Behind The Spotlight

[Pujimaki]

Behind The Spotlight Chapter 26


"Muah~~"

A woman blew a kiss in front of a mirror and giggled at her own reflection, clearly enjoying the moment. She had just finished her makeup, and her lips were now a glossy reddish-pink after applying lipstick.

She turned around and looked over her shoulder, admiring her curves with satisfaction, especially her ass, which she had worked hard to maintain. She licked her lips, awestruck by her own figure as if her body were a trophy collection. She took pride in it, treating it like her greatest accomplishment so far.

The woman's name was Dee. She was a barista at a café near the ANT headquarters, a place that had gradually become something of a hotspot. Many agents and even celebrities would drop by to order coffee, hang out, or meet up. They also offered delivery services, but only to addresses within close proximity.

Dee had been working as a barista for two years, ever since she moved to Los Angeles. At first, she had no idea what she was doing or how to make a proper espresso.

But she gradually learned through repetition and observation. The men at the café were kind enough to teach her how to brew coffee properly.

As for her reason for working there? Well, the café's location near ANT headquarters was strategic, perfect for someone chasing stardom. She knew agents and celebrities stopped by regularly, especially in the mornings, so she worked hard to get hired.

Thanks to that, she had met quite a few famous people, famous to her, anyway. Though she never got the chance to talk to them beyond the usual, "Your coffee, sir/ma'am."

To them, she was just a face in the background. Some B-list male celebrities had approached her with flirtatious smiles and cheesy pickup lines, but she never entertained them, no matter how persistent they were.

Let's just say Dee was either too arrogant or too self-confident, depending on who you ask. She believed she was above any B-list celebrity still struggling to stay relevant.

One of her past suitors had been a young, hot, tall, and handsome man with abs and a perfect jawline. He was almost flawless, except for the fact that he was poor. Her standards for a partner required them to match or exceed that level of attractiveness and have wealth. Honestly, if he hadn't been broke, she might've chosen him without a second thought.

It was hard to find Mr. Right in a city where image meant everything.

Still, there was some good news on her side, Dee had successfully signed with one of the agents at ANT. That was one reason she kept working at the café so diligently, even when it meant being on her feet all day.

-- Find a way to get signed by ANT.

-- Find a potential partner with the right look, wealth, and social connections.

These were just some of her goals. So far, the jobs her agent found for her were minor roles in TV shows, background nurse, gossiping office girl, things like that.

But none of that mattered to her ambitious soul. She still believed she'd make it to the top, one way or another.

'If I can't do it the right way... then I can use my body...'

She hesitated at that thought. It lingered at the back of her mind like a shadowy option.

A secret but well-known "business" had haunted Hollywood for decades, an open secret, a curse that never really went away. It lured and haunted dreamers alike.

"James, I have to deliver a coffee to ANT. Can you take care of my shift for a while? I'll only be gone for a few minutes."

Dee came out of the restroom after checking her makeup one last time. She had to look presentable at all times, you never knew who you might run into.

She smiled sweetly at the young man working the same shift, a smile that was perfectly practiced and charming. James didn't stand a chance.

"O-Okay."

The young guy nodded automatically, agreeing before he even processed what she said… She won't let you hit, bruh.

"Aww, thanks, James. You're the best."

Dee playfully approached him and kissed his cheek, leaving behind a faint lipstick mark. The poor guy blushed so hard he turned the color of a ripe tomato as Dee left the café with the confidence of a movie star walking the red carpet.

As she stepped outside, a belching car passed by and released the thickest cloud of black smoke she'd ever seen. Dee coughed, covering her mouth and nose as she stepped back in disgust, glaring at the car.

"Strange... Was that Collin? No, impossible. Collin's a frugal bastard who wouldn't even buy a coffee, let alone own a car. That's the reason I turned him down, poor and stingy is a terrible combo."

She sighed deeply and dramatically. That guy had almost been a perfect match, if not for his terrible financial situation, which, frankly, was worse than hers. Collin had been poorer than Dee herself, and she was barely getting by.

"Well, I heard he earned a commission recently. Maybe he did buy a car. But probably not that rusty, old thing that looks like it'll fall apart at any second."

She smiled as she carefully carried two cups of coffee, mindful not to spill a drop. One was for her agent, and the other... was for Collin.

She'd heard that one of Collin's clients had landed a film project, some kind of comedy, if she remembered correctly.

