From Lana del Rey’s “Chemtrails Over the Country Club” music video to slithering across the Alan Harvey Theater stage, freshman Danilo Titterton has immersed himself in acting in more ways than one.
Titterton said he started acting when he was nine, during the COVID-19 pandemic, because was inspired by his cousins, and he needed something to do.
“Danilo’s cousins had already been deep into acting in Los Angeles and had starred in some major television shows and movies including ‘Big Little Lies,’ ‘Joy,’ and ‘The Boys,’” Titterton’s mom, Alisa Crovetti, said. “It seemed like a fun and convenient [pandemic] hobby to try.”
Crovetti said they spent the summer with Titterton’s cousins and watched them submit video auditions.
“This is when we submitted to the local agency. We both got the [acting] bug being on set with Lana del Rey in Malibu,” Crovetti said.
Titterton said while filming “Chemtrails Over the Country Club,” he was both nervous and excited to be part of such a big production. In the end, it was a great experience for him, with a highlight being being thrown into a swimming pool by del Rey’s brother.
“Honestly, in fourth grade, I didn’t even know that she was famous. I’d never heard of her, and then my mom told me,” Titterton said. “But I think it was a really fun experience. I got to be on the cover of that album, which was really fun. I got to meet a bunch of new people, like her brother. He threw me into a pool, and I think it was just a great experience overall.”
Crovetti said after the music video, Titteron continued acting, appearing in a television series called “Hunters” and a movie called “Spoonful of Sugar.”
“I continued acting, because I think I had a good experience with my first job, and I wanted to continue to get those jobs and have fun,” Titterton said.
Titterton said he continued his acting career at both PMS and PHS as an electric eel in “The Little Mermaid” and Warner in “Legally Blonde” at PMS. He performed in Grease at PHS as a member of the ensemble.
“He was very dynamic as an eel, squirming around on the stage, sneaking in and slithering on his stomach across the stage,” said PHS Dance Teacher, PHS and MHS Musical Director, and theater arts specialist for fourth graders at all PUSD elementary schools Amy Moorhead. “He was very convincing as Warner, the cad boyfriend who dumped Elle. I know he’s got a really cool background in acting, and also music, so I’m excited he was in Grease.”
Crovetti said Titterton’s acting career hasn’t gone without challenges, and that auditions happen spontaneously, with no way to plan for them.
“When [auditions] come in, we often need to drop everything and get them done. Sometimes the turnaround is less than a day. In this business, you never get to say, ‘that time doesn’t work for me,’” Crovetti said. “Danilo is generally a pretty flexible and hard working guy, so I think he gets through all this by reminding himself that the pay off is all the fun we have on set.”
Titterton said that despite the hardships of the audition process and balancing everything with school, he has found joy in acting, meeting new people, and making connections.
“I think that just doing more things and more [jobs] have all been important,” Titterton said. “They’ve all contributed, in a positive way, to my acting career.”
