He left the apartment after a quick exercise routine, ten long laps running around the block, some squats and push-ups, and a forty-minute routine, done every morning. The refrigerator was empty, and he had to do some shopping when he got back, for now, he could only bite hard and do the shopping in the evening. He would have to reheat the Chinese rice he bought in the morning. How cost-effective is life in Los Angeles? Not very, even the essentials are more expensive than in San Jose, it depends on the area.


    Steam covered the bathroom mirror, even though the water wasn''t very hot, the humid weather eventually caused steam to spread throughout the bathroom. Billy cleaned the mirror and saw the incipient beard he had been growing for two months, a somewhat thick mustache that didn''t quite connect at the corners.


    He took a deep breath, with a bathrobe covering his lower half, he arranged his hair so it all fell forward in a fringe, resembling a coconut. He put on some large-framed glasses, which he used for breaks or at night, without a prescription. Round-framed, he an oversized checkered shirt, much larger than usual, along with an oversized jacket, a size larger than he had bought at a thrift store, it was old and wrinkled, and you could see some patches on the elbows, with black patches.


    Tight bell-bottom jeans, with a black belt, and somewhat formal suit and shoes, contrasting with the appearance of an academic as much as possible. Even the wrinkled clothes on Daniel''s character were a deliberate gesture because he knew he didn''t have a place to belong.


    Jim Waitt appeared at the door just before he finished getting dressed, a preparation of more than an hour, something uncommon for Billy. The room was clean, with a lamp on a nightstand. He left the room to greet his visitor, and on the kitchen table, you could see some extra drawings from the Shaman King series.


    Billy opened the door, and saw Jim Waitt in a fitted suit, giving a calm smile. He entered the apartment and looked at Billy''s suit with some suspicion.


    -You''re quite proactive, even though we know the role is Daniel Jackson, an archaeologist, it seems like you have a clear idea of the character, - Jim Waitt said.


    He was somewhat anxious; the large bets he had made on Billy had cost him David Ficher and Juliette Binoche. James Cameron had been in his position quietly, but he knew very well that only Billy''s success could strengthen his position, even though he brought and made some deals, starting with Pixar and Lux Animation, it was not enough to make an impact in his profession.


    -I''ll take you to the studio to meet some people who have been active in the industry recently and are future directors, so you might end up auditioning for one of their films, - Jim said.


    -I don''t doubt it. I''ll finish my meal, and we''ll go, - Billy said, reheating last night''s leftovers, a bit of black coffee with rice and eggs.


    -Hurry up. We have ten minutes, - he said.


    Billy nodded and took a sip of his coffee while waiting for the reheated meal. He ate as quickly as he could and then they got into the black van with tinted windows. As he entered, he felt the van''s air conditioning hit him directly.


    The short ride took them to a luxurious coffee shop near the studios. Three people were already there, enjoying their coffee. A few photographers were rushing around, and there was some commotion a couple of blocks away, but Billy didn''t pay much attention. He focused on following the strangers in the room while they chatted. He regained his composure and ordered another coffee.


    Jim Waitt was engaged in a detailed conversation with the three people in the room. They seemed to be twins, both acting as directors and screenwriters, as if their minds were one, according to Jim Waitt and the other gentleman at the table, who was a well-regarded film producer.


    -Well, we''ll have to go now. David will be over there, - Jim Waitt said, referring to David Duchovny, a new client of Jim Waitt''s who currently had five clients.


    As they walked to the studio, Billy simply smiled. - Next time, try to break the ice, - Jim Waitt said as they parted ways.


    Although he didn''t highlight anything, after all, he only needed to expose Billy to other people. This is Hollywood, exposure. Even if you don''t talk to many people, exposure is an important trait in the business.


    -Good luck. I have to meet with a sponsor. See you later this afternoon. Call me as soon as you finish your audition. Good luck. Most auditions you''ll face will be conducted this way, - Jim said as he left Billy at the entrance, next to the Casting sign.


    Billy walked through the studio until he found a reception room, just as Jim had said he would.


    -Excuse me, Stargate casting, - Billy said to the young woman taking notes in a red notebook.


    -Of course, it''s in room 4, - the receptionist replied, directing Billy down a school-like hallway with some chairs. He saw his future competitors; only one was dressed like an archaeologist, it seemed. Well, his chances were about to improve.


    -Quite tense, - Billy murmured, sitting down calmly. There was nothing that could go wrong; his skills were surprisingly good, and the system had aggressively improved his acting abilities.


    -All right, next is Oswald Corvas, - a powerful voice shouted from the door, the organizer, a young man whose voice carried throughout the room.


    The room of five people was on edge, filled with the stifling air of all the hopefuls who wanted to enter the movie, both as supporting cast and lead actors. However, according to the director''s thoughts, they had already chosen a suitable profile. For Billy, in a bold move made by Jim Waitt regarding the lead role, the main character followed these thoughts to the letter. An archaeologist named Daniel Jackson, the character and Billy''s deep studies had made him a shy but proud person, somewhat odd, not very smart in subjects other than academics. Jim Waitt chose his attire, a long, layered hairstyle, almost like a totuma, his long hair was styled peculiarly, and he was given round-framed glasses.


    -Billion Darwin! - they called to enter the office. Billy took a deep breath and checked the room with five people who still had to conduct the interviews. His acting study of immersing himself in the role was the most effective way to achieve a reasonable result. He had been wearing glasses for two weeks and changed his wardrobe to that of a recent archaeology school graduate.


    -Very well, it''s a pleasure to have you here, - said a gray-haired man to the left of Ronald Emmerich. He raised his voice but focused on reading from a large brown folder containing the profile information of the young Billiom Darwin.


    -Billion Darwin, - the man confirmed.


    -Very well, Bill, you have a minute to read your lines. Recite them as you like, - Ronald Emmerich said, pointing to a table on the side where a script was placed on three sheets of paper, each marked as "confidential." Sear?h the Novёl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Billy read for a while; he was already familiar with most of the movie''s lines. He mentally prepared for a somber look, something that would help him connect with the image of a somewhat timid academic with peculiar aspects.


    -All right, let''s begin, - said a man.


    Just as he had practiced for hours, he took a seat at the table, immersing himself in the role and following all the steps he had learned in numerous acting classes: improvisation, method acting, feeling the character deeply from a personal standpoint, making the role his own.


    Billy sat down at the table with care, adjusted his posture to appear slightly hunched, and put on his glasses. He took a deep breath.


    -Whenever you''re ready, - Ronald Emmerich said.


    performance


    -


    END.


    Billy''s resume consisted of two voice-over roles, participation in four commercials, and three cameos in television series. At the age of seventeen, it wasn''t particularly remarkable, and his youthful appearance might have been a drawback for the movie. This was his first mistake.


    He left the room and saw the same five people. Walking through the exit of the production studios, he found a small bench at the back. Calmly, he took a deep breath. He would have to return to his small apartment, do some drawing, and wait for three days for a response. Jim Waitt estimated that this was the typical rejection timeframe. The rest was just waiting. Production was supposed to start at the end of February, but it was already March, so it was highly likely that they would receive a positive response in a few days.


    He walked to the studio''s exit, planning to catch a bus and get some exercise.


    ...