If you've been reading the Philadelphia Inquirer lately, you have probably read about the filming of Rocky V in the Philly area. If you are like me, it's made you wonder what it would be like if you were discovered during the filming of a movie and became a big Hollywood star -- part of the American dream.

Well, I came about as close as you can get without it actually happening.

The producer of a big-budget Hollywood production walked into the shop, stopped dead in his tracks, and shouted, "THAT'S IT! THAT'S THE LOOK I'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR 'LO THESE MANY MONTHS! MY SEARCH IS OVER! YOU, YOU'RE MY NEW STAR!"

OK, so maybe it wasn't that dramatic. However, it really did happen. It just so happens that the "discovery" was my family car.

Yeah, I know, you must be asking yourself, "What's so special about this car that it gets into a movie?" I don't have the slightest idea.

It's just a 1983 Chevy Citation. It's small, blue and pretty well beaten-up. It's just one of your basic "get me where I'm going" kind of cars. If the producers were looking for a lousy-looking car, they found it.

The car was in a Pittsburgh auto repair shop, getting a new engine. Just as the repairs were being completed, the producers of Silence of the Lambs walked in. The movie's plot is about a killer who completely peels the skin off of his victims (what a nice movie to take the kids to see, huh?)

Anyway, the producer decided the car would be perfect in the movie. After negotiations with my parents, he offered $500 and the use of a rental car for the use of our car for two weeks. My father, no fool he, took the money and ran.

I must admit, the producers have been very generous to my parents. They've rented a Dynasty, which is very luxurious (we're not telling the Citation so we can avoid a jealous confrontation).

So now Jodi Foster, the star of the movie, is using the car (just think, a woman who over half of America has seen naked is driving my family's car.)

My family was able to watch some of the filming, and they said the car knew its lines well and hit all its marks on schedule. We are all very proud.

My family has even managed to develop some Hollywood clout. While watching the filming, my sister decided to take a picture of the car. Right after the flash went off, a female bodyguard came after her, screaming "No pictures!"

My sister indignantly said, "Hey, that's my car right there." Immediately, the bodyguard smiled and then offered to take as many pictures as my sister wanted.

Hey, I'm impressed. I'm just glad all the attention hasn't gone to my family's head (although my father still asks my mother why she insists on wearing sunglasses everywhere she goes.)

The car even managed to be profiled in our hometown newspaper, The Beaver County Times. Here's an excerpt:

"In the silence, a car moves slowly down the narrow street, then parks in front of a weather-beaten house."

So, does this mean bigger and better things for my car? Well, I know that when I get home in a few days, a few things will change when I want to use the car:

Wash and wax every time I take the car on the road (after all, we want the car to look good for any other prospective casting agents.)

No more regular unleaded for this puppy. We're talking super octane.

Tinted windows. We have to keep some sense of privacy and anonymity. I don't want fans running up and screaming, "Oooh, please take me for a ride!" This is a sick world we live in. You never know what kind of people would want a ride.

I began thinking to myself, "Hey, wouldn't this be a great movie idea? After all, it is almost a fairy tale discovery." (Don't laugh! Haven't you heard of Christine? What about My Mother the Car?) Nah, I guess not.

Still, this has been pretty exciting for me. Also, I have a newfound respect for the car.

In fact, I promise never to refer to the car as a "little piece of crap." No sir, from now on, I will only be referring to this car as "Mister little piece of crap."