Although social media platforms are full of people trying to become famous, this guy may have gone about it in the most bizarre way.
In an unusual series of events, Kentucky resident Josh Nalley clinched an acting role in CSI: Vegas after pretending to be dead on TikTok for a staggering 321 days.
Nalley's offbeat journey to Hollywood stardom offers a unique twist on the classic tale of aspiring stars struggling through casting auditions and acting school (or maybe even occasionally resorting to a little nepotism).
Determined to grab the attention of casting directors, Josh committed to a unique strategy. He posted daily TikTok videos of himself in various scenarios, convincingly playing dead. For weeks, he would post videos of himself face-down in the woods, in his home, or on a pathway, along with the caption: "Day [#] of playing un-alive until I'm cast in another RC show or movie as an un-alive body."
In early videos, he would even use fake blood to help "create a scene", and eventually, his videos were amassing thousands of views - with more and more people supporting his goal every passing day.
The oddball tactic bore fruit when the producers of CSI: Vegas noticed him and offered him a role as a deceased character in an episode.
Josh spoke with the Courier Journal about his unorthodox route into acting. He confessed: "I don't like speaking on camera, but I can lie there and act like I am dead pretty easily.
"Having done more than 300 of these posts, I have progressed and gotten better. At first, you could see me breathing, or the fake blood looked really bad. I have gotten rid of using the blood and gotten better at holding my breath."
His TikTok video concept was inspired by another user who posted about hot sauce and subsequently received offers from retailers. Josh wondered if he could replicate this success in the context of acting, particularly in the role of a corpse on a TV show.
One trick that Josh used in his videos was to make sure that there was some movement in the frame. Even while he remained still, the scene around him was dynamic and active - making him look like the perfect lifeless body.
However, his venture onto the CSI: Vegas set wasn't without hiccups. Josh had to learn some on-set etiquette the hard way when he inadvertently disrupted a take by leaving his phone switched on. In some unfortunate timing, a telemarketer chose that precise moment to call him (they never call at an opportune moment, do they?).
And to celebrate his big break, Josh shared a video thanking his many fans for their ongoing support:
Even though Josh isn't planning on giving up his day job managing a restaurant, he is open to future roles as his unique acting gig has attracted attention from other productions. It seems his unconventional launch into the limelight might just be the beginning of an unexpected acting career.
As Josh's peculiar journey into Hollywood shows, perseverance - no matter how unconventional - can sometimes lead to the most remarkable results!
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