CH43

Working as an agent often involves encountering celebrities' strange requests or behaviors, such as demanding a personal chef for a pet iguana or blatantly ignoring scripts and directorial instructions. This usually stems from stars becoming arrogant due to their fame, but this situation is a first.

"Requesting numerous extras roles… what does that mean?"

It would have been understandable if he had demanded a significant role immediately, but this request was puzzling.

Austin's question prompted serious contemplation among the gathered people in the meeting room.

"Didn't his parents take on debt to buy a house? Maybe it's because of that."

"But how much can you earn as an extra? If it was about greed, his parents would have asked for as many advertisements as possible."

"Could it be a test for us?"

"A test?"

Austin, showing interest, listened as an employee confidently explained.

"He's an actor known for his ambition in roles. Since we've signed a contract, he might want to see our capabilities. It's hard to get a decent role immediately, so he asked for extra roles."

"Hmm. He wasn't ordinary from our first meeting."

Ordinarily, it would have been dismissed as nonsensical for a child actor, but Austin had seen Ian leading negotiations instead of his parents.

Considering it a plausible idea, Austin called out to Nick, who had been silent.

"Nick!"

"Yes, yes!"

"Where's your head at these days? Focus on your work! Now, why do you think he made such a request? You're close with Ian; let's hear your thoughts."

Nick thought about the child actor who unusually showed a lot of interest in him.

Despite pondering, only one answer came to mind.

"Maybe he just wants to do it?"

"Just because?"

Austin frowned, displeased with the lack of focus and sincerity in the answer, especially since Nick had just transitioned from being an intern.

As he was about to reprimand him, an employee entered.

"We've received a casting request for Ian from Acosta Casting. But…"

Receiving the paper, Austin blinked.

Listed were numerous projects marked for extras.

"Acosta has a connection with Ian, right?"

"Yes. He debuted through them. Maybe Ian had a hand in this."

It was clear to Austin that Acosta wouldn't make such a proposal to a successful child actor without Ian's involvement.

"Exactly, he's evaluating us. He's showing off that he can also make these arrangements."

"So, what do we do?"

"What else?"

Ignoring the request wasn't an option.

"Proceed as he asked. Schedule it tightly so it doesn't interfere with his studies and Beverly Hills Moms filming. He'll give up after a week."

Knowing the sudden influx of a "predator" would upset other child actors was not their concern.

A week of hardship would make him appreciate the good shooting environment he had.

As people dispersed after the meeting, Nick murmured, "…but really, I think he just wants to do it."

He could only imagine Ian enjoying the packed schedule instead of complaining.

***

Daniel, holding the camera, sound, and lighting equipment, moved busily among the staff.

The scene was too familiar, yet Daniel felt proud.

'I'm filming a movie.'

Recently, everything was going well. He finally succeeded in movie casting, which had repeatedly failed, and his strict father had become more affectionate.

Though he was shy to admit it, the person who sparked this change was someone his age.

"Are you getting along well with Ian these days?"

"Ian?"

It was all Ian, the catalyst for change.

Although Daniel didn't know the contents of the letter his father promised to write once he became an adult, he had a hunch.

Daniel responded curtly.

"I don't know. He says he's too busy to even contact properly. How busy can he be?"

"Don't say that. He must be genuinely busy."

"Anyway, I'll be busier."

He thought, by then, he would have to earnestly ask to hang out together.

Imagining that day, Daniel smiled contentedly when he noticed a commotion among the extras.

"What's happening?"

Seeing the child actors jumping around in a circle and causing a ruckus was one thing, but even their guardians joining in was unusual.

Driven by curiosity, he approached.

"What, what are you doing here?!"

It wasn't a mistake. Ian was there among the noisy children.

Surprised to lock eyes with Daniel, Ian casually waved.

"Hi. Why am I here? For the shooting, of course."

Shooting? The upcoming scene depicts the protagonist's past, envying the ordinary lives of other kids.

Except for Daniel, the protagonist's child actor, it was a role without a single line for the extras.

'Could I have read the script wrong? That's impossible.'

Or had the protagonist's child actor been changed to Ian?

Forgetting the protagonist was supposed to be Caucasian, Daniel was lost in his baseless fantasies when a staff member approached.

"We're starting the shoot! Everyone, get ready."

As the camera rolled, Daniel, in dirty clothes, blankly watched the kids play football.

To him, who was taught to be grateful even for attending school, joining a sports club was unthinkable.

"I wish…"

Perhaps God heard the child's longing, for a misdirected ball rolled right up to him.

Mesmerized, he grabbed the almond-shaped, oval ball. Ignoring the kids gesturing for him to return it, he turned and ran away.

"Well done!"

Receiving praise, Daniel caught his breath and felt proud.

The next scene involved being caught stealing the ball and getting beaten by his father.

'Wait, then where does Ian come in?'

He had only filmed a scene playing football among the kids.

This curiosity was quickly resolved by the approaching Ian.

"Good job. Keep up the good work with the shooting."

…Really? It's going on like this?

Daniel blinked in disbelief.

***

In Hollywood, where networking reigns supreme, rumors spread fast.

Especially the strange ones.

"Ian Pryce? Why would he do extras?"

"Seriously, it's true. And not just one or two."

