Hollywood: Behind The SpotLight Chapter 18

Behind The Spotlight Chapter 18

Lawrence entered the room and found four people sitting behind a long table, silently assessing him. He was so nervous that he began sweating profusely. His T-shirt was damp around the neckline, down his back, and under his arms.

He glanced at the four individuals before him and noticed that one of them was already shaking his head in disappointnt. Lawrence swallowed hard and introduced himself.

"I'm Lawrence Terrence... I'm here for the male lead role ntioned on the notice board at the Actors Guild."

He had seen the poster stating that the project was seeking an actor for a lead role in a cody film, though the details had been vague.

Unfortunately, he had no idea what the role was supposed to be. He didn't have a copy of the script or any clear idea of the story.

He had shown up with almost no preparation and no knowledge of the role they were going to test him for, no wonder he was so nervous.

"Give us your resu."

"Here you go."

He handed them the four copies he had printed the night before. Typically, soone would collect the resus outside the audition room and distribute them to the director, casting directors, producer, or anyone involved in the casting process, allowing the audition to flow smoothly.

But it seed this project had a limited crew and lacked even the basic personnel to manage that task.

A slightly chubby man with a friendly face handed him a copy of the script.

"Turn to page 3, scene 15. We'll give you ten minutes to prepare before we begin the audition."

"Thank you so much."

Lawrence appreciated the chance, even though he lacked credentials and preparation. He began reading the script, doing his best to morize the lines quickly, scanning each word with urgency.

While he was focused on the script, the four people silently reviewed his resu. The man who had shaken his head earlier clicked his tongue in disapproval as he scanned Lawrence's credentials.

Aside from high school theater experience, Lawrence's resu was practically blank. No professional background, no prior work even as an extra in a film or comrcial.

He was clearly a complete newcor, untested and unknown. Casting soone like that was a risky move for any director hoping for a reliable outco.

The man who clicked his tongue was Gerald, the casting director.

Ten minutes passed far too quickly for Lawrence. Then, the audition began.

"I'll be your partner for this audition," said the chubby man who was Wyatt Bray.

"Thanks a lot."

Lawrence's nervousness faded the mont he slipped into character. He sat on the chair, adopting the casual posture of a groomsman at a wedding. Next to him sat Sam, an imaginary character.

"Man, I hate those people who say 'quarter to 3 PM' instead of just saying '2:75 PM.' Like, it doesn't even make sense when you think about it. Are they implying they're smarter just by saying 'quarter to 3 PM'?"

"... You just sat down. What the hell are you talking about?" Wyatt read Sam's line with a deadpan tone.

"Nothing. On a different note, why does pizza co in a square box, is made round, but eaten in a triangular shape? I don't understand," Lawrence (as Jess) exclaid.

"Dude, what are you on?"

"Paracetamol."

"Okay, cut!"

When the chubby guy called "cut," Lawrence realized that he was the director of the project. Only directors tended to say that phrase with such confidence.

Lawrence stood up and faced the panel with a hopeful expression. But their serious faces gave nothing away. Deep down, he understood his shortcomings. He lacked experience, he had no connections, and he didn't even know the role he was auditioning for.

"I have a question for you, Mr. Terrence."

The man seated to the right of the director raised his hand politely. He was handso, but Lawrence could tell he wasn't part of the cast.

"You didn't list an agency on your resu. Does that an you're a freelancer?"

"Yes, that's right, sir."

As soon as the question was asked, Lawrence felt a chill. He knew the audition was already over. In Hollywood, freelancers had little influence. Freelancers had weak power in Hollywood because they didn't have backers to protect them or vouch for their reliability.

The casting director, Gerald, shook his head again, as if confirming a judgnt he had already made.

Wyatt glanced at Collin, curious about why he brought up the freelance status.

The panel then shifted to lighter questions, asking Lawrence about his inspirations, hobbies, and favorite films. He answered as confidently and sincerely as he could, hoping to leave a positive impression.

The final question was about salary.

"We're going to be honest with you," Wyatt said, his tone turning serious.

"This is a small-budget movie. If we cast you in the lead role, are you okay with earning minimum wage for the entire duration of the shoot?"

"Sir, what I'm looking for is an opportunity to beco famous, or at least a known actor. If this movie can give that chance, I don't mind earning the minimum."

Exposure, an overused term among aspiring actors. But it ca with both consequences and potential rewards.

Lawrence was certain most of the people who auditioned were also chasing exposure, just like him.

Small-budget films rarely succeeded at the box office or received widespread acclaim. Still, the exposure they could provide was valuable to lesser-known actors.

Wyatt nodded thoughtfully, considering his answer.

"We'll call you if you get the role."

"... Yes, sir. Thank you for the opportunity."

Lawrence offered a bitter smile, his chest tightening with disappointnt.

He already knew he had failed the audition, no matter how politely they phrased it. That one line "We'll call you if you get the role" was the most overused form of rejection in the industry. A way to say no without saying it directly.

[Author's Note: I slightly edited Axel's audition in Chapter 16. Also, I realized I sotis mistakenly refer to Collin as Kazir. For those who don't know, Kazir is the main character of my last novel. The title of that novel is Hollywood What If. It's a fanfiction story about the Hollywood industry.]