Chapter 174 - Juliana in Ouigab

February 3, 2013 – Sunday, 3 pm - Beverly Hills, Los Angeles – Waldorf Astoria Hotel

"So, is Tayaw gonna be here?" Nielg asks Uranto as he is being helped by a woman with some last fixes in his burgundy-colored suit, the color matching Nielg's caramel-colored skin very well.

Unlike the all dressed-up Nielg, Uranto is still in what looks like sleepwear.

"Fck if I know. But the little I know of him, he probably won't- ow.." Uranto winces, showing an annoyed face at the woman in front of him who has been plucking his eyebrows in the past two minutes.

Nielg and Uranto are currently in their hotel room, preparing for the event later in the evening. The two Caucasian women assisting the actors, are the stylist and the make-up artist hired by Black Deer Pictures for the two men. 

"Sorry." The make-up artist says.

She does not understand Teungebian, but she understands the universal word that is 'ow'.

"Nielg, how do you say 'carefully' in English?" Uranto asks.

"It's 'Carefully'." Nielg says, indirectly translating for Uranto.

"Tell him, I'll try." The make-up artist says.

"She says she'll try. But bear with it, man. It's not that painful. Jeez." Nielg says.

"Hnh." Uranto only grunts.

"Wait. Knowing you, why does it annoy you so much? Huh? Nervous?" Nielg realizes something.

"Huh. I guess." Uranto chuckles.

"Ma'am, he says sorry. He's just nervous." Nielg tells the make-up artist on behalf of Uranto.

"Hey. I'm not…" Uranto was about to express before Nielg stops him.

"Man, shut up. Bad rumors start from these small things." Nielg says.

"Really? That bad?" Uranto says, skeptical.

"Shit, yeah. This lady might be kind, maybe she's not, but let's be careful. We're not just here for our POSSIBLE awards, but we're Teungeb representatives here." Nielg says.

"Oh…" Uranto realizes the additional meaning of them attending the Academy Awards.

"Shit… I didn't need to hear that, man." Uranto says, feeling added pressure.

"Oh… Sorry. Haha. Hey, I'll pass you a CBD pill later." Nielg says.

"Do you have it with you now? Looks like I'll really need it." Uranto sighs.

"Later after you wash your face." Nielg says as his stylist is done with his suit.

"Hey, how long are the ladies next door gonna be done?" Nielg asks the two women. 

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

"I love that film! So, you wrote it?" Jouny's make-up artist asks.

"Yep." Jouny says, almost rolling her eyes.

The make-up artist is hired by Black Deer Pictures and Jouny figures that there is no way that the make-up artist does not know her identity.

"You think you'll win?" Jouny's make-up artist asks.

"Meh. I don't think so. When have you heard a foreign film winning any awards here in America?" Jouny replies cynically.

"Maybe they'll make an exception. Your story is not only great, it also stands out. It's on another level." The stylist, assisting Iliene on her dress, comments in.

"Well, I can only hope." Jouny says. 

Iliene is wearing a velvet red dress that will match Uranto's suit. It was only with the stylists' help that Iliene and Uranto will not look like they are getting wed. Jouny on the other hand, is wearing a lady pant-suit, similar to her outfit in Sorrento, but this time, it is colored dark brown. 

"Hey. Jouny. Can you talk to me too?" Iliene jests, feeling a little left out as she is the only non-English speaker in the room.

"Sure. I hope the boys next door won't be waiting long for you." Jouny teases Iliene.

"Hey. I don't want to wear a dress. I wanna dress like you too. It's just those folks from Black Deer Pictures. They got to my head." Iliene says.

"Hmm. I get it though. I'm fine wearing this because I'm not an actress. Oh, and by the way? I'm pregnant. I won't look good in a dress. But you, you need to look fancy to attract some attention. They might help you in case you wanna work in Hollywood." Jouny consoles. 

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

5pm – The Beverly Theater

"Welcome to the Red Carpet of the 2012 Academy Awards. I am Abbie Rogers and I will be with you for the broadcast of the Red Carpet and the events before the award show starts. You have just seen Remy Adler and Matthew Singer exit their car and are now heading our way to the photo shoot area. They are the first of tonight's many stars to grace the red carpet before entering the venue …" A female reporter from a certain network, dressed in a simple but great looking blue dress, is seen talking to her film crew two or so meters away from the red carpet.

She and her crew are one of the few who are allowed by the event managers to take camp right in front of the photoshoot area of the red carpet. These film crews and reporters got the privilege being from America's biggest TV networks. 

"Hi Matt! Can we talk to you?" Abbie calls out to Matthew after him and Remy had their photos taken.

Matthew however only smiles and nods apologetically at the reporter as he escorts Remy inside the building.

"Too bad." Abie utters.

Celebrities avoiding interviews are a common sight in these events. Reporters also deal with rejection all the time so Matthew's action did not hurt the reporter's feelings. 

A couple more celebrities and industry professionals subsequently walked the carpet. Some of them stopped by for photos, while most did not even acknowledge the photo area. Many of these attendees are working behind the scenes of the industry and they are unrecognizable to industry outsiders.

Some of the attendees who stopped by for photos however, were humbled. One example are two actors, attending the event together, when they stepped for photos, only two cameras flashed out of the hundred or so cameras operated by the seventy or so photographers. 

The way these red-carpets work, is that the least recognizable goes in the building first and the most famous ones enter later, within the hour prior to the start of the award show. 

