Rise To Stardom - Chapter 186

Chapter 186: Pint In The Ocean
On a ‘j/Cinema’ Jeddit community, was a post from a man in his early forties.

–

SO… [PROM PERFECT 3] AND [LEVEL UP 2]. THOUGHTS, ANYONE?

I’m planning to take my wife and kids out for a movie tonight and I’m curious as to what your thoughts are? I don’t use the internet that much but my kids did tell me all about how their cousins (my nieces and nephews) went to the cinemas to see two of these recent movies.

Let me iterate that I’m a farmer and I haven’t gone to a theatre in years since we live in a small, rustic town on the countryside, just an hour short of urban life so please, for the love of all things good, steer me in the right direction.

–

On an average day, a post like this, wouldn’t really get that much engagement.

But, for the jedditors whom were glad to have seen cinema magic and those whom were sour that they wasted good money on a terribly disappointing piece of media, the post came at the best, time, possible.

–

SJW Slayer: If I had a time machine, I’d probably go back in time like a certain red-masked hero and pop a bullet through the skulls of the people who thought it was a good idea to greenlit [Prom Perfect 3].

Jeddit Jedi: [Level Up 2] for sure! It’s not even up for debate. Trust me, you, your wife, and your kids will wish you could stay the night at a nearby hotel, just for a second viewing the next night.

StrokeMyWhiteBeard: Honestly, how Danny Rock made such a good dance movie without the typical romantic subplot most have, still wows me. But what wows me even more ladies and gents, is that onion they call Kyle Kestis! Totally recommend [Level Up 2].

Movie_Anarchist: ‘It’s so bad it’s good!’, can only get a shitty, teen rom com, so far. ‘It’s so bad I wished the ground swallowed me up!’. Yeah, that feels more fitting. So OP, stay the fuck away from [Prom Perfect 3] for the sake of you and your family’s mental health.

Weed Is Good: Before heading out to watch [Level Up 2], I was so excited! By the time I left the cinema, I wanted to fly! Yes, it was just that fun of a movie! Best I’ve watched in quite a fairly long while really.

PrettyJedditUser86: @Weed Is Good; I envy you! Was the only girl in our clique who suggested we go see the movie but my girls, kept insisting I only wanted to watch the movie because Kyle was in it. And so?! I should’ve just listened to my gut in hindsight! Heading over to theatres alone tonight for my own viewing though! Can’t wait!

FakeSlimShady: Felt like I wanted to bleach my eyes after watching that atrocity of a teen movie. So much for my girlfriend’s ‘Let me pick the movie just this one time!’. I swear to God I warned that damsel so many times that she had a terrible taste in movies. Now I’m glad she’s seen it for herself.

Se7en E11even: Please, I ask and beseech of you, in the name of all things holy, stay away from [Prom Perfect 3]. It’s the kind of movie that should’ve ended with the first movie, period. [Level Up 2] on the other hand, makes me wish there was a [Level Up 3] in the works!

–

Those were the first few comments that the anonymous husband and father of two had read, his decision already getting influenced, just like so many others whom were simply observers on the active post.

Still, being one of the rare few that never simply gobbled everything that the media gave him, OP figured he’d read through more comments, only for someone to actually post a link to a recorded HD cam of [Prom Perfect 3].

And no sooner had he watched the clip of a female teen kissing three other guys in turn to know which would be her prom date, he immediately noped out!

[Level Up 2] it was.

In any case, the jeddit post itself was only a pint of what was actually going on other social media platforms, TweetTalk especially.

On a viral post berating [Prom Perfect 3] by a very popular internet celebrity that went by the name ‘Loki Won’t Miss’, people were already flooding into the comments section!

–

Bread Pitt: All hail [Level Up 2]! All stone [Prom Perfect 3]!

My_Eggs: @Bread Pitt; Give me a rock man! A stone, an egg, a tomato, your balls, yes your balls, whatever! Just give it to me so I can vent my frustrations on that darn movie for wasting my perfectly useful, $10!

Eyes On Your Booty: The only reason I went to watch [Level Up 2], was because I heard Tyler Reeds was gonna be in it. Now I have another reason to watch a possible [Level Up 3]. Yes @KyleKestis, although I know you’re probably not online, I’m talking about you.

Underpaid Janitor: Some say; ‘Don’t judge a movie by its poster’. I say, I do. Could smell [Prom Perfect 3] was a magnificent piece of shit from a mile away. So glad I watched [Level Up 2].

I Maim Movies: @Underpaid Janitor; To be fair, the only thing good about [Prom Perfect 3], was the poster. The rest of the movie though, terribly disappointing… almost like a bad mediagram filter.

–

From the audience’s reception of the two movies, two things became awfully clear to those whom were more pragmatic.

One, the dance movie, had a lot of people excited, a good chunk of them even planning for a second, or quite possibly even a third viewing, as opposed to the people whom had vowed to boycott the teen rom com.

