Final call

Ivy received the files late. There was no other choice left, but to stay up all night to go through the trouble to watch every leading part's audition tapes.

Sending off David that evening, she consoled his lingering worries about her objections and reassured him that there wouldn't be another actor who went unnoticed from him. It was only her way to validate his decision by verifying it with others.

Returning to her dark chamber and continued to go through each tape on the projector, Ivy viewed every actor who participated in reading for the female lead.

Every performance got compared to David's pick and analyzed along with the script.

Beginning from the character's appearance, the personality, the potential of maturing along with the story, and character development- every aspect of the category needs to get fulfilled from the actor's audition.

Apart from meeting the requirements, Ivy expected a unique uptake of the role.

There were a few performances that did impress Ivy. But they all had blunders such as lack of tenacity in maintaining the character, misleading through halfway, over-powering the lines, etc.

One or two satisfied her, but they lacked the spark or the magic. Almost on the verge of giving up her binge and go along with David's decision, Ivy encountered another tryout.

Disinterested from the previous plays affected her, and she laid on her seat, frankly dull with no expectation.

**

The main protagonist is a young model who is in her mid-twenties, a natural beauty that could attract all eyes, a sweet-sounding voice which makes men go crazy, and charismatic eyes of passion could let grasp anyone under its spell.

Ivy looked at the audition in a lack of interest. The actor stepped into the frame and introduced herself to everyone.

Those blue eyes were first to catch Ivy's attention, and she roused from her seat to sit well. She looked through the screen to study this girl.

Slender is her frame, and softer was her skin exposed through her off-shoulder dress, she had grace and also turned quirky from the brief chat with the casting director.

Ivy's lips curled naturally from seeing her innocent smile on the big screen.

Dark golden brown was her hair, and its wavy curls dangled to her sway, brushing her bare skin.

A fresh face moved on the screen, and it intrigued Ivy at first sight that her boredom disappeared. She peered into the screen intently.

The scene that everyone read for the leading part included a smile, a subtle movement, and a series of dialogs.

Each part had a definite meaning behind it, and that is what made the actor shine themselves by creating their versions.

The smile of this character in the story, an upcoming model who is witnessing continuous strikes of success in her career, had a hidden sorrow that she couldn't share it with anyone. Despite the sadness, she puts on a happy face not to worry people around her.

Seeing her suddenly reserved, one of her friends dares, and this causes a subtle movement in her action, which slightly exposes her grief. Finally, the serious of dialogs that every actor took the privilege to make it their own.

Not much surprised with the sweet voice that Ivy assumed already from looking at this girl, her way of demeanor possessed a truth in it.

Searching through the files, Ivy couldn't find the headshot of this lady, and it made her a little angry. Not wanting to dart her gaze away from the performance, she stopped looking up and returned to focus.

The visible tremble in her gestures explained her lack of experience in acting, which could mean that she never had any experience.

Ivy's eyes glisten from the self-discovery, and she moves to the edge of her seat.

For several seconds of that performance, there wasn't any magic Ivy could sense, but it seemed realistic as if that person transformed into the character itself.

Most of the actors that auditioned saw the role as a separate identity, but this girl was able to live as the character to the extent.

It wasn't unique to the eyes of the audience, but it felt closer to the heart.

By the time Ivy could realize the potential of this girl, the audition ended and continued to the next contestant.

Starstruck from the encounter, Ivy panicked to replay the audition of this young lady. She watched it again and again and moved on to the rest of the performances. There were only four that followed this mesmerizing act.

Taking out the script, Ivy skimmed it again to the scenes, imagining the person as the lead that just impressed her in the audition.

***

The night gradually opened up the sky, and the temperature still dropped to chilly weather as the sun lazily rose to welcome the new day.

By the time when the birds stopped singing the tunes of the fall, people woke up and are actively moving to their posts. Bethany reached the office first. She opened the door to feel no presence at all.

"Ivy?" she called, feeling the chilly wind flowing through the open windows.

"Senior?" she called again and walked to the room, hoping to find Ivy.

Knocking the door to open it, Bethany found the projector running to display a girl who appears to be auditioning.

Bethany searched the room to find Ivy surrounded by the scattered papers. One look at it, she knew it is the script for their feature film.

Ivy sank to her chair as she slept.

Bethany doubted whether to wake her up or not when David's voice echoed from the living room.

Before she could silence him, Ivy twitched to open her eyes, and it fell on the screen to find the same girl she's been watching all night. She smiled, looking at the face.

"Ivy-" David entered the room energetically.

Parker followed as he reached the office.

"Good morning!" he said from sighting Bethany in the living room.

"Morning!"

"Where is everyone?" Parker asked, exploring the house.

Bethany signaled the room.

"Casting?"

Bethany nodded.

"How is your team coming up?" she asked Parker.

