Chapter 113 - After The Awards

After the ceremony, Tayaw and his crew were about to leave for their hotel when they were invited by several people for the after party. Arriving at the ball room of the hotel, they saw very familiar faces in the crowd. Because they felt like outsiders, Tayaw's group is planning to just drop by and leave after greeting some people. Even though they have debuted in the world stage, there are still things they have no idea to talk about with other film professionals.

"Hey. I think I've seen enough. I'm leaving first. You guys want to stay?" Tayaw said to his group. The ball room has nothing but drinks, people, and a live jazz band for the ambience. He would actually stay had he not noticed the looks he's getting from many actors present. He figured that it will only take one actor to talk to him to start an endless night.

"I'm having some drinks, and then I'm off too." Uranto said. "We're leaving as well." Jouny said in consideration to her husband. "I'm joining Uranto." Iliene said. "I'm joining Uranto and Iliene, I can speak English so I think I'm going to chat with some people." Nielg said.

"Alright then. Jouny, Ongki, shall we?" Tayaw said. As the trio were about to walk out of the ball room, a beautiful redheaded lady blocked his way. "Mr. Yawat. Pleasure seeing you here." She said. Tayaw took a closer look and realized that it's Allie Edison, a well-known British actress, and also a member of this year's jury.

"Likewise, Ms. Edison." Tayaw replied. "I was going to talk to you later, but then I saw you leaving. Congratulations." Allie said. "Thank you. You must have voted for my film." Tayaw said. "That's confidential, but… I loved your film." Allie said, implying that she indeed voted for 'September Ninth' for some awards. "By the way. It's still quite early to leave, isn't it?" Allie followed up.

"I'm just not a fan of parties, especially the ones that are not purely for celebrating." Tayaw went with honesty. "Hm. I get it." Allie looked around and noticed that other actors are eyeing Tayaw. "Well then, you better get out of here quickly." Allie said and reached inside her cleavage to pull out her card. "I would love to work with you in the future." Allie said and handed her business card. "When I make something in English, I'll consider." Tayaw said, not promising anything.

Tayaw then saw some people start approaching him. One actor he recognized. "If it isn't my favorite singer." Suddenly, a voice came from behind him. Tayaw looked and was surprised. "Donald? What's up? You're advertising Red Abbey?" Tayaw asked, confused at why Walter Strickland's subordinate is here. "Nah. I invested in a film. You never told me you got into the movie business too. Congratulations." Donald said, with a strange expression in his eyes.

"Thank you. Which movie? I might have seen it." Tayaw asked. " 'The Green Yard'." Donald replied. "Oh? That football movie. That's a good movie." Tayaw lied. He has not seen it but he read the synopses of all the 50 selected films. "It is good. But not as good as yours. You should have told me you're making a film, kid. I would have invested." Donald said.

"Hey. I would have but after being refused a lot back in Teungeb, it was going to be tougher to look for investors abroad. After all, it's a Teungebian movie." Tayaw said. "Hmm. No crying over spilled milk…" Donald mumbled to himself, but Tayaw heard clearly. "So, have you talked to people tonight?" Donald. "No. I was actually leaving. I lost sleep because of this, I need some rest." Tayaw lied.

"Alright. Before you go.. I'm sorry about this.." Donald said. "Hm? Sorry about wh-" *Knock Knock Knock* the jazz band suddenly went silent and a man tested the microphone on the stage. "Hello. May I have everyone's attention please. Welcome all. How are we doing?" The man asked the party attendees. "Good. We are graced tonight by one of the best rising stars in music, and after the proceedings earlier in the evening, a rising star in the film industry as well! Mr. Yawat. Isaac! Can you play us something? We'd be honored..." The man on stage said.

Everyone looked at Tayaw's direction making him feel a little stifled at the attention. He looked at Donald with a weird gaze but Donald just patted him on the back.

"Come on, man. Don't leave us hanging!" The man on the stage said and the party attendees gave Tayaw an encouraging round of applause. Seeing this, Tayaw is left with no choice but to relent. As Tayaw approached the stage, the applause has gotten louder.

