Chapter 43: Shortchanged

The next couple weeks at HTA was chock full of casting auditions and callbacks.

After circulating the news through the company that they were in need of actors for a movie, several talents at the agency had jumped on the opportunity.

Additionally, realizing that Niall’s tactic had saved them a lot of time, Victor and Henry equally extended the opportunities to not just individual talents at the agency, but talented indie bands outside of it.

Having them send in some of their best performed songs, it didn’t take long before they got a concrete line-up to select from.

By the time month’s end came around, they’d already had a solid cast to work with for each stage of the Battle of the Bands competition in [Silver Comets].

And though it wasn’t as if there was going to be a full-length feature of their songs, they were still bound to show about thirty-seconds to a minute snippet of their songs.

That alone, had been more than enough for most bands as compensation. Still, Henry did what he felt was right, and paid each of them a little sum as per industry standards.

He also ensured to have each of them sign an NDA, all in an effort to keep the plot, songs and everything in between about the movie from leaking to the public.

There was also another important contract he had to make, one that covered the two million dollars Niall invested into the movie.

Set to receive a two percent cut from the box office returns, it was independent of the original contract he had with Henry, resulting in a cumulative box office cut of twelve percent for him.

Speaking of Niall though, asides from being heavily involved in every casting audition and callback there was, he, alongside Sam, Archie and Lucas had equally met with the director Henry had secured for the movie.

Notably in his late thirties, his build on the lankier side of an average build, the man who went by the name, Harrison Floyd, was a lesser-known director in the industry.

Still, he had a very good filmography of indie dramas and musicals, one that had afforded him the opportunity to work with Henry a couple times.

He also proved to be rather easy to work with, further solidifying an already great work environment.

But that wasn’t all.

Amidst all the busy work of pre-production, Niall had equally been investing his time into refining every single song in the movie alongside Sam, Archie and Lucas.

By the time he’d reassessed each and every one of the songs, they’d all shot up from silver-hued with golden streaks, to golden streaks with platinum hues... all except for one song.

It alone, stood on another level, settling into an outstanding platinum. It was also the last song to be performed in the movie, one that would tie towards its end and into its crescendo.

In any case, due to these efforts, Niall’s grades evolved across the board.

His microphone icon saturated into a resplendent gold, edges of its structure bleeding a faint shimmer of platinum.

Two other icons of his--the musical note icon and guitar icon--also evolved into a gleaming gold.

His piano icon on the other hand, phased into a solid silver sheen.

With each upgrade, Niall’s hype to begin filming continually heightened.

Afterall, asides from it being a fair while since he had exercised his acting skills, it was equally going to be in a movie that was solely his brainchild.

In any case, by the time the last week of the second month rolled around, Henry simultaneously also rounding up pre-production, everything had neatly slotted into place, ready for filming to finally begin.

As Niall lay in bed though, unable to sleep due to his excitement, he couldn’t help but reminisce over these past two months.

Every major player had given it their all to make [Silver Comets] a reality.

And with the very first filming location set to happen within the neighborhoods of Highland Park and Frogtown tomorrow, he strongly believed that they would carry on with that energy till the very end of filming.

Feeling a genuine need to preserve that energy though, and equally ensure that everyone’s efforts truly paid off, Niall summoned a peculiar orb into his palms.

Rolling it within his fingers, he pondered a while, considering how best to go about it.

Seemingly coming to a decision a few minutes later, he then crushed the orb, finally using up his last wish after all this while.

Instantly, the world froze. Then, the edges of reality rippled, fracturing at its seams to offer a glimpse into a wonderous cosmic tableau of exploding stars and swirling galaxies.

Then, a celestial voice whispered through... almost as if gladdened to be remembered.

The Gift of Bestowal.

No sooner had that happened, Niall’s head slumped.

Now fast asleep, shimmering motes of cosmic energy seeped from the cracked seams all around him and into his body.

Then, roughly an hour later, the last of it slipped into his being with a soft swish.

Immediately, time snapped back into place and reality reassumed its normal state.

Niall, through it all, remained fast asleep.

*

Harrison was one of those directors that much preferred shooting movie scenes in a chronological order.

To him, he believed it provided a sense of gradual progress for the crew, hence giving them something to look forward to everyday till the very last day of filming.

