Hollywood's powerful women

Chapter 8

Jenny didn't know if Dave's friend was sitting behind the audition desk, but there were four members who seemed quite stern, apparently having suffered from unprofessional candidates before. One woman in the middle of the table looked at Jenny's resume and showed clear disdain.

"Who put her on the list?" she asked, not bothering to lower her voice, but Jenny wasn’t offended. She knew her credentials were lacking.

A middle-aged man, who Jenny guessed might be Dave’s friend based on his resemblance to him, spoke up, “Jenny, could you introduce yourself?”

Jenny provided some basic information about herself. The man then asked her to smile at the camera and make some expressions.

On screen, many people don’t realize how challenging acting can be. Even the greatest actors aren't immune to critique. Just like how people believe they could do better than the Chinese national football team, it's a common misconception that acting, especially something as simple as smiling or making expressions in front of a camera, is easy. In reality, acting is a profession that requires tremendous confidence and bravery.

A shy person could never naturally express themselves in front of strangers, and the camera magnifies every flaw. If someone is slightly introverted in real life, they would appear extremely awkward and nervous in front of a camera. If Jenny were still the naive girl with dreams from her past life, even with Dave's support, she would have failed miserably in this audition. Many great actors have faced countless rejections early in their careers. Only those with genuine talent and resilience make it through these trials and gain the necessary experience.

Jenny had undergone extensive training during her four years in drama school, where she was required to perform in front of an audience, often making a fool of herself to break through her natural inhibitions. However, when she first faced a real set, the sheer scale of it was overwhelming. She was so nervous that she even had to pause her simulation to use the restroom due to a sudden need.

Her three months as a waitress were valuable. She not only got into perfect shape but also experienced over thirty film sets, an amount of work that would typically take several years for a second-tier actress. This kind of rigorous training made her well-prepared for this audition.

She easily adapted to the camera, making several expressions naturally and confidently, as if she were conversing with an audience rather than simply performing in front of a lens.

After a brief pause, the female audition judge handed Jenny the script. “Read this excerpt.”

The ability to deliver clear and natural dialogue is fundamental for actors. Most people, in their normal speech, have issues such as speaking too quickly, regional accents, mumbling, and fluctuating volume—common human traits. On screen, these imperfections are magnified. A person’s speech habits might make them appear incomprehensible on camera. Jenny’s confidence stemmed from her years of training, which made her confident in her ability to deliver lines flawlessly.

Jenny took the script, sat down, and took a deep breath. She closed her eyes briefly—only for a few seconds—and used this time to immerse herself in the character using the simulation space. She quickly selected a film, immersed herself in the role, and felt the character’s life experiences. Then, with a thought, she exited the simulation, retaining the emotional traces from her brief immersion.

She looked at the script for a couple of seconds and then put it down.

Her voice changed abruptly, becoming huskier and tinged with sarcasm, her smile now conveying a knowing contempt as if she was fully aware of everything. The changes were subtle but profound, reflecting her deep understanding of the character.

Jenny said almost lazily, “Oh, I do hope you haven’t ruined my wardrobe. You know, haute couture requires the utmost care.”

She glanced at the script and skipped the lines of her counterpart, continuing, “Yes, I understand, officer, you may do as you please. I’m not one of those big stars who think they can dictate to respected officials.”

Her smile grew wider, and she turned to address an empty space behind her, saying, “Though I’m sure the evidence won’t be found in my lingerie, you’re just doing your job, aren’t you?”

“Cut,” the female audition judge said, looking at Jenny with a strange expression. “That’s enough.”

Jenny forced herself to detach from the character, cleared her throat, adjusted her expression, and returned to her service staff persona, standing up and saying, “Thank you for the opportunity.”

“Yeah.” Dave’s friend stared at Jenny, “Don’t leave just yet. Wait outside.”

No one objected to his decision.

Jenny knew she had secured the role.

This didn’t surprise her. According to her plan, this was expected.

The role seemed tailor-made for her. Even among second-tier actresses, she had no real competition. She had the beauty and, although she couldn’t simulate a famous actress’s exact performance, she could use her experiences and memories of classic films like “My Week with Marilyn” and “The Prince and the Showgirl” to portray a star convincingly.

For her, this was an opportunity she couldn’t miss, and from the beginning, Jenny had to go all in. There was no room for hesitation or conservatism.

After an hour of waiting, the female audition judge came over and told her that she had gotten the role.

“My name is Emma Swan,” she said, now appearing less serious. Jenny realized she was actually quite young—probably not over thirty—and seemed to be making an effort to be friendly. “I’m looking forward to seeing your performance again. Honestly, it was your audition that made a strong impression on me, and I fought for this role for you... because of your resume, my colleagues were initially hesitant.”

Jenny understood that Emma Swan was doing her a favor.