Beckam Crawford Skrypnyk is the only kid in his class with an . And he鈥檚 probably the only Grade 4 kid in Surrey with one too.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if anyone else is acting,鈥� said Beckam, 鈥渂ut there鈥檚 a good chance that I鈥檓 the only actor in my school.鈥�

The actor/hockey player/student from Fraser Heights just finished shooting his final winter scene in Winnipeg last week for the new Sean Penn film Flag Day. Now the Cloverdale minor hockey player is back in town for a few weeks of school before he sets off again to Phoenix to play in the prestigious . His Cloverdale Colts will be competing in the U10 Elite division against teams from Alaska, Texas, Colorado, Georgia, California, and Arizona.

In 2019, Beckam spent seven summer weeks in Winnipeg filming scenes for Flag Day and he said the experience was thrilling.

Beckam Crawford Skrypnyk said it was great to be on set with filming Flag Day. Go to to read a feature on Skrypnyk.

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鈥淚 got to meet so many people,鈥� Beckam told the Cloverdale Reporter. 鈥淪ean was great. Everyone was just so good to me. It was a great experience, but sometimes it could get pretty tiring.鈥�

Beckam said his filming days could be long days that stretched into the night, but that it was always exciting on set and Sean Penn was great with everyone鈥攁lways joking around, having a good time, and making sure everyone was taken care of. 鈥淗e鈥檚 just such a great director. He鈥檚 a really good actor. It was breathtaking when I got there. He just spoiled everyone.鈥�

When Beckam filmed his first take, he said he was anxious. 鈥淏ut, as you stay with those people longer and longer, you don鈥檛 get nervous anymore.鈥�

In Flag Day, Beckam plays a young Nick Vogel, the seven-year-old son of John Vogel (Penn). Penn directs and stars in the film alongside his children Hopper Penn and Dylan Penn. The film also stars Canadian actress Katheryn Winnick鈥攌nown for her role as Lagertha in the popular Vikings series鈥攁nd Josh Brolin.

Flag Day tells the story of conman John Vogel and his relationship with his children. It鈥檚 based on Jennifer Vogel鈥檚 2005 memoir Flim-Flam Man: The True Story Of My Father鈥檚 Counterfeit Life.

After Flag Day鈥檚 summer shoot, Beckam was almost immediately cast in a Hallmark film with Kathie Lee Gifford called A Godwink Christmas: Meant for Love (2019). He shot with Kathie Lee for five days at various locations across 91原创 and Maple Ridge.

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Somewhere in between Beckam managed to tryout and make Cloverdale鈥檚 Atom rep team in his first year (minor) in Atom. The Colts have four minor Atom players on the team and the rest are major (second-year) players.

Beckam said he鈥檚 really enjoying Colts hockey this year. 鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing!鈥� he exclaimed. 鈥淎ll my friends [on the team] are awesome, the coaches are amazing, and it鈥檚 just overall amazing.鈥�

Because of the ice shortage in Cloverdale, Beckam hits the ice two mornings a week before school, both practices starting at 6:45 a.m.

Beckam also plays spring-league hockey for the 91原创-based B.C. Lighting. The spring league runs April 1st to mid-June. He鈥檒l be heading to West Edmonton Mall later this year with the Lightning to play in a tournament there.

Beckam said he doesn鈥檛 mind missing school to shoot films or play hockey.

Monica Skrypnyk, his mom, said he does have to keep up with schoolwork while he鈥檚 on set though.

鈥淚t鈥檚 whatever the teacher chooses to send to the on-set tutor,鈥� explained Monica.

Beckam has to study for three hours while on set (as do all other school-age actors) and he has to study all subjects鈥攅ven Phys Ed. 鈥淪ean even played tag with them on set and did other physical activities,鈥� added Monica. She said Penn was great with all the kids on set.

Beckam has 鈥渢agging along鈥� to thank for the nascence of his acting career.

鈥淢y sister, Isabella, wanted to get into acting, so I just went along with her to her interview.鈥�

That interview was with Michelle Gauvin of in Vancouver.

鈥淢ichelle thought it would be a good idea to sign Beckam up because he鈥檚 so outgoing,鈥� explained Monica.

鈥淚sabella quit, so I鈥檓 the only actor in the family now,鈥� added Beckam.

After signing up, Beckam was booked for . His first of four films was Magic Stocking (2015). He followed that up with Hold the Dark (2018).

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鈥�Hold the Dark was a principal role,鈥� said Monica. 鈥淗e ended up going to New York for his costume and they built a dead body replica for him, which was really neat. It was seven hours of casting.鈥�

Monica said Beckam was hooked from that point on.

鈥淗e loves it,鈥� she said. 鈥淔or a parent, there鈥檚 a lot of waiting around, but if a kid has a passion for it, give it a shot.鈥�

Beckam said he鈥檚 excited about the prospect of seeing Flag Day in a theatre 鈥渨ith as many friends and family鈥� members as he can muster to join him.

鈥淚鈥檓 not nervous at all. (I鈥檓) more excited to see it,鈥� he said. 鈥淓specially being a true story and meeting Jennifer Vogel, and seeing all the work that鈥檚 gone into the filming.鈥�

Despite rubbing elbows with Hollywood heavyweights, seeing his mug in numerous commercials, and playing rep hockey in his first year of Atom, Beckam remains very grounded.

鈥淲e really never know,鈥� said Beckam, about landing another acting gig. 鈥淚 (may) never book another role again.鈥�

Monica, said she鈥檚 always reminding him of that. 鈥淲e always say that to keep him humble.鈥�

Life seems pretty good for the 10-year-old Cloverdale Colt, but when he looks down the road at what seems to be such a distant future right now, it鈥檚 not an Oscar that captures his dreams.

鈥淚 want to play in the NHL,鈥� he said, 鈥渇or the Winnipeg Jets.鈥�

Flag Day will be released in theatres in late in 2020.

editor@cloverdalereporter.com
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