He answered an ad in the show business trade journal "Variety" placed
by
Bernardo Bertolucci's casting agent for the role in
Luna (1979). He was selected as
one of ten finalists from several dozen youthful aspirants to be
interviewed by Bertolucci. After his first reading of a scene, the
competition was down to three. He was in the semifinals in a screen
test made with
Jill Clayburgh, and, after a second test, emerged as the winner
of the role.