Chapter 127: Peculiar Tidbit

Johnny Dakota originally never had any intentions of auditioning for [Silver Comets] back when it was in pre-production.

For an actor who really wanted to make a name for himself, he had seriously doubted an original musical with obscure actors and a largely unknown production company would’ve been the best way to touch on the heights he wanted.

Despite this, he had taken his agent’s advice seriously... a woman who just happened to be Marissa Kessler, one of HTA’s top three agents that had interviewed Niall.

Given the sort of confidence the middle-aged woman had seen radiating off of Niall and how much of a fantastic impression he had made on her and her colleagues, she’d had enough insight to know that even if Niall’s movie flopped, her talent would’ve still made a solid connection nonetheless.

But even her, in her wildest dreams, couldn’t have anticipated the homerun the movie would’ve become.

It was also why, ever since her talent’s time as Leeroy on [Silver Comets], his career had boomed.

He had gone from simply being a low-tier B-list supporting actor who often had to audition to land a role that was of interest to him--mostly to frequent rejections, to an actor whom was actively offered several scripts every month.

Granted most of them intended for him to play supporting character roles, with only the rare indie giving requesting for him as the lead actor, it at least ensured that he always had work on hand and could easily pay his bills.

Such was the exposure that came with starring in the highest grossing original movie of the year 2017 as the lead antagonist.

Much like every aspiring star in Hollywood though, Johnny didn’t just want to be another B-list actor that got by.

Rather, he wanted to climb to the height of his acting career and establish himself as one of the next generation of A-listers.

Which was why, when Marissa had informed him that Niall was producing an action-adventure fantasy blockbuster, well ahead of the actual announcement to the general public, he’d been on top of every development that followed after.

It was also why, the moment the script for the movie was handed to him to practice in preparation for his audition for the role of the movie’s main antagonist, he had promptly put his nose to the grindstone to land it.

Given he’d met Niall, and he’d been around him enough on the set of [Silver Comets] to understand that the man really didn’t play favorites when it came to casting actors, he was that much more incentivized to give it his hundred percent for the casting auditions and then some.

For as menacing as the Knave of Hearts was in [A Maddened Wonderland] though, he wasn’t particularly a complex villain.

All he had, was genuine loathing towards Alice Kingsleigh and the inhabitants of Wonderland whom had rightfully banished him and his Queen to the Outlands without a second thought.

However, with the only semblance of direction he had in his life gone in a last-ditch effort to bend Chaos to her will that had gone cataclysmically awry, he had instead taken up her last wishes.

Plunge Wonderland into chaos, no matter what it took.

The only thing that made him remotely complex, was his undying loyalty, even after the death of his Queen.

It was that undying loyalty, that made him master Chaos Magic, solely out of spite for the energy form for killing his late Queen... though that was something Alistair would be finding out much later.

Simply put, the Knave of Hearts was an irredeemable piece of shit and a generational hater. He was the kind of villain that you wouldn’t ever want to root for, all things considered.

Yet, his mannerisms, his gait, the way he spoke... all of it carried so much gravitas despite his stoicism, it practically covered all bases for his deplorable actions.

It was also because of this, that Johnny found the Knave of Hearts very refreshing, much like he had found his former role as Leeroy just as refreshing.

Not every villain needed a complex reason to be who they were. Not every villain needed to feel redeemable.

It was fine for villains to be hated for who they were, period. More so in a movie as whimsical as [A Maddened Wonderland].

Perhaps because Johnny understood this simple notion though, he’d been able to deliver the best audition for the role.

It was also why, he was currently walking over to the lead actor whom was slowly rising from the floor, several suspenders attached to him.

"Here," he offered a hand as a gesture of support, and Niall partook with an appreciative response of his own;

"Ah. Thanks, Johnny."

"Don’t mention it." he replied as Niall began unclipping the suspension hooks, several of the movie’s production assistants walking over to aid him.

At the same time, one of the runners walked over, offering a bottle of water to both actors, to which they appreciated, the lady but politely refused nonetheless.

