Hollywood: From Shadows To The Spotlight

[Chapter 28: Assembling A Marvelous Cast (II).]

Alternative Title - [Chapter 28: The Right Fit in the Wrong Room.]

Last Time on Chapter 027 of [From Shadows To The Spotlight] —

"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."

Now Continuing —

Jeff raised an eyebrow, jotting a note on his pad. "Interesting. And how would you say you connect to roles that require a mix of physicality and emotional depth?" 

"I've done some prep for physical roles before," James answered, his voice steady. "I might not have a gymnastics background, but I'm athletic and disciplined. I'd definitely be up for the training."

"As for emotional depth, I think my experience with dramatic television has given me a solid foundation. When you're working on a show, you have to dig into a character's psyche every week. It sharpens you." 

Jeff kept his expression neutral, though inwardly, he appreciated James' composure and honesty. He had a natural charisma, but it wasn't overpowering.

His features toed the line between every man and leading man—a key quality Alex had emphasized, though Brooke still considered him to be still a little too good-looking for Alex's requirements.

But at least his efforts at looking more shy had earned him a few points in her book; she still considered his performance to be at odds with his natural, confident self.

"Fair enough," Jeff said after a pause. "I'm going to throw a scenario at you. Imagine a young man who's used to being underestimated, even ignored. He's not the guy people pick first in gym class."

"One day, something extraordinary happens, and suddenly, he has to navigate this seismic shift in his life while keeping it all a secret. How would you convey that kind of internal conflict without overplaying it?" 

James leaned back slightly, his gaze sharpening. "That's an interesting challenge. I'd focus on the duality—showing how this change excites him but also terrifies him."

"Maybe he's carrying this sense of imposter syndrome, wondering why it happened to him, wondering if it was a gift or a curse, wondering if he's worthy of what's happened to him."

"It's about subtle shifts—body language, hesitation in his voice, moments of self-doubt that peek through the cracks. The key would be making it feel natural, like the audience is discovering his growth in real time." 

Jeff didn't nod, didn't smile. He simply scribbled another note. Understands nuance.

"And what about humor?" Jeff asked abruptly. "The character has a quick wit. Do you think you can balance that with the drama?" 

James chuckled lightly. "I'd like to think so. Humor's a great coping mechanism, right? It's something I've worked with before—finding the balance between levity and gravity. If the writing's good, I can deliver." 

Jeff glanced up from his notes, his face unreadable. "The writing will be good." 

The room fell quiet for a beat, the weight of the unspoken expectations settling between them. James didn't flinch under the silence, and that alone earned him another mental checkmark in Jeff's evaluation. 

"I'll be honest with you, James," Jeff said finally, his tone measured, but he had a ruddy smile on his face, as if prepared to deliver some good news.

But before he could say any further, he was cut off by Brooke. "What my colleague here was saying is that he needs to discuss this with me and the boss before he can give you a positive answer."

Jeff leaned in with a peeved look on his face, but still he didn't raise his voice or call her out for her intervention.

He took a breath to calm himself and whispered to her, "Brooke, he is the best one out of all the candidates we've seen today; he's shown the most potential."

"That may be true, old friend, but I think in your zeal, you forgot to take one thing into consideration." She replied with a teasing grin on her face.

"And what's that?"

She didn't answer; instead, she smirked as she looked forward at James, who was looking at a piece of the wall that was looking mighty interesting to him at the moment.

"James, would you mind telling us your height?"

It was a question that brought both dread and frustration to Jeff's mind as he finally recalled the crucial piece of information he had overlooked.

His mind answered the question. Brooke had asked the young man right as he had answered her.

"I am a little over 6 feet (1.83 m) tall."

'Over 6 feet tall.' 

'Crap,' he thought to himself. He looked at Brooke from the corner of his eyes and mouthed thanks to her.

She nodded back with a gracious smile and turned to James, with an interested gleam in her eyes. "James, would you be interested in a different role?"

"What do you mean?"

"I am just throwing this out there, but I personally feel like you're the perfect match for a side character that I've been assigned to find an actor for."

