Rhythm and Ray: A DJ’s Journey

[Chapter 232: Fame Brings Trouble]

"Let's check out who the cast of this movie is," Taylor said, scrolling through her phone as they sat in the car. "Sam Worthington, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Orlando Bloom all turned down the role, so it went to Ashton Kutcher."

"Ashton Kutcher? The one who had a threesome with his wife Demi Moore and Diddy?" Ryan chuckled, recalling how the rumor had spread, largely because Ashton was known to be good friends with the rapper.

"Is that true?" Taylor widened her eyes, clearly surprised by the news.

"I'd rather believe it's true. In Hollywood, anything can happen; it's a reality TV show just waiting to unfold," Ryan shrugged. "Did you see those photos going around? Cameron Diaz and the Yankees player had just broken up, and she was kissing and making out with P. Diddy at the PH-Day nightclub in Los Angeles. The two of them cuddled together all night. Don't look at me like that."

[A/N: The first rumor could just be speculation, but the latter was certainly confirmed.]

"That's disgusting," Taylor remarked, turning the conversation to other cast members, "and then there's Julia Roberts."

"Well, there's no need to talk about her deeds. She slept with the entire crew," Ryan pointed out.

"I've heard," Taylor nodded, settling in. There was no need to discuss Julia Roberts' bold style.

"Jessica Biel?"

"Justin Timberlake's girlfriend."

"And Anne Hathaway?"

"She hasn't made the best boyfriend choices either. Her boyfriend Raffaello Ferrieri has somehow gotten in deep with Ronald Burkle, the supermarket mogul, and Bill Clinton. I wonder if this will affect her career," Ryan speculated quietly.

"Anne broke up with him midway through last year and quickly found someone new," Taylor reminded him of the timeline.

"Maybe that was just a cover. How much of her boyfriend's money is actually coming from Ronald Burkle or Bill Clinton? It seems like getting away completely would be tough," Ryan mused.

"The last actress is Jessica Alba. She should be fine, right?" Taylor said with lingering caution.

"Do you see why I've been cautious about investing in films?" Ryan glanced at Taylor.

"I don't want to invest anymore," she said sheepishly. Hollywood was just a deep pool where everyone had their secrets.

...

Even Ryan and Taylor weren't safe from the scrutiny. Photos of the three of them shopping in Miami had circulated online, and one picture of Karlie next to Ryan showed them in physical proximity, while Taylor smiled, creating numerous headlines claiming Karlie was now part of their triangle.

Tabloids ran wild with headlines like "Taylor Invites Model to Join Ryan for a Sweet Outing" and "Ryan Can't Stand Loneliness; Model Joins In, Leaving Taylor No Choice," and "The True Colors of the Music World -- The Devil Couple! The First Victim Revealed."

Fame brought trouble, and the couple's previous high-profile romance became fodder for sensational discussions.

"Ryan, how should we deal with these rumors? Send a cease-and-desist?" Taylor frowned, feeling overwhelmed.

"Of course, but the effectiveness will be limited. These tabloids just move on swiftly. It's hard to eradicate them completely. The vast majority of fans won't buy into the overtly fake news anyway; if we respond, we just fall into their trap of self-defense," Ryan explained, uninterested in engaging with any of it, confident it wouldn't hurt his earnings.

"True. What's fake can't become real," Taylor nodded, affirming their innocence. She felt like Ryan and she were in a much lower-risk category when it came to scandal.

"As for the film investment, not every actor involved is this complicated. It's primarily because Valentine's Day is an ensemble movie," Ryan reminded her.

...

When they arrived at the hotel, it was already evening, and the assistant director was there waiting for them.

Ryan and Taylor's roles were minor, just a few minutes of screen time. They planned to wrap their scenes in a single day. The assistant director was there to go over the script with them.

After a brief hello, he presented his specific requirements: "I'm sure you both have read the script. You will be playing high school sweethearts, two athletes."

"That role was tailor-made for us," Taylor laughed.

"Not necessarily. This is just the backdrop. It's a comedy with a hint of parody, so you'll need to play it a bit goofy, like some of those classic teen comedies..." he listed a few film titles as examples.

"I've got the tapes ready. You both should watch them tonight to get in the right mindset for tomorrow's filming," the assistant director handed them a shopping bag containing the tapes.

"Thanks! By the way, will it just be the two of us in tomorrow's scenes?" Ryan asked, taking the tape.

"Yes, but there are two other actresses involved. Taylor, you'll have some scenes with them, and these moments will serve as transitions in the film," the assistant director explained.

Ryan and Taylor nodded, and as they discussed other details, everything went smoothly. Afterward, they headed upstairs to their room.

...

They watched movies until the early hours. The next morning, they arrived at the film set, which had secured a local high school playground in Los Angeles. Most of today's footage would be shot there.

Ryan and Taylor changed into typical high school attire. Ryan was handed a giant white plush toy that would serve as the Valentine's gift for Taylor's character.

"I love this thing; you've got to get me one for Valentine's Day too," Taylor said, hugging the big stuffed toy, its arms thicker than her legs.

"Of course."

...

They then switched to gray athletic T-shirts and red shorts. Ryan ran a swift hurdle in front of the camera, finishing the take on the first try.

As for Taylor, she showcased her "comedic talent." In the initial triple jump scene, she took a swift approach only to leap a mere half-meter.

"That's exactly how it was for me in school," Taylor laughed. When she smiled, her innocent, romantic charm shone through, especially in her athletic outfit.

