"Are you sure the modifications in the script would make it better?"
The cinematographer said, standing next to Jesse, who was checking up the scene on the script again.
They were currently shooting in an office that the production team had booked. It was actually the office of a company that went bankrupt last month, so the team had gotten it easily for a day.
"I hope it does," Jesse said, looking up at him. "Aiden was confident. Other actors were fine with it, so I don't think it matters a lot. It's all about how good he could act in the scene. You do know what I say about a good actor."
The cinematographer nodded.
"A good actor can even make the audience believe that he's a tree." The cinematographer chuckled. "I still don't think that's possible."
"Anything is possible."
Jesse said and looked around. There were three cameras that were going to be used from different angles. He did a simulation of the scene in his mind and how he was going to edit it.
Shots of Mark and Andrew, then a long shot of Andrew walking away. It was all in his mind.
"Let's get down to it now."
He said, and the cinematographer nodded.
The actors took their positions, and the lightning and sound equipment were rechecked to ensure everything was well.
After that, Jesse's voice came out.
"Lights. Camera. Action!"
The sound of a clapping board followed as Aiden closed his eyes.
'Immersion.'
***
[DisconnectedFeb 24-2017Act 7Scene 6Take 1]
The scene was of a new office where everyone was busy with their own work. Snapbook had gotten more than 7 million users, and it was just going to increase from now on as they had managed to capture the American and UK market.
Their valuation was now way more than a million dollars, and it had come out of nowhere.
Thanks to that, they even managed to move to a new office in California.
Step! Step!
Footsteps rang out as a person in a suit walked towards Mark, who was on his computer.
Sebastian, one of the shareholders, played by Dustin, looked at him and frowned.
"Andrew." He called him out, but he didn't listen. Not knowing what to do, he shouted, seeing that Andrew's attention was solely on Mark. "Mark is busy. Just leave."
"Oh, is he?"
Andrew just said that and reached beside Mark. In the next second, he picked up his laptop and banged it on the ground, with Mark looking at him in shock.
The whole office froze.
No one had expected something like this, especially from someone like Andrew, who was soft-spoken. Currently, there was anger visible on his face, and his eyes were a bit red, just realising that he had been betrayed.
Betrayed by the one person who he visualised the billion-dollar idea with.
"Call security," Sebastian said to an employee next to him as Andrew glared at Mark.
"What is this? You issued so many new stocks. The investors… Why wasn't I informed of it?!"
"You were informed that if new investors come in, the shares are gonna be diluted—"
"I was never informed that I was the only one whose shares were going to be diluted!"
Andrew shouted, looking at Mark, who didn't say anything. He knew what he had done, and there was no going back.
"You made a bad deal with Snapbook," Sebastian said, and Aiden turned around.
"It's my company, you douchebag. I have not signed any papers."
"We are going to get it."
Andrew laughed at that, finding it extremely funny. He was going to lose majority control of the company that was built on his own idea. A company that he owned 30 percent shares of which had been diluted to 0.2 percent without telling him.
He wasn't going to just let it happen.
"Why? Why did you do it, Mark? I thought of you as a friend."
Andrew asked Mark, who lowered his head and shuttered to speak.
"It was the best deal for the company. You forgot I created it."
"The company is mine," Andrew shouted. "I gave that idea when you were playing around your dating game. It would have never become this huge without me, and you know what, I bet the one thing you hated is to see me as a co-founder."
Andrew kicked his desk, scaring Mark, who almost stumbled out of his seat. Seeing that, he chuckled.
"You are always going to be a pretentious, narcissistic bastard who talks about having big goals, not for your personal gain but for humanity, but the truth is that you are just another addition to the long list of selfish millionaires."
"Security is here."
Sebastian said, and Andrew turned back, giving him a middle finger.
"I'm walking in."
As he walked with security, Sebastian suddenly thought of something and stopped him.
"You forgot something."
Andrew turned back, and Sebastian Walker took out a check from his pocket. Trying to pass it to Andrew, he smiled.
"Here, some thousand dollars. It would be enough to live for a while. Ask me if you need more. The company has a positive attitude towards donations."
As soon as those words left Sebastian's words, Andrew tried to punch him, but he stopped in the middle, seeing Sebastian walk back a few steps out of fear.
He gave off a light smirk.
"You know I understand why Mark betrayed me and not you. He probably thinks you make him look tougher."
Saying that he glanced at Mark.
"Lawyer up, douchebag. Hire the best lawyers you can because I'm going to get you everything. Remember every single thing!"
He walked away after that, sighing inwardly but having a cold exterior.
Andrew had played the friend part well, but it seemed like he needed to play the enemy part equally well.
At that moment, Jesse's voice came out.
"Cut!!" There was excitement in the voice. "That was a great take. Brilliant!"
***
[You have gotten a lot of experience.]
[You are close to breaking into Intermediate Grade 5 from Intermediate Grade 4.]
[A unique thing has happened!]
[You have performed a scene that has surpassed all expectations. As a result, you have gained a lot of experience.]
[You have achieved a 'Breakout scene' on your own.]
[Congratulations on achieving such a huge feat.]
[The affinity with the character 'Andrew Kingston' has reached its limit for your current level. You are slowly taking one step towards achieving absolute mastery in acting.]
After the scene, these notifications bombarded Aiden's vision, and he went through them one by one. Reading each message, his smile was just getting wider.
He didn't know that one could actually give a 'Breakout scene' without using the skill. It was a nice surprise for him.
Every 'Breakout scene' of his has always been praised as in these scenes, he would actually completely become the character, and any trace of Aiden would be gone.
Just in this scene, he was not supposed to kick the desk of Mark nor was there the last line in the script. It was completely made up by Aiden on the spot.
At that moment, Both Jesse and Dustin walked toward him.
"Aiden, that scene was great! It was completely out of my expectations."
Jesse said. Every director wished for actors to do something that could stun them. This was that, and it was a very pleasant surprise for Jesse.
"Yeah, I was scared when you broke that laptop. I barely stopped myself from getting out of character." Dustin said and squinted his eyes. "How did you even do that? Is it a secret technique?"
"There's no secret technique. I just wanted to make the scene a memorable one and just lost control of myself."
Aiden explained, and Jesse nodded his head.
"Yeah, that does happen, and this scene is surely going to be a memorable one. Just look at the reactions."
When Jesse said that, Aiden looked around and saw that the majority of people on the set were looking at him. The staff were in awe, and Tom was giving a wide smile.
Some extra actors were whispering among themselves, wondering if they would be able to give such a performance one day. The other supporting cast also looked a bit stunned.
"I'm kind of sad that this is going to be your last scene," Jesse said. "I feel like adding more scenes of Andrew on the screen now."
"I would appreciate that, but Jesse, you don't have a lot of time. I also can't give more time to the shooting."
Aiden said, and Jesse sighed, understanding what he was saying. He was going to start recording the rest of the songs from tomorrow and would only be available next when the promotions for [Disconnected] would be going on.
It was a pretty tight schedule that no one could do anything about.
"It's fine. I'm quite satisfied by the scene just now."
Jesse said, and they talked about it like that for a while.
In the distance, a gaze kept looking at them.
It was the gaze of Seth Douglas.
Looking at all the attention on Aiden, especially from the director, Seth was barely able to stop himself from frowning. He didn't like that a supporting actor was getting way more attention than him.
But he consoled himself, knowing who had the true power in the end.
'You might give a good performance, but in the end, SGA and Black Line Cinema have the power.'
Seth thought, jealousy building up inside of him.
...
