During the audition process for the Emmy-nominated TV show American Primeval, Preston Mota performed the script he had practiced for hours. When he opened the Zoom call and was finally face-to-face with Director Pete Burg and the producers, they did not ask him to read the script. They instead asked him what his favorite football team was.

Mota is a young actor who has appeared in major productions, including Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City. He is represented by Duvall Mac talent and 1111 Entertainment, and has been acting since he was 11. His most recent project was American Primeval, where Mota played Devin Rowell. The series follows him and his mother as they journey westward to find his father and become caught up in issues like the Utah wars and encounters with the U.S. Army. 

“I put the script down and we just started talking about football,” Mota said. “Then he asked me what my favorite song was. I said, Lose Yourself by Eminem. Then he said, ‘Okay, sing it.’”

Berg had Mota sing and act out the lyrics to the song in many different ways. Mota adapted to the situation and did as he was asked. 

“I honestly had no idea what just happened, and it was kind of all a blur,” Mota said. “I didn’t know if I’d done a good job or what happened because I wasn’t practicing to rap or anything.”

Mota received a call after the audition and got the part. Filming started in 2023, mostly set in New Mexico, and lasted for about two years due to the SAG-AFTRA actor strike. When filming resumed, each day held something different to shoot or cover. 

“There’s not a typical day,” Preston’s mom, Delena Mota, said. “Every day is very different. It depends on what they’re trying to get in the scene.” 

The hours were long and could often go to midnight or 1 a.m. Some days, the crew had to wake up before sunrise at 4 a.m. to film certain scenes. Acting on this set was a commitment, but Mota was willing to work with the circumstances. 

“It takes passion when you’re that young,” Mota’s talent manager, Leah Macaulay, said. “Preston really loves it. It’s a lot of work, and there is so much behind the scenes. But, if you love something, it’s less about fame and more about the process of doing it.” 

It is not just acting that interests Mota about the production process. It is everything from the camera work to hair and makeup. 

“It is all crazy to me,” Mota said. “Everyone puts so much time and effort into what they do. It comes down to a beautiful work of art in the end.”

During filming, Mota was the only child on set, but still formed many connections with his cast members and learned from their experiences. 

“I loved it so much, Mota said. “I still keep in touch with most of them, and I learned a lot. Pete Berg told me that no matter how big you get, always be humble and always be grounded.”

Mota’s favorite and most difficult scene to shoot was when his character broke his leg on the show, and the other characters took him to a cabin to reset and clean the wound.

“I had to scream and figure out all the emotions of how it feels to get your leg cauterized and get a bone reset, and that was difficult,” Mota said. “As the day progressed, I started to pick it up a little bit more.”

During this scene, Mota showcased his acting talent, bringing it to life for those watching from behind the camera.

“I started crying because it was just so real,” Delena said. “As a mom, you want to be there for them when they’re in pain, and I just wanted to run to him. Obviously, he was acting, and it was phenomenal because he made me feel so strongly.”

With only a few years in the industry, Mota has demonstrated his talent and gained significant experience from his time on set.

“His confidence and ability to bring part of Preston into his character make him special,” Macaulay said. “He got the ultimate experience being on that particular set with big-name actors, and one cannot replace those experiences. It will carry with him throughout his life.”

Working in the productions, Mota has made memories and gained many experiences, but many people outside of the industry only see “the glitz and glam,” Delena said. An acting career is high-pressure and comes with negative aspects.

“It’s been difficult with making friendships and relationships because I left during a time when everybody was finding their group,” Mota said. “I was still trying to find where I was.”

When an actor gets a job, they can spend months or even years on a production, which can be hard on kids who are transitioning from place to place. It is important to Mota’s parents to maintain normalcy in his daily life.

“We definitely don’t want him to lose his chance to be a kid,” Delena said. “We want him to experience the things that kids do in high school and not feel like he’s constantly having to pack up and go to the next job.”

 Mota wants others to see the art he has created and to appreciate the effort that went into it. 

“I just want to create art that everybody can enjoy, love and appreciate,” Mota said. “When people watch it, I hope that they will like to see me again.”