"I saw the script" Zohara uttered, she's currently on the phone talking with Manager Eli.
After the livestream yesterday, she immediately slept and read the filtered email from her manager.
She saw an invitation to act as an extra in the movie called Echoes of a Summer Heart. It's a teen movie about first love, regret, yearning and rediscovery.
It's the story of Eliàn in his summer vacation to his grandparents house and meeting the neighbor Calix. Calix is a beautiful child, she has a weak heart and spends her time inside the house playing piano. Then Eliàn falls in love that summer, but instead of confessing, he pulled countless prank to Calix but Calix still treat him kindly. Until he found out she have a limited time and start semi courting her. Then his summer vacation end and went back to his home planning to confess next summer, not knowing that Calix has already passed away.
There's only a little scene about Calix, mostly flashbacks from Eliàn POV when he was in college. Basically, Calix hunts the narrative and changes Eliàn life trajectory.
It's more of a yearning story, of Eliàn remembering Calix in every little thing. Then one summer before he graduated in College he met Kaia, the female lead. Kaia, warm his cold heart and became his comfort. It's also the story of healing, and finding a new hope.
Assistant Jade, source her once he watched her video playing piano. The movie was already in production and most of the remaining scenes missing are Calix scenes.
Based on what she heard from her manager, Director Lux kept firing the actresses that act as Calix and it was already delayed for half a month.
"I think you should accept it. Movies and Drama are divided into a tier list based on the artist, script, production, director and budget. This Movie is only a C tier movie, the budget was quite small and the hired artists are quite new. I heard this is Director Luz's personal project and he basically rejected investors that wanted to parachute artists in exchange for the investment. He hated it, so the budget is quite small. His previous directed drama series was also under fire because of poor acting by the actresses and actors. Basically, that's the reason why he doesn't want to accept any investors. So the salary will be small even if you act and there's still a question in post-production because the budget is low." Manager Eli discussed the pro and con
"Let me meet him" Zohara concluded
"Alright… I already messaged the assistant."
"They just replied, they wanted to meet you today and talk. You also needed to play a piano and act in a scene after Director Luz taught you what he wanted."
"Fetch me here."
"I'll arrive at 10AM"
Zohara looks at her watch, it's already 8AM. She just took a light breakfast and took a bath. She looks at herself in the mirror.
She was wearing white top that was asymmetrical, it draped down like a skirt with gathered fabric at the waist, accented by a flower-like detail. Then dark blue flared jeans and large white platform shoes. She also uses one of her red bags.
She just used a simple make up and hair was clip in the middle using the Vespera Jewels. She loves it a lot.
She opened the back door and sat. Manager Eli was driving and greeted her. This is the first they actually met each other.
"Good morning Ms." Manager Eli said
"Just call me Zohara, and I'll call you Brother Eli?" Zohara asked
"What would you do, have you had breakfast? If Director Luz chose you, you would probably have a shot immediately."
"Yeah, we're going to a set?"
"Yeah and no, the selected house for shooting was located in the outskirts of the capital, almost 3 hours away but we'll go to a hotel near it. The assistant also sends the script for Calix, so you can read on the way. I already forwarded it to you"
"Hmmm"
Zohara answers and checks her email using her Ipad. Calix scripts were only 5 pages and she will be playing piano 3X. The first piece was just a simple little star, she'll teach Eliàn how to play it. The second one was when Eliàn saw her for the first time, she was playing the first movement of the winter sonata. The last one was a video recorded piano piece, that was a month before her death. She's playing First Breeze by Harlan Monroe.
She raised her eyebrow, what a coincidence.
"Do they already license these songs?"
"I think that's one of their biggest problems, the post production for a romance movie will not be that high because of less visual effects, and Director Lux composition is highly accredited to his color grading. Because this is his personal project, he was really meticulous in every props. They keep draining their budget and the delay of the shooting."
"Tell me about the main artist." Zohara asked, thinking about whether she should invest.
"The female actress is Evon, age 26, she's been in the industry for 7 years. She mostly acts as an extra, she's quite dedicated and beautiful. I heard the reason why she didn't get famous was that she rejected sponsorship. That's why the company tried to blacklist her. She basically doesn't have a good project and can only act as an extra. The male lead is Ceon, age 24, he's quite popular, but not that popular, he acts as a fourth lead in a B tier Drama series and he was able to garner fans. He's also a good actor and has that kind of first love vibe."
"Do you think they would accept investment from me?"
"... most probably, they need money, as long as you don't push any ideas that were against Director Lux."
Zohara just nodded and continued reading. She highlighted some phrases and memorized them.
If someone asked her if she was confident in her acting skill?
She would answer, ah nah.
