Chapter 152 - Late Show With Aiden Gerty

(Author's Note 1: Phew. Made it. I just edited the duplicate chapter into an actual one. I hope this didn't screw up my pay. Heh. Please. Enjoy.)

(Author's Note 2: Warning. I'm planning on milking Tayaw's talk show appearance for a few chapters, for the quota. I'm still gonna write them the best I can though.)

September 7, 2012 – Friday, 10 am local – Studio 29, Beverly Blvd. LA, CA. 

"He's here. He's here!" A female intern hurriedly barged in the production floor of the 'Late Night with Aiden Gerty'.

"Hurry! Is his waiting room okay?" the show's floor manager asked.

"Yeah. What else do you want me to do?" The intern asked.

"That's fine… Isaac didn't specify." The floor manager said.

"Does he really not want anything?" The intern asked again in nervousness. While it is not obvious, Tayaw's comfort and satisfaction in his waiting room will affect her record on the job.

"No. If he's unsatisfied. That's on him. He didn't state his preferences after all." The floor manager said knowing how the intern feels.

"*bzzt* Morsey, he's here." The floor manager heard an usher report through his walkie-talkie.

"Good. Did he say something?" The floor manager said.

"*bzzt* Yeah. He said he's gonna take the snacks and take them to the band's waiting room. He said he's gonna talk to them about the performance." The usher reported.

"Okay. Good." The floor manager and the intern sighed in relief despite their wasted effort and worry. 

Not only the interns, but many of the staff are currently very tense, especially the ones who are working on the set proper. A guest like Tayaw to them, is rare, and they would bend over backwards to cater to him just to make a good impression. Hopefully to have him back again in the future.

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"Hey. Can y'all check? We good?" The show's stage manager asked his staff.

"Yeah. It's all set up according to Isaac's layout." A cameraman said, annoyed at the repetitive question from the manager. 

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"Isaac! What's up, baby?" Tayaw was welcomed warmly by Da Bellum Burning members as he entered their waiting room. 

During the past two days, Tayaw and the band have re-arranged and rehearsed Tayaw's 'Invisible Man' and another song. Aside from Tayaw's arrangement skills, the band has witnessed Tayaw's impressive vocals and his skills on the guitar. It did not also take long for the band to like Tayaw as he has been very nice to them and did not have an overconfident and arrogant attitude that most young people who found success has. 

"Hey. We won't touch it anymore. We just might ruin the sh*t." Andre said, feeling out Tayaw's purpose of visiting them prior to the show's taping.

"Alright. You got me." Tayaw could only abide.

"Hey Isaac, you nervous? Wanna let me roll you something now?" OffSett joked. 

In the past two days, the band, especially OffSett has been offering Tayaw Mary Jane in more than one occasion, and in each occasion, Tayaw always refused. Tonight, Tayaw will do the same. 

"Nah. I don't wanna be f*cked up in my first TV appearance. Even if I want to man, I haven't smoked before. I don't know how strong your weed is." Tayaw shook his head.

"Alright. More for me then. I can't believe you ain't smoked before. I mean, weed is legal in your country, if I'm not wrong." OffSett just shrugged.

"Hey. I would only smoke had I broken something." Tayaw shrugged in return. 

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"We're back…" Aiden said as the new cut started after his monologue cut. 

"Our guest tonight is a talented young man who in his young career, has great achievements in both music and in film. Please welcome, the award-winning director of the international box office hit, 'September Ninth'. All the way from the Teungeb, Isaac Yawat!" Aiden introduced and Da Bellum Burning immediately started playing their soul/swing version of one of Tayaw's songs.

Shortly after, Tayaw with his usual three-piece suit, crisp hat, and huge sunglasses, entered the studio. *CHEERS* *APPLAUSE* The audience gave a warm applause. Unlike other episodes where the staff would encourage the audience to cheer loudly, the audience tonight is sincere as a good number of them has seen 'September Ninth' and has great appreciation for the film. Even the audience members who did not see the film has heard great things about the film.

Tayaw, instead of going directly to the stage like how he should have, made a beeline to the nearest seats of the audience members closest to him and shook their hands.

"What is he doing?.." The head producer said dumbfounded but as Tayaw's actions made a great picture, he just decided to let it be.

After Tayaw had enough of greeting the audience, he finally approached the stage but still has not greeted Aiden yet; instead made another beeline to the busy Da Bellum Burning and tipped his hat to them. Shaheed and OffSett who were not playing anything, returned the gesture. Tayaw then took off his hat and gestured to OffSett. 

OffSett while caught off-guard by Tayaw's impromptu gesture, was quick on his feet and also took off his hat, shook the hand that Tayaw offered, and they exchanged their hats. *CHEERS* *CHEERS* The audience was both surprised and pleased to see the interaction. They were reminded that Da Bellum Burning is more than just a background band for the talk show.

