CH 11

Chapter 11 Dave’s Disappointment

Several detectives rushed in through the door, brushing past many staff members. Whilst ignoring the various sounds of exclamations, they proceeded to the VIP area of the auditorium. Dozens of large round tables were set up here, filled with celebrities from the entertainment industry. It was evident that an important award was being presented here, and all eyes were fixated on the stage.

Members of the CSI team sternly approached a blonde woman. Nick stepped forward, trying his best not to block the view of the guests behind him (as a kind gesture), and gently tapped the blonde woman’s shoulder. “Juanita Carson?”

The blonde woman slowly turned her head back. She had on classic fiery red lipstick, her skin, was fair and her eyes were deep-set, a slight upward curl could be seen at the corners of her lips. Though she had on a half-smile, it was one that was full of indescribable charm. Faced with the sudden interruption, she showed no trace of panic, but instead smiled knowingly and answered calmly, “Yes?”

The police officers let out a low sigh, and Nick swallowed hard, trying to remain calm. “I-I-uh-”

The smile in Juanita’s eyes deepened, as she crossed her legs and tilted her head slightly, patiently waiting for Nick to continue. Her blue-green eyes shimmered with curiosity as she looked at the young and handsome Nick from head to toe. “Yes?”

“I-I-” Nick suddenly blurted out a curse, “Duck, sorry, I forgot my lines again.”

The set erupted in good-natured laughter, and Jenny suppressed the urge to roll her eyes, joining in with a laugh. This was already the fourth time Nick had forgotten his lines in this scene.

The makeup artist came up to the two actors to touch up their makeup. George Eads— who played Nick, seized the opportunity and quickly recited his lines from memory. Meanwhile, the special effects team wasted no time adjusting the green screen. After a short break, the director gave the command, “Action!”

Upon the command, Jenny skillfully activated the ‘performing arts space’ and called on Marilyn Monroe’s character emotions. She immersed herself back into the role, focusing intently on the green screen not far away. — In fact, only her table and a few adjacent tables would be filmed with real props for the entire award ceremony scene. The rest would be created with special effects where they will be inserted into the Emmy Awards ceremony held earlier this year. This was one of the gimmicks used for the first episode of the second season. Even the audiences present in the background will be created with this technology.

Unlike the post-production process which included music and background noise, the filming location was very quiet. Jenny could clearly hear Nick’s footsteps, following that was his line, “Juanita Carson?”

She suddenly recalled Marilyn’s first appearance under the spotlight, her alluring gestures, and smiles. Sensuality was Marilyn’s best weapon, her strongest armor. She possessed beauty, which granted her advantage anytime, anywhere. She had everything under her control.

A confident and mysterious smile naturally appeared on Juanita’s lips as she turned around calmly. “Yes?”

This time, George froze in his shell, unable to even continue his lines. The director’s frustration was evident in his voice, “Cut. — No good!”

He walked up and pulled George aside. “Listen, buddy, I know you’re infatuated with her, hell, we all are. She looks unbelievably gorgeous when she gets into character. I’m sure a lot of guys tonight will be thinking about jerk! ng off to her.”

He pointed at Jenny, not caring that she was right there and could hear him clearly. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of. You don’t need to hold back, what you need to do is be fully submerged in the role. Nick was also smitten by Juanita. This chemistry between you two is great. Just remember your lines, and be like Nick, completely captivated but still trying to keep it together. You know what I mean, George? This is completely acting in your true thoughts and emotions, and you have no reason to flunk it.”

George looked awkwardly at Jenny and she smiled back at him, but George showed no signs of being completely smitten. Jenny had already tested the limits of this emotional connection from character stimulation, and the intensity affecting her demeanor does not last very long, only about three to five minutes, the length of one shot.

“OK, I’ll give it a try,” he said, smiling at the director. “Don’t be mad at me, OK? It’s what you said, everyone’s completely captivated by her. I’m nearest to her, so I can’t be an exception.”

Jenny chuckled and said, “Hey, I’m right here.”

The director grinned at her with a mix of annoyance and fondness. He muttered, “God knows where you came from, you little demon, I mean—”

He shook his head, stopping mid-sentence, then rushed back. “We don’t have much time to waste, George, take a moment to prepare. Tell me when you’re ready.”

George stood alone by the side, silently taking a few deep breaths. “I’m ready,” he said.

This time, they smoothly finished the scene, and then there was a brief intermission. George had to continue shooting some additional shots in the same set, while Jenny could take a rest while she waited for her next shoot. Of course, she couldn’t change out of her costume, as the next scene would require her to be in the same attire.

Although her appearance on TV for this scene would not exceed 20 seconds, these shots took nearly an hour to shoot back and forth, and Jenny was starting to feel fatigued. She walked towards the snack area in the corner of the studio to get some water, and George followed her. “Hey, I just wanted to apologize for not being in the best state this morning.”

Jenny smiled with teeth, “Doesn’t that just prove my charm? As the director said, you were enchanted by Juanita.”

George also grinned, and he looked at Jenny curiously for a moment, then suddenly said, “Wow, to be honest, on and off camera, you really seem like two different people — I mean, when you smile like that in front of the camera, I feel like an infatuated young boy, completely captivated by you. But once the scene is over, boom, those mysterious charms suddenly disappear, and you’re still beautiful, but — I don’t know how to describe it, but it’s like you’ve become a different person.”

“Are you trying to ask me out or praise my acting skills?” Jenny joked. “If it’s the former, you’re doing a terrible job.”

“And if it’s the latter?” George also grabbed a bottle of water, opened it, and took a few sips.

