Hollywood's powerful women

Chapter 7

Fortunately, by 2001, computers had become fairly common in Los Angeles, and even the office of Hollywood stars' managers had one with internet access. Thankfully, Jenny had always been punctual and reliable, so although Johnny’s mood was a bit sour, he still allowed her to send the email from his office with a stern warning, “This is a one-time exception. Don’t spread it around.”

“Thank you, old John,” Jenny said with a smile. “And don’t worry, I won’t spread it either.”

Johnny grunted, “If you’re talking about Jessica, don’t worry. I’m not about to shoot myself in the foot.”

It wasn’t that Jessica couldn’t handle the competition, but from Johnny’s perspective, he probably hoped that both of the top hostesses could stay in the restaurant as long as possible. Jenny’s progress was certainly a provocation to Jessica and might accelerate her departure from Hollywood Star. Jenny was familiar with this kind of competitive psychology, and it seemed Johnny was not unfamiliar with it either.

After confirming that Dave had received the email, Jenny didn’t ask too many questions and went back to work. It was only after her shift ended that she called Dave.

“It’s CSI,” Dave said with some excitement as soon as he answered the phone. “They need a criminal with specific looks and acting skills. They had originally scheduled Kristen Dunst, but she can’t make it. They need a replacement immediately. This is the first episode of the second season, and everything must be perfect, so there will be another audition. I just talked to a friend on the crew—I've recommended you.”

A guest role in CSI? This was a great opportunity, and Jenny perked up. “Dave, I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t say anything. It’s just an opportunity. Whether your resume passes the preliminary review still depends on luck.” Dave chuckled on the other end of the line. “It’s a pity I’m in New York on audition day and can’t come over. Good luck.”

After chatting a bit more, Jenny hung up the phone and looked thoughtfully at it before tucking it back into her pocket.

She hadn’t expected Dave’s lead to pay off so quickly. According to her plan, after the new season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer started filming, there would be minor roles that needed to be cast before each episode—often called one-episode extras. Most of these roles would be cast after the script was written, and many minor roles would appear during filming. Dave, if he hadn’t been transferred, would have come to Los Angeles to coordinate work, and she might have had one or two guest roles. That would officially mark Jenny’s entry into the industry. After that, she could start looking for supporting roles in independent films, try to join the Screen Actors Guild, and find an agent.

But before Buffy even started filming, Dave had already brought her an audition opportunity for a special criminal role in CSI. Although he mentioned that her resume would determine whether she made it to the interview, Chen Zhen knew that with Dave’s recommendation, she would at least get an audition. Such a personal favor is common in any industry, and as long as Dave’s friend truly regarded him as a friend, he would certainly give her this opportunity.

However, Dave himself didn’t know the details about the role. Jenny, while familiar with the fame of CSI, had never watched the series in her previous life, and her memory didn’t include details about it. So, she continued to refine her acting skills while waiting for more information.

About three days later, she received a call about the audition. They provided the time, location, and role requirements. Even Jenny, who was quite experienced, felt a bit nervous. Although she was well-versed in the industry’s rules, her previous life had involved very few auditions, mostly during college, and more as a pastime. This was her first experience where she put all her hope into one audition.

No wonder the mental health issues among entertainment industry professionals are high—going through repeated auditions with high hopes only to be rejected can be incredibly disheartening. It’s no wonder Jessica avoids discussing her audition experiences; despite her success at Hollywood Star and often receiving higher tips than Jenny, each failed audition means a blow to self-esteem.

On the day of the audition, Jenny had scheduled a rest, went to bed early the night before, and arrived at CBS’s audition department precisely on time. She reported her identity and the phone number given to her at the front desk. After verification, the receptionist issued her an access pass, allowing her to enter the busy audition area.

The office building was large and spacious, and many people hurried past her without paying much attention, even though she was a strikingly beautiful woman—beautiful women were quite common at CBS, especially in the audition department. As Jenny reached the door of Room 3, she was taken aback to see at least a dozen attractive blonde women, all youthful and good-looking.

