Chapter 65: Rink

Work beckons.

That was what Niall had told Camille.

For a fact, he had been right. Very right.

Considering [The Spire of Fate] had now entered production at Feyre Publications, it was only natural that they wanted him around for certain inputs here and there.

With a planned release date of late October, the publishing company was doing everything in their power to ensure that they generated enough hype and things clicked into place smoothly.

There was also the whole merchandising thing, one that Niall would be tasked to constantly come in and vet... all in hopes that they could drive a synergistic increase in the sales of the books and the merchandises themselves.

Still, that wouldn’t have warranted him to be in LA for extended periods of time.

What did require him to hang around though, was the promotion for [Silver Comets].

Given the fact that Niall held the rights to the movie’s IP and all the songs used in it, it made perfect sense that the movie’s final cut had to be run through him.

Thankfully, when he got around to watching the entire thing, he’d only had a few nitpicks here and there... nitpicks he figured wouldn’t detract from the movie’s experience in the least.

As a result, he gave Vrael Productions the go-ahead, and they promptly moved into the last stages of post-production.

To that effect, Henry whom had contacted the coordinators of the AFI Festival in advance to secure a spot for the movie, forwarded the film to them in preparation for its premiere in October.

Given the festival typically only allowed public submissions for films under the forty-minute length, feature-length movies on the other hand usually operated on a ’invite-only’ basis.

An ’invite-only’ basis that could definitely be workshopped if one knew the right people and played their cards right like Henry had done.

In any case, that was only one half of things.

The other half, more or less required him to show up for interviews for a select few outlets here and there.

And though Niall had come to a decision to avoid as many Hollywood interviews as he possibly could after the entire hit-piece debacle, a product of one of the two rules he lived by, this was one of the few he felt was quite necessary for him to show up for.

Simply put, the month of April and May for Niall was looking extremely packed, to say the least.

Yet, as if that hadn’t been enough, Victor had managed to surprise him in the best way by adding to his already hefty workload.

Currently, the agent was leaning back into his chair, a thin smile on his lips and his fingers interlocked as Niall gazed at the table before him with a stunned expression.

A script.

Evidently still stunned by it, Niall couldn’t help but ask, his tone a mix of joy and surprise;

"How... how did you manage this?!"

"A bit of stalking here, a bit of pestering there, and whole lot of calls." Victor gestured with open palms.

"It’s from Murray Goldberg, by the way." the agent casually threw in.

"I know! I can see it on the script! It’s why I’m flabbergasted!!" Niall let out, all of his enthusiasm spilling and enveloping the atmosphere in the room.

"Did I also tell you he’s one my favorite directors?!" the young man turned to face his agent, his cool-gray irises shimmering with genuine excitement.

"Oh?" Victor remarked in amusement.

"I’ll make you even more stupefied then," his smile widened just a bit as he said;

"He said you could audition for the lead role."

This time, Niall looked on in disbelief, his eyes flickering much the same.

"You’re kidding?" he let out in denial, a suppressed giddiness to his tone.

"No. I’m not." Victor chuckled faintly, finding it rather amusing to see his talent being so spirited.

Then he added, his palms gesturing;

"And as you might already know, the thing with Murray’s that if he likes your audition tape enough for the lead role but chooses not to cast you for it, he’ll most definitely consider you for a supporting role."

"So, in a way, it’s a win-win, you could say... as long as you make a good enough impression, that is." Victor smiled and said, his head tilted in knowing gesture.

To that, a genuine grin spread across Niall’s lips. Of course, he knew that. He’d been following Murray’s career for as long as he could remember.

In fact, the man was the sort of figure he wanted to become in Hollywood.

One whose work ethic, skill and renown as a director spoke for itself, and not the glitz and glam that came with the career.

And for a chance to not just meet said figure, but also learn from him...

Niall returned his attention to the script before him, a resolved light in his eyes as he inwardly affirmed;

’I’ll give it my absolute best.’

Then he turned to agent and said in genuine appreciation;

"Thank you, Victor. Truly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you."