"It is for the role of the protagonist's best friend. While his role isn't very prominent in the first movie, in the later parts our boss even mentioned that he becomes quite an important character to the world we are building in this franchise."

"How likely would I be to gain this role if I were to agree to your proposition?" James asked with an interested gleam in his eyes as he took off the glasses and gave her a smirk.

She grinned back, noting that he immediately changed his tone and body language to a more confident one, one that mirrored the role she had mentioned earlier.

The information on all the different characters they were casting for was already made public, so she wasn't surprised that he was aware of it.

No, what caught her interest was how decisively he chose to give up on the role of the protagonist and was willing to aim for the role of a side character.

This was a young man who was pragmatic, yet he had self-worth, so he didn't grovel but rather asked jokingly how likely he would be to get the role.

He had the qualities that they were told to look for while selecting actors who would be cultivated by the MONARCH and made into a household name.

"I can't guarantee you getting the role, as that decision isn't mine to make. But you'll have my recommendation and backing."

"The final decision is as always the boss' to make, and let me tell you, he's very particular about his vision."

"If you agree, you'll be put on the shortlist, and when the next step begins, you'll be contacted." 

He sat quietly for a moment as Alex's interview played out in the background. He turned to look at the screen for a moment and then looked at her.

"By boss, do you mean Alex Masters? I heard he is spearheading this project. Would be serving as the director."

"Yep, he's the one. And it's true, this will be his second directorial project. Does that make you scared or doub-"

"Sign me up." James replied decisively, not wanting to let the opportunity slip from his fingers. And while most people might not know of the man that well, as he likes to remain in the shadows until the recent scandal.

But thankfully, a friend of his had been following the man's work for the past decade. So he was quite well aware of his exploits in the tinsel town.

"I like you, James; you got that "it" factor about you. Thank you for coming in." Brooke finally said, giving a smile of approval.

 James nodded, his expression remaining calm, though Jeff didn't miss the flicker of pride in his eyes. "Thanks for considering me." 

Brooke rose, extending her hand for a shake for the first time since sitting in for the auditions. "Thank you for your time. You'll be hearing from us soon for the follow-up."

As James exited, Jeff allowed himself a brief exhale. The actor had checked nearly every box Alex had outlined; sadly, he was a little too handsome, charismatic, and tall.

The standards Alex had imposed on him for casting of this one role were quite exacting, but still he was glad to make some headway into shortlisting James for another role, as it reduced the pressure off of them elsewhere.

He turned his attention to the folder in front of him, scrawling a final note: Top contender for the role of H.O. Potential lead if boss approves. 

After James Van Der Beek, it was Ryan Phillippe who came in and was gone just quickly; sadly, it was for naught, and after him there were an array of several lackluster actors that just blurred together.

Their performance felt so trivial that nothing stood out to him, and he couldn't even recall their names or faces, and Jeff left frustrated like he was chasing a ghost.

Most actors had their strengths, and unfortunately for them, some were off their game tonight, but none.. none of them seemed to fit the intricate puzzle Alex had outlined for them. 

He truly felt like tonight was going to be a bust as well, like the previous two, but that was until a young man named Joseph Gordon-Levitt walked into his studio. 

Jeff sat up straighter, instantly intrigued by Joseph's unassuming presence. He wasn't traditionally handsome, but there was an undeniable charm in his slightly crooked smile and expressive eyes.

His lean build and socially awkward yet cheerful energy were exactly what Jeff had envisioned in his mind when Alex had described the role.

"Joseph, thanks for coming in; this is my colleague Brooke Shields," he said warmly.

"Happy to be here, and I am a big fan, Ms. Shields. I really liked your performance in Forrest Gump; my friends genuinely hated your character and cursed at her throughout the movie." Joseph replied, shaking his hand firmly before sitting down.

"I feel insulted that they didn't continue cursing at me after it was over. I must've lost my touch." She answered jokingly.

"The-y did, a-and only sto-pped after I—" But Joseph took it seriously as if he failed to pick up on the obvious social que, and Jeff was about to stop when he realized that Joseph was doing a bit. 

