{"id":1832,"date":"2019-07-13T18:34:19","date_gmt":"2019-07-13T18:34:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/leighgrissom.com\/?p=1832"},"modified":"2019-07-13T18:50:53","modified_gmt":"2019-07-13T18:50:53","slug":"screen-test-a-short-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leighgrissom.com\/2019\/07\/screen-test-a-short-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Screen Test — A Short Story"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]SCREEN TEST<\/p>\n

By Leigh Grissom<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAre we ready?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYessir.\u201d The production assistant lined up the camera angle and gave him a thumbs-up.<\/p>\n

\u201cSend him in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight away.\u201d<\/p>\n

The assistant ran for the door and called for the first audition of the day. A young man, dark hair, dark eyes, an \u201cold Hollywood\u201d cut to his jaw, with a ready smile and a deep, pleasing voice.<\/p>\n

Perfect. He motioned for the actor to have a seat on the stool across from the camera.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s your name, son?\u201d<\/p>\n

That smile again. \u201cBrian, sir. Thank you so much for this opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got a good look, Brian. I assume you know the script?\u201d<\/p>\n

Brian nodded. \u201cForward and back. I was hoping to read for the part of James Killian?\u201d<\/p>\n

He shook his head. \u201cYou can, but I think you\u2019d be better for the part of the Senator.\u201d He waved his hand when he saw Brian\u2019s worried look. \u201cIt\u2019s all right, Brian. You read Killian\u2019s lines for the test, then we might try some of the Senator\u2019s at the end. Your energy is much too good to be wasted on a part that would force you to hide in a fat suit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSounds great! I\u2019m ready when you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

He signaled to his assistant, who hit the record switch.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, Brian, we\u2019ve got a lot of ground to cover. First, why don\u2019t you introduce yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n

The actor straightened his collar and smiled at the camera light. \u201cI\u2019m Brian Cutter. I\u2019m originally from Washington, DC, and I\u2019m an actor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExcellent, Mr. Cutter. Let\u2019s hear your interpretation of James Killian.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brian cleared his throat and leaned back, glaring at the camera with cool disdain. \u201cI\u2019m trusting you with this, Blake. Double your usual fee, paid up front. Bring it to me before it remembers what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

He smiled. Nice. \u201cVery sinister, Brian. Now, go forward to the scene where Mr. Killian makes his exit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brian took a few deep breaths. When he looked up, fear clouded his features. \u201cSenator \u2026 what is this? What\u2019s going on?\u201d He paused, and mimicked reaching for a gun. \u201cPlease, don\u2019t do this\u2026\u201d He checked the invisible weapon, and mimed pointing it under his chin.<\/p>\n

He clapped his hands. \u201cBeautiful! Such emotion!\u201d He walked over and grasped Brian\u2019s shoulders. \u201cNow, this part of the screen test moves quickly. I want it all, understand? Whatever emotion I ask for, whatever I need you to say \u2013 don\u2019t think, just act. Let me see you think on your feet. Live the part. Got it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGot it.\u201d<\/p>\n

He walked back to his director\u2019s chair. \u201cThis is where you become a star, Brian Cutter \u2013 now let me see how happy you are that you just won the Oscar!\u201d<\/p>\n

Brian stood up, his expression a testament to stunned elation. \u201cOh my gosh \u2026 I can\u2019t believe this! I want to thank the Academy, my wife, my co-stars \u2013 I \u2026 I couldn\u2019t have done this without you!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBeautiful! Do it again for the Golden Globe!\u201d<\/p>\n

Brian obeyed, altering his acceptance speech slightly.<\/p>\n

The director nodded in appreciation. \u201cYou\u2019ll look great in Armani \u2013 now, laugh for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brian took him through several rounds of laughter, from a cynical chuckle to a full-on belly-laugh, even to a \u201cdrunk giggle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019s that?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmazing, Mr. Cutter! Let me see annoyed anger \u2013 you were just accused of making a sex tape with a well-known porn star \u2013\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich one?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAn ugly one!\u201d<\/p>\n

Brian rolled his eyes. \u201cOh, come on, turn the camera off \u2013 I don\u2019t even know her! She\u2019s lying; that tape is a fake!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPerfect! You are attending a movie premiere, Mr. Cutter; get up and give us the red-carpet walk. Be sure and pause to speak with media personalities of your choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh? Okay, sure.\u201d Brian walked back and forth several times, pausing to answer a reporter\u2019s question, pointedly ignoring another.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrian! Walk and talk with a reporter who wants to know about your next feature.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brian obeyed, moving easily, talking with his hands, telling the invisible reporter all about a movie that didn\u2019t exist yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s good.\u201d the assistant whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are so right.\u201d He called out to the actor, \u201cAll right, you can have a seat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brian sat back down on the stool. He looked a little pale. \u201cHow am I doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are perfect, Brian. One more \u2013 loss. Painful, soul-wrenching loss. A loved one, a beloved pet, your very way of life \u2013 you\u2019ve lost it all. Let me see.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brian\u2019s tears slipped down his cheeks in seconds. He wept quietly, staring off into nothing.<\/p>\n

\u201cOhhhhhh \u2026 the strong, silent hero in pain \u2026 you are magnificent. Look at the camera, Mr. Cutter. Give us your best Hollywood look.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brian looked back at the camera. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and he shivered. \u201cHey, uh, I don\u2019t feel well\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all right, son, just a few moments more. You will reign in cinema for years to come, Brian Cutter. You\u2019ve got the part. You\u2019ve got lots of parts coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brian blinked, confusion clouding his features. \u201cI \u2026 what\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust be still, my boy. Be still and look at the camera.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t \u2026 help\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s okay, Brian. Just be still. Welcome to Hollywood.\u201d He turned to his assistant. \u201cDid we get it all?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir, it\u2019s all here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you. How close are we to filming the final zombie fight in Attack of the Brain Eaters?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt begins today, sir. Are we adding Mr. Cutter to the credits?\u201d<\/p>\n

The director looked lovingly at the pale ghost still sitting on the stool, his eyes vacant, soulless. \u201cYes. Be sure to say, \u2018Introducing Brian Cutter\u2019.\u201d It\u2019ll be a bit part, but we\u2019ll film his death so memorably that his career will last longer than he did.\u201d<\/p>\n

His assistant turned up the playback on the video he\u2019d taken. Cutter\u2019s pleas to be set free echoed through the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo they always scream like that when you bleed them?\u201d<\/p>\n

The director nodded. \u201cFor a while. Once the body is dead, they realize there\u2019s nowhere left to go, so I\u2019m able to mold them into whatever role I need them to play.\u201d<\/p>\n

The assistant handed over the flash drive containing the fire and emotion that was Brian Cutter. \u201cHow many souls do you have?\u201d<\/p>\n

The director threw his head back and laughed. \u201cThousands, my boy. Thousands.\u201d He patted his pocket. \u201cRemove Mr. Cutter and send in the next audition. Make it a woman this time. He needs a love interest both on- and off-camera.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight away, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

(c) 2019 by Leigh Grissom<\/p>\n

With credit and gratitude to Brian Cutter for the idea :-)[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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