My Hollywood System

Chapter 97:

“Uh, I am fine now. I guess.”

Marcus replied shortly and Will stared at him. Marcus sighed as he said.

“I am really fine now. I’ve been here for months and my drug addiction is gone. I have been clean for 3-4 months already. The only reason I haven’t left this rehab centre is due to fear. My career is completely done for and I don’t think any director would want to work with me now.”

It was true. Marcus was fairly unknown and getting into drugs just crumbled the little reputation he had gotten from [The Blair Witch Project]. Will already praised Marcus in his heart for not attempting suicide yet. After all, people with a weaker heart would have tried to end it all if they were cornered from every direction of life.

“Hmm. What do you plan to do now?”

Will asked a simple question from Marcus. What was he going to do from now on? Obviously, he wouldn’t give up on acting after coming this far. But Will was sure he won’t be able to get a role anytime soon with just himself.

“What can I even do? I will go and look for a job. Not like people with drug cases never get a job. Just, Hollywood would be harder for me. I will do some kind of a job, and will try my luck by auditioning from time to time.”

Marcus replied with a bitter smile. He never wanted this day to come. He didn’t have any talent apart from acting and acting was now out of the option due to his own deeds.

Will looked at him in sympathy. It was one of the basic emotions that made Will feel human-like. He felt like he should have taken better care of the people he worked with. But how many can he even keep tabs on? He was one person after all.

“I have an offer for you.”

Will said and Marcus looked at him confusedly.

“What is it?”

Marcus asked, with confusion clear in his voice.

“I want you to join DTA.”

Will said as he started explaining that he had opened a talent agency recently and he was inviting Marcus to join it. As long as he joined, Will would promise several movie roles to him.

“I don’t know if you have heard about DTA or not. But I genuinely hope you join us. It will help you recover your image and you can rebuild your career from there. You can take your time to think about this offer.”

Will explained the pros of joining DTA, especially for someone like Marcus whose career is supposedly over.

“I know about DTA. This is rehab, not a prison. They have a TV in the common room and I have been seeing all the news recently. Honestly, I can’t believe where you are right now, Will. There was a time when you were struggling to get a distributor for the movie we made.”

Marcus chuckled as he thought. Although Marcus thought that he had struggled a lot in the industry, he had a view that Will had struggled a lot more than him, and that’s why he stood where he was currently. Of course, luck was a factor too.

“Marcus, you should really accept Will’s offer. I am not trying to force you, but as your ex-colleague, I really wish you make the right decision and get out of your current situation. It’s really heartbreaking to see you like this.”

June chimed in as she laid down her thoughts. She herself was a very prideful woman and hadn’t joined DTA so no one can say she had taken Will’s help to rise in her career. But even someone like her thought that the option Will currently laid out was the best way out for Marcus. After all, there was no saying when Marcus would get a second chance in Hollywood on his own.

Marcus hesitated for a bit thinking that he would be a burden to Will. But after seeing Will’s and June’s expressions, he smiled in defeat.

“Yeah okay, fine. I will join DTA. I hope I don’t bring any trouble to you.”

***

The Dream Vision office had been getting more and more famous lately. With a few paparazzi always lurking around outside the building. The reasons varied for everyone, but the top reason was due to the recent visitors to Dream Vision. Famous directors would come one after the other and this had caused an uproar due to the paparazzi that are always on famous people’s tails.

Although, if someone had to mention, one of the most remarkable directors that had entered the office had to be Lucas Amspoker.

Currently, in the conference room of Dream Vision Studios, Jeffrey was in a meeting with Lucas Amspoker. Lucas was a famous director and was famous due to his blockbuster movies. He got into fame after the launch of his famous movie [Black Sky] and even managed to get an Oscars nomination for the same movie.

It was a movie set in the warring times of the 1940s but had a lighter take on the war with the protagonist being a kid.

The movie was from the eyes of a kid living in the Nazi Germany and him trying to make friends while trying to understand the ideals of the Nazi.

It was a heartwarming movie that had made people question their morals and gave a perspective on kids who were brainwashed by Nazis.

It was the breakthrough movie which had turned a normal director like Lucas into an Oscar-nominated director.

After that, he made movies just once a year or once in two years, and all his movies had been profitable up till now. That was a great feat in itself. He had even directed a serious war drama and a crime thriller and both of them had been a hit.

Jeffrey was currently meeting up with this director for the sake of getting him for the [1917] movie. As Jeffrey was going to be the producer in place of Will in both [1917] and [500 days of Summer], he was taking his job quite seriously and doing his best to be active in every way possible.

***

As Jeffrey was busy in a meeting with Lucas, Will was also busy holding meetings with the lead roles he had selected for the movie [1917].

“Renly Warren and Elijah Thomas.”

Will said as he looked at their profiles in his hand. Both of them confidently stood in front of him as Will went through their profile. Both Renly and Elijah had worked in other movies previous, albeit their roles were either extras or just some other small roles.

Although both showed a confident front, inside their minds were a bundle of questions as to why they were personally summoned in front of Will. Renly had a vague idea but wasn’t sure, on the other hand, Elijah was completely clueless about it.

“So, the thing is. I was thinking of giving you guys the lead roles in a movie. But you have to audition for the movie separately once, apart from the auditions that you guys had taken to join DTA. I called here to let you guys know about the script.”

As Will started talking about the script, Elijah’s and Renly’s faces brightened up like light bulbs. After all, this was a once in a lifetime chance. In the previous few days, Elijah and Renly had become friends due to both recognising each other’s talent in acting. After all, birds of a feather flock together.

“I accept.”

“Me too.”

Elijah was the first one to reply and Renly followed suit. Will looked at them and smiled contently. People who knew how to take an opportunity when they had a chance were people that succeed in life. Since both of them were quick to decide, Will just reminded them that they had to pass the audition for the movie and both of them nodded their heads furiously.

***

Both Renly and Elijah had left Will’s office and Natalie was currently standing in their place.

“The two that left just now, they had gotten a chance to play the lead roles of Dream Vision’s next movie.”

Natalie was surprised to hear that and then thought about why Will was telling that to her.

“I’ve two movies planned for now. I want you to act as the female lead of the other movie.”

Natalie’s expression brightened up and she immediately replied.

“I will do it.”

“Don’t be so quick to decide that. Always listen to the movie details, and especially the role details first, ask questions about the things you think are not appropriate and only then make up your mind whether or not you want to do a movie. There are many people who would take advantage of you if you don’t change that habit.”

Will pointed out seriously although he knew she just accepted the deal without thinking much due to her lack of experience and the fear of losing out.

“I will keep that in mind. Thank you. Can you tell me about the movie’s outline and what role you have thought of for me? Does it have any nudity?”

Natalie asked with her cheeks flushed red. She was embarrassed at herself for losing her calm in front of someone younger than herself, yet she couldn’t help but peek at Will from the corner of her eyes as she spoke.

“Yep, sure. But remember, you will have to give a separate audition for the movie role. It’s completely irrelevant to the audition you gave to get hired in DTA.”

Will said while playing with a pen between his fingers.

“Yeah okay. I understand.”