"That guy... I said we could still be friends, but he stopped talking to me after I turned him down. Pretty childish, in my opinion. He could've at least invited me to star in his client's movie."

Clearly, Dee was disappointed, not just in Collin but also in her own missed opportunity. She decided she would talk some sense into him today, whether he liked it or not.

She entered the building and approached the receptionist with a bright, friendly tone. The receptionist recognized her, not as a client, but because she'd delivered coffee yesterday… and the day before that.

"Is Collin East here?" Dee asked, tilting her head hopefully.

"If I remember correctly, your name is Dee Ceitful, right?"

"You can just call me Dee." She smiled, trying her best to appear charming and confident. But the receptionist remained professionally indifferent. She had seen prettier women than Dee and was not easily impressed.

"I'm sorry to say, but Collin already left."

"I-I see... Then can I deliver this coffee to Mr. Poe?"

"You may."

"Thank you."

Before heading to her client's office, Dee stopped by Collin's cubicle just in case he had returned. But he was definitely not there, not hiding under his desk either. She bit her lip in frustration and walked off with a small huff.

..........
......
...

While Dee's day was being ruined by bad timing and black smoke, Collin was driving to the filming location in his sputtering car. He was painfully aware of the judgmental looks from onlookers as his car released plumes of smoke, looking like some kind of pollution machine.

Yes, Collin was a cheapskate but for valid reasons.

When he arrived, he noticed the person he was meeting was already there, standing at the edge of the set, observing quietly.

William Edward watched the filming from a distance, curiosity and confusion dancing in his eyes. It was his first time seeing a movie being filmed in real life and it was far less glamorous than the behind-the-scenes documentaries had made it seem.

The fact that everyone had to stay quiet was one thing, but even the actors' dialogue was so low it sounded like they were whispering. He wondered how that would be fixed and whether this was normal.

William didn't realize that most films added or redubbed audio during post-production to improve clarity and emotion.

"Ah, Collin, you've arrived!" William spotted the talent agent approaching with a confident stride.

"Sorry I'm late, I stopped by ANT first to check some documents."

"It's fine, really. It's my fault for arriving too early. We agreed on 11 a.m."

This visit was important to William. He wanted to see where his money had gone and whether it was being used wisely. So far, he was impressed. People were working, cameras were rolling, and things looked professional. And honestly, watching a film get made was... fascinating in its own way.

 

[rage11]

Colin Dodge a bullet there. Good for him.

 

[Pujimaki]

Behind The Spotlight Chapter 27


William and Collin watched the filming from a safe distance, about a hundred meters away. The scene Wyatt was shooting today involved an old grandma pole dancing in front of Sam and Jess, under the glaring noon sunlight that seemed to act as a literal spotlight.

It was diabolical... especially considering the old woman was the bride's grandmother, and she looked too enthusiastic about it. Yes, she was strip-teasing right there at the wedding party like it was the best thing that ever happened.

Thankfully, no children were on set today. They were deliberately kept away for obvious reasons.

Sometimes, Collin had no idea what went on in Wyatt's mind when he came up with scenes like this. To cook up something this bold took... "creativity."

'Who let him cook?' Collin thought, forcing a smile.

He secretly glanced at William from the corner of his eye to gauge his reaction. The young rich man was speechless. Utterly and profoundly speechless.

He was speechless because the grandma was really doing a strip-tease, live, with no shame or hesitation! She was actually taking off her dress, piece by piece, revealing far more than anyone asked for.

Granny! It's sagging! And we're not talking about the breasts! There were plenty of other things sagging too.

Absolutely cinema. Or rather, absolutely diabolical.

"Is this... is this normal?" William asked hesitantly, averting his gaze in visible discomfort. He respected the hustle of artists and performers, or whatever this was, but he had no desire to watch this particular act.

He felt no arousal, not even a flicker of intrigue. In fact, it felt like his dignity was retreating, like his very soul was trying to escape his body with every shake of Grandma's ass.

"Well, yeah and no," Collin replied, trying to sound casual.

"This place is private property, and no one will disturb us during the shoot."

"The way you said that made me feel molested just by standing here," William muttered, stepping away slightly like he needed to reclaim his personal space.

"No, I mean... Wyatt's movie is rated R, meant for adult audiences. So scenes like this aren't a problem. This set is closed, on private property, and civilians won't accidentally wander in. Besides, Wyatt knows the boundaries for R-rated films as per the Film Association's regulations. There won't be any full nudity in the final cut. No genitals, even if it looks crazy during filming."

