Rise To Stardom - Chapter 229
Chapter 229: Money Grubber
The next few days on set went by steadily.
The other scenes that had been shot so far though, were scenes that majorly involved Caitlyn North and Malakai Volt, all of which led up to the initial cryptic first scene in the movie that they had already filmed.
Due to the fact that the floors in the high-end laboratory Cass had rented out, only allowed for filming within a set period of time, Xavier wanted to ensure he got all those scenes down first.
That said, despite only having to film three more scenes at the laboratory, the crew had actually been filming those same scenes a few times over for three days straight now.
The cause?
Clint, unsurprisingly.
Due to not being on a movie set for the longest time in years, the last he could remember being thirty years back when he was still struggling to pursue acting as a career and land roles, the now middle-aged actor was very rusty.
As a result, it took him a bit of time to get used to all the subtle technicalities that actors needed to keep in mind while acting, even as they played the roles of their fictional counterparts.
Positioning himself at just the right angles for the cameras, keeping little gestures from one take that might link to the next, speaking at just the right vocal elevations, all these and more, just to name a few.
Yet, despite all this, Xavier and Kyle, alongside the rest of the crew on ground, didn’t mind retaking those scenes because Clint, to put it simply, was just so captivating as an actor to watch.
And as Kyle watched him re-take an important flashback scene that would be used later in the movie with another actor on set tasked with playing the role of Horizon Tech’s CEO, Eccleston Wild, he curiously appraised Clint.
___________________________
{Clint Rockwood} – 55 years
Acting › Level 13
Skills – [Magnetism].
___________________________
___________________________
Passive Skill – [Magnetism]
Subconsciously adjust a performance to draw all focus towards yourself. Effect gets stronger the deeper you embody a role.
___________________________
‘Ah… That explains it…’ Kyle inwardly commented as he dismissed the panel a few seconds later and focused his attention on the scene once more.
That said, a few minutes later, after Xavier had filmed the scene and gone to check the cameras if the take came out alright, he then gestured to the crew that it came out great with a hand sign as he stated;
“That’s a wrap for today.”
To that, Clint let out a deep sigh of relief as a caterer on set, offered him a bottle of sparkling water, one he received appreciatively.
As for Xavier, he was already discussing with Kyle about tomorrow’s scene, one that would include the young star and Jeff.
It was the second scene of the movie that would play out years later, after the events of the first scene which had happened fifteen years earlier.
At the same time, it would also be the audience’s first introduction to Nathan North, the protagonist of the story and his weirdly unhealthy yet intriguing obsession with making money.
In any case, Clint, after downing a few gulps of water, soon recalled something his daughter had been clamoring for in more recent memory ever since she got discharged from the hospital.
And at first, the doting father had been unsure if he’d be able to grant her wish.
But, after realizing how welcoming the environment on set was, especially with how they never for once made him feel like he didn’t belong despite how rusty he was, he was more comfortable with actually trying to run his request through Xavier and Kyle.
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So, with a few steps taken towards the duo whom were still discussing, Clint, upon gaining their attention, then spoke to both regarding the request, hoping they’d be generous enough to allow it.
* * *
(The next day…)
As Xavier and Jeff got about to discussing a few things regarding today’s scene the moment old Hollywood star arrived on set, Kyle on the other hand, was having a very mundane conversation with his new friend outside the quaint-little house’s lawn.
“I don’t know Liz. Mr. Flufferkins doesn’t feel very… gentlemanly.” he debated with a young Eliza whom was on set today and was carrying a quiet, white feline in her hands.
A trained cat.
One that was required for today’s scene and a future scene.
No sooner had Kyle arrived on set, for some odd reason or the other that no one on set couldn’t exactly fathom, the feline had walked up to him and jumped right into his arms, refusing to leave.
That was until Clint arrived on set with his daughter whom was stoked to finally be able to experience her very own ‘Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Day’, one she had unfortunately missed out on due to her frail health a few months back.
The cat, having originally refused to leave Kyle’s arms all morning, actually took kindly to Eliza when she gestured towards it with an innocent smile.
And so, having practically skipped the acquaintance stage and were now friends due to their snow-white feline friend, both had taken turns to start naming the male cat till filming began in a few minutes.
“You’re right. It really doesn’t sound like something that’d fit a regal-looking cat like him.” the young girl nodded in agreement as Kyle gently stroked the cat’s head.
Then Eliza’s eyes lit up in excitement.
“I’ve got it Uncle Kyle! How about Lancelot?” she asked of the young man who tilted his head slightly, his tone curious;
“Hmmm… Lancelot does sound fittin-”
Pausing mid-speech, a hint of eureka in his eyes, Kyle stated amusedly with a gestured finger;
“Pouncealot!”
“Oooh! That’s a good one!” Eliza gleefully clapped, startling the quietly resting cat.
“And get this Liz…” Kyle who wasn’t done yet, added honorifics to the cat’s new name as he gestured with slightly outspread arms this time while donning a light grin;
“Sir. Pouncealot!”
