Scott's Lookalikes web series - interview

A new fly-on-the-wall online documentary series has been published looking at the business of Scott Johnson.

Scott is a Brit who has recently relocated to Los Angeles and is now in the process of building up a roster of clients for his lookalikes agency.

After filming, we caught up with Scott via Skype to find out more. You can read the transcript of our chat below.

Firstly though, here's the opening episode of Scott's Lookalikes:

Hi Scott. Thanks for joining us on Skype.

Thanks for answering my call.

Your lookalikes agency and the documentary is based in LA. But you're British correct?

Yes. Born in Edinburgh which I think is still considered British. Just.

What first took you to America?

Plane.

Can you expand a bit...

- Virgin Atlantic. 747 I think.

No, er... let us rephrase. Why did you choose America?

Quite simply there's just more potential lookalikes out here. I had a lookalikes agency in London for a few years but we struggled to find the clients. Hollywood is the epicentre of the celebrity world, and so it attracts a lot of people who look like celebrities but who actually aren't.

People who have failed to make it. Those are the people I thrive off. And I give them a new lease of life. If you can't be the next Brad Pitt. Then just be Brad Pitt?

How did you get into the Lookalikes industry?

When I was about 5, someone told me parents I looked like Macaulay Culkin and they started to get me work as a lookalike. Things were good for a while, but then as his career dwindled so did mine. When Party Monster came out I decided enough was enough. I put Macaulay behind me and decided to pursue my dream of setting up my own lookalikes agency - Scott's Lookalikes. I like to say that I went from pretending to be Richie Rich to being "Rich"...

So you're pretty wealthy right now?

Spiritually speaking, yes.

As we see in the documentary, your office is in a cemetery?

Yes. My office is located in the conference room of the Hollywood Forever cemetery. Sometimes people come in and say "Why are you here? Can't you afford a proper office?" And I say "This room has a desk, a computer, and a phone. What more do you want?" And they usually say "A few minutes privacy in the conference room with the relatives of the deceased." And I say "Fine." and I leave them to it.

Isn't that inconvenient when you're running a business?

It's fine. I usually only have to vacate maybe two or three times a day. In the future maybe we'll find somewhere else. Or maybe the cemetery will move and we'll stay on. We'll see. I enjoy my lunch breaks walking around the gravestones reminding myself that life is short and there's a lot of dead celebrities who need lookalikes.

Who are your favourite clients?

I don't have favourites. But right now the big breadwinners are my Kim Kardashian and Justin Bieber lookalikes. Probably not for long if the real Justin keeps on drag racing and getting arrested. One minute you're the toast of the lookalike circuit the next minute no one wants you at parties. Just ask my old client who looks like Jimmy Savile.

How did the Scott's Lookalikes web series come about then?

I was approached by some students from UCLA who wanted to make a documentary for their film course. They seemed to know what they were talking about so I let them in to film for a few weeks. It was strange at first but after a while I forgot the microphones were even there. I actually wore mine home a few times.

What can people expect from the show?

Hopefully it's going to be a realistic portrayal of life in the cut-and-thrust world of the lookalikes industry. You're a Comedy Guide correct?

Yeah, we're British Comedy Guide

There'll be some smiles. I crack a few jokes, a few puns. But it's not all fun and games. There'll also might be some tears. People might see some things they don't like. That's life. It's a documentary after all. Overall I'm hoping it will get people talking and bring in some more bookings. All publicity is good publicity... Unless you're Kanye West I suppose.

Are you searching for any lookalikes at the moment?

Yes. Right now I'm in desperate need of pre-Doubtfire era Robin Williams and a Carlton from Fresh Prince who can do the 'dance'. If you're out there, email me. Maybe the real Carlton could even get in touch if he's available? All enquiries to scottslookalikes@gmail.com

Thanks for your time Scott.

Some say that comedy writer and director Greg Ash (@greg_ash) would make a good lookalike for Scott Johnson. Below are the two other episodes that have been released so far...

Future episodes will be published on youtube.com/scottslookalikes You can keep up to date with everything happening at Scott's Lookalikes via Facebook or www.scottslookalikes.com