"L-Look! That guy is pulling his cock out! Is that part of the script?!" William's voice jumped in pitch, eyes wide with horror. Was this standard in Hollywood, or had he walked into a cult ritual?

"Erm... probably a method actor taking things way too far."

Collin didn't blink, answering like it was just another Tuesday.

As a former model, Collin had long been numb to things like this. Most people wouldn't believe it, but models stripped naked backstage at fashion shows with zero concern for modesty. Timing was everything, models had less than a minute to change outfits between runway walks.

A fashion show was a live event where designers showcased their creations, and models had to walk with practiced poise, then rush backstage and change as quickly as possible, especially when modeling lingerie or swimwear.

Collin recalled one fashion show in New York where he had to strip naked backstage without warning. People ogled his lower half with intense, almost predatory eyes, like he himself was part of the product line. Men and women alike licked their lips and exchanged glances that said far more than words could.

Thankfully, it was still 1995, no smartphones or hidden cameras existed yet to record and leak those moments to the press.

Years later, backstage culture had become more refined. Curtains and assistants helped protect the models' privacy. But in 1995? No such luxury. Collin had experienced it firsthand.

The modeling industry wasn't the only one with such demands. The film industry had its own share of moments where actors were expected to strip as part of the job. In sex scenes, actors often had to appear intimate in front of dozens of crew members.

If the director was stubborn enough, they might even demand the actors have actual sex for "authenticity." Maybe it was fetish-driven, or maybe the director just wanted realism. Either way, it happened.

To many actors chasing their big break, nudity became second nature. It was part of the job. They had to be professional and unflinching.

For outsiders, it was shocking. But to Collin, it was just another day. He'd even walked a runway completely naked because the designer demanded it.

This was showbiz in its raw, unfiltered glory. If you couldn't adapt, you had no place here, no matter how passionate you were. It was that simple.

After a few more seconds, the scene ended, and Wyatt called for a ten-minute break to reset the props and give the cast some breathing room.

"It's nice to meet you, Sir William. Really an honor."

Wyatt approached with a nervous smile and sweaty palms. Despite being young himself, he knew William had far more money than him.

And William wasn't just rich, he was the sole investor. Every dollar in the budget came from his personal fortune. Naturally, Wyatt's body language showed nothing but respect. In Hollywood, money talked louder than any script.

"I can see you're doing a great job and everything's running smoothly," William said, trying his best to channel the commanding tone he learned from his billionaire father during company visits.

Though he knew nothing about film production, William assumed Wyatt's job was complicated and exhausting in ways he couldn't grasp.

"That's right, that's right. Thank you very much," Wyatt replied, smiling with relief.

The three of them, Wyatt, Collin, and William, chatted about the project's progress. William mostly nodded, pretending to understand. He repeated buzzwords like "coverage," "blocking," and "continuity," even though he didn't really know what they meant.

"Perfect timing. We're missing a few extras today, and I want you both to join the shoot as background characters," Wyatt announced.

Collin nodded without expression, while William's interest visibly perked up. It would be his first time on camera, even as a blurry background extra, it was still exciting.

"Your role is simple," Wyatt continued. "Just clap and cheer at Grandma like you're the happiest wedding guest alive."

"…"

William's excitement deflated. No, plummeted. But he still wanted the experience, so he nodded with a tight, polite smile.

"By the way, William, you're over 18, right?" Collin asked.

"That's right. I turned 18 last year," William said proudly, puffing up his chest like he had just crossed into manhood.

"Thank God. It'd be a problem if you saw that extra swinging his cock around."

"…"

William was speechless again. Collin had the nerve to ask that after he'd already witnessed it, with his own two traumatized eyes. Absolutely diabolical. And tragically unforgettable.

"Since you're an adult, I'll need you to sign an NDA, for legal and confidentiality purposes. Just to ensure nothing that happens here spreads outside this set."

"Alright, sounds good." William agreed, feeling flattered to be treated like a full-grown adult, even if it came with strange responsibilities.

And so, Collin and William joined the scene as background actors.

Let's just say... their experience watching Grandma throw it back was absolutely diabolical, thoroughly trauma-inducing, and unfortunately… permanently etched into memory.

