....
It was finally Regal's turn in the semifinal round. He stepped forward, standing center stage, the spotlight hitting him as the audience waited with bated breath.
By now, with the number of contestants significantly reduced, the show had more ti to spend on each participant.
This allowed them to dig deeper into the lives of the remaining talents, pulling out stories and details that could make the broadcast more engaging.
After all, most of the contestants were just like anyone else, aspiring to break through, to make it big.
And so, these monts were crucial. The connection between the audience and the participants often rested on their backstories, those small, personal revelations that helped make them relatable or captivating.
The anchor, standing beside Regal, gave him a warm smile.
Her voice was bright and engaging, designed to make him feel comfortable.
"Can we start with a brief introduction? Like your na, and what are your hobbies and a small explanation of the 'Talent' you are going to showcase before the audience and judges?"
But as soon as she finished speaking, she gave him a look, just the faintest touch of a pleading expression.
Regal noticed it. And for a brief mont, just a brief one, he felt a little bad.
She is really trying here, he thought.
But despite the kindness in her deanor, inside the anchor's mind, things were a complete ss.
This is the person? The silent dude who barely spoke during the pre-show briefing?
Before the episode started, she had spoken with each of the five contestants. Regal was among them.
Normally, contestants were eager to chat, trying to impress her, charm her, or whatever they could do to make a good impression.
But Regal? Regal just stood there like a rock. Silent. Stoic.
She could practically hear her internal monologue shouting.
Say sothing, anything... But please, not a one-word answer!
Finally, Regal broke the silence. He spoke, calm and collected. "I am Regal Seraphsail."
The anchor froze. Internally, she was cringing.
Did he actually say that? Her mind raced, but her smile stayed firmly in place. I can't believe this. Just when I thought it couldn't get worse.
Regal didn't seem to notice the storm brewing behind the anchor's polite grin, nor did he pick up on the subtle, laser-focused stare she was giving him from the corner of her eye. It was a death stare, sharp enough to cut through tal.
The anchor, internally sighing, thought.
Alright, you got this, Mira. You got this.... She took a deep breath, preparing to step in and fill the silence before it beca unbearable.
But just as she opened her mouth to rescue the conversation, Regal spoke again.
This ti, his tone was asured, almost eerily confident. "Actually, I am the director of a small film that got released last year... [Following]."
The anchor, Mira's face, didn't change.
Externally, she remained as calm as a lake on a still morning.
Internally, however... Her eyes were rolling so hard she was starting to feel dizzy. Are you kidding right now?
Her internal monologue was screaming. For the love of everything holy, if he was going to lie, couldn't he at least do it with so finesse?
But no. There Regal stood, still cool, still collected, with no idea of the ntal gymnastics the anchor was currently performing just to keep her composure intact.
Mira's smile remained plastered on her face, but in her mind, she was having a full-blown ltdown.
God help . She, despite her inner turmoil, managed to keep the smile firmly planted on her face.
"Oh! [Following]! Are you the director of that film?" She didn't miss a beat, though her brain was still racing to recalibrate her thoughts.
While the smile on her face remained intact, her thoughts were racing. Please, tell it's just a joke, Regal. I will cover for you; just say it was ant to be so kind of gag. I will take care of the rest.
Strangely enough, Regal seed to pick up on her ntal panic. He gave her a reassuring smile, as though silently telling her, Don't worry, I have got this.
For a mont, her panic escalated, the crisis within her reaching its peak. What the fuck do you an you got this, dude... Why are you so calm?
She almost opened her mouth to say sothing... But Regal spoke again.
Fully aware of the mini-storm brewing inside her mind.
"Yes. It's a small indie film, but it gained quite a bit of traction last year. It ended up becoming a hit."
His words are so confident that she actually wanted to believe him for a second.
anwhile, the audience had started to murmur among themselves, picking up on the ntion of [Following]. Behind the scenes, the production team was already frantically searching for any ntion of Regal Seraphsail or the film. The information ca through in real ti.