Secondly, a good percentage of people, didn’t really give a shit about Valentines, just as the Analysts and Marketing Team at Silver-Line Studios had predicted.

In that regard, their plan to release a movie without even anything remotely romantic as a way to garner the interest of the single folks on the red day, was a success.

The second day returns for their movie, came back at $8 million, far more than they had predicted they’d get back!

At the rate it was going in fact, they predicted that they would get back the entire budget of $35 million for making the film by the end of the movie’s opening week.

Yet, even they, knew, that asides from their marketing strategy bringing about this success, a number of other reasons had fallen into place to make the movie’s commercial run, a predicted box-office success.

And one of those reasons, in no small part, had been as a result of Kyle Kestis.

That said, despite everyone at Silver-Line Studios, currently rejoicing at the success of their movie, the same couldn’t be said for their oppositions.

The singular belief of theirs that they could simply keep digging their profitable goldmine, had come back to bite both the Execs and Film Studio’s CEO himself, right in the ass.

Their goldmine wouldn’t be producing any gold anymore since they’d whittled it of all its resources.

Basically, Lighthouse Studios, was screwed.

The second day returns for their movie…

Oh boy…

An exponential decrement.

$2 million.

That was all they had gotten back, one that immediately had all of them panicking like a chicken waiting to be sacrificed.

This was especially so, when the Film Studio’s analysts, predicted that they might not even make $20 million back in Box-office returns.

That wasn’t even anywhere near half of their invested budget.

As Victor stared at the analytics via a report his secretary had fetched him, a cold sweat broke on his forehead, his head buried in his palms in defeat.

This was a financial pit he and his Execs were going to spend more than a year recovering from.

* * *

(A few days later…)

Owen stared at the massive tent before him with childlike wonder, a gaze that Stuart himself shared before he and the assistant, walked into the rented circus grounds for a week.

And no sooner had they stepped in, they were treated to the carnival-like atmosphere in it, their gazes travelling over the expanse of its width as stagehands, extras and the some of film crew, went about setting up the vibrant theatrical charm the music video was going to have.

Vintage posters were strategically arranged along the walls of the tent while colorful, antique props; barrels, small podiums and whatnots; littered the grounds of the circus itself, a few stagehands carefully moving them in place.

Added to that were the trapeze swings and colorful silk ropes hanging overhead, all of it adding more energy to the lively atmosphere.

Soon, Owen and Stuart’s gazes, landed on Kyle whom was standing side by side with Tyler, both individuals currently speaking to a bunch of back up dancers as they exchanged thoughts and ideas on the expansive centerpiece, fit with dazzling rings of golden string lights that were yet to be lit.

Oliver too, already back from New York after his mini-vacation with Tiana, was on ground, the suavely dressed man, currently discussing something with Maria and the crew whom were pointing to a few pillars they’d need to mount the cameras at.

A few minutes later, both, having exchanged greetings with everyone and making their presence known, suddenly heard the voice of a familiar lady, commenting audibly in concern;

“Uh… this trapeze rig is far higher than what I’m used to!”

Everyone turned over in the lady’s direction.

“No one told me it was gonna be 15 to 20 ft taller!” Jasmine continued, the wariness in her heightened voice palpable.

“And there’s no net!!” she added, her arms flailing in anxious exasperation.

Currently, the lady was in a cherry picker, one that was being operated by one of the hired workers on set.

Hearing her complaints, the man in the cherry picker, stopped said vehicle and glanced over to everyone else who was staring with a slight, casual shrug of his shoulders.

Sure Jasmine was securely and perfectly hooked up to the wireworks but still, it was understandable that she’d still be wary of something she wasn’t typically used to.

However, before anyone could even say anything, Kyle walked towards the lady.

Making his voice as deep and motivating as possible, the young star spoke to the lady from below with a pointed finger;

“Jasmine. You’re a badass.”

Staring at him for a brief moment, the lady too, felt her ego swell and instantly, she turned to the young man operating the cherry picker and spoke in her most confident, sassy voice;

“Take me up.”

To that, everyone burst into laughter, the echoes reverberating across the wide expanse of the circus’s tent.

Yet, as everything else was rosy for the team and the crew who were going to be filming the music video for Kyle’s fourth song, Gwen on the other hand, inhaled the scent of her fresh, early morning coffee.

“Ah~. Nothing like a hot cup of coffee in the morning to excite the senses…” she calmly yet audibly commented, a light, graceful smile on her lips.

To that, Camille and Miguel whom were also about to head out to check out the circus Kyle had rented for the music video, shook their heads in resignation as the Lawyer commented;

“Have fun.”

“I will!” Gwen waved them off without tearing her gaze from the screen of her laptop, the door to the office closing behind her with a light thud.

Taking a small yet satisfying sip, the lady then placed her coffee down on the desk, her movements relaxed and her mind, serene.

And then, with one brief look over at the brutal article she had been prepping for almost a month now to enforce karma on Justin, the Social Media and PR Manager, hit send.

…

…

…

PS – Read Author’s Note.