A couple more minutes later, two actors, one male, one female, steps into the photo area. The two, being fairly well-known, are blinded by the cameras flashing at the same time and the couple can only try and look as if their eyes are not sensitive. "Patrick! Layla! Here!" in addition to the camera flashes, the yells of the photographers are also adding to the sensory overload suffered by the two. 

"Patrick! Layla! Can we have a word?" Abbie calls out to the two actors after their photos were taken.

Patrick whispers something to Layla and Layla whispers something back. After their exchange, the two parts ways and they approach different reporters. Patrick, approaching Abbie, and Layla approaching another reporter from a different network. 

"Hey Patrick! How's it going?" The Abbie starts the on-the-spot interview.

"Great! A little buzzed. But I feel great!" Patrick enthusiastically answers.

"Well, it's nice seeing you here three years in a row." Abbie says.

"Oh yeah. I got lucky again this year, I guess." Patrick says.

"Although you have no nominations this year, 'Mermaids and Sirens' is nominated for best picture, can you talk about that?" The reporter allows Patrick to promote his film.

"Yeah. Polly did great writing and directing. I had a great time working with Ellis too. I hope he wins Best Actor." Patrick gladly takes the opportunity. 

As the two talk, they are suddenly overwhelmed by the photographers yelling again at whoever it is that stepped in the photo area. Patrick and Abbie, used to the occurrence, got closer in each other's faces to hear each other better. Before they try to continue their interview however, their attention is taken by the names being yelled out by the photographers and other reporters.

"Uranto! Here!" "Iliene! Here!" "Here!" 

Patrick and Abbie exchange glance, and they have a silent understanding to pause the interview and instead observe Uranto and Iliene. Photos soon were taken and the yelling stops once again.

"Man. That was … intense." Patrick says to Abbie as they watch Uranto and Iliene, tailed by who looks to be their interpreter, approach a reporting crew for interviews.

"Yeah. Strong competition this year?" Abbie asks.

"Yeah. I'm a fan of them. Isaac too, their director. But, they are the ones to beat this year." Patrick says.

Abbie on the other hand, is trying hard to look like she does not want to kick Patrick aside to get an interview from Uranto or Iliene. Figuring however that she might not get the chance to interview the Teungebians, she continues the interview with Patrick. 

"What did you think of them when they skipped the Golden Globes? Not one of the cast or the director even accepted their awards in person." Abbie, with her reporter instincts, digs for a scoop.

Patrick however, is disappointed at the potentially dangerous question especially coming from a reporter he thought he is in good terms with.

"It wasn't a big deal. They're not Americans so I think they've only heard of the Academy Awards, not the Golden Globes." Patrick answers safely while wanting to get out of the interview immediately in case Abbie asks something else.

"Hey. Nice to see you again, Abbie. I'm gonna go say hi to them." Patrick found a perfect excuse and excuses himself.

"Yeah. Good luck tonight!" Abbie gives Patrick a polite hug. 

Patrick then approaches Uranto and Iliene. He sighs in relief as he gets in their space just in time for Uranto and Iliene's interpreter to translate whatever answer Uranto just gave, to the reporter. This gives him the chance to interrupt. While Patrick used Uranto and Iliene as an excuse, he is in fact had become a fan of the two, especially Uranto after he studied their acting in September Ninth. 

"Hello. Uranto! Iliene! Big fan." Patrick greets Uranto and Iliene. "Thank you." "Thank you." Uranto and Iliene understands enough with their English proficiency. 

O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O

3 PM local time – Half Basin Studios, South Ouigab

*Click* *Click* Juliana is taking a selfie by the old cars in the warehouse. Before she can move on to take a look at other props, she is interrupted by a young Teungebian lady.

"Miss? Can I help you? I'm a production assistant here." The young lady introduces herself.

The PA, familiar with all the Caucasian, East Asian, and African faces in the cast and crew, is curious at the unfamiliar face.

"Nah. Just hanging out." Juliana says, presenting a visitor's pass hanging on her neck.

"Hmm. Okay…" The PA tilts her head out of confusion.

"Are you one of the actresses?" The PA asks, assuming from Juliana's pretty face.

"No. I'm a friend of someone who works here. I'm waiting for him." Juliana says.

"Oh… Well, can I help you still? A coffee? A snack?" The PA offers.

"No thanks." Juliana says. 

*BANG* *BANG* *BANG* *Rat-at-at-at*

The two, and the others in the warehouse, hear gun shots coming from inside on of the domes in the warehouse.

"What the f.u.c.k was that?!" Juliana exclaims in surprise as she looks for cover behind the prop cars.

"Phew… That's hard to get used to…" The PA, who was also startled at the sounds, sighs.

Juliana looks around the people in the warehouse and they are acting like the gunshots were normal.

"What's happening inside?" Juliana asks.

"They're shooting gunfights or something. We're not really allowed to take a look. They've been at it for days now." The PA reports. 

Juliana then sees three men, in janitor's uniforms, approach hurriedly the huge doors of the dome, dragging their trolley that contain buckets, mops, and towels. Juliana would have overlooked the men had she not noticed blood spatters on the men's uniform.

"What the hell…" Juliana can only mutter.

"Yeah. At first, we felt bad for them. But they look like they're having fun cleaning though. It's weird. Those gunshots are like a bell to them." The PA says.

Juliana looks closer and is bothered by the janitors smiling and chatting with each other casually as if blood is not on their uniforms. 

"Those… Those can't be animal blood, right?" Juliana asks.

"No. We thought so too until we saw one of the prop guys mix something up in a bucket and, voila, fake blood." The PA explains.

"huh. It looks real." Juliana nods.