This would be her first time so how can she, what she was confident in is that she can embody emotion if she needs to. When she learned to play music, she didn't sound so good at first, Zohara always felt something was missing. It sounds dry and empty, then she begins dissecting the pieces. What do they want to say? What was the artist trying to say? the composer? How should she deliver it? What was the essence of it? She learned in that way, in analyzing, extracting and embodying.
If she wanted to embody Calix, she needed to act someone who was about to die, but Calix characters don't feel fear in dying, in the snippet of her personality in the selected scripts. She wished for it and hated herself for wishing it. She's a living contradiction.
There's a scene in the movie where Eliàn asks about Calix's parents, they are dead. It was a car accident when Calix's parents were panicky and went to the hospital because they heard that she was rushed.
Calix blames herself for that, she pretends to move on for her grandparents but inside she was wishing to die, to see her family again and hated herself because her grandparents would probably be devastated when she died.
It was a complicated emotion, Zohara knows she wouldn't be able to embody it immediately especially to a new environment such as a set but she can show some of it to get hired, but she'll probably ask for a day or two for preparation.
"We arrived." Eli announced
Zohara wore her cap and left the car.
"Manager Eli and Zohara?" A woman asked
"Assistant Jade?" Eli answer
"Yes, yes, I'm glad you were able to come. The shoot couldn't proceed for half a month now and most of the staff are in their respective homes. Only the core team still remained in the hotel, and they'll be called back once Director Lux approves Zohara." Jade explained as they rode the elevator.
"How about the other artist?" Eli asked
"They are also away, and Ceon would be the only one that needed to come back. While Evon has already finished all her shoots."
They exit the 23rd floor and walk to a room. Jade knocked and opened the door. There amidst the chaos in the table of papers and camera was an old man wearing an eyeglass, he's in 40's.
"This is the girl?" he asked with squinted
eyes "Can you act?"
"I can try" Zohara plainly answer
"She's really great at playing piano, the video I sent to you." Jade whisper
"What video?" Director Lux asked back, Jade wanted to face palm, but she was already used to it and just play the prepared video of Zohara playing 'To the Beautiful You'
Director Lux watched it intently and the creases in his forehead lessened.
"You know the pieces in the movie?"
"Yeah"
"Play it" He said and pointed to a piano on the side.
Zohara placed her bag on the clean side and sat in front of the piano. She first checks the tune. Then she closed her eyes and played the 'First Breeze'.
Director Lux who was watching every movement of Zohara felt goosebumps the moment he first heard the first note. The cold temperament of Zohara also changes to the temperament of Calix.
Fragile yet strong.
Calix is full of guilt and sadness, as if she can be blown by the wind and die, no, not because the wind is strong and she is weak but because she wanted to be blown away.
Calix, playing the 'First Breeze' , fears death for the first time, she wishes for it, desires it, she lets it drag her but then she meets Eliàn, she hopes, but it's too late or more so she doesn't really have that time. What's more hurt than simply giving up? trying, knowing the ending. Calix, for the first time, wishes to live after her parents death.
She yearns to live, because she finds a reason for living.
Zohara once opened her eyes, felt her finger tremble and stomach churn. She wants to vomit, the fear of dying, the regret and the despair seep in her heart.
She looks up from the hand that is offering a bottle of water. It's Director Lux, with a crazed expression.
"It's you! You'll be my Calix!" He said with a hint of amazement "AHHHHH We should take a video of it! Can you recreate it on the shoot?!"
He asked
"I'll try" Zohara answers after drinking, she's tired.
"Trying is good! Let's shoot now! Now that you're in your zone! Call everyone!" Director Lux shouted
"hmmm most of the team are away." Jade wanted to cry
"WHAT?!"
"Am I hired, right?"
"Of course!"
"Lets talk first about payment"
"I can increase the fee as long as you accept this!"
"Director…" we don't have money
"It's alright, I'll settle for what was offered. What I want is to invest, I heard you're low on budget."
"Hah?...let me think."
"I think the movie script is good, it'll do great." Zohara explained as she got her bag
"I know, it's my movie after all but why would I? You'll only profit from it, the shoot is about to end." Director Lux said seriously
"The word is 'about', what's missing again?" Zohara asked with a hint of arrogance, the fragile Calix can't be found.
Director Lux was amazed more than any
"But I could also look for another Calix" He said hesitantly, he knows he cant
"What's there to hesitate? You got me, you got an investor that wouldn't change your script and people, and lastly, I heard Master Monroe don't easily license his song, especially if it's a cover instrument. That's also probably the reason why you still don't licence it."
"What about it?"
"I covered his songs, by his request." Zohara said with a smile
"WHAT?!"
"REALLY?!"
Jade and Director Lux were beyond shocked. More than the budget, their main problem is Master Monroe, but if all his suffering was answered in one go!
Calix!
Money!