“Then you’ve said it excellently,” Jenny said.

George laughed, “Thank you — I have to admit, I’m glad you’re two different people on and off the set. I mean, god, I have a girlfriend, and I love her a lot, I don’t want to disappoint her.”

Jenny was brought to laughter by his words, and the two of them chatted for a while. George invited her to go to his party when she was free, and then he returned to the set.

According to the shooting schedule, there would be a five-hour break next, and then Jenny would be able to go home after shooting the interrogation scene. Jenny looked around and quickly spotted Dave standing in the corner of the set. She walked towards him with excitement, “I did a good job, didn’t I?”

Dave looked at her with a complicated expression, and it took him a while to smile, “You were fantastic.”

If I was fantastic, why do you not seem happy for me? Jenny wanted to reply to him but ultimately gave up on saying it. If the real Jenny was here, perhaps she would not understand Dave’s current mood, but as Chen Zhen, there was no way for her to not understand.

The two of them remained silent along the way and did not speak much in the trailer either. It was a shared trailer, and there were two to three temporary actors waiting to go on set.

When the people in the trailer slowly left, and only the two of two were left, Dave finally spoke, “Jenny, you did an amazing job.”

He looked anxious and guilty, and Jenny made a questioning expression, “Thank you?”

Dave sighed, finally telling the truth, “I’m afraid it will be tough for you to get that role in Buffy’s show now.”

“This…” Jenny was at a loss for words. Many complicated thoughts crossed her mind. Could it be… But she didn’t want to think of Dave as someone so selfish.

“You’re too beautiful,” Dave said, interrupting her thoughts. “And your acting is amazing. You’re completely different on and off camera. I didn’t expect you to be so… so radiant, so beautiful, like a natural-born star. I think you could easily get any role in any audition room with your looks and talent.”

This was a first for Jenny to have received so many compliments in a day. Although she could imagine how Jenny Jane’s young and beautiful body, combined with Marilyn Monroe’s powerful aura, would create an impressive effect on screen when she watched her own performances in the ‘performing arts space’, she did not expect the end result to be so outstanding, from George Eads, her co-star, to the director, and now Dave.

“Oh, Dave,” she said, smiling involuntarily.

Dave shook his head, seemingly to be in even deeper guilt. “But that’s exactly why I can’t give you Buffy’s role. I’m sorry, Jenny. That’s just a supporting role, and it shouldn’t overshadow Sarah completely. She’s the female lead, and she has to be the most dazzling one in the show.”

He seemed to be unsatisfied with his explanation and added, “I can’t sacrifice her for you, even if I’m willing to. And even if you do join the cast, Sarah will push you out. Your positioning and hers are severely conflicting.”

Jenny already knew that Sarah Michelle Gellar was the one who set up the date at ‘Scarpetta’ for Dave and her on their first date night. She and Dave were good friends, and she was also a popular young actress in Hollywood— a blonde beauty like Jenny— But she did not expect that her outstanding performance in CSI would cost her a job.

However, this also showed Dave’s professionalism. Regardless of the situation, he was still dedicated to his work as an assistant director. At least after she had shown her full potential, he did not get infatuated with her but immediately thought about his job.

“I understand,” Jenny said, trying to force a smile to comfort him. “I get it, Dave. You’re saying I’m too good, too over-the-top for that role.”

Dave seemed to relax a bit and nodded. “You should be glad that you’re just a guest star on CSI and there isn’t a similar female role in the show. Otherwise, she would use all her influence to cut your screen time, even threaten the writers to kill off your character and make you disappear. Even if she doesn’t do it herself, her agent would do it for her.”

It was a clear implication that if she joined the Buffy cast, Dave believed Sarah would do this to her. Considering how well he knew Sarah, Jenny believed Dave’s thought made sense. And she also understood the unspoken point Dave made — she only got into the show because of Dave’s recommendation, and when Sarah realized that Jenny’s acting skills and beauty outshined her in their scenes together, it would likely strain Dave and Sarah’s friendship.

In comparison to the only lead actor, the assistant director, while important, was not irreplaceable.

“I understand,” she sighed, comforting Dave. “Don’t worry, Dave, that’s not my goal either.”

Dave seemed to believe her words and asked curiously, “Then what is your goal?”

“Like most girls, my dream is to become the lead actress in A-list productions,” Jenny shrugged, trying to sound casual. “You know, not just the regular roles in TV shows. So losing this opportunity, while regrettable, won’t leave me too disappointed.”

She hoped Dave would make fun of her for aiming too high, caution her to take it one step at a time and tell her that regular roles on Buffy were a great opportunity for newcomers. But Dave didn’t.

Instead, he looked at her with a peculiar gaze and said slowly, “For many people, this is an unattainable dream, Jenny. But not for you. Trust me, you already have all the qualifications to make it big on the silver screen. You just need an opportunity. Many people come to Los Angeles with such dreams and then struggle to make ends meet. But not you. Some people are born to run in the fast lane, they move toward the peak much faster than others. Trust me, Jenny, you are one of those people.”

Jenny didn’t know whether to praise him for his keen insight or to smile bitterly and tell him: You’re absolutely right, you’re praising Jenny Jane + Marilyn Monroe.

In the end, she just smiled and said, “Oh, Dave, save your encouragement for when the opportunity comes. Right now, I just want to perform this scene well.”

Dave hesitated to speak but eventually nodded. “Of course, that’s the most important thing…but be careful, Jen.”

His expression turned serious. “In the film industry, there are always people who are jealous of talent and success.”