hollywood system: art

At Century Fox Studios, everything had already been decided. After much deliberation, it was finally agreed that the role would go to the young and lively Kate Winslet, who went above and beyond in her audition. She even won over James Cameron with her clear passion and desire to play the lead.

-I like the girl,- Billy commented.

He understood the drive in the girl, the sweetness she brought to the role, and the way she channeled love, charm, boldness, and performance. She's a woman with immense potential—one who, beyond commercial films, loves artistic challenges with characters that come with different shades: dark, joyful, sorrowful, and sometimes even depressed, beyond the desires and joy depicted in Titanic. Rumor has it that she turned down roles in The Matrix, The Lord of the Rings, Spider-Man, and other huge successes because she preferred other types of characters.

-I like her too, but we'll have to turn down the little angel that is Charlize,- James Cameron said with a touch of regret.

-I'll tell her,- Billy replied, understanding he had raised her hopes a bit, though he saw her potential. She was an actress who could embody various roles; in a few years, she'd play an Oscar-winning part, pushing herself to the limit.

James looked at him, his eyes showing a glimmer of something unforgettable.

-You're saving me from having to call her agent!- James said, visibly relieved.

-I see potential, James. I think she could excel in voice acting too. We're a bit short on actors for dubbing, -Billy said.

The director clapped him on the shoulder, flashing a huge smile. Cameron's favorite attire was trucker gear, which suited his personality.

-Your indirect and direct support has moved production ahead. I was torn between actresses, but now we have time to start shooting some scenes—especially the closed-set ones. The final shots will be on the ship, so we'll start next month. Until then, we'll do some rehearsals,- James commented, handing over a script that had been reviewed a thousand times. It was safe to say that the three-hour movie was there, stormy, with a script practically the length of a 600-page book.

...

'I'm sorry to say, Charlie, but the producers have gone with a British girl,' Billy said, watching her blue eyes cloud with sadness. She stood there, a bit shy and somewhat defeated by Billy's words.

Her eyes filled with tears as she covered her face with a few strands of hair. No one can bear to see a girl cry!

-Don't let it get you down,- Billy said, weighing his words. -You're a good actress; you just need more practice and a little more acting skill. I think the future will be kind to you. If you're interested, here's my card—I've got a few roles that might interest you, though they're in voice acting.- Billy handed her the card, and her eyes sparkled at the gesture. After all, Billy was known for his animation company, which held enough popularity to interest her.

-Voice acting? - she asked.

-If you have the time, I can offer you a few voice roles,- Billy replied.

-All right, voice acting it is,- she said, shifting from tears to a lively, playful smile, catching him off guard.

-Speak with my agent. Tell him I referred you for a series. The pay per episode isn't much, but it's enough to get by for a few months,- Billy said, shaking his head as she laughed, her chest heaving as she burst into laughter.

-Sorry, but I won!- Charlie said, grinning.

-No one wins. I value your talent. I wanted to bring you into voice acting for my series Evangelion, along with a contract extension for two movies,- Billy replied.

The girl stepped closer, jokingly whispering, -If a few tears get me a part, what would I get for a blow job? -She laughed at his surprised look.

-You're so serious, - she teased. -Relax—it's a joke. Stop pretending to be offended. I saw that look—you want me,- she laughed, catching him off guard with her blunt humor.

Billy recognized signs of a future star in the making, an undeniable charisma, a kind of raw force that could take people by surprise. Every star has its strengths—some are quiet and misunderstood, possessing above-average intelligence, while others are magnetic, charismatic, the kind that everyone wants to be. How would people see Billy? What impression would he leave on others?

***

John Ladue was the key figure who secured Kate for the role. He brokered a deal, and the pieces moved like a chessboard. Kate's impressive audition, combined with Ladue's support, brought her to the lead role. James saw that Billy had a unique chemistry with the girl, Charlie. Both were fiery, and it was intriguing to watch the seemingly shy girl silence Billy with her playful wit.

But now, his friend had made his move, and Kate was set as the lead.

-It's done,- James said, sounding almost resentful, though he didn't mind. He just wanted to measure up to John Ladue.

-I'm glad it's settled. Now we can plan a premiere in London, with full support from the press, the theater guild, and with Billy Carson winning over America. With Kate leading in London, we're set to conquer Europe as the next wave of success. You're another heavyweight name. People love Terminator, and Tokyo and other Asian capitals will follow suit. Billy's brand is what everyone's waiting for. If the movie is a hit... he's a box-office magnet in every movie he's been in, and that's free advertising,- John explained, outlining the commercial strategy to Cameron.

-Very fitting,- James replied, following the logic. Was he so popular in America that they already counted on his success here?

-It'll be two weeks of flights and screenings. I'm afraid you'll be all wrapped up in this movie over the next few months,- John Ladue said resolutely.

...

The words were on his lips, but he could only nod at her insistent request, as the call continued. Kate was set to join the scheduled rehearsals and work on building that spark, the essential chemistry, and the mutual understanding between two actors working closely. Breaking that barrier requires either experience or a bit of passion.

Kate jumped with joy, her cheeks flushed as she realized she'd been chosen for the part.

-I won! I won! -she exclaimed, reaching her hands to the sky, her slim figure and youth capturing the beauty that fades with time.

-For now, just stay focused,- her agent advised, sighing at the end of an intense few weeks full of hard work. He had navigated different circles, calling in favors, but Kate was worth it—she was undeniably a great actress who would help him gain recognition in their often-overlooked industry.

-Yesss!- she murmured, laughing like a girl who'd just aced her first SATs with a score high enough for a full scholarship. She was overjoyed, hugging her agent and promising he wouldn't regret it. He only asked for gratitude and hard work for all he'd done to secure her this role.

-I'll arrange your schedule. -

...