License!
ISN'T ZOHARA A GOD SENT FOR HIM WHO WAS SUFFERING FOR A WHILE?!
"I want a profit share, I'll invest half of the initial investment."
The three were shocked.
"Ms. Zohara, I heard you have money but the initial budget was 50 million. Can you liquidate 25 million in one go?" Jade asked
Eli also has the same concern.
"Dont worry about it, do you need time to think? By the way, please give me the whole script and I want to shoot the day after tomorrow."
"No, let's have a deal! I'll let my lawyer draft the contract." Director Lux hurriedly say
"Just send it to my manager, then please send it to Secretary Luke. I'll talk to my father about it." She said quite excited
"Jade! Send Zohara into her room and send the script to her!"
Director Lux said enthusiastically, and offered a hand to Zohara.
"Pleasure working with you" Zohara said as she accepted the offered hand
"Pleasure is all mine" Director Lix answer back "Just do me a favor someday, please act another drama to one my work." he further added
"Let's see the script then" Zohara answered, it highly depends on the script.
Director Lux felt Zohara is an angel and a goldmine at the same time.
While Zohara was also happy that her debut movie would be a hit and she'll earn money. She immediately wanted to share it with her father.
•
Zohara messages Auntie Paula to prepare clothing for a 2 weeks stay and it'll be picked by her manager. Then she called her father.
"Father!" She exclaimed happily
"Congratulation darling"
Zohara laughs happily and still retells the story excitedly.
"Thats good to know, you would probably profit at least 5X from your initial investment. It's good."
"Yes, its a win win"
"I also read the contract, it's all good. You can sign it, I'll let the bank transfer the money from your savings account to the signed account."
"Thank you father"
"Hmmm, remember to rest."
"You too!"
•
After signing the papers and securing a copy. Zohara confirms the transfer of money.
"Please keep my investment anonymous." Zohara said to Director Lux
"Alright, by the way this is the whole script. I also want you to meet Ceon tomorrow before shooting the day after."
"Alright, just tell my manager. I will be staying in my room."
•
Zohara spends her time reading the overall script. The story starts when Eliàn was already in college, then as Eliàn days passed, he keeps remembering that summer. It's a transition from present to past, to past to present, until they coincide to a certain point. There was also a lot to shoot in the side of Eliàn like when he received the record of the 'First Breeze' video.
She read it countless times, sometimes in Eliàn perspective, then hers. She reads it countless times, dissects it in her mind and reimagines it. She became more familiar with Calix.
Tomorrow morning, Zohara woke up around 10AM and had her breakfast delivered in her room. Manager Eli was also able to get her belongings from the residence yesterday.
She ate her borderline lunch, took a bath and slept again.
"Zohara…"
Zohara woke up because of a knock. She checks her phone, it's already 2PM, and Manager Eli has a misscall.
"Yes?" Zohara said as she opened her door.
"Ceon already arrived, Director Lux is calling you."
"Be there in 5 minutes." Zohara and close the door after receiving a nod.
She washed her face, dried it with a towel and changed her pajamas to simple jeans and white t-shirt.
She left her room and knocked on Director Lux's room before entering. Beside the usual seat of the Director, a chair adjacent to him was placed, sitting there was a guy. He was wearing a simple black shirt and pants.
He has a relaxed, medium-length cut black hair that falls just above his eyebrows in front and gently frames the sides of his face. He has brown almond shaped eyes and a mole in the corner of his lower eye, high nose, red lips and small face. Zohara can deduce why he became famous after having a role in a B tier drama.
"This is Ceon the male lead and this is Zohara as Calix" Jade introduced them
Ceon immediately offers his hand with a soft smile.
"Looking forward to working with you."
"Yes" Zohara answer with a smile
"Hmmm, your face looks compatible, but I can't feel the chemistry!" Director Lux grimaced "Do Act 2, scene 3"
It's a scene of Calix sleeping in the living room when Eliàn accidentally saw her. This was after the prank, Eliàn touched Calix messy hair, he looked absentminded and nervous. Then Calix opened her eyes, Eliàn immediately blushed and looked away.
"Im not looking at you!" He shouted
"Im not saying anything" Calix answer with a soft smile and doteful eyes
"You-!"
Then the flashback end
They stopped acting, and Zohara's soft expression immediately changed to her usual expression.
"Good! Now we're talking!" Director Lux said happily
"Youre good" Ceon complimented genuinely
"You too, pleasure working with you" Zohara who already adjusted compliments back.
"The two of you should run the lines, Zohara, we'll start early tomorrow. We'll shoot all the piano scenes tomorrow!" He said excitedly
Zohara just nodded, already imagining the work. She looked at Ceon.
"Let's read the script in the back room, it's quite open but also quiet." Ceon suggested, it's a backroom inside the Director Lux room.
