Hauppauge Child Actor Makes Film Debut

Hauppauge residents who headed out to the movie "Friends with Kids" this weekend may not have realized they were watching one of their own make his silver screen debut. 

Owen Bento, 3, of Hauppauge, makes his move to the big screen in "Friends with Kids," which was widely released in theaters on March 9. Bento is cast in the role of Troy, a child being raised by actors Kirsten Wiig and John Hamm. 

"Friends with Kids" is a romantic comedy that tells the story of two friends Julie Keller and Jason Fryman, played by actors Jennifer Westfeld and Adam Scott, who decide to have a child together while keeping a platonic relationship, according to IMDb. Their hope is to avoid the detrimental toll having children have on a relationship.

Lesley Bento, Owen's mother, said it was sudden and a bit unexpected when Owen was cast in the film. Owen, the youngest of four brothers including Aidan, 6, and Alex 5, have appeared in many  prints ads, magazine covers and even a few television commercials but never a movie. 

Lesley said Owen and Alex were both asked to audition for the movie Friends with Kids in 2010. Both received a call back after the inital audition, before Owen was cast in the role. 

"It was exciting but in the business, you can't get your hopes up," Lesley said. 

Owen spent most of the winter 2011 shooting the film at various locations across New York state. He worked alongside the star-studded cast, that includes Megan Fox and Maya Rudolph. 

"Everyone was so great and child-friendly. They were great with Owen," Lesley said. 

As a parent, Lesley admitted some of her biggest concerns were long scenes where she and Owen were separated on the sets. One that stands out was a scene were the couples arrive at a cabin in Vermont, filmed in upstate New York, where Owen was placed in a car with Wiig and Hamm to shoot the arrival scene. 

"For three hours, I couldn't go or be with him. I was worried how he was going to be," Lesley said. " I get into thehouse afterwards, and he's rolling on the floor, laughing and wresting with Jon [Hamm]." 

Acting seems to come naturally to Owen, who at his interview with Patch, spontaneous sang along and performed to Justin Beiber's "Baby." 

Theater goers, and Bento's neighbors, might be surprised to learn Owen's script called for him to say several swear words in the rated R movie. 

"It doesn't bother me. He knows he has pretend parents, he does pretend things and he knows its acting," Lesley said. "He doesn't repeat it at home." 

Owen has learned a few words from his hours on the set. The young actor has picked up the cues of "Rolling," "Action" and will chimes in with "It's a wrap" when a video ends. 

Where Owen's future career will go is uncertain, he's also starred in the AT&T tablet commercial "Spelling" but kindergarten is fast approaching. Lesley said the choice of how far to continue will be up to Owen. 

The stay-at-home mom had a bit piece of advice for other families thinking of getting into the acting business - to be flexible and do not pay an agency to get started.  

"I always get across that you should never pay to start in the business. You should never pay," Lesley said. "When we started, all I did was I took a well let picture of the boys with no hats, not sunglasses, of them outside smiling."