It’s been a year of both ups and downs, but ultimately, success for Scarborough native Greg Finley, who three years ago followed his passion to act in California. The Leader interviewed Finley last March after he guest-starred on the CBS television show, “Cold Case.” Since then, the 23-year-old has gained more exposure in the world of television, while putting his creative powers to work on a screenplay he co-wrote with a friend.
    Finley recently landed a lead role on a pilot for the ABC Family Channel called “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.”
    “Basically, it’s different stories about different types of people in high school. It deals with the drama and pressure of high school,” he said.
    Finley plays quarterback of the football team who is dealing with his Christianity and being a virgin. His character is dating a cheerleader, also a devoted Christian.
    “At first my character was strictly comedic and goofy, but he takes a turn to the dark side and becomes not the most likeable, funny guy in the world,” Finley said, adding that he didn’t want to reveal too much about his character’s storyline.
    The show’s creator, Brenda Hampton, also created “Seventh Heaven” and “Blossom.” Finley said he feels “blessed” to have been cast on the pilot because the writer’s strike thinned out the number of pilots, and available roles. During the strike his auditions decreased by 75 percent.
    “I’ve got to be honest, I was almost ready to pack up and come home. I just thought, ‘I’ve got to do this, it’s what I want to do.’ I’m just really happy I stuck with it. I feel so lucky,” Finley said during a phone interview last week.
    Finley worked at a clothing store on Melrose Place to pay the bills when he wasn’t acting.
    “One day I would meet with this huge producer and the next morning I was opening up the store. It’s a weird lifestyle, but there’s no more folding clothes,” he said.
    Finley’s five lead castmates who play teens on the show are not “big name” actors – one had a small role on the “O.C.,” although Molly Ringwald and John Schneider play parents on the show. Ringwald became popular in the 1980s, starring in the John Hughes films “Sixteen Candles,” “The Breakfast Club” and “Pretty in Pink.” Schneider played Bo Duke on the 1980s television show “The Dukes of Hazzard.”
    Finley’s contract guarantees he will be in at least seven of the 10-episode pilot.
    Finley said his shooting schedule is erratic.
    “Sometimes I’ll shoot three days [then] one day a week [then] five days a week. It depends on the episode. It makes it hard to plan,” he said.
    If Finley does find another television or theatrical project, he will have to make sure it doesn’t interfere with the show. He also said he’s not allowed to appear on television shows on rival networks.
    Just before he got the part on the Family Channel show he booked a national commercial, “Messin’ with Sasquatch” for Jack Link’s beef jerky. (To view it visit www.youtube.com and type “new messin’ with sasquatch,’ in the search bar.)
    The censored version of the commercial is 34 seconds; the uncensored is 40 seconds. Finley said it took nearly 12 hours to shoot. Because he was “first bill,” producers wanted him to shoot several alternate endings and at one point he was in a harness, hanging from a tree for about 30 minutes.
    In addition, Finley also starred in a 20-minute public service announcement discouraging teens from drinking after graduation. He called it “intense,” and said high schools throughout the country will show the piece to students.
    While he’s excited about these projects, Finley is also directing much of his energy to a screenplay he co-wrote with a friend. “Danny Boy,” is a crime and romance drama, he said.
    “It’s about a young man facing a moral struggle between friends, family and the future he’s always wanted,” Finley said.
    “[I thought of the idea] in the bathtub two and a half years ago,” Finley laughed.
    “I was sitting there thinking about auditions I was going on and projects I almost would get, but wouldn’t get. I always loved to write and thought I was halfway decent at it in school. I was thinking about what would be the perfect role for me and this story kind of hit me,” he said.
    Finley tried writing comedy, but said he and a friend had trouble tying various skits together to flow into a strong plot.
    “I think this story [“Danny Boy”] was meant to happen. Everything was right, it was as if all the stars were aligned,” he said.
    He wrote the screenplay during the writers strike. and since he wasn’t a member of the writer’s guild, he was able to write it for fun, he said.
    Finley said he wrote the 118-page screenplay for the full length feature in a month and a half. The film is in pre-production, which means attaching a budget and thinking about locations. Finley said he wants to shoot the film in Portland’s Old Port this fall. He predicted a 35-day shoot.
    “The Old Port has so much history – cobblestone streets and beautiful, old brick buildings – it’s a director’s dream to shoot the heck out of that city,” he said, adding, “There’s something very gritty and something very beautiful about it.”
    Finley will play the lead, Danny, who he describes as “hard” and “rough,” and someone who shields his feelings, but who also has a “heart of gold.”
    He describes the female lead, Nikki, as “a beautiful brunette girl, very smart and witty and the type of girl that would make Danny fall for her.”
    Finley wants to see a “name” actress play Nikki, and envisions Mila Kunis, who starred as Jackie on “That 70s Show.”
    “A lot of actresses like to do independent films where the roles are a little bit more meaty,” he said.
    Finley said he can trace 95 percent of the dialogue back to things that were said or done in his life.
    “All of my friends make fun of me because of how passionate I am about it,” he said.
    Finley and other actor friends recently read through the script and recorded it.
    “Everyone felt the emotions and after said, ‘Now we know what the heck you have been obsessing about,’” Finley said.
    Finley said he already has $3 million secured for the film.
    “As far as industry, it’s a low budget independent film – but it’s a lot of money for a kid from Maine,” he said.
    Finley is a member of the Screen Actors Guild. He said his father, Jim Finley, kept urging him to get the SAG card.
    “I got the card and I swear to God everything good started happening,” he said.
    Besides seeing his screenplay succeed, Finley said his next goal is to appear in a movie with “a great director and great actors.”
    Finley said he would like to do a period piece, maybe in the 1500s.
    “It would be like taking a time machine back in time,” he said.
    After his current job is finished Finley wants to come back to Maine for a couple weeks.
    “I miss my family so much. I can’t go home, if I go home for a couple days they might need me on set. It’s hard, there’s just no two ways about it, they realize I have to do this,” he said.