Chapter 117 - Basic Psychology in TV Broadcasting

June 10, 2012 – Sunday 7 pm – Clambu City

"Man. Wow. That's me right there." Uranto said when he saw the third billboard advertising 'September Ninth'. "So, I'm invisible?" Iliene rolled her eyes. The two are currently driving their way to Clambu Broadcasting System to tape an interview in a talk show. The car behind them has Jouny and Nielg. 

Tayaw, after his negotiation with Yarag, went to an advertising firm for the promotion of the movie. Unlike the promotion fee that Yarag asked, an advertising firm would not be getting a cut from ticket sales. The interview however, that Uranto, Iliene, Nielg, and Jouny are going to, was not set up by the firm, but was set up by the talk show producers themselves. 

Over the past two weeks since winning the awards, Teungebian papers covered topics about 'September Ninth'. Initially, they just covered the happenings in the Sorrento Film festival and why the film won, but as they ran out of things to write about it, they also wrote about the coverage of international papers and critics about the movie. Adding the entertainment media's coverage and the national pride for 'September Ninth', the people's excitement for the film did not die down.

"We're here. We have that pre-interview thing, right?" Nielg asked. "Yes. It makes the filming smoother. How is it? Talking on TV without a script?" Jouny asked them. "Okay. We agreed that we would not talk about that, now I'm nervous again." Uranto chuckled. 

---

"Please welcome, the cast of 'September Ninth'" The host announced and Uranto and the crew walked in from the back stage, wearing exactly the same clothes they wore back in the Sorrento award ceremony. The crowd finally saw the people they have been seeing in the movie trailers they're seeing on the TV and internet. 

"Welcome. Welcome! Can you introduce yourselves to the viewers at home, please?" The host asked. "Hello everyone, I'm Uranto Virenza and I play Steven, the leading man." "I'm Iliene Partros, the leading lady." "I'm Nielg Wygan, the leading man's best friend." "I'm Jouny Yalen, the screenwriter." The crowd clapped for them, making them feel more comfortable now, with the attention.

"So… Sorrento, huh." The host began. "Yeah…" Uranto and the rest just nodded. "That's a big deal! The first Teungebian winner of the award. Not only that, three awards! How does it feel?" The host asked, trying to remove the awkwardness brought by talk show rookies. "It is still surreal, Llabal. We can't believe it either, but hey, it's a great film." Nielg said. 

"Well, we know that it's a great film, but no one actually saw it yet aside from a few. Everyone's excited to see it! Right?" Llabal asked the crowd. *WHOOO!! APPLAUSE* 

"Thank you. It comes out tomorrow in the theaters near you! Trust me; the trailers do not do the film justice. The cool camera angles? That's just not in the trailer. That's how it's going to be the entire film." Nielg happily promoted the film. Jouny, Uranto, and Iliene exchanged glances at how comfortable Nielg is on the talk show couch. 

They chatted with the host about mundane things like where they're from or what they loved about Italy, until one question made them feel close to discomfort. "So, what are the films you have all appeared in?" Llabal asked. "Well…" "Hmm…" "Well, the thing is… We've never been in a film. This is our debut appearance in a film." Nielg, unlike his uncomfortable fellows, said proudly. 

"Wow! No acting experience? Straight to the film?" Llabal asked, pleasantly surprised. "Actually no. I, along with Uranto and Iliene, are a part of a comedy troupe. Have you seen 'Mad Concert'? We're a part of the cast." Nielg explained. 

"OH! That show at GTV! Oh my god! Now that I think about it, Uranto… you're that teacher at that parenting class sketch!" Llabal exclaimed finally "recognizing" Uranto. "Yes. Yes. That's me." Uranto said, embarrassed. "Incredible. You're so different with how you were in the movie trailer! Have I seen you two in the show?" Llabal asked Nielg and Iliene.

"I'm that 'clueless pharmacist'." Nielg said. "You might have seen me in the tango sketch; I'm one of the dancers. There was also a retired sketch where I played the female coach." Iliene said. "My word. I didn't know comedians can play dramatic roles!" Llabal said. "We didn't either. Not until Isaac, the director, picked us for the role. Thank goodness, he didn't change his mind once we're starting to mess around in the film set." Nielg said. 

"Well, it's natural for comedians to make people laugh. Talking about the director, how come he didn't show? I don't know if our viewers know, but… can you tell us about him?" Llabal said. The actors looked at Jouny, who was silent the whole time, as she knows Tayaw better than them. 

