Chapter 2202
“Cut! That’s a wrap for our leads. Take five, guys. Next up, let’s get our supporting actor in place for his scene.”
The thing about Colton’s movies was that the lead role was not always the one with the most screen time. Sometimes, the supporting characters had just as much-if not more-meat to their roles, which was precisely why so many pop stars anxious to prove their acting chops were both terrified and enamored with the prospect of landing a role in his films. To be cast by Colton was a nod to their talent, a sign they had successfully transitioned from stage to screen.
But, if a lead ended up with less to do than a supporting role, it raised the question: who was really the star of the show? Pride is a tough pill to swallow, and many could not stand the thought of being upstaged, causing them to shy away from Colton’s projects.
Not that Colton would cast just anyone. He did not object to hiring pop stars per se, but he had a keen eye for spotting that special spark in a performer. That was what mattered most. On the big screen, where every flaw was magnified, rigid and textbook acting simply would not do. It might pass on a TV show, but not in his movies. He could not bear the thought of his script in the hands of someone who acted like a block of wood.
Ryan stood out among those transitioning to acting, particularly when paired with Ivy. Her influence had a way of drawing out his emotions, making his character come alive in the
film.
And Ivy-she was a rare gem. Colton still patted himself on the back for insisting she audition. After watching her nail scene after scene, he was more convinced than ever that she was the perfect choice for the role of Valor
With a break in filming, Ivy pulled Ryan aside to check on him.
“Are you okay? I left in such a rush yesterday that I did not even see how badly you were hurt. I’m really sorry about that,” she said, concern written all over her face.
Despite his convincing performance, the scrap with Balfour had looked brutal. She worried he had suffered more than he let on.
Ryan waved her off. “You’re selling me short. I told you in the text it looked worse than it was. Mr. Howard knew how to pull his punches.”
Ivy’s brow furrowed. She wondered if Ryan was downplaying the incident because of Balfour’s intimidating reputation.
“I’m sorry. I wanted to discuss a solution with you, but instead, you ended up getting hurt…”
Ryan sighed. “I’m fine. But what about you? Did you get out unscathed?”