The audition room’s setup was very much like a hospital, with a spacious waiting area that Jenny thought resembled a plastic surgeon’s waiting room. She was surprised by the number of competitors—over ten for just one episode’s special role, and most of them were quite attractive. The competition in Hollywood was indeed several times more intense than in the Chinese entertainment industry.

She went to the office door, registered her name with a secretary, and received the audition script. She didn’t feel like chatting with the other auditioners, as they were her competitors—eager newcomers rather than established actors. Engaging with them would only be a waste of energy.

She already knew that her role was a cunning and ruthless female celebrity with a backstory, a premeditated murderer who successfully covered up the evidence and managed to escape confrontation with the CSI team. This explained why the crew specifically invited an experienced actress for the role, as it was too challenging for a typical extra. Jenny speculated that if filming wasn’t imminent and they couldn’t find a suitable guest actress, they wouldn’t have opened auditions to bottom-tier actors.

From the script, this scene had a lot of potential for performance, though brief and with few lines, the tension and demands on the actor’s skills were significant.

[In the Makeup Room]

Nick pulls out an evidence bag containing the victim’s bloodstained gloves.

Nick: “Do you know what this is?”

Wanda, dressed in elegant attire, is touching up her makeup. She looks at Nick through the mirror, her tone cold and indifferent.

Wanda: “These are Judy’s gloves. What are you trying to imply? Over a hundred people recognized them. We all saw Judy wearing them when she died.”

Nick: “Yes, these are Judy’s gloves. She was wearing them when she died, in a wardrobe room a hundred yards away. She received a fatal stab wound, and in a panic, she tried to cover the wound with her gloves. The gloves are covered in her blood. But we can’t find the primary crime scene; the bloodstains in the wardrobe room are too minimal, with no spatter marks. The killer dragged her from the primary crime scene to the wardrobe room and cleaned up the blood, leaving no evidence.”

Wanda shows a bored expression.

Nick: “We searched your dressing room and found no blood traces.”

Wanda: “You’re wasting my time, officer. I have an important interview to attend. ‘VOGUE,’ you know? V-O-G-U-E.”

Nick: “However, Ms. Wanda, I’m here to share good news. Judy didn’t leave just her blood at the primary crime scene. We’ve determined that this was a crime of familiarity. The sudden attack caused Judy to struggle with the killer, and she likely left some injuries on the killer.”

Wanda glances at a scratch on her shoulder.

Nick: “And this is a pair of cashmere gloves. The fingertips and palms show signs of tearing. Judy, after quickly losing blood and failing to find support as she fell, left crucial evidence at the primary scene—blood-stained cashmere fibers.”

Wanda’s face slightly changes as she involuntarily glances at a rough decorative wall.

Nick quickly moves to the wall, checking it with a flashlight but finds nothing; the wall is clean.

Nick looks at Wanda, and their eyes meet in the mirror. Wanda shows a proud, sly smile.

Wanda stands up, gracefully approaches Nick, and reaches for the evidence bag. Nick hides it behind him. Wanda continues, lightly touching Nick’s cheek, moving closer, almost kissing him.

Wanda: “I mentioned I have an important interview. You have my search warrant, officer. Please proceed.”

Nick clenches his teeth as Wanda leaves with a mysterious smile.

From the script, there is a strong s****l tension between Wanda and Nick. Wanda is confident in her criminal behavior and doesn’t believe Nick will find enough evidence, while Nick knows he’s been played. The short dialogue between them is full of shifting power dynamics and tension. This is a perfect role for the end of the episode, and the challenge lies in portraying Wanda’s strong confidence and exceptional acting skills—essentially, making the star truly shine.

In her mind, CSI was CBS’s flagship show. She had researched the series, and indeed, its first season consistently ranked among the top in the US, with viewership exceeding twenty million. As this was the first episode of the new season, there would likely be a slight spike in viewership. Playing a glamorous star with strong s****l tension with the lead, in such a high-profile episode, even established actresses wouldn’t take it lightly. Jenny noticed a few familiar faces among the competitors.

“Sorry to make you all come here for nothing,” she silently apologized in her heart. “This role is mine.”

Yes, Jenny was confident that this role, seemingly tailor-made for her, was hers for the taking.