Behind The Spotlight Chapter 113
The group found their seats. Collin, Wyatt, and Henry were mostly eating pizza and donuts, each with a can of Coke in hand.
"Collin, I know the reason why you're here. I already discussed it with Wyatt. I'm against working with Axel Gunner. It's unfortunate what happened to him, but I have to prioritize the movie and make sure everything goes according to plan."
"Don't do this to me, Henry. You already worked with Axel in Week on a Cruise Ship. His work ethic is great, you even praised him back then during the celebration party. Give him another chance."
Collin had already expected Henry to be against casting Axel. The producer had bad experiences with scandals in the past and tended to avoid anything that could potentially damage the production's reputation.
But Collin couldn't let go of this opportunity. Axel was basically blacklisted by most of the industry. He needed to star in another movie to prove himself before the public completely forgot his name. Axel had to show that he was worth casting, that his past didn't define his future.
'We can't wait for the release of Face: Swap in summer. We should act while we can. Right now, we can audition for Frightening Movie and hopefully get a role,' Collin thought.
"I admit Axel is a great person, but that's not enough for me to abandon my principles. Besides, I'm not the only one against casting him. The representative from Uni-versus Pictures agreed with my decision. It's already a miracle that Axel Gunner even received an invitation to audition for the third round."
"..."
Collin didn't know what to say. He turned to Wyatt, and the director could only nod, a faint look of regret in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Collin. The only way to cast Axel is if we have a valid reason the higher-ups will accept," the director replied guiltily.
"It's alright, I don't blame you. You already helped Axel by recommending him. You're a great friend, Wyatt."
Collin had no intention of blaming Wyatt, he was just doing his job.
"It's not Axel's fault that his ex-wife is a bitch. He just did his best to protect his son." Collin turned to Henry, a frown etched on his face.
"We both know that, and I respect him for it. However, it's still true that he broke his last contract by initiating a custody battle. Touchpebbles Pictures asked him to postpone the case, but Axel didn't listen. He went through with it. Even if he's innocent, we can't have an actor who might be a liability. People sympathized with him, but sympathy isn't enough to convince us to risk millions of dollars."
"Then what if his performance is better than you expected?"
"Collin, let's be honest here. We worked with Axel two years ago, and his acting was just passable, nothing memorable. He's not bad, but he's also not great. If not for his connection to you and Wyatt, I wouldn't have even considered casting him. He's different from Lawrence Terrence, who can elevate every scene he's in."
"But what if his audition impresses you? Would you cast him then?"
"If his performance impresses me, I'll let go of my prejudice and cast him. But I'll add a clause in the contract stating that Axel will only receive his full salary once filming is complete and he hasn't caused any scandal or trouble from start to finish."
"You said it yourself. You should keep your promise." Collin's gaze was steady, his tone unwavering.
"Collin, Axel doesn't have the X-factor to convince us. Unless Lawrence possessed his body, Axel probably wouldn't get a role in this movie, no matter how much you want it." Henry's voice was firm.
"Then what about you, Wyatt?" Collin asked, his tone calm but challenging.
"I'm a director. I'm always looking for perfection. If Axel impresses me, I'll fight for him. I'll do my best to convince Henry and the Uni-versus Pictures representative, even if it means heated arguments."
Wyatt promised him. But just like Henry, he wasn't sure Axel could impress him. He had worked with Axel on two movies, and the man's performances had been decent but never remarkable, no defining moment that stood out.
"Then," Collin smirked confidently, "that's enough."
He stood abruptly.
"You must keep your promise. I'll wait until the audition is done because I know I'll have to negotiate Axel's salary today." Collin walked away with quick, purposeful strides.
"...Is your agent insane? Does he really think we'll cast Axel? Maybe being interviewed by the media made him arrogant enough to challenge studio politics," Henry muttered.
Wyatt stayed silent and took another bite of his pizza, unsure what to say. He, too, was confused about where Collin's confidence came from.
Collin left the cafeteria and returned to the waiting section in the hallway. He found Axel deeply focused, flipping through the script with furrowed brows. The studio had formally sent him a copy since Wyatt had invited him, so he had no excuse to pretend he didn't have a script or that he was unprepared.
"Axel, it's hard to convince them."
"Thank you, Collin. I know this might happen, but thank you for trying to help me." Axel smiled bitterly. The fact that he hadn't found a job for almost half a year showed how bad his situation was. From a business standpoint, Henry's refusal made sense.
"No, listen to me first. It's hard to convince them, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. As long as you impress them, you can get the role. That means you have to give your best in the audition." Collin tapped his shoulder firmly.
"You've got this. I trust you. You're a great actor with strong potential. This isn't your downfall, it's your comeback. I'll be there to watch you rise again."
Axel didn't know where Collin's confidence came from, but he didn't want to disappoint his agent. Collin had been helping him for four years, and this was the moment to prove himself to his friend, to the industry, and to himself.
"I will do my best. That's a promise."
Collin believed in him, so he had to believe in himself.
An hour later, Axel's name was called. He entered the audition room. The people inside glanced at him, most wearing cold expressions, as if already expecting to be unimpressed.
"Mr. Gunner, your scene is on page 4, the one where the killer calls your phone while you're watching TV."
Axel sat on the couch, staring at the static on the TV, acting as though he was watching a show with feigned boredom.
The phone rang beside him. He picked it up.
"I'm going to kill you—"
"Wazzup!"
Axel replied, shaking his tongue and crossing his eyes in an exaggerated, comical way.
The people in the room burst out laughing, caught off guard by the unexpected delivery. Even those ready to dismiss him were surprised.
---
[You can read more on my Pat reon.]