Hollywood: From Shadows To The Spotlight

[Chapter 27: Assembling A Marvelous Cast.]

Alternative Title — [Chapter 27: A Friendly Neighborhood Actor.]

Last Time on Chapter 026 of [From Shadows To The Spotlight] —

The buzzer on his desk snapped him out of his thoughts. 

"Mr. Billon," his assistant's smooth, professional voice crackled through the intercom, "your first appointment is here." 

"Send him in," Jeff replied, straightening his tie and sitting up. 

The door opened, and he had expected for the aforementioned Tobey Maguire to step in.

Now Continuing —

But to his surprise, it wasn't him but rather his other partner in crime, a woman who claimed to have had her life saved by Alex—Brooke Shields. A woman whose entire life trajectory had been changed by a simple suggestion from their boss.

"I think you would make for an excellent casting director." — Alex.

And would you know it, 8 years later, she was one of the best Alex had right alongside him. If the criteria were to be shifted to casting for female roles, even he would have to concede to her, as she was simply better in that regard.

But despite her working as a full-time casting director for [MONARCH], she didn't give up on her acting career and instead treated it as an outlet for her artistic expression.

With Alex's backing and her extensive stint in Broadway, she took her acting chops to another level, something he held her in high regards for. He knew how hard it can be to reinvent yourself when the world has already painted you in a certain image.

She then used what she had learned to appear in some phenomenal art films and TV shows; the one that had cemented her in the hearts of the audience as a starlet once again was as Cara Dune in [The Mandalorian].

It was Alex's call; he was of the opinion that seeing her in just an action-packed, and physical role will be a good shock to the audiences. And help her break the mold of being typecast as just a pretty face or the damsel in distress.

And as always, it proved to be the right call to make. Their boss really had a knack for coming up with ideas that were unconventional, and yet they still worked, proving that he was right again and again.

But he still told them to not take his words as the gospel and to constantly question them to see if there were any holes in his ideas, to check for anything he might've overlooked.

After all, at the end of the day, even he was but a human, and humans are bound to make mistakes.

"Hello! Earth to Jeff!" He was broken out of his stupor by Brooke calling out to him.

"Sorry, I lost myself in my thoughts again." He replied, trying to brush off his exhaustion.

"Are you okay? If you want, you can sit back and rest, and leave the audition to me. I won't tell Alex about it if you won't." She was worried about him, as she could make out the beginnings of dark circles under his eyes.

"I am.. I just haven't been sleeping enough, I guess." He tried to downplay it at first, but then, seeing the worry in her eyes, he decided to be honest with her. "And thanks for the offer, Brooke; I really do appreciate it. But.. we both know just how important this project is for Alex. I don't want to let him down."

"Hey, what are you worried about? Have faith in your abilities, because I know Alex does. That's why he gave you this task." She reassured him while giving him a nudge and handing him a cup of coffee.

"Thanks; I needed to hear that." He replied with a grateful smile.

"Good, now let's call in your guy; I think we've kept him waiting long enough." She replied with a smile and pressed the intercom to let his assistant know that Tobey could be sent in now.

"Yeah."

--------

A young Tobey Maguire walked into the room with a hesitant smile; he was dressed in a simple white T-shirt and jeans. The outfit wasn't flashy, but it fit the every man image his agent told him that the casting director had seemed so keen on finding.

His youthful appearance was striking, almost boyish, despite his age being on the higher end of the casting requirement with him being 22 years old, which partially ticked off one of the boxes on Alex's list of requirements.

But Jeff wasn't thrown off by it; as he had read in the notes that Henry, his assistant, had so diligently put together, Tobey here had found work as a child actor in the past few years, often portraying characters much younger than his own age.

Jeff Billon, Alex's trusted casting director, gestured to the chair across from him, his sharp eye already assessing the actor's demeanor.

Seated to the side, Brooke remained silent as she let him take the lead on this; her gaze was steady but curious, as if studying Tobey's facial features and physique before any words were exchanged.

"Good to meet you, Tobey," Jeff began, extending a hand. "Thanks for coming in."

"Thanks for having me," Tobey replied, his voice soft but steady as they shook hands. There was an understated confidence in his tone—not arrogant, but far from insecure.