Next, they shot an interview segment where Taylor once again performed a silly dance, executing it quite well. Ryan demonstrated impressive physicality and flexibility with a front flip and a 270-degree turn mid-air; he nailed it three times in a row.

Naturally, they also filmed romantic kissing scenes, and for them, it was a piece of cake.

What was initially scheduled as a full day of shooting was completed in just half a day.

...

"I honestly thought you two might have issues with the filming. After all, you're singers with little acting experience. And it showed; you both looked a bit lost, reciting your lines like robots, completely devoid of emotion," the director candidly pointed out what they needed to work on.

"But I did see comedic potential in you two," Director Garry Marshall smiled at them both, suggesting they could collaborate on more films in the future.

"Really? That would be great!" Taylor beamed. Garry Marshall was a notable director in romantic comedies, having directed several famous films, and was known for his extensive work in the industry.

Ryan thought about having him direct a few scenes for his upcoming project, but realized it might be excessive. Besides, Garry was busy with Valentine's Day, so he likely wouldn't have time. Even if he could persuade the producers for Easy A, it didn't hold much weight.

"Taylor's here in Los Angeles to invest in a movie with Olive Bridge Entertainment. Are you familiar with them?" Ryan mentioned Taylor's future investment plans.

"Not at all. Investing in films? Are you two looking to pursue this angle?" Garry asked with curious interest.

"Pure coincidence! I know Emma Stone, and she happened to need some backing for a project," Taylor explained with a smile.

"Needing support? Plenty of films are looking for investment. Ryan, if you both are interested in that, just reach out anytime," Garry nodded, eyeing Ryan.

A seasoned director struggling for investment, it seemed unusual.

Ryan nodded in agreement, not declining the offer.

Garry then pointed out a few mistakes they'd made during their earlier performances, clearly using the moment to impart his wisdom.

...

"Uncle Garry, what are you two chatting about?" a girl joined the conversation.

"Allow me to introduce you. This is Emma Roberts, Julia's niece," Garry quickly said.

Ryan looked over; she was a brunette with a striking youthful appearance. Her features were delicate, standing at around five feet tall, so Ryan had to lower his head slightly to see her. However, her proportions were good and she did not look short.

Alongside her famous aunt Julia, Emma's father, Eric Roberts, was also a notable actor in Hollywood, holding the record for the most films acted in, with over 700 credits to his name.

With such a lineage, it was clear Emma had been destined for the spotlight. She began acting at just nine years old, portraying Johnny Depp's daughter in a film, later signing with Nickelodeon. Although her time there turned out to be problematic, she had managed to navigate her childhood more successfully than many of her peers.

Her positioning in the channel is similar to that of Miley Cyrus on Disney Channel. She has also released records, but obviously did not reach the heights of Miley and ended up in a hasty manner. Two years ago, she began to formally enter the acting industry and has starred in several movies as the heroine.

With a star-studded film like Valentine's Day and connections, she'd snagged herself a role.

Taylor would have a couple of scenes opposite her.

"Taylor, you have no idea how thrilled I was to hear I'd be acting alongside you! Every one of your songs is amazing!" Emma exclaimed with enthusiasm.

She was somewhat outgoing and ruthless, especially a few years later when she found out that her boyfriend had sacrificed his anus and intestines for a male director in order to get a role, she beat him up. Her boyfriend at the time was Evan Peters, the Quicksilver in the X-Men.

...

Their scenes wrapped up quickly, and as Taylor went to change costumes, Emma approached Ryan.

"Big guy, how long will you and Taylor be in Los Angeles? Need a tour guide?" Emma asked Ryan.

Ryan shook his head.

"Don't be so cold to me. I know all about you; you had Paris Hilton wrapped around your finger! All her recent flames have been your type," Emma joked, knowing Paris well from their work together.

Ryan was unaware of this; he hadn't followed any of Paris's chaotic personal life.

"By the way, how are things between Taylor and the two actresses from your show? Does she know about your connections with them?" Emma inquired with a playful grin.

"If you believe what the tabloids say, then we have nothing to discuss," Ryan responded, shaking his head.

"I'm only curious. But that's just between you all," Emma shrugged lightly.

"Are you looking to cameo on the show?" Ryan probed, his eyebrow raised.

"How did you know I wanted to talk about that..." Emma giggled shyly, "Of course, I would."

"I probably have more comedic talent than Amber. I saw the casting call for your show, but I couldn't audition due to scheduling conflicts," she continued, stepping closer on her tiptoes.

"If I had auditioned, would you have chosen me?" Emma squinted playfully, her expression animated.

"If you want a cameo, you might have to wait in line," Ryan teased, not giving her a direct answer.

"No problem," Emma said, her heels dropping back down.

By this time, Taylor emerged from her dressing room, and Emma quickly made her way over.

...

"Emma Stone mentioned her, so I was surprised to see her here. She seems really friendly. Maybe we'll hit it off. I imagine she's been influenced by her experiences on Julia's sets," Taylor tried to say, but she was still very cautious overall.

"Before we left, the director told me they would include the elevator kiss scene in the final cut. Ever since you agreed to invest in his movie, he's been trying to make things nice for you."

"After all, there are only a few movies that can make money. Maybe they think I'm a sucker," Ryan chuckled.

"The producer for Easy A reached out to me. We're meeting tomorrow morning, and I told them you would join, which they were excited about," Taylor mentioned, outlining tomorrow's plans.

"Afterward, should we swing by the set to see Trey? It's been ages since I've seen her. I need to catch up and sneak a peek at your show's set..." Taylor suggested.

*****

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