timothée Chalamet for a day, I’m really glad I’m Reed Putman.