"Juno" (Revised)

Located in the centre of Saint Monica, California, building of "Mandate Pictures" is filled with hussle and bussle of people going in and out.

"Mandate pictures" is a small scale film company which was recently established last year after changing the name of another company. It has only produced three movies till the date, which were distributed by Sony Columbia.

Sarah reached the studio by 11:30, half an hour earlier than the audition time.

"Call me when you get free, I will pick you up. Don't worry about the audition, believe in yourself, you will be fine." Frank dropped Sarah at the gate of the building.

"You don't have to. I will go back by myself." Sarah tried to persuade, but her words were ignored without even any chance of rebuttal.

She was helpless at Frank's overprotection, but there was nothing she could do. He's just like Emily. If she was Sarah from before, then she might've needed such care, but clearly she was not her old self now. She's a person who has lived till the age of thirty, and is aware of the ways how the world works.

Entering the building, she went directly to the reception. The receptionist guided her to the sixth floor where auditions will be held.

She came to audition for the movie "Juno". As far she can remember, Juno was a phenomenal hit and it boosted the career of its lead actors very much. If she can get the lead role in Juno, it will be very beneficial for her career. After all, Emily sent her to Hollywood on the condition that if she didn't achieve some success in three years, then she will have to return to New York.

Seeing the disappearing back of the girl going toward the elevator, the guy at the reception said: "She's beautiful, isn't she?"

The other guy nodded. Since the morning, they have seen many girls who came for audition, and many of them are somewhat famous too, but Sarah's appearence beat them all. It's not like that the girls before were not beautiful, but they were only ordinary beautiful. This girl's appearance beat them all, she is unique and charming.

The female receptionist saw the boys discussing girls again, she snorted and scolded them. Men are such lustful animals, they really have no control over their lower bodies. But she has to admit that the girl who left was indeed very beautiful. Even she as a woman was a little tempted.

As Sarah stepped on the floor, there were many girls present before her. Some of them took a brief look at Sarah, then turned back to what they were doing before.

The person in charge gave Sarah the waiting number. Her turn was after thirty. Although the late turn is usually a disadvantage in most auditions as director and producers are tired after auditioning all day long, but here it might be helpful for her. She didn't had any prior script before to practice, so she can utilize this time to prepare for the audition.

Sarah took a seat alone, and opened the script given by the staff to reherse her lines. Every girl here was one another's competitor, so the thing about making friends was ridiculous.

The story of Juno revolves around a rebellious teenage girl who has sex with her classmate and gets pregnant. Instead of the usual school romance, the story explores the much deeper themes of childbirth, early age pregnancy and abortion. It's a very controversal but much needed work. Maybe that's why, this movie was such an unexpected blockbuster in her last life.

Inside the audition studio, four people were sitting infront of the only table.

John Malkovich and Mason Novikh, the producers of the movie, Jason Reitman, the director of the movie, and beside him, a member of screen actors union was present.

To be honest, they already have a candidate in their minds for the lead role, Ellen page. But the investors want to cast an American actress in the lead role, as the other cast of the movie is completely Canadian, including the director. After all, they also have to sell the film and the presence of an American actress in lead role can make the pens of North America's critics soft and increase the chances of success.

The low budget movies are mostly released on small scales in the beginning, and only after achieving enough critical success and word to mouth operation, the number of theaters are increased. Therefore, the studio postponed Eliot page's appointment and held another audition.

Three hours later, the person in charge called Sarah's audition number: "Next, number 50, number 50."

Sarah stood up and went inside the studio. There were four people sitting infront of the table and few workers were standing aside.

Sarah's appearance immediately caught the attention of people in the room. After seeing so many ordinary faces, the presence of an exceptional is quite pleasant. The girls who auditioned before, most of them tired to play ugly to look more boyish and cool, when infact, there was nowhere stated that Juno has to be ugly. The term tomboy and cool doesn't conflict with being beautiful at any level.

Director Reitman looked at Sarah's information in his hand. The information of all the participants is placed on director and producers table before the audition. "You have only acted in three minor roles before, and one of them was years ago."

Sarah nodded. Those roles were only minor roles with minimal presence in the movies

She got them while she was in New York on her instructor's recommendation.

Director Reitman handed the page to Sarah. "Read the lines." Although the qualifications of the girl are not enough, but the appearence makes up for that deficiency. Now the thing left is actual acting skills.

Sarah took the paper and read the lines in her mind. She had watched the movie, but it was long ago and now she doesn't remember much.