Behind The Spotlight Chapter 15
"What the hell, Jennifer? What are you even thinking? Why do you think you have to suck a cock? Are you affected by your last movie role, or did something else happen that I don't know about?"
Collin gulped his water and nearly choked in shock and disbelief when Jennifer said something so stupid and completely unexpected.
After working in this industry for years, Collin had an idea of what Jennifer was talking about, even if he didn't want to admit it out loud.
Casting Couch.
The unspoken shadow that loomed over every hopeful actress and actor struggling to break through.
Collin had been a model before switching career paths and diving into the world of talent representation. He knew that some models had to sleep with higher-ups just to get the jobs they desperately needed to pay rent or make a name for themselves.
In fact, someone had once offered Collin a casting couch deal in exchange for getting onto a Paris fashion runway, one of the biggest shows in the fashion industry. But Collin had a girlfriend at the time, and he had no intention of selling his soul for fame or compromising his values for a temporary spotlight.
Just like his principles, he never forced his clients to participate in that kind of thing, even when the pressure was real and the temptation was everywhere. Unless his clients insisted, and even then, he tried to talk them out of it. If he failed, at that point, Collin couldn't stop them. They were all consenting adults, after all. They were responsible for their own choices and consequences.
In this case, Collin had no intention of making Jennifer have sex with someone just to land a role. It was against his principles, and it always would be.
"Collin, I've been in Hollywood for years now, chasing auditions and memorizing lines for roles that barely have names. I know that the only way for a nobody like me to get a big role is by offering my body. That's just the harsh reality of this place. There are thousands of gorgeous actresses in Hollywood, and I'm not special. I'm getting old."
Jennifer chuckled with a mix of bitterness and amusement. She found it amusing that her agent was acting like someone innocent and naive to the real game. Well, Jennifer was four years older than Collin, so...
Yes, Jennifer was 29 years old, and she could feel the invisible countdown clock ticking with each passing audition. Once she turned 30, her acting career would only get tougher, as the industry often tossed aside women past their "prime" unless they were already famous. Actresses had a short career run in Hollywood unless they were either lucky or extraordinary.
"Jennifer, I'm not that kind of person and I never will be. You know that."
"Yeah, I know you're not. So, what's the plan?"
Jennifer was still unconvinced that Collin had a major role lined up for her. Even landing a supporting character was difficult in this industry filled with fierce competition.
"You know I signed a contract with a rookie director five months ago, right? We decided to start a project, and we need actors who are willing to work with us. I also want to talk to Axel later if he's interested. This could be good for all three of you."
"Of course, Axel will agree in a heartbeat. This is an opportunity for us to be famous."
Axel Gunner was the third client Collin managed. Collin East officially handled three clients: Wyatt Bray, Jennifer Randon, and Axel Gunner. These three was his entire small roster.
Actually, Collin had two more clients once, but they decided to change agencies, leaving Collin feeling disheartened.
It was understandable why they left. Collin was just a small agent with limited connections and no strong backing.
"I thought your client was working on Director Esteban's movie? Why do you guys want to start a project immediately? Your client needs experience, a lot of it."
"I know he's still green, but we've already secured an investment, so there's no turning back now. It's now or never. Are you in?"
"Fuck yeah!" Jennifer laughed with genuine excitement for the first time that day.
At last, she could get a better role with real substance and screen time. Unlike the many times she had taken on background extras with no lines and no hope of getting noticed.
At first, she had thought Collin wanted her to sell her body for a nameless role, but it seemed her agent was still keeping his promise. She respected him for that.
"By the way, aren't you afraid that Director Esteban will be mad? I heard that the director has eccentric behavior. He likes shouting at assistants and flipping over tables. That's why his last assistant director left. Is that rumor real?"
"About that..." Collin replied with a bitter smile and a sigh.
...
...
...
"Get out of my set and never come back again unless you're planning to beg and kneel down."
An old man with a huge belly tossed his cigarette in front of Wyatt. The cigarette landed dangerously close to Wyatt's feet, still burning.
The old man, known for yelling at people, glared at him.
"I gave you a chance to gain experience by working with me, a rare opportunity for most people. I didn't expect you to disregard my goodwill like that. Do I look like disposable trash to you? I swear, kids these days are too arrogant, thinking making movies is as simple as creampie-ing a woman. Don't ever return. If it weren't for Henry, I might've asked you to pay damages and blacklisted you from all my projects."
Henry Greyson, the producer of this movie, was a friend of Collin. He was the only reason Wyatt had gotten on set in the first place.
Wyatt had his reasons for returning to the set despite knowing Esteban wouldn't be pleased.
First, he wanted to retrieve his belongings from the locker.
Second, he wanted to personally bid farewell to Director Esteban out of respect.
Third, he wanted to thank the director for teaching him during their brief time together, to show his gratitude before walking away.
"Thanks for teaching me. I'll make sure to never forget it, no matter what happens."
"Kid, what did I just say? Get the fuck off my set. Sigh... you're still not listening. I taught you because I wanted you to learn how to direct a movie the right way. I wanted to hire you as my permanent assistant director. But you betrayed me by walking away like it was nothing. Now leave. I don't want to see you again. You need more experience before taking on a project of your own. It's not yelling 'Action' that makes directing hard. Anyone can do that. It's the pressure, that's the hardest part. The fear that your movie will fail. That fear eats at you day by day until you can't breathe."
"...Thank you, director. I'll work hard and prove to you that I didn't make the wrong choice."
It was obvious that the old man was furious. But even so, Wyatt expressed his gratitude before leaving.