 

[Pujimaki]

Behind The Spotlight Chapter 28


William's cooperation with the filming lasted only a day. Despite his interest, he understood that his priorities had to shift. Summer was ending, and he now had to focus on his college years. His father was adamant about ensuring that each of his children finished college and earned a degree. There was no way around it. Ellijah Edward believed that as long as one had an education, they had the knowledge to survive in this cruel world.

So, even though his children lived privileged lives and could easily rely on their inheritance, Ellijah still insisted they obtain at least a bachelor's degree. That was the minimum requirement, the foundation. In fact, it was one of the criteria for his children to be eligible to inherit his wealth and properties.

Because of that, William also had to go to college, whether he liked it or not. He wasn't aiming for the Ivy League, he knew his capabilities. He wasn't dumb, but he also wasn't going to get into a university like Harvard. So, he enrolled in a regular university.

"...Acting's not that bad," William muttered while driving his sports car with the top down, letting the wind ruffle his hair. He realized acting was fun. Even though his role was just a background character, he found it interesting... although he had no intention of ever partaking in a strip-tease, or whatever that was. That part was too much for him. After that bizarre experience, William never stepped foot in a strip club again and started behaving like a good person.

William had no clear path in life. He knew he couldn't compete with his older siblings for control of Database Giant. They were too accomplished, too far ahead. Besides, his father was still healthy. There was no looming succession battle.

Perhaps he could try to find a profession in the entertainment industry. A beginning, something of his own. Lila Seraphina might be able to help him.

.........
......
...

Days passed.

Weeks passed.

Months passed.

After four months of constant grinding and filming, The Accidental Wedding Crashers officially wrapped production.

Now, Wyatt was working hard on post-production. His tired eyes, with dark bags beneath them, stared at footage that had to be deleted from the final version of the movie. He hadn't had proper sleep in days, maybe even weeks.

Collin had asked his colleagues for recommendations on affordable editing studios in Los Angeles, and most of them referred him to a place called Reel Deal Editing Studio, known for delivering quality work at half the usual cost.

Their funds were nearly gone, like a candle burning its final inch. Thankfully, Collin had already paid the crew and cast who worked on the project. At least that part was settled.

They filmed over 30 hours of footage! That was far too much. Wyatt's job now was to discard the unusable clips while preserving the best takes. Then trim it down, again and again, until it reached an acceptable form. He had to keep cutting scenes until the footage was down to one and a half to two hours, the standard runtime for a movie.

From 30 hours of footage to 2 hours. God knows how much time Wyatt and his editor spent sorting through bad takes and good ones. Even among the best takes, scenes had to be cut to ensure the plot flowed smoothly and the runtime stayed under two hours.

For this film, Wyatt aimed for a 100-minute runtime, plus 10 minutes of credits.

Thankfully, Wyatt Bray had graduated from film school, so this wasn't new to him. He had the theoretical knowledge, and now, the practical experience. Still, he had to admit post-production was an exhausting process. Sorting and cutting footage was just one part of the job.

He also had to work with the editor to actually edit the film, which was tiring. The production could only afford three people for the editing team, and Wyatt was one of them. They took turns sleeping in the editing room.

He also had to supervise the dubbing of lines. The cast spent a week recording their lines in post-production, and Wyatt was present for most of it. He had to ensure every line hit just right, matching the lip movements and preserving the emotional delivery.

Post-production also included Sound Editing which was adding background music, setting the emotional tone, and building tension and atmosphere. Foley sounds like footsteps, rustling, and door creaks were essential. They had to pay for music licenses, royalty-free options were preferred, of course.

If visual effects were needed, they had to budget both time and money. Even a few seconds of VFX could cost a lot.

These were just some of the things Wyatt had to handle during post-production. He was sleep-deprived for a reason. He worked around the clock. Eat, work, nap, poop. Repeat. For at least a month.

The constant pressure didn't help either. Wyatt understood that if The Accidental Wedding Crashers flopped at the box office, his career as a director could be over. His commitment to his dream was absolute.

To be fair, as long as Wyatt didn't screw up, the movie would make money. There were many ways for a film to earn profit. DVD sales, overseas rights, licensing, limited screenings, he was aware of all the revenue paths. But if the film flopped, his climb to stardom would be severely hindered.

Still, as long as he had investors, Wyatt could keep making movies. Maybe not big-budget ones, but movies nonetheless.

"This scene, replay it."

The monitor played a clip where the groom was talking to Jess and Sam.