“It’s perfect!!” Eliza practically squealed in excitement, startling the regal-looking feline once more!
Finding their interactions heartwarming, Clint alongside a few extras on set whom were watching the duo, soon watched as Kyle was informed by one of the production staff that Xavier was ready to shoot the scene.
And so, apologizing briefly to Eliza, promising he’d bring Sir. Pouncealot back after he was done filming, Kyle retrieved the quiet feline from her arms as he moved towards the building and into the house.
Having taken his position inside the house alongside Jeff a few seconds later to begin the scene, Xavier, after making the necessary checks, gave the order;
“Lights… Camera… Action!”
{Tech Wiz: Year One | 1st of July 2022 | Act 1 | Scene 2 | Take 1}
As the sun peeked through the window of a quaint little house in the suburbs of New York City, an old man who seemed to be in his late 70s, hummed in quiet satisfaction as he walked into the kitchen.
Placing a plate and a mug at just the right spots on the kitchen slab, alongside dropping two slices of bread into the toaster, the old man then cracked two eggs into a frying pan.
Lighting up the stove and tossing the shells into the bin, he then flipped on a weird-looking switch on the kitchen’s wall.
No sooner had he done that, a familiar homemade breakfast assembly line, whirred to life, while the old man himself, casually made his way out the door to retrieve something.
A repurposed hand mixer, rigged with makeshift gears and a pulley system, spun the cracked eggs in the pan while a salvaged rotor of toy car adjusted the heat on a portable stovetop.
About a minute later, the toaster, modified with springs from what seemed to be an old RC car, popped up two slices of bread, both of which were promptly snatched by a mechanical arm built from an old umbrella frame and bicycle cables.
At the same time, a clunky, somewhat gear-driven contraption made from clock parts and scraps of aluminum, guided the mug under a carefully positioned wide tube, slowly releasing a nice pour of freshly brewed coffee from the coffee machine.
With a final, satisfying click, the make-shift robotic appendage, nudged the toast, flipping it onto a plate where a second make-shift robotic arm using tongs, duct-taped to its grip, slid the fried eggs neatly beside them.
As the old man walked back into the house with a newspaper in his hands, his features finally shown, Grandpa George grinned with pride, grabbing the cup of coffee as the automated breakfast station finished its daily morning routine.
His grandson’s contraption, one he had built in his freshmen year of high school, was just as messy, clunky, and prone to the occasional sputter as one would expect.
But even after all these years, it still worked. And for George who hated cooking, that was all that mattered.
“Nate! Breakfast’s ready!” he called out as he took a sip of his coffee.
However, having awaited his reply which turned out to be non-existent, George sighed and made his way up the staircase.
Reaching his grandson’s room, he found the door slightly ajar, and, upon fully opening it, was not the least bit surprised to see him coding a few lines for what seemed to be a game.
“It’s a gacha. Don’t ask.” Nathan, without even tearing his gaze from the laptop, continued coding.
“Up to your money grubbing ways again?” George leaned on the door frame with curious smile.
“Gramps. My only goal in life, as you know, is passive income.” Nathan relentlessly tapped his keyboard, the side frame of his visage implying an almost sadistic smile.
“Dollar bills.” he added, abruptly pausing the line he was coding as he twirled around on his gaming chair to face George as he continued;
“Big Bucks.”
“Helloooo, Benjamins!”
“Deep, freakin’ pockets!”
As he continued his concerning monologue, his sleep-deprived eyes glinting with capitalism, George subtly shook his head in mix of amused concern;
“And with this, I’m gonna achieve that.” Nathan tapped a button on the keyboard and voila, the game seemed to have reached completion.
“Sure you will kiddo. Now, breakfast beckons. You’re gonna miss your first lecture.” George simply remarked with a reminder as he gently pushed off the frame and made his way downstairs.
Instantly, Nathan widened his eyes in a mix of shocked realization!
“It’s today?!” he exclaimed as he haphazardly began to pack his laptop into his messenger bag and a few other necessities!
Literal seconds later, he rushed down the staircase to reach the dining room, running into their adopted cat, who poked his head from a fairly large hole in the ceiling while meowing.
“Morning, Sir. Pouncealot! How’s the weather up there?” he greeted and just before he rounded the corner, caught sight of a door on the far end of the corridor.
Pausing for a few moments, he stared at said door with a mix of complex emotions in his irises, his mind flashing back to an old memory of his mother packing her bags late in the night.
Blinking the thought away, Nathan soon arrived at the dining room, his plate of bread and toast at the ready.
George as usual, was already flexing his newspaper, taking another sip of his coffee as he peeked from above its edges and commented assuringly;
“Look. I know you feel college’s a waste of your time son, but, trust me, it’ll be worth your while.”
“Agree to disagree.” Nathan simply replied with a sarcastic smile as he slid into his chair.
“Tailslate and… Cut!”
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