Former St. Louis kid is in the movies

Teenager Evan Peters wasn't involved in acting when he was growing up in west St. Louis County. But, he's certainly made up for lost time in recent years.

Evan was back in St. Louis last month to receive a Screen Actors Guild Emerging Actor award. He received the award at the St. Louis International Film Festival.

The presentation came just before the festival showing of the independent film, "Clipping Adam." Evan plays the lead as a freshman-to-be who faces all sorts of problems. .

The audience at the Tivoli Theater film showing was almost like a family reunion. Evan was there early to greet friends and family, who almost filled the theater.

Evan was born in St. Louis and was a student at St. Joseph Catholic School in Manchester before the family moved to Michigan. As a way to get involved in his new home, Evan got interested in acting and entertaining.

A photographer at one of his classes made a tape of some of his performances and sent it to friends in California.

After getting an agent, Evan and his mother, Julie, moved to Burbank, Calif., to go after an acting career full-time.

On just his second audition, he was picked by producer Michael Picchiottino for the role of Adam. Evan said the selection was a "stroke of luck."

Another stroke of luck for him was the selection of the rest of the cast. Many were veterans, including Oscar-winning Louise Fletcher to be his grandmother. Ms. Fletcher won an Oscar for her role in "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest," with Jack Nicholson.

"Clipping Adam" took 26 days to shoot. Evan said they were the toughest days of his life. "After all, this was the first time I was ever in front of a camera on stage," he said. But, he added, "I soaked up as much experience as I could."

The movie ended up as a 92-minute feature film.

The title of the movie refers to Adam's refusal to cut his very long hair. In the film, Evan had to use "hair extenders."

St. Louis Post-Dispatch movie reviewer Joe Williams said "Clipping Adam" isn't a movie where "every after-school conversation is a life-or-death encounter."

Because of the lack of emotional tension, Williams said, "Fortunately, the cast is strong and Peters gracefully carries his weight as an angel with a human face and clipped wings."

Since that movie, Evan has continued to be busy.

"When I'm not working, I'm always going to auditions," he said. His agent has him trying for all sorts of parts, not just movies.

Evan has a role in another movie, "Sleepover," which is now in production. Asked about his role, Evan said, "I'm a geek-loser type who happens to be a good dancer."

In the movie, the "geeks" never get to go out with the popular girls. But, because of his dancing ability, Evan gets to enter a contest with the most popular girl. Of course, in the end, his team wins the dancing contest.

Others in the cast include Alexa Vega, who was in "Spy Kids," and Mika Boorem, who acted in "Hearts in Atlantis."

Evan also has done work on commercials, for companies such as PlayStation, Progressive Insurance and Moviefone.

He also has a recurring role in an upcoming Disney TV show, "Phil of the Future." The sit-com is about a family from the past whose time machine breaks down in the present.

Evan said," I play a character named Seth. I'm only in a few episodes."

Asked about his time in California, Evan, who is now 16, said, "I love it."

About what he misses about St. Louis, he said, "Imo's Pizza."

A typical California working day consists of getting up, going to the set and then three hours of school work. He is taking part in a Options for Youth home-schooling program.

"Everything has been a huge learning experience," he said.

Evan said he wants to continue with his acting career. However, if that doesn't develop fully, he has a Plan B.

"I like weather. Maybe I'd be a meteorologist," he said.