Terry was already seated when I arrived, but he stood to give me the customary half-handshake half-hug that industry folk had perfected. “Hi, Terry.”
“Hey, my man! How are you?”
Terry didn’t tend to use my name. It was always “my man!” Or “there’s the next McConaughey.” No idea why; he was either being ironic or he just really loved McConaughey. I’d known him for six years, and the closest I could tell? It was both.
“I’m good. Been back on set for a week now. It feels good.”
“Good to hear.” He sat back down and gestured to the chair across from him. “Sit! Do you want a drink? Coffee? Cocktail?”
A waitress appeared by my side as soon as my ass hit the chair. “Just a black coffee, thanks.” She nodded and left.
“Now, I don’t want to push,” he started, but I knew he really did. It was his job, after all. “I still need an answer on that teen romance series. They’re really vying for you. If you want it, we should act soon.”
I sighed, avoiding his eye. That bland teen romance would probably be a cash cow, but nothing about it excited me. Minus the show's supernatural elements, it was the same thing I’d been doing for the last two years.
“I know. I just need a bit longer.”
Terry rubbed at his jaw. “If you take too long, it’ll be out of your hands. Are you sure you don’t want to just jump on it? I could make some phone calls today. Get the wheels moving.”
“I don’t know, Terry.”
“Hey, you don’t have to take it. There’s nothing wrong with just sticking with what you’re doing now. There’s plenty more buff leading man roles out there if that’s what you want. You just need to tell me if you want to be Thor or you want to branch out like that weird-looking guy from those wizard films.”
“Daniel Radcliffe?”
“Is that him? The one who played a glittering vampire.”
“Robert Pattinson.”
“Oh, yeah. Like him.”
“You do at least remember my name, right, Terry?” I was only half-joking.
“Of course! Don’t be stupid. But yeah, you probably want to tell me which way you want to go with these offers. I mean, do you want to go Hemsworth or Patterson?”
I didn’t correct him on the name. Though the reference inevitably changed, he’d been touting that line for at least a year now, pointing out my two options: lean into the action hero slash heartthrob gig or start pursuing more serious indie roles.
“The show’s not going to last forever, J. You should have a plan.”
“I know. I’ll think about it.”
“Now for the good news.” He placed a thick envelope on the table before me.
“What’s this?”
“Take a look.”
I opened the envelope and slipped out the first page. It was the Michael’s script. The same one I’d been chasing since I’d heard about it. The same one everyone and their cousin had been after.
“Have I told you lately that I love you?” I said, which resulted in a belly laugh from Terry.
Subversivewas a fantastic indie script, ripped from the blacklist. Addison Michaels, the writer and director, had become a studio favorite after last year’s sweep at Cannes and Venice. His latest project was the hot new thing on everyone’s wish list, a dark comedy attracting some serious talent if industry gossip was to be believed.
But I would have to fight for the role and really sell Michaels on hiring me. Even with the show at its peak—hell, probably because of it—I didn’t expect to be his first choice for the role of a male submissive who plans with his lover to kill his mistress and steal her millions.
Because despite the buzz surrounding it,Subversivewas a passion project at heart, and I’d heard Addison Michaels had full control on casting.
I also knew that I could kill this role, and I had no doubt I could convince Michaels to hire me in it. Still, it was a risky career move on my part. Hollywood was littered with stories of great scripts that became bad movies. Or worse, shelved movies.