Jeff offered a reassuring smile and opened the portfolio on the table in front of him. "So, let's get right into it. We're looking for someone who can portray a character that's intelligent but awkward. Someone who can embody the struggles of being a young man trying to find his place in the world."

He leaned forward slightly. "Tell me, how would you approach playing such a character who needs to be relatable to the audiences but still have a unique edge?"

Tobey tilted his head, considering the question carefully. He knew his age was a negative factor in his selection, so he had to show them his wisdom. "I think it's about grounding the character in reality," he began, his voice thoughtful.

"Everyone's felt out of place or underestimated at some point in their lives, right? I would try to tap into those universal feelings, but then add quirks or mannerisms that make the character specific. For this role…" He hesitated, glancing at Brooke briefly to see her reaction to his answer.

Though unfortunately he couldn't read her poker face, so he just continued while hoping for the best. "Well, from what I've read about the character, he's someone who gets bullied at school, so he probably uses humor as a defense mechanism."

"But he's also incredibly self-aware. He knows he's not the coolest guy in the room, and that's okay. He's not trying to be."

Brooke's lips curled into the faintest hint of a smile, but she said nothing, letting Jeff steer the conversation.

"That's an interesting take," Jeff replied faintly impressed, jotting down a quick note. "And what about the physicality? This character is athletic, but not a traditional jock. Do you have any experience with stunts, gymnastics, or movement training?"

Tobey leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he replied. "Not professionally, no-" he admitted truthfully, as he knew if he got caught lying here, it was a one-ticket to never getting hired by them ever again.

"But I've always been interested in physical roles. I think they add a layer of authenticity that's hard to replicate otherwise. I'm willing to learn and to train hard if needed. Not only that, but I'm not afraid to push myself physically for the right role."

Brooke finally decided to speak; her tone was calm but direct. "That's good to hear. The role we're casting isn't just about the physical demands. It's also about capturing the internal conflict of someone grappling with responsibilities that are way beyond what a person his age should have to deal with."

"The stakes are life and death, but there's still this humanity—this relatability—at the core. Do you think you can balance that?"

Tobey straightened slightly in his chair, meeting her gaze for the first time. "I think so," he said. "It's about keeping the stakes real for the character. Even if it's a fantastical situation, the emotions have to be honest. 

I'd approach it like I do with any role: by finding what makes the character tick, what keeps him awake at night, and letting that guide how he reacts to the world."

Jeff glanced at Brooke, who nodded almost imperceptibly, signaling for the next phase of the audition.

"All right, let's try a reading," Jeff said, sliding a script across the table. "This scene is a pivotal moment in the story—it's when the character first realizes the weight of the responsibility he's taken on. No action here, just raw emotion. Take a minute if you need it."

Tobey picked up the script, scanning the page. After a few moments, he exhaled slowly and began:

"I never asked for this," he said, his voice trembling just enough to suggest vulnerability. "I didn't wake up one day thinking, 'Hey, I want to put my life on the line.' But someone has to. Someone has to step up, and maybe… maybe I'm the only one who can." 

He paused, as if searching for the next words not on the page but in his mind. "I'm scared, okay? I'm terrified. But being scared doesn't change what's right. And right now, the right thing to do is to keep going."

The room was silent for a moment after Tobey finished.

Jeff broke the stillness with a smile. "That wasn't bad. You'll have to work on the pacing a bit, but you captured the emotion well enough."

Tobey let out a small breath of relief. "Thank you."

Jeff and Brooke had a hushed conversation amongst themselves about whether to take him in for the next round of auditions or not. After the discussion was settled, it was Brooke who spoke this time.

Though her tone was warm, signaling her approval. "We'll need to schedule a movement test next—just to get a sense of your physicality and how you take direction. You'll hear from us soon."

As Tobey stood to leave, she extended a hand and decided to encourage. "Thank you for coming in, Tobey. You've got potential—don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

Tobey's smile grew a bit wider as he shook her hand. "I won't. Thanks for the opportunity."

When the door closed behind him, she turned to Jeff. "What do you think?"

Jeff tapped his pen against the table thoughtfully. "He's got the emotional range, but he is a little older than what Alex is looking for. If he can handle the physical side, he could pass what we're looking for. But that will depend on whether we find someone better than him or not."

