| Nothing to Worry About |
[09 Oct 2007|04:51pm] |
"Are you doing anything this afternoon? You're never going to believe what happened."
Martha Quires had been involved with show business since before she could walk. Her mother took her to a casting call to advertise diapers, and the thirty-second spot had been the launching pad for her career. An attractive, well-behaved child, she had grown into a more attractive, somewhat less well-behaved young woman, and part of her non-filming time had begun to be dedicated to poring over movie scripts, looking for the vehicle to propel her into film stardom.
She met Jaclyn Anderson on the set of Birthright, and while their on-screen characters made the expression 'mortal enemies' an understatement, the two actresses had formed a solid friendship behind the scenes. On this particular afternoon, she was talking to the other woman on her cell phone and heading to a small restaurant in Las Vegas where the cast sometimes gathered. Her annoyance over the incident with Marissa Stenbeck had returned full-force, and she wanted someone to bitch to.
"Can you meet me at Gregory's? Before I put someone into a coma with this phone?"
( Look who's friends! )
"Yeah, I've got it all figured out," Martha said with a determined nod. "Nothing to worry about."
She waved goodbye to Jaclyn as her friend departed, tucking the money out of sight before she finished her steak. She'd have to call her agent, see if he had anything else booked for her before the con, then check on hotel arrangements. And get somebody new to handle press relations.
It was so hard to get good help these days.
|
|
| Small World |
[09 Oct 2007|08:41pm] |
"I don't care what you have to do Justine, just do it!" Leia told her agent over the phone. "It's a lead part with Russell Crowe , there's no way in hell I'm going to let that role get away from me. If you can't get things worked out then what am I paying you for? Get it done or I'll find someone who can." She hit the 'End' button and snapped the cell phone closed before shoving it in her pocket, striding up the steps of the entrance to the Bellagio.
Leia was a showbiz veteran, having literally grown up in front of the camera since she was two years old. Her first job was toddling around in coveralls for an OshKosh B'Gosh commercial and it had only gone up from there. By the time she was eleven, Leia landed the role that would make her a household name: Sarah Sheppard, the sweet and innocent younger daughter of Preacher Ben Sheppard on the family drama Sheppard's Flock.
She'd played Sarah Sheppard for eight years, it paid not only her bills but that of her entire family. But after six years she was so sick of the morality lessons and weak scripts that she was gagging whenever she said her lines and began agitating to get out of her contract. It took a nude spread in Playboy and (rumor had it) seducing Ted Rollins, her on-screen father before they finally let her go, and the young woman fired her mother agent/manager and declared her independence.
Leia had done guest spots on other shows, but struggled to avoid typecasting. When Ed recruited her for the character of Leah Allen in Birthright - The Series she'd thanked her lucky stars for such a different role, and the steady income being part of such a hit show so popular that it even made Sheppard's Flock look like a flop.
She liked Leah, it was a challenge taking on a role so different from anything she'd ever played before. The upcoming plot was something she could really sink her teeth into, but she was still a bit worried about the character becoming one-dimensional. There was no denying that Leah had made her an international sex symbol, given that she was normally wearing something along the lines of dental floss and had a body to die for, but it did get a little old from time to time.
Tonight wasn't one of those times. The young woman was dressed in tight jeans and a white tank top under the leather trench coat worn to ward off the evening desert chill, and smiled at several admirers, even pausing for a picture with a fan and signing a few autographs before making a break for it.
( C'mon, we all know what they're doing ... )
|
|
| The things people write |
[09 Oct 2007|09:51pm] |
In his years on the stage, Orrin had known that there were trade papers that followed the doings of actors and actresses while they were between projects, but nothing had truly prepared him for the sheer amount of information that existed when it came to the personal lives of television stars. The set was mostly quiet after a day's worth of shooting, and he'd been loitering around waiting for Anna while perusing a copy of Entertainment Weekly. He wanted to talk about these...pictures of hers.
But what was really disturbing? What he hadn't expected at all? Was that he'd discovered that strangest creature of all, a 'gift' from his press agent, who'd directed him to a number of websites after they discussed his options for when his contract came up for renewal again. Some of it was good, some of it not so much, some of it was downright execrable.
Orrin had discovered fanfiction.
His dark brows were drawn together in a studious fashion, and to any bystander he could have been reading a copy of Titus Andronicus from all the concentration he was giving the printed sheets in his hand. People wrote this stuff? For fun? He was never going to understand the way the mindset of today's television viewer worked.
There was a shuffling noise off to his left, and he hurriedly folded the papers up and tucked them out of sight in the inside pocket of his jacket. Which would be worse, to be caught reading a gossip rag or to be caught reading the amateurish efforts of some high-school student with a laptop? He didn't want to find out.
"Thanks again for watching her Mrs. Parsons, I'll be leaving the set soon." Julianna hung up her cell phone and slipped it back into her pocket before starting to gather her things.
It had been a long day on the set, shooting a scene between Connor and Julie for an upcoming episode of the show. She enjoyed working with Calvin. Sure he was a little edgy off camera, but when it came to actually doing his job he was a damn good actor. The character of Connor was one that seemed to be evolving as time went on, but she wondered just how more fucked up the writers could make the poor guy.
Not that Julie's writers were any different, it seemed like the werewolf was always worried or concerned about something.
But work was over for the day, which was good since it was late and she needed to be getting home to Annie. Mrs. Parsons was an older woman and something like the neighborhood grandma, but Julianna couldn't impose on her to keep watching her daughter forever. If nothing else it would make her feel bad that the older woman wasn't getting enough sleep, trying to take care of an energetic four year old.
She fixed herself a snack from the on set buffet table and started toward the door, and saw Orrin still sitting in his chair even though they'd finished shooting well over fifteen minutes before. "Orrin, for heaven's sake the day is done, no need to stay." It wasn't like he had a curtain call or anything.
( Improvising )
|
|