Tycoon Actor in Hollywood

In his Los Angeles apartment, Lucas found himself deeply immersed in Andrew's world. Beyond his Mind Workshop simulations of intense drumming scenes, he'd been pouring over every aspect of Andrew's character.

One name kept coming up in his research: Buddy Rich. The legendary drummer was Andrew's inspiration, and Lucas soon found himself falling down a Buddy Rich rabbit hole on YouTube.

"Holy shit," Lucas muttered, his eyes wide as he watched Rich's hands fly across the drums in yet another mind-blowing solo. "This guy's not human."

The more videos he watched, the more in awe Lucas became. Rich's speed, his precision, the seemingly impossible solos - it was all utterly captivating. Lucas found himself trying to channel that same energy, that same passion, into his own playing.

His hands, once soft from a life of relative luxury, were now bristled with callouses. Hours upon hours of relentless practice had taken their toll, but Lucas wore the marks with pride. They were badges of his dedication.

On set, his tireless effort didn't go unnoticed. The crew had taken to calling him "Lucas - The Eager Beaver," a nickname that never failed to make him grin.

"Eager Beaver's at it again," one of the sound guys would mutter, shaking his head in amused disbelief as Lucas showed up early yet again, heading straight for the drum kit.

The set was alive with its usual buzz of activity when Lucas strolled in. Austin Stowell was the first to spot him, calling out with a grin, "How's it hanging, Beaver?"

Lucas rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "Just peachy, Kyle Connellan."

A ripple of laughter spread through the nearby crew. Austin dramatically clutched his chest. "Oh, so that's how we're playing it, Dylan?"

"Gotta step up your game, Connellan," Lucas shot back with a wink, giving Austin a playful pat as he passed.

Austin waited until Lucas's back was turned before making an exaggerated face, drawing more giggles from the crew.

"Eager is here," Melissa Benoist announced as Lucas arrived at the main set.

Lucas chuckled wryly, "You guys really gonna call me Eager or Beaver the whole time? You guys never get tired?"

"Man, we ain't never gonna get tired of this," Tarik laughed, his voice carrying a hint of playful swagger. "It's too damn fun callin' a big shot like you names."

"It's fascinating, really," Nate chimed in with a grin. "Giving nicknames to someone famous. Satisfying."

"You guys are sick in the head," Lucas said, shaking his head in amusement.

The group erupted in laughter as Damien approached. "Well, it's kind of your fault for getting called Beaver," he teased. "You're too dedicated to your role. You don't get to chill like the others."

Lucas disagreed playfully, "I'm chill. If I wasn't chill, you guys wouldn't dare call me Beaver."

"True enough," J.K. nodded from the sidelines.

Lucas turned to J.K. with a grin. "Fletcher, I'm about to play 'Caravan'. You judge how I do."

"Fletcher?" J.K. raised an eyebrow at the nickname but went along with it. "Alright, let's see what you've got."

Anna, a crew member, laughed and called out, "He's gonna give us another free concert!"

Lucas pointed his drumstick at Anna with a mischievous grin. "It's not just free - I'm gonna add some style to it. Combine 'em and you've got yourself a 'freestyle'."

The set fell into an awkward silence. Lucas shrugged, pretending not to notice, but he could see Melissa and the others struggling to hold back their laughter.

Catching their poorly concealed amusement from the corner of his eye, Lucas narrowed his gaze suspiciously at the cameras. "Wait a minute... Is this being filmed? Are you guys shooting some 'behind the scenes' stuff or something?"

Austin chuckled, waving his hand dismissively. "Pfft, no. Just play the drums, Beaver."

Lucas exchanged a glance with J.K., muttering under his breath, "Freestyle... It wasn't that bad of a joke, was it?"

J.K. just smiled, clearly enjoying Lucas's mild discomfort.

Shaking his head at his weird co-stars, Lucas turned his attention back to the drum kit. His expression shifted, becoming serious and focused as he raised his sticks, ready to lose himself in the rhythm.

As he began to play, the set fell silent, all eyes on Lucas as he demonstrated once again why he'd earned the nickname "Eager Beaver."

Lucas's hands flew across the drum kit, his sticks a blur as he launched into Buddy Rich's "Caravan." True to his earlier joke about "freestyle," Lucas wasn't just playing a straight cover. He was improvising, adding his own flair and unexpected rhythms that made the piece uniquely his own.

