Behind The Spotlight Chapter 65
Two weeks before the production approval announcement of Week On A Cruise Ship, Madison Morgan was on the set of My Pure Innocent High School Love.
She glanced around the bustling set filled with noisy crew members and distracted assistants, then quietly sat in a corner to avoid drawing attention. Using a folded tissue, she wiped the sweat from her forehead. Despite the tension rising in her chest, she kept her smile intact as she waited for her chance to fix her makeup before the next scene was shot.
The makeup artist looked at her for a moment, then sighed with visible reluctance... and pretended not to see her. The artist didn't want to risk her job by helping someone the lead actress disliked.
Seeing that cold reaction and the indifference in the makeup artist's eyes, Madison's perfect smile cracked ever so slightly at the edges. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes to regain composure.
"M–Madison, I'm back. I finally got through the checkpoint. Phew. They wouldn't let me in, even though I showed my ID three times to different people. I had to explain that I'm your assistant before they finally allowed me inside."
A middle-aged woman arrived, slightly exasperated.
"Thank you, Delilah. Can you help me fix my makeup? I just need a bit of foundation before they call us back in." Madison gave her a grateful smile.
"They didn't fix your makeup at all?"
"They didn't even acknowledge me."
"God, this production is too much. The way they're treating you is just—"
"Delilah, please lower your voice. Someone might hear you. That'll just make things worse."
"I–I'm sorry, Madison."
Delilah was Madison's personal assistant, assigned to her a year ago by her previous agent. Fortunately, she knew enough makeup to help in a pinch, especially helpful now that Madison couldn't count on the official makeup team.
Everyone on set seemed to act like Madison didn't belong in the place.
Madison Morgan was a stage name, carefully crafted to be catchy and memorable. Her real name was Madison Morgana Gomez, but it sounded too long and too much like a telenovela character. Her first agent, who passed away from a heart attack three years ago, shortened it to Madison Morgan to help her blend in.
She was half-Mexican, half-Italian, but her features leaned more toward her Mexican heritage, olive skin, wavy dark hair, and almond-shaped eyes. A proud Latina with deep cultural roots, she spoke three languages fluently: English, Spanish, and Italian.
When she first stepped into Hollywood, she believed her career would soar. She was discovered by an agent and signed to ANT, a top-tier agency representing major stars. She thought her dreams were finally within reach. But her agent, who was already quite old, died of a heart attack.
After that, she was passed on to a rookie agent who had no experience and barely understood the casting process. That shift was a devastating blow to Madison's career.
She admitted that Collin, her new agent at the time, did his best to support her. But no matter how hard he tried, it wasn't enough to match her dreams of red carpets and lead roles.
Though she had to admit, Collin was handsome and charming in a way. She even considered dating him just for fun, until she realized he was broke as hell and couldn't even afford a proper dinner date.
When her contract with ANT ended, she moved to another agency that promised better connections. This new agency was B-tier, representing a few rising names, but still below ANT in terms of influence.
Still, she had no complaints. They treated her with more respect and helped her land a steady job on a TV show.
My Pure Innocent High School Love was already on its second season, with a loyal audience made up of teen girls and drama fans. It wasn't a record-breaking hit, but it performed well enough to earn another season. Whether or not it would get a third season depended on ratings and feedback.
In Season 1, Madison earned $5,000 per episode. In Season 2, her rate jumped to $15,000, a significant improvement.
But despite the success, it looked like she wouldn't be returning for Season 3, even if the show got renewed.
All because she made the mistake of simply existing.
She hadn't done anything offensive or wrong.
As Delilah carefully applied makeup, Madison sighed, reflecting on her situation.
The show's lead actress was jealous of Madison. She saw her as a threat, more beautiful, better mannered, and beloved by the crew. Madison carried herself with quiet grace and elegance, earning admiration without seeking it. Men often said she had "wife material" energy because of her demeanor. She avoided drama, stayed professional, and tried her best to hold on to the opportunity she had worked so hard to get.
Unfortunately, that wasn't enough.
The lead actress didn't like her and made it known. Her father, a powerful investor, had funded the show as a vanity project. With that kind of power, he could influence casting decisions easily.
Madison didn't stand a chance.
"Madison, we changed the plot for the next episode. Here's the script with the revisions marked in red."
The scriptwriter handed her the new pages with an apologetic look. Madison scanned them, and her heart dropped. She bit her lip so hard it bled, blinking rapidly to hold back the tears.
Her character was going to die.
She was going to be hit by a bus and be gone in the show. Just like that.
A cliché death meant for expendable characters.
...
...
...
"It's not your fault. Don't blame yourself. You didn't do anything to deserve this."
Her agent sat beside her in the dressing room, voice full of sincere empathy. He was gay and flamboyant, and had fought hard to get Madison that role despite the heavy politics. It hurt him too, seeing her thrown away like this after only two seasons.
"Thanks, Dia. You're the best for being here when it counts." Madison wiped her tears with trembling fingers. She was beginning to realize how her beauty could also be a curse. It attracted the wrong kind of attention, even when she tried to stay out of the spotlight.
"I don't have time to cry or mope. I need to find another job as soon as possible."
"Well, about that… You've heard of The Accidental Wedding Crashers, right?"
Madison weakly nodded. She had watched it last month and saw Jennifer in the film playing a comedic supporting role as a bride. She was stunned. Jennifer? In a movie? Madison couldn't help but feel jealous and confused.
She, Jennifer, and Landers were among Collin's first clients when he started out. But she didn't know about Axel, Lawrence, or Wyatt.
"I heard that movie was directed by someone Collin represents."
"You mean Collin signed a director… and he directed The Accidental Wedding Crashers?"
"That's right. And it's already made nearly $300 million worldwide."
"..."
Madison was speechless.
She had known Collin for years. Handsome, sure. But she'd never thought of him as particularly talented when it came to managing clients. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe he'd finally hit his stride… or just got really lucky.
"I heard they're making another movie soon. If you act quickly, you might land a role. Use your past connection with Collin, even if it's awkward. Convince him to cast you in his client's next film while the door is still open."
"I'll definitely try." Determination returned to Madison's eyes, her resolve burning bright.
She knew how tough the industry was. She knew second chances didn't come easy. But she wasn't going to let herself be tossed aside like trash, not without a fight.
She had worked too hard to get to this place, and she wasn't about to let it all end here.