hollywood system: art

A dubbing contract awaited a petite woman with a slim resume. She was poised to conquer the voiceover world, almost like a strategic chess game. She was positioned to earn $9,000 for voice roles and potentially $300,000 for a film role, with the possibility of reaching $500,000 if, within the next three years, she was recognized as a major actress through nominations or awards from BAFTA, SAG, and other prestigious organizations.

-It's absurd… but Billy Carson is a great friend you should consider. That man always draws attention and makes movies at an unusual pace—having at least one role a year could cover your agency fees and expenses. You might even land more roles, making it possible; your eyes are captivating, - the agent remarked, with an implicit suggestion that she didn't dismiss. The young man's appeal resonated with her, and she replied, "Why not?" She didn't care; he was young, handsome, successful, and disgustingly rich—richer than any African mogul she knew.

-I can consider it, but he's like an iron wall blocking my way… I've tried everything; he's like a sculpture of ice. I flirted shamelessly, at least… I did everything I could,- Charlize commented.

-That's true… he's not wrong. He's a man who doesn't attend many parties, just the occasional random gathering. Few details, but I know you can, darling. Try to get him to help improve your standing in Hollywood; at least he's neither old nor fat,- the agent said, shining with his dubious insinuations and behaviors. She was struggling for a reason, having rejected the red sofa four times and the advances of an old man who was anything but charming and only wanted to get into her pants.

-Thanks, but…- Charlize smiled, unable to deny how unavailable the situation felt.

-You're brilliant; don't waste this opportunity. You've been through so much, and dreams won't pay the bills,- he responded, revealing the secret complicity of foolish triumph. A woman who was failing, her best years being her youth, her best asset being her delicate body. How else could she succeed if she allowed herself to fail? How else could a foreigner thrive in a world as cruel as Hollywood?

…

-Yes, Mom.- She hung up the phone and checked her account—$1,200. She needed to buy a dress, facing the chill of urgency. Rent was due, and she needed to find work—she needed so many things… but she was just a woman without luck. She hoped to get paid for the commercial she participated in no less than two weeks ago, but payment was delayed.

She sighed and took a sip of gin. She laughed at a joke on the TV while stretching her feet onto a footstool. She needed the beach, a place where the breeze could lift her spirits. Anything but the nagging sense of following a dream, a flicker in the air. She resolved it entirely—she wanted to be part of a scene; she needed to be a better actress. She felt she had failed because of her acting skills, that she had lost out simply because she wasn't capable of being a great actress. How foolish she had been to think that only a beautiful face was enough.

***

-Come this way; I love this place, - Monica said, leading Billy through the architectural marvels born from the medieval era and perfectly conjured in the Renaissance. A place of magnificent interactions.

Monica wore a fitted brown dress that hugged her body, revealing her abdomen and back, with two golden straps that started from her lower back and twisted upward, like a fabric embrace that sculpted her figure.

-The light here is spectacular,- Billy remarked, admiring the intricate details of the fortress. It was like a frenzy of beauty; he could already see some exquisite designs emerging from the architecture, the walls touching, reflected between dark and luminous rocks, earth, and stone.

Monica's hand rested on Billy's calloused fingers. They smiled at each other, together as one. The woman with dark hair groomed herself and gazed at the beautiful and exotic woman beside her, full of vibrancy. The weight of the news now burdened her thoughts.

Taking her hand, he brought her wrist to his lips.

Would you blame me for being cynical? - Billy asked.

-As long as you don't hurt me, I wouldn't,- Monica replied.

-Would you blame me for doing things solely for my benefit? A man who is selfish and takes everything he has, a man who abandons his morals and what he's always been taught in pursuit of his goals. I don't apologize, but my actions aren't driven by malice. I fear I want to be both envious and cowardly,- Billy confessed, kissing Monica's lips, as warm and sweet as the first time he had kissed her.

-Why do you say that? - she asked, intrigued and slightly nervous. A man's decision can be decisive, and one like Billy's could be even more so; they merely outline the truth and take it for themselves.

-I want to marry you, but I know our relationship won't withstand the tides of Hollywood. I can see it as clearly as day. I won't settle down for at least ten years. My career matters more to me than anything else. I can give you what I give you now, but nothing beyond that. You deserve a man who can build a family with you. Raising someone requires two people, and I see it in your eyes—you want to be a mother,- Billy said, with a whistle, there lay his blossoming truth. More than anything, Anne was likely pregnant, and now he wanted to end things with Monica. Ironically, he failed by leaving the space for children blank but questioned everything.

Two people united… The dark-haired woman contemplated Billy's words with great care and a poised demeanor. She carried in her sleeve the mistakes that gradually and surely shaped their anxious environment; their relationship would pivot based on his words.

-You ask for my loyalty, but you don't offer your own. You're committed to your job. The entire company is important, and even now, your mind is on work… do you want to pick up a pencil and draw? And what about love—would you always make love to me? Even in twenty years? Would you still find me beautiful in old age? What happens to a woman who dedicates her years to a man faithfully? Forgotten like a painting that loses its charm, or a tower that becomes too costly to maintain?- Monica asked.

Promises from men are not a secure place to dwell, and promises are tied to their realization. A man makes a vow, and he must fulfill it, but such cases have become rare over time; even before, they often ignored their commitments. What can one do if he only asks for a place that perhaps he doesn't belong to?

***

-Do you want an $8,000 advance on the dubbing contract?- Jim Waiit then asked, a bit uncertain about the girl's words. He wasn't quite sure if she was a friend of Billy's, but rejecting her wasn't an option for two simple reasons—he might be sleeping with her or might need her for his work. Beautiful faces are always in demand.

-I'll ask around, and if I get the green light, I'll call tomorrow morning for the deposit, - she replied, completely focused, on a script she had prepared for Billy. Maybe by next year, he would have the time to make another film, but for now, he was so absorbed that everything felt unfamiliar to him.

-Puff, call Billy and tell him I'm Charlie. I don't think he'll mind if they pay me at the end of the month, but I need the money; what's wrong with that? - Charlize said, nervous and caught in the chaos. Her bank balance of $1,200 had now dwindled to $24 after she made a purchase for a beautiful dress tailored to her fit, and of course, there were the weekly expenses. If they could advance her those bills, it would be fantastic for her, as well as for him.

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