His face was a mask of concentration, sweat beading on his brow as he navigated the complex rhythms. His left hand maintained a steady, driving beat on the snare while his right danced across the toms and cymbals, creating a whirlwind of sound that filled the set.

As Lucas hit a particularly impressive fill, Melissa leaned towards Austin, her eyes wide. "Is he doing some legendary stuff there?" she whispered, gesturing towards their co-star.

Austin shook his head, looking a bit overwhelmed himself. "Honestly, I'm not sure. I only learned the basics for this role. But I can tell you one thing - what he's doing ain't easy. Look at how much he's putting into it."

Melissa nodded, her expression thoughtful. "You know, I used to think drumming was just about hitting things with sticks. I had no idea it was this complicated."

"Same here," Austin agreed. "But when I started learning for the role, I realized how tough it really is." He paused, watching Lucas nail another complex section. "That's why Buddy Rich is such a legend. His speed was almost inhuman, and his sense of timing was unreal."

Melissa just nodded, a soft "Huh" escaping her lips as she turned back to watch Lucas play. The intensity of his performance was captivating, even to those who couldn't fully appreciate the technical skill involved.

As Lucas built to a crescendo, his whole body seemed to be part of the instrument, every movement precise yet fluid.

It was clear to everyone watching that this wasn't just practice for a role - this was passion in its purest form.

As Lucas finished his impressive performance, the set erupted in applause, punctuated by playful shouts of "Talented beaver!" The clapping quickly dissolved into laughter and giggles.

Lucas set aside his sticks with a wry chuckle, his eyes seeking out Damien and J.K. for their reactions.

Damien spoke up first, shaking his head in disbelief. "Honestly, Lucas, I didn't think you'd go this far for the role. You've not just learned the basics, you've... well, you've surpassed me in playing drums. And it's only been what, a few days? I'm starting to wonder if there's anything you can't do."

Lucas shrugged, a modest smile playing on his lips. "I'm just a quick learner. What can I say?"

Turning to J.K., Lucas asked, "What about you, Fletcher? What's your take on my performance?"

The set fell silent, all eyes on J.K. After a prolonged pause, he simply said, "I think you did well..."

Lucas waited for more, but nothing came. "That's it?" he prodded, eyebrows raised.

J.K. chuckled, spreading his hands. "What do you want me to say? I'm no expert in drums."

"Yeah, but what about Fletcher?" Lucas pressed, grinning. "What's his take?"

J.K. leaned back, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Fletcher? Oh, he'd probably just berate you unreasonably. Partly because that's who he is, and partly because I, the guy playing Fletcher, barely know how to hold the sticks."

The set erupted in laughter again, the tension broken. Lucas shook his head, grinning. "Fair enough, I guess. Can't expect the master of psychological torture to also be a drum expert."

J.K. patted Lucas on the shoulder, a warm smile on his face. "Well, for you, kid, I might just have to brush up on my drum knowledge."

Lucas chuckled, shaking his head. "Nah, you've already put in the time learning how to psychologically torment people. Let's not overdo it."

The set erupted in laughter, the camaraderie evident in their playful banter.

As the days passed, Lucas found himself effortlessly blending in with the cast and crew. It was a talent he'd honed over his career - the ability to create a positive, healthy working environment wherever he went.

Sure, there had been a few challenging personalities over the years, but they were the exception rather than the rule.

Lucas took the nicknames in stride, "Eager Beaver" being just one in a long list of affectionate monikers he'd acquired on set. It was all part of the fun, part of what made each project feel like a family.

***

Meanwhile, "The Artist" had begun releasing teasers and trailers on social media platforms. With Lucas featured prominently, these clips immediately caught the public's attention.

The production team for "The Artist" also shared entertaining behind-the-scenes footage, showcasing Lucas's interactions with his co-stars. This strategy mirrored Warner Bros.' approach with "Gravity," where they had released videos of Lucas pranking director Alfonso Cuarón and other lighthearted moments from the set.

These behind-the-scenes videos for "Gravity" had been wildly popular, amassing tens of millions of views. Many industry insiders attributed "Gravity's" blockbuster success and its appeal to younger audiences to these candid glimpses into the film's production.

Now, as "The Artist" followed a similar marketing playbook, anticipation for the film was building. The videos offered viewers a chance to see Lucas in a more relaxed, playful setting, creating a connection with potential audiences even before the film's release. It seemed that once again, Lucas's charm and the public's appetite for these unscripted moments were combining to generate significant buzz for the upcoming film.