Get Back to You 298 Another new job

Ivy sat in a room that was twice the size of her studio apartment. The walls occupied large movie posters. All had one thing in common and that they are from the same production house. From beginners to big names, the banners displayed details of major castings that Ivy stared at them longingly. She watched to hope that someday hers would also get added to the collection.

Intruding her vision, a man entered the room, his grey hair and an aggressive appearance greeted his guest with a courteous smile.

"Ivy," he gaped, straightaway, his smile showed his aged wrinkles under his hooded eyes and on the forehead. His fleshy nose sloped down to smell anticipation in the room, for he expected Ivy's early visit. His thin lips kept displaying a smug smile behind which it seems to behold surprise news.

Ivy stood to greet as well, and the two took their respective seats.

"Mr. Finn, I assume that I'm not disturbing your day! I had time, so I arrived early."

"Oh, please! It was me who called you here."

Ivy returned a polite smile.

Tim Finn, the owner of the production company, called Ivy out the following day after Halloween. He did not mention any other details but frankly expected her to be present.

Upon returning to his seat, Tim worked in his computer, typing along hastily while Ivy waited.

Finishing his little note-taking shortly, Tim finally turned his attention to the guest. Looking at Ivy and studying her face, his courteous smile observed her angst, acknowledging the dark circles and dried look.

"Are you even sleeping properly?" he asked, concerned.

Ivy faintly nodded, posing a friendly smile to assure her stable condition.

"Making movies is a difficult job, especially for a director- and us, producers," Tim pointed at himself with a laugh.

Ivy couldn't agree more to his words. However, she was not visiting Tim to share the weight of working in this industry.

"So, what do you think?" Ivy asked.

Finn's face became tense all of a sudden, startling his guest, who began to sweat in the fully air-conditioned room.

"Oh, please, Mr. Finn. You know how scary it is to sit on this seat and wait for your reply," Ivy cried.

Her appeal cut through Tim's stern face, and a burst of laughter broke into the room.

"Fine!" he yielded lastly.

Ivy returned to look at him eagerly and waited for his voice.

"The script is good. I like it."

Only after hearing Tim's voice did she released her breath, leaning back into her seat, feeling half of her stress vanishing already.

Finn watched her animated face change to his verdict.

"You did a great job!" he praised Ivy to her sentiment.

"Alright! We can proceed with this project. Congratulations, Ivy. Your first director debut for a feature!" Finn said to clap his hands.

"Mr. Finn, you know very well how tough this job is. Congratulate me after the movie hits theater!" Ivy sighed.

"That, I will do!" Tim laughed.

"Let's talk about auditions, now," he added on a serious note. His producer's face stood facing his guest.

"We need to cast actors. What do you have in mind?" Tim asked.

Ivy expressed her desire to let the casting director handle the auditions while she notified that the co-writer of the script would be there to observe the actors.

"You don't want to sit for auditions?" Tim asked concernedly.

There are times when directors don't necessarily sit for the auditions and request for tapes, leaving the matter at the hands of the casting director. However, since it is Ivy's first feature film, Tim hoped that she would join the auditions. His judgment failed as Ivy explained the reason to make such a call. David and Ivy wrote the script for this feature together, and David took the liberty to develop the characters to their perfection. Therefore, Ivy hoped that he would be fitting to stay while she could focus on other tasks.

Tim heard her wish and considered her reasons to allow it.

The discussion went all afternoon, and they decided auditions dates and documents required for the actor's references.

Concluding, Tim informed Ivy about the film contracts and called in one of his assistants to bring out the papers.

"Read it to your comfort and sign it. In case you have doubts or negotiate terms, let us know!" Tim informed.

Ivy agreed.

Reaching home, she passed on the good news to her team. It was a surreal moment for all to digest the fact they are going to make an actual feature film. Bethany almost cried while Parker centered his attention on testing with his equipment. David received the news about joining the auditions. At first, he rejected the idea and hated Ivy for deciding on her own. He preferred not to take responsibility from sheer stress.

It took Ivy an effort to convince David and make him realize that he would be the right choice.

"You don't have to worry because I make the final call. You only have to see the performances and decide if they could play the part. If so, then remember their names!" Ivy suggested.

Hearing her idea did persuade David to an extend of vaguely agreeing to it.

"Don't be such a wuss, David. You wrote this script too! It makes sense for Ivy to choose you," Bethany roared from watching him have a meltdown.

"Easy for you to say, your job is pretty much with the computers," David fought back.

His comments triggered the young lady who took her profession with pride, thus provoking to fight back and soon turn to an argument.

"Excuse me, examining auditions sounds like a piece of cake compared to an editor's job!"

Before they could get intense, Parker alone glanced at them- a fierce gaze is enough to shut the two at once. Bethany is afraid of turning on Parker's anger switch while David didn't want to get scolded by someone younger than him. He finally agreed to Ivy, and everyone returned to their posts.

Ivy signaled at Parker for his help.

"Let's do this properly!" he gestured.

****

Lucy finished her recent show in Paris and was heading back to the states when Frank called her out to discuss another new project.

Ever since the breakup, all Lucy did was countless jobs, one after the other without any break or vacation. Indulging herself to work made it easy for her to cope up with the rejection. Frank, who could visibly see the desperate efforts of Lucy's, made sure to keep her schedule occupied, but did not put too much on her plate.

Reaching home, Lucy quickly changed her outfit to leave again to meet Frank.

...

It was quite late into the evening, and they decided to dine together.

Frank informed Lucy about a new opportunity that he received just a few hours ago.

Lucy agreed instantly, thinking that it was another one of those magazine photoshoots or runway shows. However, Frank paused before continuing.

"It's for a movie!" Frank said.

Lucy lifted her gaze, perplexed.

"You mean acting?" she asked.

Frank shared the news about the new movie audition that the agency received and suggested Lucy take a look at it. Ivy, almost bewildered from hearing that she received an acting opportunity, could not believe it to her ears.

"Are you serious?" she gaped at Frank.

"The female protagonist is a model, and so, the director requested that the role, if played by a real model, could have more impact."

Ivy still couldn't believe what she is hearing and found it to be a fiction.

"Are you sure that they asked for me?" she asked again, unsure of the situation.

"Yes. Since you worked so hard until now, our agency hoped that you would meet for the requirements," Frank said.

He added that another model from the same agency also received the invitation. Ivy appeared speechless. She could pose for hours, but acting is something different. To be able to bring a character into life, go through the journey, and tell a story- all seems hard.

"I don't think I can become an actor!" she whispered from the fear.

"If I jump to movies and leave my current job as a model, who knows what would happen if I fail. I'm too scared, Frank."

Frank heard and saw her panic. He did not force her again but still shared the details with Lucy about the auditions, suggesting to broaden her skill by considering new possibilities.

"If I thought you couldn't do it, then I would have declined without telling you a word, but- I saw potential in you. Think about it, and let me know by tomorrow," Frank said and gave her the time to choose wisely.

They ate dinner together, never to follow the discussion further, but had other chats about work.

Frank's words did stir Lucy and made her rethink her decision.

Chapter end