Child Actor Playing Young John Travolta Didn't Know Who He Was

Ten-year-old Clark Shotwell, who plays a young John Travolta in the new Apple TV movie "Propeller One Way Night Coach," admitted he had never heard of the actor before his audition.

Shotwell, who makes his starring film debut as a young Jeff in the movie, initially believed the audition was for a student film. His mother, Jenny Shotwell, who is also a performer, did not initially reveal the project's connection to the "Grease" star. "I truthfully had no idea who John Travolta was," Clark told the Daily Mail.

To help him understand the significance of the role, Jenny Shotwell introduced her son to Travolta's work, including "Grease," parts of "Saturday Night Fever," and episodes of "Welcome Back, Kotter." The young actor reportedly grasped the magnitude of the opportunity when his mother compared him to Daniel Radcliffe, star of the "Harry Potter" series.

"Propeller One Way Night Coach" is based on a semi-autobiographical novella Travolta wrote about his passion for flying. At 72, Travolta saw his dream of adapting the story into a film come to fruition. His sister, Ellen Travolta, an actress known for her roles in "Happy Days" and "Charles in Charge," encouraged him to pursue the movie project.

Clark's family, who hail from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, have a background in musical theater and have participated in Ellen Travolta's annual Christmas Cabaret. Ellen suggested Clark for the role after learning John was moving forward with the film. "We had known Ellen for many years," Clark's mother stated. "Propeller One Way Night Coach" marks Clark's first leading role in a feature film, though he had previously performed in musicals and played piano.

During the production, Shotwell developed a mentor-mentee relationship with Travolta. "John was the best director I could possibly have for my first film," Clark said. "When I would mess up, he would be like, 'That's OK, it's just your first movie you know. We will get through this. It happens to everyone'."

Clark was also impressed by Travolta's aviation background, noting that the actor is licensed to fly 13 types of planes and keeps some of his aircraft at his home in Ocala, Florida. "Inside the house, he has airplanes everywhere, even hanging from the ceiling," Clark observed. While he has flown on Travolta's private planes, including a Boeing 737 to the Cannes Film Festival, he expressed that the responsibility of piloting is somewhat daunting.

Traveling to Cannes with Travolta and his family was a significant experience for Shotwell, marking his first time outside the United States. He described the event, where he met Prince Albert of Monaco, as being "on the most awesome vacation you could possibly go on."

Reflecting on watching himself on screen, Clark noted the surreal experience of seeing his performance pieced together. His mother described the moment as "totally overwhelming and very cool," particularly seeing an animated opening sequence featuring her son. The family expressed their support for Clark's potential future in acting and anticipate continued guidance from John Travolta and his family.