Dreams of Stardom (Hollywood SI)

It was in the evening that I got some very good news. News, that immediately made me forget about the troubles of the school day, be it my best friend, my classmates, or the media problem. All paled in comparison to what Steve told me.

"Is it true? You aren't joking, right?" I asked again excitedly.

Steve chuckled at my enthusiasm, "You remember my friend Barry Mendel? We met at Sundance in January?"

I nodded enthusiastically, "Yes. He was the one who is around your age but has those really brown eyes."

"Yes, him. I received a call from him today. He saw our film and liked your performance a lot. He is currently producing a movie that has a major role for an 8 to 10-year-old boy. Shooting is set to start in January when you turn 10 so age-wise it's perfect for you. The movie is a supernatural thriller. This will be a major production, distributed by Disney with a budget exceeding $40 million, and will be shot in Philadelphia for two whole months." Steve explained.

I was barely listening to his explanation. I was just excited to be a part of a big production with a media giant like Disney helming the project.

"Troy, pay attention!" Steve flicked my forehead and I gave him my undivided attention.

"This will be a major role on par with the male lead and you won't have the comfort of working with me. The shooting schedule will be intense and for those two months, you'll have to study using a tutor with no school. That is if you clear the audition." Steve gave me another stern look while emphasizing the last line.

"Wait, your friend, the producer, liked my acting and I still have to audition?" I asked in confusion. As far as my understanding goes, producers are the top dogs in the industry. Whatever they say happens. If you upset them you will likely be replaced. 

Steve gave me a disapproving look, "Stop being so cocky. You have done just one film till now and that too in a British accent. They want an American kid. I know you can do the accent somewhat, but unless you can convince the other producers and the director, you won't get the role."

Of course. My role in [Sex-ed] was of a British immigrant, not an American. A studio investing $40 Million will be hesitant to spend it on a Brit when they can get an American kid that may be more acceptable to the domestic audience.

While I have gotten used to understanding American accents and sometimes using American terms more frequently in my vocabulary over British terms, I am still a little inexperienced while using American in long conversations and my Britishness comes out one way or another. I love my 'r' and 't' sounds too much to become completely American.

"And," Steve continued, "if insiders were getting all the roles, then there would be no newcomers in the industry. No one wants to waste their money on an untalented person."

Properly chastised I lowered my head a little, "Got it, will keep that in mind."

"Make sure you do. Never think for one moment that you're the best even when you've achieved a lot. In Hollywood, it takes one misstep to lose everything. Many people have lost their entire careers because of one bad role or one wrong statement to the media," Steve lectured.

I nodded in understanding. Just because my first role was a success doesn't mean others will be the same or that I will have an easy time getting future roles. Many things factor into a film's success. A bad director can derail the whole project into a mess. A bad editor can select those final shots that are not the best. There were other factors as well like competition from other films, sensitivity of the subject matter, release time of the film, and many others which decide the success or failure of the film.

Then there was the problem of being typecast. An actor like Richard Gere who is mostly seen in cheesy romantic movies is one such example. Or Tom Cruise in action-packed movies like Mission Impossible or Top Gun.

Child actors had another problem altogether. People find it difficult to accept child stars growing up and doing mature roles. There are rarely actors who have been successful as both children and as adults. Jodie Foster is one of the rarities.

"Now," Steve continued and I was jolted back to the present once more, "I know how much you love the [Harry Potter] project and I would love for you to star but there is a problem there. I will need to convince the production company to invest such a large amount of money and no company will accept it if the lead actor hasn't proven himself beforehand."

"Don't worry," I reassured him with a determined look on my face, "I'll give my best performance for the audition."

He smiled at me, "I'm sure you will. I have to go to Pittsburgh tomorrow for the [Wonder Boys], so your Mum will take you to audition for this movie. You'll have to take tomorrow off from school."

I mulled over the information, "What about the role? Do you know anything else?"

Steve shook his head, "Not much. They are maintaining secrecy about the script. You will receive the script only if you are confirmed to play the role. What I do know is that the male lead is played by Bruce Willis and the director is relatively inexperienced, some Indian guy named Night Something."

Hearing the two names together gave me all the information I needed for the role. Bruce Willis had done many films during this period when he was still an A-lister. Of them, there were two particular films that he had done with an Indian director, M. Night Shyamalan. [The Sixth Sense] and [Unbreakable].