"Don’t mention it. Afterall, that’s what you pay me for." he humorously responded to which Niall chuckled softly.

"By the way," Victor then said, a thoughtfulness to his tone.

"Yeah?" Niall casually responded, a light smile on his lips as he picked up the script.

"I really liked [Hello, Goodbye]. It’s a great song." the agent said, an impressed smile on his lips as he added;

"Also, congratulations on hitting half a billion streams on GrooveBox. That’s no ordinary feat from an indie artist."

Flashing him a warm smile in reciprocation as he rose to his feet, Niall replied, a palpable humility to his tone;

"If I’m being completely honest, I couldn’t have done it on my own."

"Still, thank you for saying that. I really appreciate it." Niall gave curt nod of appreciation and then headed out.

...

...

...

Currently seated on the couch in his apartment, Niall’s eyes followed every line in the script he was reading intently, an engrossed look on his features.

If one were to see this, they might’ve assumed that the plot of the script was probably spectacular.

Yet, much like all of Murray Goldberg’s script, it really wasn’t.

Rather, what made the renowned director’s scripts and movies so acclaimed... even if they weren’t commercial hits, were the interactions between his characters in the story, and the execution of said story.

[Rink], in this context, was no different.

Afterall, the premise of the story followed a typical redemption plot with a figure-skating theme;

Elias Mercer, a former Olympic Silver Medalist now aged 35, currently works a mundane job maintaining the ice-rink where a bunch of teenagers and aspiring figure skaters now train.

Lauded to be the next champion in his prime, he suffered a catastrophic fall during the finals of the World Championships after attempting an impossibly difficult routine.

A fall that forces him to retire. A fall that relegates into becoming yesterday’s news.

As a result, he becomes bitter, sarcastic, withdrawn and emotionally unavailable.

That is until years later, when the judges involved in deliberating over the championships, quietly admit that the scores from the championship were manipulated by a corrupt official who favored another skater. A skater who turned out to be his very rival--Titus Burn.

As a result, the federation felt the need to offer him one final opportunity to restore his legacy under an exhibition championship.

Elias however, doesn’t really care about restoring a legacy that has already being buried.

At least not until his rival whom had benefitted from his downfall and had gone on to become a celebrated figure skater, publicly dismisses him at an interview as ’someone who quit because he couldn’t handle the pressure’.

That single statement... that was all it had taken for Elias Mercer’s spark to be reignited. For a fact, he couldn’t have given a damn about the medal he lost. That was long gone.

Rather, he gets back into figure skating because he wants to prove everyone wrong.

He wants to let it be known, that for as buried as his career may have become, it had never for once, been a lie.

Soon enough, Niall flipped to the last page of the script, having thoroughly enjoyed it.

Then he gently placed it onto his table, a hand gently rubbing his chin and his cool-gray irises glinting with intrigue.

Though Niall had only a month to send in an audition tape, he didn’t want to hurry and do it like most of his fellow actors whom might be vying for the role might.

The reason for this was quite simple.

Niall needed an edge. The kind of edge that would guarantee him the lead role.

Given the kind of sports-driven story this was, the young artist could bet that there were bound to be stunt doubles... stunt doubles most actors would’ve never factored into consideration as they sent in their tapes.

To that effect, most probably would’ve overlooked their athleticism or a flair for the sport as a criterion to land the role. Rather, they’d probably believe their acting chops would be all they’d have to bring to the table.

In all honesty, they were also quite right. Afterall, Niall figured most of them would probably be A-listers with established careers... one most directors could always compromise for by having a stunt double play a sequence in their stead.

But for Niall... with all the gifts he had... he couldn’t help but feel like it would be an absolute travesty to not utilize it to give himself that edge as someone whom had yet to breakout.

Besides...

’I can’t let somebody else have all the fun in my stead.’ Niall’s expression remained enthusiastic as he pulled out his phone and began searching for nearby ice-rinks he could begin practicing at.

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/Caer07