Initially, most dismissed it as mere gossip. After all, WBE wouldn't push a thriving child actor into extra roles without losing their minds.

But sometimes, the world defies logic.

"Is this okay?"

"I don't know."

It was an ordinary classroom scene. Among the needed dozen or so child actor extras, Ian sat there like an average student.

Most child actors wouldn't even be considered for the luxury of being used as extras, so are you happy about it? It felt like a guilt of cooking stew with an expensive tuna belly.

Unable to bear it any longer, the director approached Ian.

"Ian, would you like to try a few lines?"

"No, it's not in the script. I can't cause trouble because of me. It's okay."

He wished Ian would just accept and say a few lines, but the director sighed deeply at the continuous rejections and started the shoot. It was a common scene in any set Ian visited.

By the time Ian's escapades were widely known throughout Hollywood, the audience began to notice something odd.

-I was watching Crisis at the Mart, and Ian appeared.

└Doing what?

└Just pushing a cart and barely showing his face.

└Isn't that a clue? He'll show up later.

└He needs to be properly featured for that! He just passed by!

-Did you see the elementary students brought in today's Golden Hour?

└Are you talking about Ian?

└Yes! My kid and I were so excited, waiting just for that scene!

└But he died right away, right?

└Exactly! My kid started bawling, telling me to bring him back to life. They could've at least turned him into a zombie!

Initially, viewers thought of it as mere cameos, but as the "Find Hidden Ian" game continued, they sensed something was off. He appeared too frequently.

"We can't keep this up."

"Figured as much?"

"Yes. They even suggested using him as a supporting actor instead."

Isaac chuckled bitterly. It was absurd to think of scolding him for being an extra and refusing on set.

'It makes sense, though.'

Expecting something because a famous child actor appeared, only to realize it was nothing substantial.

Treating him as a MacGuffin was one thing, but when broadcasting actions reached the point of ridicule in articles, it became too burdensome to continue. And they couldn't simply meet his wish to be a supporting actor, considering the upcoming Beverly Hills Moms summer season drama and Invisible Children Season 2.

Moreover, in the film sector, plenty were trying to exploit the situation, which Ian himself refused.

"…We've lost. Can you tell him it's tough to arrange more shootings?"

"Understood."

Left alone, Austin sank into his chair, feeling defeated. 

Unaware that WBE had been shadowboxing alone, Ian received the response that he could no longer appear as an extra and simply clicked his tongue.

Isaac sighed deeply at the sight.

"What I meant by 'ordinary' wasn't this."

"Why not? I played ordinary roles."

Has the meaning of 'ordinary' changed with age?

An ordinary twig becomes a baton when bundled together. Being an extra to this extent was far from ordinary.

Isaac, shaking his head, extended an envelope.

"This is about your character in Gavin's next project. They plan to start shooting by the end of the year."

"Oh! Is it ready?"

Ian's face lit up as he took the envelope. It contained the character concept and part of the storyboard.

The working title, Alien Hunter, was about the battle between earth-dwelling aliens and hunters with special powers due to aliens.

It was akin to a horror-infused superhero movie.

'Name: Luke Kim.

The original personality is dormant, and what mostly surfaces is a symbiotic alien consciousness.'

At first glance, the character setting might seem like a victim, but the reality is the opposite. The alien wanted to escape, but the original personality wouldn't let it go. The point of humor was the alien, of all beings, shivering in fear whenever the main personality was mentioned.

'The ability is division. When the original personality surfaces, it's the strongest, but when the alien is present, it plays a supportive role.' 

It was a kind of split-personality character, and the fact that nobody wanted the original personality to emerge because it was uncontrollably powerful made it interesting.

"I like this character. But how come you're the one bringing this to me instead of Director Davis?"

"After confessing about being phasmophobic and getting along with Landon… it seemed like I wasn't needed anymore."

"You're sure it's not bullying but getting along, right?"

Isaac shrugged nonchalantly, and Ian, holding the precious documents close, said, "I hope this movie does well and turns into a series. And that Director Middleton joins properly."

"Yeah, Gavin would hope for its success too."

Though probably not to the extent of actual hope.

Both shared a light laugh, harboring the same thought.

"Besides, I saw you looking at some music scores earlier. Planning on dubbing again?"

"Well, something like that. It's a highly anticipated score."

Ian recalled the disappointed expression on Dorothy's face when she mentioned that Ra-I hadn't released any new songs.

The time to relieve that disappointment was drawing near.

***

"Money does make things nicer. It feels like love."

"Stop talking nonsense and focus on recording, will you?"

Ayla, blushing at the engineer's joke who had helped with the recording last time during Any Time, scolded him lightly. Even though the expensive equipment didn't burden Ayla, thinking that Ben had prepared it for his daughter made her slightly embarrassed.

"Then, before we get it right, let's try recording. Ian, are you ready?"

-Yes!

With his bright voice, the accompaniment for I'm a Coward started playing.

Shortly after, an album consisting of ten songs was released on the channel Ra-I, thought to be defunct.

"Ian! Ra-I is insane! Sweet and sexy! I'm gonna marry a guy like Rai."

Ian, bouncing around happily with Dorothy, couldn't bring himself to tell her that 'Ra' was a girl, and 'i' was right in front of her.