My Hollywood System

Chapter 72:

23 April 2011,

It has been more than a month since the shooting of [Sherlock Holmes] started. And as time ticked down, the shoot was almost about to end.

The hype about Will and Blair Witch was starting to die down as new movies and scandals had taken away the majority of the public interest. With that said, Will was still mentioned in talk shows and Hollywood news from time to time and people would end up speculating what the star rookie director was up to.

Even the matter regarding Will and June’s romance had disappeared as these things were common in Hollywood.

“Okay, it’s time to shoot the last scene.”

Everyone started preparing for the last scene of the movie, as it was in the apartment where Sherlock and Watson lived, it wouldn’t take much effort and preparation to shoot it down.

It was the scene where Watson and Mary enter the apartment, only to see Sherlock hung by a rope. It was an experiment by Sherlock to come up with a theory as to how Lord Blackwood survived even after getting hung.

As Will gave his signal, the shoot began with Levi Richards and Mia Allison, the actors playing the role of Watson and Mary respectively entering the iconic 221B Baker Street.

Mary asked Watson that does he really thinks that Sherlock has come to terms with Watson moving out. Watson reassures her by reminding her to look at the ring Sherlock had given them.

Everything was going perfectly fine with the shooting as the cameraman accurately shot the scene. The next scene started right after.

The scene went as follows– Watson would open the door to Sherlock’s room and would stand dazed for a second, after which Mary enters the scene and gasps seeing Sherlock hanging by a rope.

In this particular scene, the actress who was playing Mary, Mia Allison, instead of gasping, laughed every time she saw Robert hanging there. And because she laughed, everyone else would end up laughing including the cameraman as it was funny to be seeing Robert hanging there like a doll.

Will didn’t reprimand anyone as this was the last scene of the shoot and they had the whole day free, so he just smiled with everyone else.

When Robert saw people laughing at him again and again, he demanded to put himself down and in reply, the guys who were managing the ropes pulled him up even higher instead of lowering it, making everyone chuckle. Robert looked towards Will with an indignant eye and Will just laughed out loud at that.

***

“Cut.”

After many errors, they were finally able to shoot the scene as the shooting officially came to an end.

“Alright, guys. It’s a wrap. The shooting has finally ended, and if everything goes well, we’ll be flying back to America tomorrow.”

Will said as everyone cheered. Some people were clapping while some people just continuously cheered and enthusiastically talked to their colleagues.

Some people were just happy that they had become a part of such a high budget movie. Some employees from the previous Krown Studios were even crying tears of happiness. Right at this moment, nobody cared about how the movie was, how much it would earn, or even if it would be a hit or a flop.

All they cared about was that they had become a part of a big movie.

As everyone was wrapping up, Will made a few calls here and there and after some time, clapped his hands to gather around the whole team.

“I’ll be throwing a party at White Ruby Hotel, everyone is invited. I would really appreciate it if you guys can take some time to come and enjoy the party.”

Everyone cheered again at that. For reference, White Ruby Hotel was where Will had called Robert the first time to make his offer and leave an impression on him. It was a famous 5-star Hotel which boasted luxurious facilities and a price normal people can’t afford.

***

Friday, 25th April 2011. White Ruby Hotel

The party was in full swing in a private hall that Will had booked in the hotel.

Everyone from Dream Vision studio and the people involved in [Sherlock Holmes] were present. Will had even invited Benjamin, James, Spencer and other such individuals too.

Spencer Miller had some work and didn’t come due to some work but he had sent a message from James that he would definitely come to the next invitation Will sends.

Everyone was busy drinking and celebrating the wrapping up of the movie. The atmosphere was filled with Joy and social statuses and such seemed non-existent here. Still, people who were acquainted with each other had formed groups and were chatting amongst themselves.

Jeffrey was in really high spirits as he was continuously drinking and was toasting to others to make them drunk too. After a while, Jeffrey, Robert and Levi were even dancing together with weird movements, with Rachel (The actress who played Irene Adler), Mia, and Emilia (Jeffrey’s wife) awkwardly yet happily keeping them company.

Will just laughed seeing the joyous atmosphere. With two wine glasses in his hands, he walked towards Ewan who was standing at one side alone, with a light smile on his face, formed due to the pure joy the others were showing.

Will got near him and offered him a glass of wine, which he accepted with a smile.

“Thanks.”

“I had a talk with Simon Vercetti yesterday, and he had agreed to meet up with you. He’ll contact you soon regarding the meeting.”

Will said as he sipped the wine from the glass while looking towards the happy crowd, instead of Ewan.

Ewan’s eyes widened for a moment before he chuckled lightly. He never expected that the bait that Will had thrown to catch him would even feed it to him. But since had said it, it means his long wish to work with Simon would finally be fulfilled, because he was confident that Simon would pick him for a role as long as he let him audition.

“Thanks, man. That means a hell lot. Not gonna lie, you turned out to be a lot better than the agents I’ve fired till now, haha.”

Ewan laughed as he said that. It was true, he had gotten a lot of agents and fired a lot of them too just because no one was able to get him a role in one of the Oscar director’s movies, but Will was able to do it.

“Haha, true that. Why don’t you make it a reality?”

Will laughed and said meaningfully, to which Ewan just looked at him in a confused manner as he raised his eyebrows.

“The thing is, I’m preparing a startup for a talent agency, and an actor like you is something that I am really in need of. Of course, the decision is yours but I would like you to consider it.”

Will didn’t beat around the bush and directly said what he wanted. In his previous life, there was a taboo that a film studio and talent agency can’t be owned by the same person/entity, but in this world, there was no such thing and many studios also had their own talent agencies.

“Haha, you’re getting bolder and bolder. Your ambitions are getting so high that I would have shrugged you off without any consideration if I didn’t know any better.”

Ewan laughed and said teasingly, which was in fact the truth. After all, his nature made it hard for him to talk with and made him want to throw away anyone who seemed to be wasting his time.

“If you don’t know, I’m banned from many agencies including the big shot ICM. That’s one of the reasons I work solo. You’ll only attract unnecessary attention with me.”

Listening to Ewan’s reasoning, Will became excited inwardly. Because Ewan hadn’t straight out rejected the idea which left room for discussions.

“I guess we have some things in common after all. Even though I don’t like ICM and their ways, we are supposed to get into a bitter relationship sooner or later.”

Will replied, trying to empathise with Ewan. One of the most common ways to rope in people was to be able to empathise with them, and Will was a natural at it.

“There are more chances I will storm out of your agency just because you weren’t able to get me to work with someone I like.”

Ewan said. At this point, both were basically discussing their points as to which Ewan would join or not, without saying it out loud.

“I am more than willing to take such risks when I’m trying to rope you in.”

Will chuckled and said. Sounding like a shrewd merchant from mediaeval times.

Will was willing to go to a certain extent as long as Ewan didn’t demand anything too unreasonable. If he was able to rope Ewan to his agency, then Ewan and Robert could make up the front of his agency after the release of [Sherlock Holmes]. After all, his company needed some successful stars to rope in the strugglers.

“Your offer is interesting but I would have to decide when I’m not drunk.”

Ewan chuckled and poured himself another glass.

“Then, let’s have a meeting in two days. You can visit the Dream Vision office and look around.”

“Why not tomorrow?”

“I am doing something important tomorrow.”

Will said and thought about June. She had almost stopped talking to him a lot and they would just text from time to time.

He knew that she wasn’t taking care of herself and something was weighing down on her mind. That’s why their relationship has become a little stale lately.

But tomorrow, he wanted to talk to her and find out the reason behind her strange behaviour.