WAUSAU, Wis. (WAOW) — The new bob Dylan biopic ‘A Complete Unknown’ arrived in theaters on Christmas day.

Along with Timothée Chalamet, Monica Barbaro, and other stars, Weston native Patrick Phalen IV shares a bit of time on the big screen.

He’s a D.C. Everest graduate who now plays drums professionally in Broadway productions and touring acts.

Phalen says the opportunity to appear in the Dylan film came by word-of-mouth.

One of his colleagues recommended he talk to a film agent who was looking for musicians to act and play.

The agent told Phalen he resembled Johnny Cash’s guitarist, Luther Perkins, and asked if he could play the part.

Phalen agreed to it.

Having played more drums and bass than guitar, he quickly set out to learn the guitar parts.

“I didn’t have a guitar in New York. I remember I was playing the show and then I ran after the show down to Sam Ash Music,” laughed Phalen. “So I just went there and bought the cheapest guitar I could find and started learning the music.”

He says his role took about five days to film in late spring of 2024.

It involved, in part, the recreation of Cash’s performance at the Newport Folk Festival in July 1965.

Being accustomed to musical theater, rather than film making, Phalen called it a fun experience.

“And being treated so well on set. It was just such a cool thing,” said Phalen. “And just to see the behind the scenes work of movies. Like, it just gave me a whole new appreciation for it. I’m just, like, wow.”

Now, he’s back on the road, playing drums for a touring Broadway production of Shucked.