The two then dived into a brief conversation of their new crew and shared essential details.

Soon to their startle reached a commotion from the room.

Bethany and Parker rushed to find David and Ivy arguing at each other's throats.

"What is going on here?" Parker intervened.

Both stopped quarreling upon seeing Parker.

"Ivy?" Parker called.

Ivy, who was already suffering from lack of sleep, looked lifeless as she explained what happened.

David's first words at seeing Ivy were about her decision, and when he heard the change, his mood plummeted. He asked whom did Ivy choose.

"She is a newbie, Ivy. That girl doesn't have the experience to speak for," David raged to both Ivy and Parker as he heard her explain.

"So what? Is every single actor out there had experience before starting?"

"All I'm saying is that we can find someone who's been a model, but also an actor. It's our first feature film, Ivy. You don't want to babysit a rookie."

Ivy only got more agitated from his responses. She refused to convince him.

"Is this about the auditions?" Parker asked from overhearing their conversation.

"Listen to this, Parker. I know that Ivy wanted new actors and had standard requirements for certain characters. I already chose our main protagonist, who can surpass our expectations easily, but Ivy wants to change her to someone else," David exclaimed.

"What's wrong with the one senior selected?" Bethany asked.

"He doesn't like her!" Ivy said, glaring at David.

"Why? Is she not suitable for the part?" Parker inquired.

Ivy was about to reply sharply again, but a simple glance from Parker made her shut up.

"David?" he called.

Aware of Ivy's request in choosing actors, David did found this new girl perfect for the role, for her beauty matched the character description, and her performance was clean. However, after the audition, when he gave her comments, David discerned her lack of passion for acting.

"I spoke to her. You can ask the casting director too. That girl is and only a model. I asked how she would carry out the character if got selected, do you know what was the answer?"

All eyes fell on David as he revealed to say that this girl, whom Ivy found to be perfect, said that she has no clue in how to approach and would have to figure it out later if at all she gets selected.

"She certainly lacks what it takes to be an actor. We can't choose someone like that-"

As David exploded with his opinion, there came a voice meddling the tension in the room. Bethany looked up to find the same girl whom she saw earlier upon arriving.

All watched the audition tape of Ivy's preference. Parker took the chance to witness, and as the clip ended, Ivy pointed out to her friends.

"What do you guys think?" she asked.

Bethany and Parker honestly answered that it was a decent performance, nothing spectacular or unique.

"Watch it again!" Ivy said to play the clip one more time.

"Now, what do you guys think?" she asked again when it ended.

Both waited to do their own evaluation.

"It appears to be more vivid," Parker said.

Bethany agreed.

"Now, watch this," Ivy said to play the clip of David's pick.

They saw the audition, and at reaching the end of the clip, Ivy asked again of their opinions.

"Which one do you think appeared more natural?" Ivy added.

"The first!" Bethany and Parker replied in unison.

"Exactly! I went through the trouble of looking into everyone's audition, and then I found her. It is not easy to add a lifelike feeling to a performance. That girl has potential even if she is a newbie," Ivy expressed.

"Even if she doesn't know acting?" David counterattacked.

"I will teach her then! To bring out the best from the actor is also the director's job, David."

Ivy's confidence overcame David, and he yielded to her risky decision.

"Alright! It's your call. So-"

"David! She will work. Trust me," Ivy said.

Until then, David had no way to agree to her judgment, but hearing such strong words made him believe in his friend.

"Okay! I'm sorry," he apologized for losing his temper, and Ivy returned her regrets in participating as well.

***

Lucy rested on her bed after another day of a busy schedule, scrolling through pictures on her phone when a call interrupted.

"Frank?" she spoke.

"Congratulations, Lucy. You got the part! You are staring in the movie as the leading character."

Lucy's wearied face lightened from Frank's wheezing news.

"What?" she gaped.

"You got selected, Lucy," Frank continued gasping for air.

Speechless and surprised to even process the good news, Ivy froze to her shock.

"The casting director just called me to inform. They liked your performance," Frank informed.

"But- I didn't do anything great," Lucy stuttered in her voice.

"It seems that the director saw your audition tape and insisted on choosing you over others. I told you that you have the potential to be an actor," Frank goaded in joy.

After praising her more and more, Frank finally ended his call by announcing the shooting date.

Lucy, still suspended from the shocking news, felt lucky for the first time. Despite the role of posing in front of the camera, walking the runway while stylishly displaying the dresses, she finally was able to discover a new side of herself. Since the breakup, this is the first time she can feel genuinely happy.

Soaking into its success, Lucy sent a heartfelt gratitude text to her manager, Frank, who pushed her to take this job. It was a worthy shot, and suddenly movies seem to appeal more to her interest. She could hardly keep her excitement in control and rolled on her bed in jolly.