Chapter One
Goldie
“Move over, more. More.” The director flicked his hand like he was shooing a fly away.
Goldie Hayes clenched her jaw and inched to the side, as directed. She would have furrowed her brow, but the amount of filler and Botox currently in her forehead made that impossible.
“More.” The wunderkind bro dude director was feeling very confident. Why wouldn’t he? At twenty-eight, the studio had entrusted him with the next installment in the Victors Superhero Universe franchise. The VSU ruled the industry and had for nearly a decade.
The writing on the wall was in red capital letters. Trevor Sunday had no interest in making sure Goldie came out of this film with a single good scene; heck, probably not even a good frame.
She was standing there, in spandex, unable to bend or breathe, hands on her hips, her neck aching from the weight of the wig she was wearing, trying not to lose her temper.
Trevor Sunday wanted Piper Love in the center of the frame and Goldie Hayes out of it.
“P. Love, here.” Trevor Sunday gently moved the glorious-looking Piper farther in front of Goldie.
“The side of Piper’s head is going to be in my eye line for the close-up camera,” Goldie pointed out. She had one line in this scene. But it was a good one, maybe even one that could make it into the trailers, the video game, and featured in the roller coaster ride being planned based on the movie inside the VSU park, set to open in Florida next year. Heck, one line, and she could be getting residuals for the rest of her life.
That was the upside to the indignity of all of this.
She had avoided superhero movies. She’d started out in indie movies, moved on to small roles in prestigious dramas, and had become successful in the rom-com genre. Not once had Goldie Hayes donned a superhero costume. But here she was. Her under boob area was starting to sweat in this costume. Did Wonder Woman have this issue?
Her agent promised her this line, this featured moment that could jump-start her current career stall. Trevor Sunday was unaware that this was important to her, or maybe he was. What he seemed most concerned about was the adoring gaze of Piper Love.
“The point of the scene is Piper. She’s facing off with her father, Cromagnet. That’s what’s pivotal.” Trevor was addressing Goldie’s comment but gazing into Piper’s eyes.
Ugh. Okay, well, this is how it was going to go.
Goldie needed that line, and she needed to look good while delivering it. She took a deep breath. And she embodied the sweetest disposition she could muster. She couldn’t boss this twerp director. He had to feel like he was in charge.
“Trevor, what if you just shoot my line, full frame, for safety, and then do it again, with me here over to the side? That way, you have the sound and won’t need me to come in and loop it later. But Piper will still be front and center. She should be.”
Trevor tore his eyes from Piper and looked at Goldie for a moment.
Here was her chance.
“That’s the way Tarantino did for it for Uma’s big scene, gives you options, saves money, time. But I mean, of course, however you want me to do it. I can give you a couple of readings.” She was making this up completely.
Goldie hated every single thing about having to kiss this kid’s behind, but she needed that camera angle and to deliver her stupid summer blockbuster line.
“Okay, here’s what we’ll do. Tommy, keep her in the center for her line, then we do it with Piper center, so we see how she’s affected rather than see the delivery. That’s the choice that will make it edgier.”
Goldie nodded; she’d get her shot. She looked at Tommy, the director of photography. He was an old friend. He saw every move she was making here. And he gave her a look that gave her hope. She saw him whisper into the ear of the camera operator. She took a breath.
Goldie would look good in this take. Tommy had her back. It could very well be cut. But at least she’d do everything possible to make it happen. Well, short of doing Trevor Sunday. She suspected, for him, she wasn’t even rating in the MILF category.
Whatever.
Time for the line.
“Action!” It was go time.
Piper had the first line.
“I’m not your little girl anymore,” Piper as Sparkle Dawn, budding superhero, defied the dictatorial Cromagnet, her father.
“You’ll do as I command. I am CROMAGNET.” Impressive reverberating audio would be added later. The actor playing Cromagnet wasn’t even there. It was a stand-in.