Which was why, after the crew had arrived the day before at a particular bar in Frogtown, their cinematographers having expertly set up the cameras in one of their storerooms, he gestured to them.

No sooner had they given him a thumbs up, he then turned his attention to Niall whom was situated within the room itself, alongside a couple other actors.

At the forefront of said actors was a handsome, black-haired man that looked to be in his late twenties that went by the name of Johnny Dakota. He was one of Marissa’s talents.

He also had that bad boy air about him, and his slicked, spiky hairstyle only seemed to accentuate that image, further selling the antagonist role of Leeroy that he was set to play.

Added to that were his ’bandmates’, each individual just as striking to look at as the man himself.

In contrast, Niall whom was standing opposite them, and set to play his role as Owen Winters, the movie’s protagonist, looked completely out of place.

Currently dressed in faded, worn-out blue jeans, a peeling black bomber jacket with an oil-stained white shirt underneath and a beanie atop his messy hair, he awaited the orders of the director.

"Tail slate," Harrison called out and the person in charge did his job.

Then, looking over once more to ensure everything was as it should be, the director gestured;

"Lights... camera... action!"

-

{Silver Comets | 10th September 2016 | Act 1 | Scene 1 | Take 1}

Owen got shortchanged.

"You’re out."

"What?" came a confused whisper in response.

"You heard me," Leeroy, the lead singer of Red Velvet, the band he worked with repeated, his tone unsympathetic and nonchalant;

You’re out."

For a while, Owen stared on in puzzled silence.

Suddenly, the apocalyptically loud and busy bar felt like it had lulled to quiescence as his thoughts churned.

The other members of the band tinkered with their instruments, not the least bit interested in expatiating as they prepped to go on stage in an hour’s time.

Jayce, a youth of fairly average build with messy black hair and dark-brown irises, lounged behind the drum kit, a pair of worn drumsticks lazily spinning between his fingers.

Across from him, Wester, a slim, boyish-looking figure with tousled sandy hair that kept falling into his eyes, hunched over a squat bass amp, absentmindedly plucking its strings.

Both pretended to be focused on their individual shenanigans, rather than get involved in the uncomfortable conversation happening a few feet away.

Naturally, their evasion tactics didn’t go unnoticed by Owen.

Eventually gathering himself, Niall forced himself to ask, the words coming out hoarsely;

"Why?"

"Because," Leeroy began as he walked past him.

"Quite frankly," he grabbed a soda from the little fridge in the corner and popped it open.

"You’re just not good enough for Red Velvet." he concluded.

"And also," the tiniest smirk of condescension edged from the corners of the lips, surreptitiously hidden by the soda can.

"We found a better guitarist. He’s also a pretty good songwriter, might I add."

Turning around to face Leeroy, a gig bag strapped to his back, Owen remarked incredulously;

"Is that so?"

"And you chose to tell me today, of all days? An hour before we perform? Two weeks before the Battle of the Bands?" he demanded, his tone carrying an evident disbelief.

Taking a nice swig from the can, Leeroy let out a small sigh in pretense and then responded;

"Sorry man, just your luc—"

"You know, Leeroy," a bemused Owen interjected.

"If you’re at least gonna kick me out of the band, do it on the basis of professionalism and not because you can’t..." the youth paused, gesturing disapprovingly at him.

"...exploit me to write your own songs."

The bluntness of Owen’s words hit Leeroy like a dumpster truck.

His face tried to do a stupid thing where it was pretending to remain unfazed by someone’s remarks, only to fail miserably.

The subtle body languages from the duo behind Leeroy further confirmed the truth to his words, both individuals shifting uncomfortably.

Running his fingers through his hair though, strong hints of ire reflected in his eyes, Leeroy remarked;

"Look man, if you’re just gonna be a bitc—"

"You know what," Owen cut in once more with an exasperated sigh, his hands gesturing dismissively;

"It’s fine. I--" he paused and then breathed out the words out with a steady coolness to his voice;

"Do as you please."

Then, walking towards the door, the trio evidently surprised by his sudden acceptance of the situation, the wooden frame clicked shut behind him.

"Cut!"

-

Considering he’d been checking the cameras as they’d been acting, Harrison casually spoke;

"That was a great take to start off filming. Good job, guys."

"Now. Let’s move on over to the hospital for the next shoot." he clapped once and everyone nodded, the room clearing out in a matter of minutes.

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/Caer07