"Well, he's only not an award-winning director, he is also a musician. He's made a name of himself in America. That's also the reason why he couldn't make it tonight. He's busy writing songs or something." Jouny said chuckling, lying on behalf of Tayaw instead of telling Llabal the actual reason. 'I don't like talk shows. They're phony, most often than not, are fake.' are Tayaw's exact words. 

"That's true, everyone. I think we have footage of Isaac Yawat, the director." Llabal said as he pointed at the big screen behind them, making Jouny and her fellows realize they were primed for the answer about Tayaw. The audience saw Tayaw's performance with Strawberry Front and his solo guitar blasted through the speakers. 

A few seconds later, the crowd gave a round of applause for Tayaw. "He's… different, isn't he?" Jouny said proudly.

The rest of the interview was spent by them talking about the atmosphere about the set, Jouny's story about how Tayaw bought her script, and some funny personal stories. Uranto, Iliene, and Nielg also promoted their comedy sketch show by telling stories about the backstage. 

---

*clunk**clunk* Tayaw is currently practicing piano in his room, the output of the keyboard going directly to his headphones. "Tayaw! I can't take it anymore!" his practice was cut short when Ike suddenly barged in his room. "What's up? Another argument on your songs?" Tayaw asked. "NO! It's Jenna. She's angry again at us. We were just giving her advice about something she would not shut up about." Ike said. "What?" Tayaw was confused.

"You know Jenna, we come home, she complains about her girlfriends." Ike said. "Didn't I tell you to just you know, listen?" Tayaw said. 

"Yes! But today is different! I just gave her advice to deal with her friends, but she goes all pissy again." Ike said. "Okay. Where are the rest of the guys? Do they feel the same way you do?" Tayaw asked. 

"Yes. They're enduring it, but I think Bay-an, her best friend, BEST FRIEND! I know he's losing it." Ike complained. 

"So, you want her out of the band?" Tayaw asked to probe how bad it really is. "NO! – Ah, I'm sorry for yelling. Of course, we don't want her out. We like her, but sometimes she's difficult to understand."

"Hm? It's not that bad?" Tayaw asked, relieved that it's a small problem. 

"Of course not, but I'm here for advice. I just never saw you piss off Jenna before, even though you're very honest with her." Ike said. "Well, I know when to. Wheneve—Okay. Where are the rest of the boys?" Tayaw was going to explain but he'd rather talk to them all at once. "They're practicing." Ike said.

"Alright. I was going to gather you all here, but Jenna might notice, so I'll tell you something to tell the other boys, alright?" Tayaw said. Ike is excited to hear it. "Here's what you're gonna do…" 

..

"Ok.. I don't get it. So, if she complains, it's not necessarily a problem?" Ike asked confused. "Exactly. Remember when I told you last year to just listen? That's what she just needs. A listener." Tayaw said. 

"So, we're not supposed to help her then?" Ike said. "Well, you should of course. If it's not serious, then only help her if she asks." Tayaw explained. "There's 5 of us, except for you, we might be able to make her problems go away." Ike said. 

"Ah. That might have been one of the reasons why she's pissed at you. When you give her an advice she does not need, she might hear it as 'Oh. Do this, I'm smarter than you'." Tayaw said. "But how do you know which ones she needs help?" "Even this is very tricky. What I do is just ask 'Can I help?' but be careful with the tone." 

"I did that once but I remember her saying 'never mind, thank you'." Ike said. "Well, there you go. Don't offer advice when she doesn't need it. Most, if not all the time, she doesn't want you to solver her problems. What she may need is to give her … emotional support so that she can solve her problems by herself." Tayaw explained.

"Hmm. I think I'm kinda getting it." Ike said. "Do you? Okay. What if she says 'Ugh. The barista was so rude today.' what would you say?" Tayaw asked. "uhh.. 'Maybe you should not be too specific with your coffee'?" Ike said. 

Tayaw just shook his head. "Try again." "Uhh.. empathy... emotional support... an ear… I got it! I would say 'I know, what an asshole'." Ike said. "CORRECT! Okay one more. 'Ike! The radio driving me crazy!' what would you say to that?"

"uhh. 'I know. The songs are shit.'" Ike said proudly. "NO." Tayaw said. "What? Alright, I'm confused." Ike said. "Turn off the radio! Haha. That's a lesson for another time. But, from what we've talked about, I think you've got it." Tayaw said. 

"Okay. So just endure her complaints, support her emotions, and we're good?" Ike said, feeling skeptical at how easy the advice was. "Yes. That's it. If you get to patronizing though..." "What patronizing?" Ike said. "That's another lesson for another time. We'll talk about that when we get there." Tayaw said and Ike skipped back to the studio.