The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

ASTRID almost stepped back when the man who he assumed was Director Trevane rushed forward as if he was some kind of bulldozer about to hit him.  He felt that Reas was about to move and probably stand in front of him to stop the director.  But he quickly held his arm to stop him. 

Reas gazed down at him with a puzzled expression.  He could only imperceptibly shake his head.  It's a good thing that the two of them always had a pretty good tacit understanding.  So, even if he didn't say anything, the other quickly understood what he wanted to convey.  Reas nodded and just stood beside him like a rock pillar.

The director finally reached them.  He appeared to be a middle-aged man.  But based on how the people in this era aged, he's probably already in his hundreds.  Now that Astrid thought about it, Director Trevane did have a lot of films under his name.

He had a high hairline and a crooked nose.  If one didn't know him well, just by his appearance alone, one would assume that he was a very strict and stern uncle.  One that children would be scared to get close to. 

Director Trevane stood in front of Astrid, looking at him from head to toe while nodding in approval.  It's as if he was looking at some product displayed on a shelf of a shop and was very satisfied with what he's seeing.

"Good, very good!  You're simply perfect!" Daniel exclaimed excitedly. 

When he saw that clip Mark sent him, he knew that the teenager fit the role of the 'god' perfectly.  Working in this industry, he had seen the most beautiful of faces.  But the teenager's charm was simply unique.  Anyone who saw him wouldn't be able to immediately take their eyes away from him.  It was as if he was the flame to the moth.

Maybe it was because of the color of his hair and eyes.  Something that unusual would surely attract attention.  But now that Daniel had seen him in person, he realized that it was not just that.  He had this certain temperament around him.  Like someone who knew that he was the brightest and shiniest star in the room. 

It's not just blind confidence.  It's like something innate.  It seemed he was not even aware that he was unintentionally releasing this aura. 

Well, Daniel just hoped that his acting could back up his aura and appearance.  Because if not, then what a waste indeed.

"Good morning, Director Trevane.  My name is Astrid Townsend.  Thank you for giving me the opportunity to audition for this role," Astrid said, respectfully introducing himself.

"If you pass this audition, I should be the one thanking you," Daniel said. 

After all, they had been looking for the right person to play this role for quite a while now.  But so far, none of the people that Mark brought passed the criteria he was looking for.  It's either their image didn't match or their acting was simply abhorrent. 

He was actually about to give up looking and just completely postpone the filming for the time being.  But thankfully, Mark sent him that clip.  Now, just like what he said earlier, he just hoped that this teenager knew at least how to act.  Even if his acting skill was only a slightly higher level than that of Miria Lane, he would still let him pass this audition.

Because that meant that there were still room for improvement.  He wouldn't be a qualified director if he couldn't help the other improve.  Look at Miria, at first, she was like a robot.  Now, she became a mannequin.  Wasn't that an improvement?

"The Director is right," Mark seconded what he said earlier.

Astrid only smiled.  "Then I shall do my best to live to your expectation."

"The audition venue had already been prepared.  We can go there now," Daniel said.

When Mark told him that this teenager would arrive here today to audition, he had the crew prepared the set immediately.  The right audition venue could help any actors to immerse themselves more in the role and therefore give out a better performance.  That was especially true for newcomers.

Astrid felt a bit confuse why they had to go to so much trouble.  Since the director was already here and it seemed like he wasn't filming any scene at the moment, wouldn't it be better to just do the audition here?  Especially since the scene he was going to audition was pretty simple.

But he was now a newcomer.  Questioning a director just because of an audition venue could just backfire at him.  So, he simply nodded.

And then the four of them rode a land vehicle that was mostly similar to those golf carts found in ancient Earth.  One of the production assistants drove them to the audition venue.

The people on the set who had been staring at the direction of the teenager since he arrived were finally able to recover their gazes.

"Who was that?"

"I heard it's the person Mr. Rogers found to play the role of 'god'."

"He certainly looked the part."

"If he's a god, then I'm willing to worship him every day!"

"Does that mean someone will finally take that role?"

"Don't be so sure.  Remember how picky Director Trevane is.  No matter how beautiful that boy looks, if he can't act, then it's all for nothing."

"Yeah.  Especially since the director was just in a bad mood because of Miria.  If he that boy acted badly, then he will certainly not get the role."

"I agree.  But considering that beauty is almost always inversely proportional to talent, then he will definitely fail."

Which was truly such a shame.

"How about we go and watch the audition?" one suggested.

And almost everyone agreed.  So, most of the people on that particular set decided to go to the audition venue.

Miria, who vaguely heard the conversation of the people around her, told her assistant who came over, "Let's go to the audition venue."

She also wanted to see how this newcomer would act.  Maybe if he performed badly, she would feel a bit better.  Because in her opinion, the other was probably just a vase with no talent.