Brooke nodded, a satisfied look on her face. "Then let's find out, shall we? But from what I know from working with you all these years, the deck will be stacked."

"You know it." He replied with a grin, feeling more confident after interviewing Tobey, as he felt like he was going to be getting a few great candidates for the role today.

"Henry, send in the next one."

-------

And right on cue, Freddie Prinze Jr. sauntered in with a charismatic grin, his easy charm lighting up the room. Jeff and Brooke immediately sensed that he might be too polished for the role, which was just their way of saying he was too handsome to play a character who was a nerd.

Brooke also thought that he had the air of a rogue and would be suited for the side character with the initials—H.O., if he possessed the capabilities as an actor to carry that role.

"Freddie, thanks for coming in," Jeff said, shaking his hand.

"Of course," Freddie replied. "I'm excited to hear more about this project."

He then patiently explained the character again, emphasizing the need for someone who wasn't traditionally handsome or overly confident. Freddie nodded along, but Jeff couldn't help but notice the glint of charisma that seemed impossible to suppress.

"What drew you to this project?" He asked.

"I think it's the humanity of the character," Freddie said smoothly. "He's flawed but resilient. And let's face it, who doesn't love an underdog story?"

Jeff smiled politely but couldn't shake the feeling that Freddie's natural star power and charming looks might overshadow the relatability Alex was looking for.

Still out of courtesy, he kept the conversation going, testing Freddie's ability to dial down his charm, and had him perform the scene where P.P's uncle dies in his arms, and he feels personally responsible for it.

Brooke, who was sitting beside him, seemed completely disinterested in the young man and after sharing a silent conversation with her. He found that she didn't like his body language or his limited acting chops, as it reminded her too much of a certain star actor, whom she vehemently despised. 

His subpar acting did nothing to win her over either; she even told him about considering him for the role of H.O. before based on his appearance. But sadly, his lackluster acting made him fall short of her expectations. He politely sent him out and called in the next person in line.

----------

The door opened to reveal James Van Der Beek, whose boy-next-door charm radiated the moment he stepped into the room.

His presence was neither overly confident nor shy; he walked with a steady composure that suggested he knew his craft but wasn't taking anything for granted.

Though Brooke considered him to be still a little too good-looking for Alex's requirements.

She asked him to have the young man wear glasses and act socially awkward during the interview to see if he could dial down the charm and look more introverted and nerd-like.

"James," Jeff greeted, standing to shake his hand. "Thank you for making the time."

"Of course," James replied, his tone polite but tinged with enthusiasm. "It's always exciting to be considered for something under MONARCH's banner. You guys have had a golden touch lately."

Jeff smirked faintly, the compliment bouncing off his carefully practiced poker face, and extended the pair of thick glasses they had prepared before. "We do aim for excellence. Here, could you wear these during the interview?"

"Of course, anything else?"

"Yes, we want you to act socially awkward during the audition." Jeff replied, proposing the test that Brooke had come up with.

After thinking about it, Jeff realized its brilliance.

This test wasn't just a scene that the actor would have to perform. Now, this entire interview had become an act, and James would have to remain in character for its duration.

His actions, speech patterns, body language, and facial expressions would be what he and Brooke will be keeping an eye on to see just how natural his performance can be.

He made a mental note to use this test in the future after seeing how James fared in it.

He gestured to the chair opposite his desk. James settled in, leaning slightly forward—a deliberate move, Jeff noted, to appear engaged without seeming overeager.

"As you know," Jeff began, "I can't divulge much about the project. It's a high-concept story with strong character work, particularly for the lead.

What we're looking for is someone who can strike a balance—relatable yet compelling enough to carry a franchise. How do you approach making a character stand out while staying grounded?"

James nodded thoughtfully, a small crease forming between his brows. "I think it's all about vulnerability. Audiences connect with a character's struggles and their imperfections.

I try to find what makes a character human first—what they're afraid of, what drives them—and build from there. Even if it's a larger-than-life story, the emotional core has to feel real."

— To be Continued...

{2,591 words}

{TRL: This is the new Hollywood story that has been bouncing around in my head. I really need to get this out, so here's another chapter.

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