Cassius practically sprinted into the apartment.
Lee So-yeon was at her laptop, grimacing at a storyboard script. She jumped when he burst in.
"Mwo? Did you find money on the street?"
"Better than money!"
Cassius flashed a rare, genuinely sunny smile.
"I booked the role in Echoes of Silence!"
Lee So-yeon froze for two seconds. Then she let out a scream that could shatter glass.
"Ahhh! Oppa! Daebak!!"
She leaped off the rug and tackled Cassius in a bear hug so enthusiastic he stumbled backward.
"I knew it! The look on your face when you came back that day—it was different! You did it! Fighting! Oh no, wait—Good job, bro!"
Cassius was dizzy from the shaking, but his mood was brighter than it had ever been.
For the next few days, Cassius practically memorized the script until the pages were worn thin.
He analyzed every psychological shift of his character, "Li," designing the silent moments between the lines.
Time flew by.
---
Monday morning.
Following the instructions in the email, he arrived at an independent studio lot on the east side of Los Angeles.
It wasn't a behemoth like Warner Bros., but it looked like a legitimate place for making movies.
There was a security guard at the gate, checking names against a list.
At the entrance, he was surprised to see Rob.
Rob wasn't wearing his baseball cap today. He had switched to a lower-profile bucket hat, but the walkie-talkie was still around his neck as he gave instructions to a grip.
"Hey, you're here!"
Rob saw him, nodded, waved the grip away, and walked over, giving Cassius a once-over.
"Looking sharp."
Rob patted his arm. "Follow me. I'll show you around, introduce you to the director and the other leads."
Being treated like "one of us" made Cassius feel a little overwhelmed.
On every previous set, he had been herded around like cattle by the PAs.
Rob gave him the tour as they walked:
"This is the main soundstage. We built Li's apartment and the interior sets here. Makeup and holding are over there. You're sharing the small room with a few key supporting actors. Director Sarah likes quiet, so don't hang around the monitors unless she calls you."
They ran into Director Sarah in a makeshift lounge area.
Sarah looked less disheveled today. Seeing Cassius, she gave a faint smile.
"Cass, welcome to the team. Your audition left a deep impression on us. Looking forward to your performance."
"I'll do my best, Director!"
Cassius replied with humble confidence.
Next, Rob introduced him to Eric, the white actor playing Li's American classmate, and the Asian-American actress playing his mother in the video calls.
Everyone was friendly enough.
It was the polite, professional distance of working actors—completely different from the "we're all in this sht together" camaraderie of extras.
Rob lowered his voice and said to Cassius:
"See that? That's the difference between having lines and not having lines. Do good work, kid. You'll be in rooms like this more often."
Just then, a man in a suit who looked like a production rep walked over and handed Cassius a document.
"Mr. Cass, this is your official contract and the final script revision. Please check the details, especially the insurance section."
Cassius took the contract, still warm from the printer. He saw his English name and the character name "Li" printed in black and white.
The pay wasn't huge, but for him, it was a fortune. And it clearly outlined union-standard working hours and insurance clauses.
It was a world away from the cash-in-hand daily settlements he was used to.
"Thank you!"
He accepted the contract solemnly.
With this contract, he could finally apply to join the union—SAG-AFTRA.
Rob grinned seeing him read the contract so carefully.
"What? First time seeing official paperwork? Don't stress, you'll get used to it."
"Let's go. Wardrobe fitting!"
The costume designer was an energetic Latina woman. Based on the character, she picked out a few outfits that fit the "average Asian international student" look.
No luxury brands. Just regular hoodies, jeans, and plaid shirts. But the texture and quality were miles above his own thrift store clothes.
"OK, honey, this looks much more natural. Unlike some productions that want to write 'I am a Nerd' on every Asian actor's forehead," she quipped while adjusting his collar.
After the fitting, Rob pulled him aside and shoved a schedule into his hand.
"This is your shooting schedule for the next three weeks. It updates daily. Your scenes are pretty condensed, but you have some heavy emotional beats. Manage your energy."
"Any issues, find me anytime. I'm officially listed as one of the ADs on this project."
Cassius looked at Rob and suddenly understood the attitude shift.
It wasn't just because he auditioned well. It was because he was now Rob's actor.
His performance directly reflected on Rob's reputation and success in this project.
In Hollywood, relationships were often that transactional, but that also made the bond stronger.
"Got it, Rob."
Cassius nodded. "I won't embarrass you."
Rob laughed and punched him in the chest.
"That's the spirit! Go on, find a spot to review the script. Your first scene this afternoon is the big one—the monologue. I'm expecting great things!"
Cassius took the thick script and the schedule to his assigned spot in the holding area.
It wasn't big.
But it had a chair that belonged to him. A small table. And on it, a bottle of water with a production label.
---
The first official rehearsal for Echoes of Silence felt like final exams.
Cassius wore the hoodie and jeans from wardrobe, standing at the edge of his designated area.
Deep breath.
He was in the zone, ready to go.
Today they were walking through the heavy scene:
Li in his empty apartment, breaking down after the video call with his family.
The execution director clapped his hands.
"Alright everyone, let's walk it. We're focusing on Li's breakdown in the apartment. Cass, you're up. Focus on the performance, don't worry about blocking for now."
Cassius walked to the center, where the room layout was marked with tape on the floor.
The actress playing the mother on the video call was Tsai Chin.
A veteran who had been in Hollywood for decades, her face carried stories and resilience. She was sitting behind the "computer screen" prop.
Just sitting there quietly, she radiated a presence you couldn't ignore.
Cassius knew that even though this was a rehearsal...
In Hollywood, the first rehearsal often determined the director and crew's first impression of you.
This was combat, not playtime.
"Action!"
The execution director called.
Cassius sat on the folding chair representing the bed.
He plastered that carefully designed, stiff, (bright/brilliant) smile on his face, directing it towards Tsai Chin.
"Mom, I'm good! My classmates are really friendly..."
His speech was a little fast, his pitch a half-step higher than normal.
The [Naturalism] techniques he absorbed from the [Dialogue] attribute made this lie sound heartbreakingly real.