“Me?” Stella blinked in confusion, unsure if the director was talking to her.
Once she realized he was indeed addressing her, she responded in disbelief, “I’m just here to accompany Ruby for the audition. I don’t have any experience, and I certainly don’t belong to the acting profession.”
The director cut her off mid-sentence. “I know. I heard about your background from the assistant. You’re a dance teacher, right?”
Stella nodded, and the director continued, “The barrier to entry in acting is lower than you might think. Many talented actors start with nothing. I was the one who groomed last year’s best male actor from scratch, and he had zero acting experience too.”
Bradley Lane, though eccentric, was a well-known and influential director. Having been in the industry for years, he had perfected the art of persuasion. He spoke with an air of confidence, “While the entertainment industry isn’t as cutthroat as it once was, it offers opportunities for wealth, status, and recognition far beyond what you could achieve as a dance teacher.”
Stella understood the point he was trying to make, but she wasn’t about to chase after an opportunity simply because it appeared to be attractive.
She knew herself well and didn’t believe she was suited for this line of work. “I’m sorry, director, but I don’t think I have the talent for this.”
Bradley saw her firm resolve and didn’t press further. He handed her a card. “These are my contact details. Feel free to reach out if you change your mind.”
He was disappointed. The search for a suitable actress for the supporting female role had been fruitless, and Guinevere was proving difficult to manage. Now that he had finally found someone who seemed fitting, she was unwilling.
Without a candidate for the role, the filming schedule would be delayed, and Bradley had to come up with a plan. He needed real, on-screen moments, not ones created in post-production, which would be less impressive.
The season was coming to an end, and if he couldn’t secure a lead for the supporting female role that Guinevere approved of, there was no way he could frame the scene during this season. He would be left with two options: wait another year or rely on post-production. Bradley had always been passionate about realistic filmmaking, and the thought of compromising his reputation was unbearable, especially with a movie of this magnitude. He would never settle for subpar work.
As he watched Stella leave with Ruby, Bradley decided not to give up. He exchanged a look with the assistant director, who immediately understood.
After walking Stella to the door, the assistant director asked, “Do you want to give it one more shot? Are you in a hurry to head home?”
Stella glanced at her watch, considering his words. She wasn’t enthusiastic about auditioning, but the idea of using it as an excuse to return late was tempting.
Sighing, she finally said, “Alright, I’ll give it a go.”
The assistant director’s face lit up. He hurried to inform the director, who waved Stella over eagerly.
“Come over here,” the director called. “Let me explain how you should approach the scene.”
Stella nodded and walked over to him, listening intently as he gave her instructions on how to act out the scene.
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