Great Actor in Hollywood

The question stumped him, he thought it would be another superficial topic of how he got the job, or his audition performance, or even how tall he is (6'3 with shoes on). Then, he realized it was Camila with the mic wearing a long camel trench coat.

The audience leaned in and the sound of the A.C seemed louder. Ryan politely nodded to Camila and stepped forward. He brushed his hair upwards with one hand, revealing a sharply defined face that made people think he was made of wax. He was strikingly handsome, not only in a polished, magazine-cover way but a way that made people curious about his life. His cheekbones were high, his eyes clear and unreadable, and there was a calm elegance in how he moved like he belonged to both the stage and some royal branch in Liechtenstein. The collar of his shirt was slightly open. The rest of actors on stage looked like they were made of wood or styrofoam. Decora facie, gravior praesentia.

She gave the mic to the on-floor attendant and heard Ryan say, "Well. That's a tough question. Let me begin with what l knew before that scene. I interviewed people on Wall Street and looked at the traders or analysts doing their job. They were so possessed by it. It consumed their lives like a bee to honey. And then l imagine if it was all taken away from them, what would they do? How many of us are all consumed by our careers or hopes and something you can't control comes from the shadows and hits us. It's a great obstacle and most of us don't come back from it. We would all be scared and Seth, who is too confident, would be hit the hardest. I see Seth, after the film, in a homeless shelter or an addict of some kind. He will be the type of guy you walk by in the city without giving a second glance. I hope that answered your question."

The room was silent, particularly due to Ryan's understanding of the character. He, a greenhorn, would devote so much time for a small role spoke volumes of his dedication and interest in Seth. It's too early to predict his career path but, for sure, they would watch the character he takes on next. 

The Q&A session wrapped up with another applause and the cast headed to the lobby: a cluster of journalists and photographers gathered near a simple backdrop emblazoned with the Sundance logo. Publicists moved swiftly between groups, whispering reminders and nudging cast members into position. Ryan heard to his right from two assistants, "Kevin, NPR wants five minutes, we'll squeeze it in before Vanity Fair upstairs". The reporters swarmed members of the cast, praying they get something to publish.

"Jeremy, how was it working with a fresh director?" 

"I was curious, Paul, of how you learned the complicated language of the film."

"Phonetically." Kevin butted in. 

"Ha. So much of the dialogue was legalese. And much of it was cut out. Also it helped that most of the characters said, 'l cant read fucking graphs'. That was fun". 

"Was there much rehearsal or time to talk together about the scene?" A reporter asked Demi. 

"Yeah, it was lovely actually. We were shooting on the actual floor of an office building. So we rehearsed in actual office rooms while J.C was filming." Ryan looked to the left and saw a small man wearing a press badge that wrote The Wrap. 

"Ryan, what a debut film to be part of. You're the only actor who hasn't done a film. Did you know anyone before? Or was the audition really that good?" 

He knew this question would come up. He should have just simplified it and said, "Are you a nepo baby? Is your dad a studio head?". The reporter wanted to rile him up and his years of experience calmed him. 

He grinned and said, "First of all, I'm grateful that l was part of the audition process for this film. Susan gave much room to explore and l personally related to this character a bit. Hopefully, not in the confidence or greed department. Hollywood is very competitive and any young actor can get caught up in the race. The pros and J.C told me to experiment and value each scene so l did that." Ryan showed a row of solid teeth.

He added charmingly, "Kevin also told me not to fuck it up. And how can l go against that. Its good advice if you ask me"

The reporter's face went blank. He looked down at the red carpet, wishing he'd worn red himself; he was already halfway there judging by the color of his face. The rest of the journalists were quietly mocking him for his failed attempt for gossip. 

The flushed reporter thought to himself, 'He's 21? I have socks older than him. Did one of the Big Five make a lab.? Let me get out of here'

The reporter ran away tripping on Camila's shoe, making her shout, "How can you fuck up twice." People nearby laughed at the disappearing figure like he was a toddler in a suit. 

***

Camila walked towards her hotel room, the buzz of the evening still ringing in her ears. The energy in the lobby had been electric, but it was Ryan who had captured her attention. There was something rare about him, not just his striking presence or the way he handled himself under pressure, but the depth in his answers, the authenticity that came through every word.

She unlocked the door to her modest suite, the cool air of the room wrapping around her like a soft blanket. Sliding off her trench coat, she set her microphone and notebook on the desk by the window. Outside, the lights of Park City twinkled faintly against the dark mountain backdrop

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, wanting to capture the essence of what she'd witnessed. The young actor, so fresh and unpolished, yet so grounded. She recalled the way he brushed his hair back before speaking, how his eyes seemed to hold stories older than his years. This was not the usual Sundance story of a privileged kid handed opportunities on a silver platter; this was something more authentic.

As she began typing, the words flowed easily. Ryan's reflections on Seth's character: the vulnerability behind the confidence, the raw fear of losing everything were poignant. Camila knew audiences might overlook the small roles, but here was someone who had clearly immersed himself fully in the craft.

Her mind wandered back to the red-faced reporter, the failed attempt to rattle Ryan with a sharp question, and how effortlessly the young actor had diffused it with grace. That moment, more than anything, signaled to Camila that Ryan was not just another face in the crowd; he was someone who could withstand the relentless pressures of this industry.

Her phone buzzed softly on the desk. A message from her editor popped up: "Need your piece by tomorrow morning." Camila felt a thrill. This was her chance to highlight an actor the world did not know at all.

She leaned back, considering the best way to frame the story. It wouldn't be just about Ryan's performance in Margin Call. It would be about his potential, the unlikely story of him getting this role, and his rough childhood. She thought of the passion Ryan, in the cafe interview with his long hair, had talked about for his new film: Looper. It was a story of a rising actor who wasn't handed anything. Whether he would be a crashing star or an established A-lister didn't matter, at least for now. 

Outside the window, snow began to fall lightly. Camila wrapped her fingers around her mug and smiled. Tomorrow, her readers will meet Ryan Stone.