After that short interaction, Tayaw finally made his way to the stage to join Aiden.

"Hey." Tayaw said as he shook hands with Aiden.

"Hey. Nice to finally meet you." Aiden said and gestured Tayaw to the couch. After Tayaw settled himself on the couch, Da Bellum Burning also stopped their playing. 

*Cheer* *Cheer* The audience once again applauded and Tayaw could only chuckle at the response.

"Man. I feel like I've just won a lifetime achievement award. Thank you." Tayaw said as he tipped his hat to the audience. His first ever comment on TV, amused both the audience and the show's staff. 

"Welcome to the show, Isaac." Aiden finally started introductions.

"Thank you for having me, Aiden." Tayaw smiled in response. 

"Congratulations on this movie. It's monstrous! It's doing pretty good!" Aiden congratulated Tayaw.

"Thank you. Yeah. It was rather unexpected, man." Tayaw said. 

"It was. It's not usual for foreign films to do great here. Now, to all the viewers at home who has not seen the film yet, can you tell us about it?" Aiden gave Tayaw the first opportunity for Tayaw to promote. 

"Like you introduced, my film is called 'September Ninth'. It's about a man, Steve, and his story of what would happen if someone gets stuck in the same day forever." Tayaw summed up the general plot of the film. 

"Ah. Yeah. I've seen the film, and I have to say… your main character was quite the … selfish jerk." Aiden nodded.

"Yep." Tayaw smirked. "Without spoiling too much, the film shows that it sometimes takes something big to happen to change a jerk like him." Tayaw said. 

"That's true. Anyway, this is your first film, right?" Aiden said.

"Yeah." Tayaw said, feeling a follow-up question.

"First film and you've already won basically the top award in the film industry! The Fiore D'Oro from Sorrento Film Festival." Aiden said. *Cheers* *Applause* the audience felt the achievement deserves appreciation. 

"Well. Look, I just made a film I want to see. I didn't expect that many people would actually like it too." Tayaw said.

"Ahh. You're too polite... Look here…" Aiden said as he pulled some big flashcards out under his table.

"You won over some of the best directors in the world. Your film is doing even better than their films! Asher Green, Cory McFadden, Paul Marsh." Aiden said as he showed the directors' photos on the flashcards to the audience. *Whoo* *Cheers* 

Tayaw is overwhelmed by Aiden's compliments. While he indeed worked hard in making the film, he is still feeling conflicted in having the filmmaking experience he did not work hard in honing, and get awards for it. Tayaw is even more uncomfortable with how Aiden is comparing him to veteran directors.

"Hey man. I still can't believe I've won over them. 'Fallen Memory' is a gorgeous film. 'Hard Ice' is awesome with the hockey scenes. I can't make something like those." Tayaw said, trying his hardest to give credit to the other directors, while internally not believing in his own words entirely. 

"Alright. Whatever you say. Anyway. Not only your film is selling well, many film critics are saying a lot about you." Aiden said.

"Really? Huh. I'm not ready for taking criticisms for now, so I can't read them yet. Especially after making something so… radical." Tayaw said, lying, probing for Aiden's idea. 

"Hey, you don't have to worry. Most if not all that we've seen are basically lauding you. Here…" Aiden pulled out another big flashcard with an article heading pasted on it.

"For example, LA Film Mag dubbed 'September Ninth' as a modern classic. I kind of agree. And trust me, I see a lot of movies." Aiden moved on with his compliments. 

"Well, that's a relief. Haha. Me, the cast, and the crew are thankful that our hard work is recognized." Tayaw said, preventing himself from downplaying the compliment for the benefit of his collaborators. 

"Hmm. Regarding that. The visuals, the story. Whose is it had the idea to uhh… shoot they way you did? I mean, it's almost as immersive as a doc.u.mentary. The camera angles, the actors… It felt real and I forgot many times that I'm watching a movie." Aiden asked. 

"Yeah. It's my idea for it to appear that way. I wanted to make it so that the viewers can see and feel what the characters' emotions. The screenplay of the film, written by my friend Jouny Yalen, is very good. But to capture her story's emotions is quite the challenge. So, from that, I had to figure out how to show them." Tayaw bullshitted.

"I have to say, you did a great job in doing that." Aiden was enlightened by Tayaw's explanation.

"Thank you." Tayaw said. 

"How about inspirations? Even though your film is the first of its kind I've seen, you must have some inspirations, right?" Aiden asked, to give Tayaw the opportunity to make a good impression to some famous Hollywood film makers. He was however, surprised at Tayaw's strange expression on his face at the question.