"I swear I'm not gay, but femboys make my dick brick up." The groom was drunk, clearly not sober enough to filter his words.

Sam and Jess looked at each other and replied:

"That's gay."

The editor paused and yawned, waiting for Wyatt's verdict.

"Hm, this is the best one. Let's keep it," Wyatt muttered, a tired smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

Their editing continued until Wyatt frowned while watching the scene where Collin and William had a short cameo. Wyatt was thankful to both of them, so he gave them screen time as a token of appreciation... Unfortunately, the scene he chose for their cameo was absolutely diabolical.

Wyatt stared at Collin and sighed.

"He's too handsome," he murmured. Collin was so good-looking that he could easily steal the audience's attention, a distracting kind of beauty.

In this particular scene, the audience's attention needed to be on Grandma. If viewers only stared at Collin and forgot to laugh, the comedy would fall flat.

So Collin's cameo had to be cut from the final version. Wyatt didn't want anything to risk the success of his debut movie. He'd apologize to Collin later. Maybe even buy him a drink.

Wyatt, the editor, and the assistant editor spent nearly all their time in the editing room. The place reeked of energy drinks and despair. Slowly, they molded the raw footage into a film. A jumble of clips transformed into a coherent, watchable story. It might look simple on screen, but filmmaking was tough.

For Wyatt to pursue this career, he needed to be tough. He had to be a perfectionist. There was no room for mediocrity. Because movies needed to be perfect in their own way, or else, people wouldn't even recognize them as movies.

.........
......
...

With that, August 1995 ended, and Wyatt finally completed post-production.

He finalized the cut and the credit roll. He even finished two movie trailers, just to be safe.

 

[mauveine]

Wyatt stared at Collin and sighed.

"He's too handsome," he murmured. Collin was so good-looking that he could easily steal the audience's attention, a distracting kind of beauty.

In this particular scene, the audience's attention needed to be on Grandma. If viewers only stared at Collin and forgot to laugh, the comedy would fall flat.

So Collin's cameo had to be cut from the final version. Wyatt didn't want anything to risk the success of his debut movie. He'd apologize to Collin later. Maybe even buy him a drink.

Click to shrink...

Chill, Wyatt, chill
Collin's a professional. He'll understand. He gains more from the film succeeding, than he does from a cameo appearance
...he'll probably still accept the drink, though. He's not a schmuck

Liking the story. But you might think about getting rid of the 'Extras' threadmark category, as it currently contributes nothing to the story

 

[Pujimaki]

Chill, Wyatt, chill
Collin's a professional. He'll understand. He gains more from the film succeeding, than he does from a cameo appearance
...he'll probably still accept the drink, though. He's not a schmuck

Liking the story. But you might think about getting rid of the 'Extras' threadmark category, as it currently contributes nothing to the story

Click to shrink...

Thank you, I'll do that. I'm not used to posting in threads so I'm not sure if deleting is allowed, since there needs to be reasons for deletion. I'll delete the extras later.

 

[Pujimaki]

Behind The Spotlight Chapter 29

Wyatt yawned as he stretched his aching limbs. His joints cracked audibly, a clear sign of exhaustion and lack of rest. Sitting for an entire day without proper breaks was one of the most excruciating things ever. He arched his back and moaned in pleasure. As always, stretching felt incredibly good after being hunched over monitors like a gremlin for hours.

Wyatt rubbed his eyes. He'd been sleep-deprived for more than five months, ever since production began of The Accidental Wedding Crashers. Every night, he had to stay up to review the footage and film reels, study his storyboard, plan the next scene, and coordinate with his assistant for the day ahead. It was a relentless cycle, physically and mentally draining.

And now, even during post-production, Wyatt still had to stay up all night. As if the stress of filming weren't enough, editing turned out to be its own beast. Once this whole ordeal was over, Wyatt promised himself he'd finally take a long, relaxing sleep to make up for his suffering.

'I'm gonna go to a bar to celebrate. This job is not easy at all. There were so many problems at the start of the project, and I had to adjust everything while sacrificing sleep... Now my favorite beverages are Redd Bull and black coffee.'

Back in college, Wyatt used to go to bars frequently. Those carefree, booze-filled nights now felt like a distant memory. But he had heard that bars and parties in Los Angeles were immaculate. No matter where you went, you'd find gorgeous women. Wyatt could personally testify, especially in Hollywood, it felt like walking into a catalog shoot. Almost everyone was stunning.