It was either that he was just as socially awkward and inept as P. or that he was doing the same test they had asked James to undergo without even being asked to do it. "—explained to them by putting myself in your place and explaining to them how the actor and character they are playing aren't the same."

Jeff cleared his throat, bringing the conversation back to the task at hand. "Let's focus on the character. What drew you to this role? Why do you think you could connect with someone like... P."

Joseph leaned back, thoughtful but relaxed. "There's something about his story that feels so grounded, even in the context of what I assume is a pretty wild premise."

"P. is this normal guy who suddenly has all this responsibility thrown on him, and he doesn't handle it perfectly. He messes up, doubts himself, but keeps going. That's relatable. I think everyone's had a moment where they felt like they were in over their head."

Jeff nodded, carefully maintaining a neutral expression. "Interesting take. The physical aspect of this role is pretty demanding. Have you done any training in that area? Stunts, movement work, anything like that?"

"A little," Joseph admitted. "I worked with a movement coach for a previous role, and I'm comfortable pushing myself physically. From what I've gathered, this character's powers affect how he moves and interacts with the world, so I'd want to train to make that feel authentic."

Brooke glanced at Jeff, raising a subtle eyebrow. Jeff returned a slight nod, barely perceptible but loaded with unspoken agreement.

"Physicality is important, but so is understanding the emotional side," Brooke said, leaning forward slightly. "P. is a character with two sides—one very grounded and one that's... let's say, extraordinary. How would you approach that duality without making it feel like two separate characters?"

Joseph's brow furrowed in thought before he responded. "I think it's all about integration. The extraordinary side is still him; it doesn't define him but amplifies what's already there."

"P. is struggling to balance these two worlds, and that's where the conflict lies."

"It's not about switching between personas—it's about showing the cracks as he tries to keep them together and not lose one of them."

Jeff scribbled a note in his notebook, still careful not to let his face betray too much. "That's a good answer. This character is also... let's call it morally grounded."

"Despite the challenges he faces, he's got this sense of responsibility. Do you think you can embody that without making him seem preachy or unrealistic?"

Joseph's smile turned a little shy. "I would like to hope so. I think responsibility comes from experience, from understanding the stakes. P. isn't perfect, and he doesn't always know the right thing to do, but he tries."

"That's what makes him real, I think. People can see themselves in him because he's flawed; he fails, falls down even, but he never stops getting back up and trying again."

"Thaaat wasn't in the information packet we sent out." Brooke interjected, wanting to see how he would react to her questioning.

"I a-am sorry," he stammered, and Jeff couldn't help but wonder if this was his genuine fear or still just a performance, because if it was the last, he just wanted to give the role of the kid right that every moment. "I just based that off of the character profile we were provided with."

"It's alright, Joseph, and for the record, I actually quite like your take on P." Brooke replied with a reassuring smile.

Joseph breathed a sigh of relief and stammered out a quick thank-you.

"Re-ally? Thanks."

Jeff exchanged another glance with Brooke, his expression unreadable. "Alright, Joseph, that's all for now. Thanks for coming in. We'll be in touch soon about the next steps."

Joseph finally broke character; as a more confident smile came onto his face, he stood up, offering a handshake to the both of them. "Thank you both. I appreciate your time."

As the door closed behind him, Brooke turned to Jeff, her voice barely above a whisper, though the huge grin stretching across her face told him all he needed to know. "He is the one."

"That he might be, but that's for the boss to decide", Jeff scrawled two words at the top of his notepad: Top Choice. 

He exhaled deeply, closing the folder marked "P.P.". She gave him a smile and reached for the folder in front of her, this one labeled "M.J.W." Jeff didn't know much about the character, only that she was to be one of the female leads. 

Without even asking for it, she quietly handed it to him after taking out the first actor's resume in it.

Opening the folder, he smiled faintly at the stack of resumes inside. It was just another piece of the puzzle Alex was building—a puzzle whose final image Jeff could only guess at.

But he had a sneaking suspicion it had something to do with the fact that he had recalled the heads of all six of MONARCH's film crews at the new year's party for a meeting.

— To be Continued...

{2,557 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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