In the same vein, the lady extended it to Mary-Beth and a couple of the other extras whom had been acting as the Knaves, the lady courteously rejecting while some of her colleagues obliged.

"Alright everyone! The take came out great. That’s a wrap for today!" Mark’s voice cascaded across the set, his small megaphone doing the heavy lifting.

To that effect, a clear excitement lingered in the air as several individuals on set were glad to be chanced to leave today’s set earlier than usual.

It was roughly six in the evening, but considering they’d had a few hiccups over the past couple days since they began filming that extended their time on set well into the night, ending this early was a godsend.

Mark on the other hand was going nowhere.

Instead, he retreated into a little corner of the set where a door that led into a little office was.

Given this was his very first movie, the young director wasn’t taking any chances as he was often the last to leave the set after reviewing all the shots they intended to use in the movie--that was if he didn’t stay overnight in fact.

It was also why, over the past couple days, Niall and his colleagues would often arrive on set, only for Mark to approach them to retake a brief scene here and there.

In any case, it didn’t take long before Niall and Johnny began engaging in a mundane discussion of their own.

From the side, Mary-Beth watched them with an almost enviable gaze.

Considering the sort of passion and aplomb they’d brought to their roles, the depths she couldn’t particularly touch on since acting was just a coping mechanism for her and she didn’t particularly find it fun, she couldn’t help but mutter to herself a moment after;

"Must be nice..."

Then, letting out a resigned sigh, she proceeded to make her way out.

Soon enough, Johnny made his way out as well, as did Niall himself.

Slipping into his vehicle, the young man headed straight for home. Having arrived minutes earlier, he received a call from Paul just as he made his way into the kitchen to cook himself a meal.

"Hey, Paul. What’s up?" Niall picked up the call and said, his tone casual.

"Nothing much. Just wanted to remind you that you have to model for the brand tomorrow." the man replied.

"I presume your schedule’s still free, for the most part?" the manager then asked.

Considering most of the scenes they intended to film tomorrow didn’t involve Niall at all, the only reason they’d actually need him on set was to film a reference scene.

But even that could always be done by someone else so he really wasn’t required to be on ground, hence why Paul had scheduled his modelling gig with the company tomorrow after reviewing his schedule weeks ahead.

"Yeah. We won’t need to reschedule things." Niall replied right after to which Paul replied;

"Alright then."

"Should I come pick you up or would you like to meet up there?" he inquired afterwards.

"Let’s rendezvous." Niall answered simply to which the manager replied in the affirmative.

Following that, Niall hung up the call and went through the motions to make himself dinner.

Roughly thirty minutes later, he was seated before his laptop, reviewing the other track he’d been working on independent of the one inspired by Camille.

This, he’d made solely for [A Maddened Wonderland]... or more specifically, the scene he and Mark had decided to revamp for Alistair’s moment in Chesire’s Twisted Cottage.

That said, all that he’d made of the track, was a solid, yet driving syncopated bassline and a staccato to deliver an upbeat tempo that could be easily danced to.

There was even a rather interesting tidbit that Niall had added to the song to set the initial ominous mood and atmosphere of the scene before Alistair flipped it on its head in a manner that was uniquely his.

That peculiar tidbit, had been what had surprised his parents and Camille back when they’d been around for their visit.

Yet, for as fantastic as the track was--especially judging by the hue of gold mixed with strong traces of platinum emanating from it--Niall couldn’t help but feel like it could really use some lyrics.

The only problem, was that Mark hadn’t been certain if they really needed to.

Afterall, he believed that for as whimsical as [A Maddened Wonderland] was, he didn’t want to dilute its more serious moments by making it feel cheesy.

Niall on the other hand, saw an opportunity to perfectly establish Alistair’s very own brand of spontaneously chaotic, a notable contrast from his father whom was mostly crazy and mad.

It was also why, after mulling it over for the umpteenth time, Niall picked up a pen and paper and begun writing down the lyrics that came to his mind anyway.

If Mark had been willing to go along with his former idea to change the original scene into an action-dance set piece, it wouldn’t hurt to at least give the idea--for as silly as he might’ve assumed it to be--a trial as well.

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/Caer07