They went to the backroom and began script reading. Zohara was a bit unfamiliar at first but adjusted after a while.
Ceon raised his eyebrow for continuous improvement. Ceon was not an actor at first, he was an idol of a small company but their debut didn't even cause a ripple until they disbanded after half a year. Then he started acting as an extra in a web series. After a year, he became a male lead in a web series.
His fans continue to grow, he even remembers the happiness he felt when he saw his followers grow to 500k, then he became an extra in D tier drama, which happened for almost 2 years. Just extra in D-C tier drama, until he landed the 4th lead in a B tier drama. This was his breakthrough.
He became a topic for a week but also got forgotten amidst the sea of celebrity. Then he got a cast call from Director Lux, he's more than happy. This is his first time acting as the male lead and it's a movie. He is nervous but also excited, but the light keeps dimming when Director Lux refuses to proceed because of one character.
Thankfully Director Lux found what he's looking for, which was Zohara who was sitting in front of him.
He heard Zohara a lot, who wouldn't? An influencer was able to fight against a girl group in the industry and Glitch 7 is not just simply a girl group. Even in the Idol Industry, they are also divided into tier, Aether are S-tier, while Glitch 7 is a B tier. It might seem low, but they are well known enough that they can hold concerts and people do actually attend fan meets, the overall sold copies of their album was also more than 1 million.
Usually in their years of releasing an album, they were able to sell a copies ranging from 90k-500k, but because of the issue and the song was quite similar to Cherry which was their breakthrough before, it only sold 95k, it's beyond even flopping. Their last album sold about 200k copies but now only 95k and the budget of the new album was much bigger. That's why they were ruined, their public image was also smeared as they became a laughing stock. Some people pity them but most side with Zohara and just dont care.
Then there's the press issue, e-sport issue, the Lorelei imitation issue who act in a S-tier drama. Thankfully, someone buried the last issue immediately and a scandal about another artist was released.
He was shocked to hear that the Calix, Director Lux, found was Zohara. As far as he knows, she never acted but she can play the piano. He sighs in relief when he sees her act, and actually keeps improving. She's like a monster.
Their script reading lasts until 6PM. Ceon also taught her in some lines which she accepted gratefully.
"When acting with the cameras do you just pretend they don't exist?" Zohara asked while drinking an orange juice. They were eating dinner. They already adjusted to one another, Zohara adjusted quite fast when someone vibe with her or just didn't trigger her warning bells.
While Ceon already threw his initial judgement and got used to Zohara's aura.
Like what he read, Zohara is really intimidating.
In some live stream video clips he comes across Zohara seems easy going. She joked, smiled, laughed with a dimple, she even looked cute sometimes, insulted people and grimaced. She looks animated and seems normal except for being too pretty, especially when she's insulting someone, she looks intimidating.
But reality is earth different, her aura is too intimidating as if pushing and pressuring people out. Even when she smiles, it always seems polite. She has that cold and lofty temperament as if the world exists for her. What's worse is, it's not intentional, she unintentionally exhibits it, making it more intimidating. But once she adjusts, you'll realize she's quite simple and just get used to it.
"When I acted for the first time, it was nerve wrecking. I was conscious and I didn't know where to look. If you're too nervous you can pretend they don't exist, but the right way to treat them. Know that they are there but ignore them unless stated. Some scenes need you to directly look at the camera acting as if it's another character. So, you need to learn to be subtle about it and use it to your advantage." Ceon explained
"Got it, thanks"
"When did you learn how to play piano?" Ceon open
"When I was 9 or 10 years old. I experiment with it, I usually pursue perfection or optimal in everything I do."
"External pressure?"
"No, it's my pursuit." Zohara with a light laugh
"Then, actresses should be nervous right now" Ceon teased
"You got it" Zohara answered with a laugh
"Dont worry, this drama will be a hit." she added
"Im just worried about the budget." He whispered with a guilty expression
"I heard they already got a reasonable investor." Zohara share
"Woah, thankfully, the script is really good and I like Director Lux alot. Not bending for the money. I saw many scripts become trash because of parachute artists, some were able to earn back their investment and even profit but the essence of the drama is just lost. The life in it, it's quite saddening."
"You must love acting a lot…" Zohara commented, Ceon felt a little hint of embarrassment.
"I used to be an Idol but we disbanded after half a year. I have debt in my previous company so I started doing an acting job. Here I'am now. I kinda started liking it especially when people recognized my talent and saw me." Ceon share
"You'll be a big name," Zohara said, as if Ceon felt someone clench his heart. Those words are more than enough. Ceon smiles softly.
"Right" He answer
After their dinner, they went to their respective rooms.
Zohara also received the schedule of the shoots. She probably can't livestream these Saturdays.