While the battle was going on, I enjoyed my lunch. The crab cakes were excellent. I even was able to people-watch. I spotted singer Jennifer Benningfield and talk-show host Billy Stein. Not together, but I was as starstruck as the next person.
When I was done eating, I’d had enough.
“Saul, I appreciate that you decided to be my agent, but don’t waste my time anymore. While I’m fine with reading scripts, I want to know that at least someone in your office has read them. From what I’ve heard, there were only a couple out of this batch that I should’ve been shown,” I said.
“David, that’s not how this works,” Saul began.
“Well, for now, that’s how it’ll work for me. I just got told I have to come up to speed on a new character that I haven’t been preparing for. Right now, I don’t have time to read a script unless it’s important,” I said.
“You could always have the princess read it,” Saul said.
“Screw you, Saul,” Caryn said.
This was going well. What I’d observed was Saul was combative as hell. I think he woke up looking for a fight. If you listened, though, the man knew what he was doing and how to make a buck.
Over dessert, Frank laid out his media strategy. It was all about having a clear, short, continuous, managed message. I was to be that unicorn among actors, ‘The All-American Boy.’ When he laid it out, I had to chuckle. I honestly thought I would never become that perfect role model Frank described. He planned to use my football record and the awards that were starting to come in as part of the campaign.
Saul wondered if the reverse-catfishing show was a step in the wrong direction for the image they wanted me to have. Caryn waded in and told them about the responses I was getting. Apparently she’d hijacked my dating app account with a little help from my mom. She read a few of the more inappropriate messages, and Saul and Frank decided I shouldn’t be involved. Saul said he’d get me out of it. I, of course, agreed but wanted the numbers of the girls who had sent me a couple of the messages.
Saul loved the ‘All-American’ angle, and Caryn felt Frank’s plans might work, so we gave permission to proceed.
I just hoped that future team meetings would be a little less combative.
◊◊◊
Instead of a free afternoon, I had to go back for more scenes. Jessup had only let me go to lunch with my team because it had been set up before the change in my role.
Caryn proved her worth once again. On the ride back to the studio, she gave me some news.
“I did some research on your recruiting and found that if you’d played the baseball player, we might have been in a gray area. It could’ve made you ineligible for college baseball. There’s an NCAA rule that basically says that you can’t use your athletic skill to be in a related movie. For example, you couldn’t play a quarterback in a remake of Friday Night Lights. There seems to be a change that would allow it if you were out of school, meaning on breaks when you aren’t attending classes.
“The problem is that it also could be looked at as illegal compensation, especially if a booster were somehow involved. Two factors that I think are in our favor are you’re not yet a college athlete and you haven’t committed to a school. The only issue that might’ve come up was if you picked a school like USC and it turned out that someone associated with the film was a USC booster. At least, that’s the only one that I can foresee, based on my limited knowledge.
“I was going to have your lawyer look into it until I heard your role had been changed,” Caryn said.
“You know, I would’ve never even considered that,” I admitted. “Keep up the good work.”
“I also wanted to apologize,” she said.
“For what?”
“For saying some things that I shouldn’t have in a business setting.”
“I should be the one to apologize. I should’ve never allowed Saul to speak to you, and for that matter, Frank, like that. And Saul should apologize as well,” I said.
“I’ll try to do better,” Caryn said.
“No. If you come across as … what did he call you? … a princess, then he’ll never respect you. I don’t want to tie your hands when dealing with him. I’ll step in the next time he says something he shouldn’t,” I said.
“Believe it or not, I don’t want you to step in. If I can’t stand up to Saul, I shouldn’t be your manager. I just wanted to let you know that I normally don’t use that kind of language in a business setting.”
We arrived at the studio, and it was off to the grind.
◊◊◊
My other love interest in the movie was Diana, who was played by Leah Johansen. Leah was a dark-haired beauty who never smiled. She’d won the role because Diana was supposed to be the serious one. Halle bet me that she was probably a freak in bed, which I couldn’t see. I believe Halle was just yanking my chain.
The other main guy was Zak Verwood, who played Jake Armstrong. Jake was supposed to be the good-looking bad boy. He had golden sun-kissed hair and looked like a Ford model. Zak had grown up close to where the Jameses lived. He’d been a senior when Halle was a freshman, so she kind of knew who he was. I got the impression that Halle didn’t like him, for some reason.
The other two girls were Tanya Hendricks, who played Faye Chamberlain, and Jessica Chase, who had the role of Melisa Glaser. Tanya was a total flirt and had her eyes on Zak. She was tall at about five-eleven and looked athletic. I found out later that she’d been a volleyball player at UCLA until she hurt her knee and then decided to give acting a try. Jessica was the bubbly one of the group and seemed to be the glue that held it all together. She was also the oldest, at twenty-three.
At the end of the day, Rita sat down with each of us individually to give us acting tips. I was left till last because Fritz was taking us all home. It was no surprise when Halle followed her mom into my trailer.
“I have some of the dailies from this morning,” Rita began as she plugged her tablet into my fifty-five-inch TV with an HDMI cable.
She began to play a scene Halle and I had been in together.
“I can tell you’re a model. You’re aware of where the camera is and how you should present yourself for the best effect. I love that you’re comfortable in front of the lens, and you follow Jessup’s direction without any problems. I talked to Jessup, and the only criticism we have is that you need to be more the brooding teenager for this role.
“You’re in love with Diana, who’s been your sweetheart since you were kids. New to the school is Cassie, who for some unknown reason you’re attracted to. While you need Cassie to complete the circle, you’re not sure if it’s a good idea for the two of you to be together. You’re afraid you’ll do something that’ll hurt Diana. I’m not seeing the turmoil that we need. What I’m seeing is that you’d willingly be with either of them,” Rita said.
Halle smirked at the last statement.
I thought about Tami and how I would’ve felt if she and I were dating and Halle came to our school.
“I think I understand what you want. Can I borrow Halle and we do the scene again right here?” I asked.
“Sure,” Rita said.
“Give me just a second.”
I stepped back into the bedroom and opened up my old feelings for Tami and how much I’d loved her. Then I thought about Halle and how special she was to me, and how I would feel if I couldn’t be with her. I was surprised how easy it was to rip that wound open, but I thought I was ready to do the scene.
The first time through, I was a little too emotional. Rita had me dial it back some to a dull ache, and I tried again.
“That was perfect. I could kiss you,” she blurted out and then did.
I guess my mind locked because I was stunned. Halle and Caryn burst out laughing, and Rita turned red.