While [Unbreakable] was a good movie, it was of the superhero genre, not supernatural and it was released in the year 2000, only after [The Sixth Sense] was a huge success.

So the role proposed by Barry should be for the film [The Sixth Sense]. It was a phenomenal movie that was commercially and critically successful, receiving many Oscar nominations. That movie immediately brought the child actor Haley Joel Osment to broader media attention and even an Oscar nod.

If the same movie was made 20 years in the future, apart from the acting, it would be considered an average movie at best. But the classics are called classics for a reason. And [The Sixth Sense] was an undeniable classic.

A perfect movie for my big-screen debut.

"Does the movie have a name?" I asked for confirmation.

"[The Sixth Sense]. The character is named Cole Sear."

Yep. I am getting that role. By hook or by crook.

(Break)

I didn't think it would be super easy to get the role after just declaring that to myself, but never in life I could imagine that I'd be in this dilemma. In my hands were two scripts and none of them was titled [The Sixth Sense]. One was [Stuart Little], written by none other than M. Night Shyamalan himself. The other was [Magnolia] written by Paul Thomas Anderson (or PTA as he's commonly known.)

The dilemma was that after seeing my role in [Sex Education], Mum, who was registered as my agent in the SAG, got calls from the casting directors of these two movies as well. According to Mum, there are few really good actors my age in the industry, so those who are, get many offers to audition.

I wanted to pick up all three of the said movies, but the problem was the conflicting schedules. All three of the movies were to begin shooting in January. And I didn't have a big enough name that I could push around their schedules for my convenience.

[Magnolia] was a critically acclaimed movie. Then there was the chance to work with Tom Cruise. I mean, who doesn't love Tom Cruise? The problem here is that the movie was a box-office disaster. And if Tom Cruise couldn't save the original movie, I hardly think my presence would change anything. The missed chance to work with PTA, who is a very acclaimed director, would surely be a sore point, but I can always work with him in the future.

Then there was [Stuart Little]. That was a good, fun movie that any kid would enjoy watching, the problem was that I had a much lesser role than a CGI Stuart Little and that role too didn't have any difficult acting. Just being cute and doing stupid shit.

When compared to [The Sixth Sense], [Stuart Little] doesn't even stand a remote chance of winning. Although technically Cole's role is supporting Bruce Willis, it is a much more fleshed-out character and almost everyone agrees that it was the little kid who made the film what it was.

Having made my decision, I announced it to my Mum, "While I would audition for all three, I wish to go with [The Sixth Sense] if I have a choice."

Mum furrowed her brows in confusion, "But you haven't even read the script."

Oh, Crap!

"Ahem," I coughed nervously but soon stabilized my voice, "Yes I haven't, but the other two scripts aren't to my liking. So by process of elimination, the third one wins. Also, Barry is Dad's friend, so the working conditions will be better, I guess. Magnolia is not bad, but have you seen the script? It's too long to get shot within a month or two. And Stuart Little is what little kids would like. I can do these films but only if I get rejected by [the Sixth Sense] team. The fact that they haven't given out the script like the other two means it has some sort of mystery or suspense. And I love suspense thriller movies!"

"You deduced that much from them not giving out scripts?" Mum asked incredulously, "Maybe they wanted to give out scripts in person?"

I just shrugged my shoulders carelessly before doubling down on my choice, "First preference, [Sixth Sense], second [Magnolia], third, [Stuart Little]."

Later on in life, I can always chalk it up to my sixth sense that made me take up [The Sixth Sense].

(Break)

"Are you nervous, love?" Mum asked from the driver's seat after parking the car in the parking lot of Hollywood Pictures, a Disney subsidiary that was producing [The Sixth Sense].

"Yes. My first audition, how can I not be?" I ran a hand through my hair nervously and straightened my tie for the umpteenth time. For some reason, I had decided that wearing a suit to the audition would be cool as that would make me out to be mature and sophisticated. Like Cole.

I was totally fine at home, but as the location got nearer, I was getting more and more anxious about the impending audition.

"You'll do fine love. I know you." She turned back and started to tidy up my hair, "And stop messing your hair!"

I smiled at the loving look she sent me, "Thanks, Mum."