Tayaw then walked towards the live band. "May I?" Tayaw asked to borrow the guitar of the guitarist. The guitarist gladly handed the guitar. "Alright. Let's go basic. II-V-I on C." Tayaw told the band members. The band being a jazz band, got what Tayaw meant and the drummer nodded. The drummer started a classic 150 bpm swing drum beat. The pianist also began playing Dm7-G7-Cmaj chords.

Tayaw, after getting into the rhythm and the pattern, started plucking notes on his guitar, producing a familiar melody to the party attendees. He started slow first, as if introducing how the music would go. After a few bars from the simple melody, Tayaw started improvising on the melody, following the pianist's chord progression, producing a happy sound.

The party attendees also started nodding along, the emotion of the music put smiles on their faces. After a minute, Tayaw nodded at the drummer to complicate the beat. The drummer started splitting the beat, from 150 bpm, the tempo climbed to 200 bpm, and the piano also started playing more intensely. Tayaw's improvised riffing also gotten more complicated and faster, the sound of the band getting not only happier, but made people wants to dance.

Unfortunately for the attendees, they cannot dance along because of the expensive dresses they are wearing so they just opted to nodding along or toe tapping.

A minute or so later, "220! 1! 2! 3!" Tayaw signaled the band to raise the tempo again. Tayaw also riffed faster. What's special this time is that Tayaw is producing two separate melodies; a fast one and a slow one. The fast one is produced by Tayaw's quick licks and riffs of improvisational notes while the slow one sounds like the basic melody that is familiar to the listeners. The members of the live band, hearing Tayaw's guitar could not help but be more than impressed. The beat, however is too fast for them to maintain and they are starting to sweat.

Tayaw, seeing the band approaching their limits, he figured that while they are pros, they're not the best around, so he signaled them again. "150! 2! 3!" and the band sighed in relief as they entered a more comfortable tempo. This also implied that it's not long before Tayaw finishes his performance.

A few minutes later, Tayaw's guitar display was over. "WOOOoOowow." The crowd responded well and gave Tayaw a round of warm applause. "Thank you." Tayaw said and passed back the guitar to the live band.

Tayaw has played enough of these impromptu performances in his past life. He chose to play just the guitar as opposed to singing a song that the live band does not know because it does not look good. He also did not play something very relatable to prevent a crowd member from yelling 'Encore'. He played something that was relatable enough to lift the spirits of everyone in the room.

Stepping off the stage, Tayaw was joined by Donald once again, deterring those who were about to approach.

"Stepping up into the world. How does it feel, Isaac?" Donald said as he escorted Tayaw out of the ballroom. "Stepping up. You know that's not true, Donald." Tayaw chuckled. "hmm. I was not referring to that. BUT. Heh, you're not as naïve as I thought. It's good start." Donald said.

"By the way, how's Walter?" Tayaw asked. "Hah. Having the vacation of his life! The man finally retired. Can you believe me if I say he's picked up the guitar again?" Donald said. "Actually? I would. I remember him saying he was a musician." Tayaw said. "That's right. And now, he's surrounding himself with musicians." Donald said.

"Hmm? I'm sorry for being… pessimistic, but, he's also surrounding himself with opportunists, yeah?" Tayaw asked. "That would have been the case… Heh." Donald chuckled. "But?" Tayaw followed. "Not many people what he really looks like. To them, he's just an old man with a good pension." Donald explained.

"Hmm. We're similar in that matter." Tayaw said. "Oh? How so?" Donald asked. "Tell me, Donald, have you seen me without my cowboy hat and sunglasses?" Tayaw said. "Now that you mention it, I don't actually know what you look like. I just know what you wear." Donald said as he gave Tayaw a once over. "By the way, how are you seeing through that thing? It's midnight!" Donald asked.

"I'm blessed with great eyes. Anyway, even though you put me on the spot there, I appreciate the rescue." Tayaw thanked. "No problem. Anyway, call me next time when you make a film in English." Donald proposed. "If I find a good script, I will." Tayaw said out of courtesy.