Within seconds, an update crackled in her earpiece from one of the team mbers confirming Regal's words. Wait a minute. Is he actually telling the truth?
She blinked, montarily caught off guard.
The wheels in her head began turning faster now.
That movie... She recalled seeing headlines about [Following], a quiet indie thriller that had suddenly shot to the top of the box office. Critics praised its fresh perspective, its intriguing plot twists, and the underdog success story behind it. The film had garnered a loyal fanbase, and its success had launched several careers, Regal's included.
With a deep breath, she kept the smile on her face, masking her disbelief with a professional calm.
"That's... amazing." She said, trying to sound like she hadn't just been blindsided by this new fact. "[Following] was one of the most talked-about films last year. I can see why you'd want to keep it under wraps. You must be really proud."
Internally, though, she was still processing the fact that the quiet, unassuming guy in front of her had not only directed a hit film but had sohow kept his identity entirely under the radar until now.
"But I have to ask..." She leaned in slightly, her curiosity slipping into her voice. "What's a director doing competing in a reality show? What motivated you to participate?"
Regal t her gaze, calm and composed. "Like many others, I entered Hollywood with the hope of making a na for myself. But I also wanted to participate in a show like this..." He kept his words simple, leaving the rest unsaid.
The cara panned briefly to the judges' table, where the three panelists sat, each reacting differently.
Emilia Rae, the veteran singer, leaned forward, her sharp eyes fixed on Regal. Her expression was neutral but curious, as if analyzing every detail about him.
She didn't speak, letting the anchor handle the conversation, but her reputation for being critical hinted that she was already forming her thoughts.
Beside her, the professional singer, a stoic yet seasoned judge, gave a subtle nod. He appeared less interested in Regal's background and more focused on the contestant's potential performance.
Then there was Liam Bethell, an actor.
As soon as Regal heard the na Bethell, his mind quickly made the connection to soone he had t just the day before - Henry Bethell.
It turned out that Liam was Henry's Uncle.
Regal couldn't help but notice how young Liam looked to be an uncle, but there it was, family ties.
Liam was well-known for his humble deanor, a rare trait for soone from such a prominent family.
But Regal wasn't about to be fooled. Not with the system in his hands.
===
[Na:] Liam Bethell
[Traits:] Arrogant, Self-centred, Two-Faced.
[Acting Grade:] B
===
After the round table, sothing had happened that made him cautious.
A pompous, self-important kid had warned him not to draw too much attention to himself.
Naturally, Regal had dismissed it with a polite, external fuck off.
...
Anyway, it seed his acting skills weren't as impressive as his reputation suggested.
He wasn't even the main judge of this show.
In reality, he had been invited as a special guest judge to help promote his upcoming film.
As Regal observed him now, Liam's sharp features stayed composed, but a faint twitch in his jaw betrayed a simring irritation.
Regal couldn't help but notice it, the hostility, subtle but undeniably there. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but it felt personal.
The anchor, Mira tilted her head, clearly intrigued. "So, you have a knack for sothing other than directing? Multi-talented, are you?"
Regal shrugged modestly. "Direction is still my main priority, but I dabble in a little bit of this and that as a hobby."
She raised an eyebrow, her tone turning playful. "I know you already gave your answer, but it can't be that simple, right? The real reason for your participation is sothing like... expanding your horizons?"
Regal let out a small chuckle. "Not quite. I recently wrapped up shooting for my next film, [Death Note]." He paused, letting the na sink in before continuing. "With so spare ti on my hands, I thought I would drop by. Plus, it's a good opportunity to spread the word about the film."
The audience laughed at his casual phrasing. He made it sound like he had just stumbled onto the show on a whim, like checking out a street performance because it looked interesting.
The anchor laughed, catching onto his intent. "Bluntly put, you're here to promote your movie, aren't you?"
"You could say that." Regal admitted, flashing a grin.
"Well." The anchor said, glancing toward the cara with an amused smile. "That's certainly one way to get the word out."
"I truly hope so..." Regal murmured.