"Anytime dearie. Come along now, we have to get to the place or you'll be rejected before the audition begins." She got out of the car and motioned for me to follow.

Entering the building, the kind receptionist showed us the room we had to wait in. Following her directions, we entered the room to find at least 10 other young boys sitting in the room with a guardian or agent.

That's quite tame compared to some roles where literally thousands of kids are auditioned before deciding on one particular actor. But then again it was already the third day of audition when I had arrived so it is possible that on the first two days, they had auditioned hundreds of people before me.

As soon as I was in the waiting room, every eye turned towards me. The reason was quite obvious. I was the only one in a suit and a tie. Now I was dreading my choice. Why did I have to be a dumbass and wear a suit to the audition? Why couldn't Mum stop me from making this grave mistake?

No point thinking too much about it now though. I had made my choice and now I could only wait for my turn.

"Johnny Lynn." A name was called out by a beautiful lady in her early twenties. A boy stood up with a raised arm as an older woman, probably his mother, accompanied him inside.

It took five minutes for him to be done with it while all the other children sat outside, fidgeting quietly to not blow away the chance to audition.

In the meanwhile, I thought about the character that I am auditioning, Cole Sear. A 9-year-old kid who could see ghosts, because of which he remains perpetually scared and depressed. People don't believe him, including his own mother, which has caused some deep resentment towards everyone else.

"Michael Cera." Another name was called, but this time this name made me recognize the cute kid who rose to fame in the future thanks to the TV show, [Arrested Development], and two sleeper hit indie films, [Superbad] and [Juno], both released in 2007.

Cera went inside the audition room and that made me a little nervous. The dude was a good actor. I know because I have seen some of his works or rather future works. And while he has been typecast as a comedy actor, he is yet to get any role right now, so he could get the role if the audition goes well.

This audition also continued for around 5 minutes. When Cera came out, he had a normal expression on his face and he directly made a beeline for the exit. I shrugged internally and went back to setting my mood for the role of Cole Sear.

Two more kids went in for their audition when finally my name was called.

Kathy and I stood up and made our way towards the door where the casting team was located. Inside the room, there was a long table that could easily seat 7 or 8 people. At the moment, there were only four people there. The first I recognized was Barry Mendel, my father's good friend whom I had met at the Sundance festival.

Next to him were two middle-aged ladies and a brown man who I guessed must be M. Night Shyamalan. I gave them a small smile, trying to be in character, and gave a brief nod to Barry, before speaking in my best American accent, "Hello, my name is Troy Armitage, and I'm 9. I am here to audition for the role of Cole Sear."

"Nice suit," Shyamalan commented with a grin. "I don't think anyone else wore one."

"Thank you," I grinned at him. At least now I know he will remember me at the very least. I had a differentiating feature in the form of my suit.

"Hello Troy, Kathy," Barry smiled at me and Mum, who was sitting behind me in a chair, "I must say I loved your role in [Sex Education]."

"All credit goes to Dad," I smiled at him politely.

"I thought that was you," Shyamalan interjected, "but your accent is totally different from that movie."

"Oh, I am actually British," I explained but continued in American, "But this role is of an American boy so I am doing an accent."

"That's good," One of the ladies cut in, "So Troy, other than accents what else can you do?"

"I can act, sing, swim, play a guitar. Planning to start the piano next."

"Great," the lady complimented, this time looking behind me at my mother, "If you are selected, would you be willing to shoot in Philadelphia for two months beginning in January? We will provide tutors for your education, of course."

"No problem at all," Kathy answered for me.

The lady looked satisfied with the answer. Then she handed me a couple of sheets of paper, "Why don't you read a few lines for us, Troy?"

I took the sheet and read the lines written there silently. From what I could grasp, it was the scene from the classroom where Cole freaked out his teacher and made a huge scene.

"Before we begin, can you give me Cole's temperament and some background of the plot?" I asked the director.

Shyamalan looked surprised for a moment, apparently not expecting that question from a kid. But he quickly cleared his throat and composed himself before saying, "Yes, Cole is a misunderstood and quiet boy. His classmates and teacher don't believe him so he is hesitant to answer in class. This turns to anger when his teacher disregards his answer as untrue because Cole believes that he knows the correct answer."

I hummed audibly reading the lines for a few more moments, "Okay, I am ready."

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