Fueled by curiosity, he wanted to experience Hollywood nightlife for himself. Maybe he'd even get lucky and get laid. He glanced at his belly fat and sighed. With his current appearance, it might be tough.

After a good stretch, he exited the editing studio to share the good news with his agent. Collin, who had taken on the role of Producer, was also exhausted. Both of them were soldiers in this production, bleeding time and energy for a dream.

He found a phone booth near the studio and dialed Collin's number. The phone began to ring. The buzzing dial tone echoed in his ear as he tapped his foot in rhythm.

.........
......
...

"Oh, you're looking for employees? Hahaha. No problem, no problem. You called the right guy. By the way, the commission's still the same, right? $1000 per person I refer?"

Collin chuckled as the person on the line described a need for production crew members. A familiar type of call in his line of side hustles. The person was a producer of a TV series.

Collin couldn't survive in Hollywood on the meager salary of a small-time agent. He had bills and debts to pay. Thankfully, he had other profitable skills.

First was his talent for recognizing people's skills and disposition. Because of that, he worked part-time as a small-time contractor, a talent scout of sorts. Producers would contact Collin whenever they needed people with specific skills, like prop-making or costume designing.

This unique ability to sense a person's capability felt like a sixth sense, honed through years of observation and instinct. It existed long before he gained the Golden Vision.

He had used this intuition to assess whether someone was "good news" or "bad news." Most of the time, he was right. That's how he managed to find the "right" people. Reliable workers who showed up on time, did their jobs, and didn't create drama.

Unfortunately, even with this talent, Collin still suffered betrayal. Sometimes, he couldn't help but trust those closest to him, even when his gut told him otherwise. At times, the heart overruled the intuition.

In addition to talent scouting, Collin was also a physical trainer, a licensed, professional one with a valid certification. Being a model, he spent most of his time in the gym and learned how to take care of the body properly. Though his certification was about to expire this year, he'd probably renew it.

He had trained two actors before, but neither job lasted long. The first actor switched agencies and chose a different trainer. The second actor was jealous of Collin's height and fired him. Collin was over 6 feet tall while the other guy was only 5'7".

Anyway, both side jobs had their pros and cons. Neither could be relied on for long-term stability. But Collin preferred the contractor job, it required less babysitting and more networking.

"Okay, so you're looking for a Camera Operator, Clapper Loader, and Best Boy Grip."

These weren't glamorous titles, but they were crucial to the crew.

The Camera Operator physically handled the camera during shoots. Depending on the genre and complexity, a crew might need three or four of them.

The Clapper Loader operated the clapperboard, writing scene and take numbers and clapping it in front of the camera before each take, ensuring clean sync in post-production.

As for the Best Boy Grip (and no, it's not a dirty term), he managed the logistics for the lighting and camera departments, making sure everything ran like clockwork.

Collin pulled out a small notebook, it was filled with scribbles and names. He nodded as he recognized three people who fit the bill.

"Tomorrow, they'll head to your studio. If they meet the requirements, great. As for their salaries, you can negotiate… just don't forget my commission. Alright. Thanks, I appreciate it."

Collin smiled. Money was money. If the three were hired, he'd earn $3000. Not a bad deal for a few calls and some matchmaking.

He hung up the phone in a good mood. Some of his co-workers had overheard the conversation and couldn't help but feel envious. Unfortunately for them, they didn't have Collin's unique skillset/intuition, contractor work would be tough without it.

"I gotta contact these three and let them know they've got job opportunities. I'll tell them these could even become permanent roles."

Hope was a powerful motivator.

He reached for the phone again, but it started ringing.

"Hm?"

Collin blinked in surprise. Two calls in a row? That was rare. Maybe someone else was also looking for workers?

He immediately picked up.

"Hello, this is Collin East from Apex Network Talent. Oh, Wyatt! Is that so? Then let's watch it tomorrow. We can invite the cast, too. Take a good rest, you've earned it."

Collin's tone shifted into something more serious as Wyatt informed him that post-production on The Accidental Wedding Crashers was finally complete. The news struck like a lightning bolt. This was it. His heart began to race.

Perhaps… Perhaps his path to success had finally arrived, after years of hustle and heartbreak.

'This will determine if the golden words I see are real... If the movie fails, then maybe I really am mentally ill. Because who in their right mind sees floating words above people's heads?'

He needed to know. Was it superpowers… or insanity?