New York
CNN
 — 

We’d been on the street by 2 a.m., and after a missed flight and a seven-hour drive from upstate New York, I used to be lastly within the metropolis. I used to be with my girlfriend, one of many few folks — alongside my mother and father and a handful of mates — who knew what I used to be 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 preserve moored boats topped up with fuel) this weekend. For that I’m grateful, as a result of I’m unsure how I’d have defined the state of affairs to my boss in any other case.

How do I ask for day without work to enter a Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest?

I noticed the competitors flier on the web just a few weeks in the past and thought it could possibly be enjoyable. My girlfriend is a big Chalamet fan, and was excited by the entire thought. 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 certain if the Manhattan occasion was even actual or not. However because it grew to become obvious that it was legit, I purchased a aircraft ticket. It didn’t price a lot, with transport and a few nights keep coming to round $400. In any case, this can be a once-in-a-lifetime alternative.

I wasn’t nervous. If something, I used to be pumped. I’ve been considering of shifting to New York Metropolis for some time — hopefully as soon as I end finding out graphics and multimedia advertising and marketing on the State College of New York Canton (SUNY) — so this felt like alternative. I need to do one thing artistic, like making garments, capturing movies or modeling, so I reasoned that the occasion could possibly be networking alternative. That’s how folks get jobs isn’t it? By connections?

The Chalamet comparisons started earlier this 12 months after I grew out my darkish, curly hair. Folks have joked beneath Instagram posts that they favored me in “Dune 2.” I get appears from passersby on the road and a piece colleague calls me Willy Wonka.

Associates make jokes concerning the likeness, too. However the weirdest second occurred final winter, after I went to Toronto with my girlfriend through the holidays. We have been in a mall and noticed a “Wonka” pop-up with large posters and an enormous pink “chocolate” tree, similar to the one from the film.

I wasn’t standing there lengthy when a man working on the pop-up ran over to me. “I’ve seen so many individuals come via right here, and also you’re the one one who appears like Timothée. You must signal your title subsequent to his!” he stated, pointing to Chalamet’s signature on one of many posters. I instantly felt like an imposter. “I can’t signal that,” I advised him. Disenchanted, he insisted I take an image within the picture shoot space. Earlier than I may say no, he and his colleagues rushed over holding a Wonka-style coat and snapped an image. I nonetheless have that picture.

It’s humorous to assume I felt awkward posing for that image, and but I used to be touring to an occasion the place folks take lots of and even hundreds extra prefer it.

After I bought to Washington Sq. Park in Manhattan on Sunday, half an hour earlier than the competition was because of start, there have been already a minimum of 1,000 folks within the crowd.

For some time, all I may see have been cellphone screens — folks 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 have been an animal within the zoo or a circus. I used to be scared that contestants can be requested to carry out or stroll in entrance of all these folks. I heard some boos and cheers on the different finish of the park (I later noticed on-line that it was the group judging different contestants), however I stayed beneath the Washington Sq. Arch.

I met just a few 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 depart the park. I ignored him and moved away, however I noticed one other contestant get handcuffed and dragged out of the world. (The NYPD has since confirmed that it fined organizers $500 for an “unpermitted costume contest,” and a minimum of one contestant was taken away in handcuffs, although a police spokesperson advised the Related Press that expenses are pending.)

When the actual Timothée Chalamet made a shock look, the power intensified. He was gone in a flash, nonetheless, disappearing via the group and heading again to a automotive on the outskirts of the park. I feel he knew issues would have escalated if he’d stayed too lengthy.

I had deliberate my outfit earlier within the week: A grey T-shirt, black leather-based jacket, ankle boots and straight-leg denims to make me look skinnier. I used to be attempting to recreate Chalamet’s look from the Chanel fragrance marketing campaign he starred on this summer season. A few of the different Timothée’s, together with the winner, dressed up as Willy Wonka. I didn’t get have a look at him, however I feel 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, nevertheless it was flattering when folks later advised me I ought to have taken first place.

This will likely be my one and solely lookalike competitors. Whereas I liked my three hours of fame (I’ve to confess, I felt a buzz from being “acknowledged”) it had its downsides. The stares, folks pulling and touching you, photographing you. Fortunately 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 photos being snapped from throughout the restaurant. Subsequent week, I’ll return to highschool and my job on the fishing retailer like nothing occurred.

And as a lot enjoyable because it was to be Timothée Chalamet for a day, I’m actually glad I’m Reed Putman.