The audience laughed softly, but the atmosphere around the judges' table was decidedly different.
The actor, Mr. Liam, shifted in his seat, his expression neutral, but his narrowed eyes betrayed his annoyance.
His irritation wasn't new, it had been simring ever since Regal had introduced himself. But now, hearing Regal admit that his purpose here was 'just promotion' only added fuel to the fire.
What angered Liam even more was the ntion of [Death Note], Regal's upcoming movie, set to release next month, the sa '''month''' as Liam's own film, [Mastor].
Liam wasn't afraid of competition.
His agency had ticulously planned his appearance on this show as part of an elaborate promotional strategy. It was supposed to be his mont to shine, to own the stage, to be the one everyone talked about.
And now, Regal Seraphsail, a filmmaker masquerading as a contestant, was threatening to steal the spotlight.
The anchor, perceptive as ever, caught the subtle tension. Her smile turned mischievous as she turned to Liam. "This is interesting, isn't it? Mr. Liam, you are here to promote [Mastor], a movie with a music the, correct? And it's also releasing next month. What a coincidence!"
"Oh, is that true?" Regal asked, his tone genuinely curious, though to so in the audience, it ca off as sarcastic.
Not that it mattered to him. Even if he had realized the misinterpretation, he wouldn't have cared enough to address it.
He turned to Liam with a calm smile. "I give my sincere best wishes for both movies to perform well in theaters."
Liam's smile remained in place, but his tone carried a subtle edge. "I appreciate that. And, of course, I hope your film does well too, Mr. Regal."
The actor's words were polite, but the clipped delivery betrayed his irritation.
Suddenly, Orson, the professional singer who had been silent until now, let out a sharp exhale and leaned forward. His irritation was anything but concealed.
"Tanny." He addressed the anchor brusquely. "This is a reality competition. Let's get started with it, shall we?"
The room went still for a mont, the bluntness of his words cutting through the lingering tension.
Orson's frustration wasn't new.
It had been simring since the beginning.
He was already displeased with the production's decision to bring in an actor, one with no discernible understanding of many things, as a judge.
To him, it undermined the competition's integrity.
Now, to top it off, another outsider had joined the fray, a participant who seed to be here not for the love of singing but to use the platform as a promotional vehicle for his movie.
He had tolerated it so far, but this felt like the last straw.
Orson's glare swept briefly toward Liam before settling on the anchor, Tanny, as if to silently question why they were wasting ti on this spectacle instead of focusing on the competition itself.
Liam's polished deanor didn't falter, but there was a flicker of sothing in his eyes, annoyance or perhaps unease.
Emilia sighed audibly, her gaze shifting between Orson and Liam.
She had anticipated this mont. She knew exactly what kind of man Orson was, uncompromising and vocal about his disdain.
She herself was skeptical of Regal, but unlike Orson, she preferred to reserve judgnt until she had heard him sing.
Sensing an opportunity to redirect the tension, Liam seized the mont to deliver a subtle jab at Regal while maintaining an air of professionalism.
"Mr. Orson is absolutely right. After all, the audience, including myself, is eager to see if Mr. Regal's talents truly extend beyond filmmaking."
The words were polite, but the implication was clear. Liam's dig was a calculated move, one that both aligned him with Orson's critique and subtly undermined Regal's credibility.
Regal t his gaze, unfazed. "That's fair. I will let my skills speak for itself."
The tension was palpable, and Emilia Rae, ever perceptive, decided to step in. Her dry smile cut through the air like a knife. "Well, Regal, we will certainly be holding you to high standards. Don't disappoint us."
As Regal stepped forward to prepare, the buzz of anticipation in the room intensified.
The audience leaned forward in their seats, eager to see how the director-turned-contestant would fare.
Behind him, the judges settled back, each with their thoughts. Emilia's gaze was sharp, her curiosity piqued.
The professional singer maintained a neutral expression, focused on evaluating the performance objectively.
Liam, however, struggled to suppress the irritation simring just beneath the surface.
.
....
[To be continued...]
★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★
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