An new comedy film with a strong anti-bullying message has been a stepping stone for an aspiring local actor.

Pearce Fazekas, 13, was cast as a supporting character in “How to Beat a Bully,” which was recently released on Amazon Video and Google Play.

The new comedy is based around a boy who lies about his dad being in a the mafia to fend off bullies.

“It’s a fun film and brings in some lovely comedy,” Fazekas said.

It also helps show how a bully can become a friend, he said.

It was an appropriate film for Fazekas because his mom, Nancy Heleno, researches how shame and guilt relates to bullying. She also helped found both Mountain Middle School and Animas High School.

Heleno, also wrote the charter for Mountain Middle and included a specific anti-bullying portion.

“I’m proud to say that I worked on the building to get it ready for the first-ever day of school,” Fazekas said.

Since filming “How to Beat a Bully” the ambitious ninth-grader, who is now being home-schooled, has been cast in several other television shows.

He was cast in a “New Girl” episode that has aired and is to appear in several other upcoming TV shows in January, including “Angie Tribeca” on TBS, a Disney Show and a Nickelodeon show.

Fazekas attributes his recent success to the work with the new indie film.

“After the experience of being on the set, I was able to get more high-profile work,” he said.

mshinn@durangoherald.com