Dreams of Stardom (Hollywood SI)

January 2005, Sundance Film Festival, Park City, Utah

"My question is for you, Rian," a middle-aged lady spoke into the mic. "How does it feel being part of one of the world's biggest film franchises after a small indie film like [Brick]?"

"I still can't believe they're letting me do this," Rian Johnson said with a chuckle. "This feels like a big elaborate dream. I couldn't thank Troy and Steve enough for recommending me to Warner Bros. for this amazing opportunity. I have been a huge fan of the series, both the books and the movies, and I couldn't be happier to be a part of it now."

The biggest reason everyone agreed to have Rian direct the next two films was because of his low fees. He would be paid only around half a million per movie. A lot of money for someone who didn't even have a house of his own, but significantly lower than what Chris Columbus or Alfonso Cuaron would charge for it. And given the rising fees of all the actors involved in the series, it made sense that they'd try to cut down the costs somewhere.

I inclined my head towards Rian but didn't speak on the issue. We weren't promoting [Harry Potter] at the moment, but given my involvement, they just had to drag it into the conversation.

"Troy," a man in his mid-twenties asked me, "how do you think producing a movie differs from just acting in one?"

I hummed audibly at that, admittedly one of the better questions I had received that day.

"It's awful!" I said exaggeratedly. "I hadn't realized how much work goes into working behind the scenes. I never took Dad seriously when he would tell me about the problems of a film's production. Now I know better."

The reporters chuckled lightly at my delivery before the next person asked their question, this time a younger woman who seemed barely out of college.

"Are you dating someone, Troy?"

"Unfortunately, no," I said honestly.

"Would you go out with me?" Some other girl shouted from the crowd of reporters, although I couldn't see who.

"No," I deadpanned, which made everyone chuckle for some reason.

I had been asked questions like these ever since my Crocs commercial came out. Initially, I was a little irritated with all the assholes who would ask invasive questions, but over time, I accepted it for what it was, a part of the job. Some reporters don't get the idea of drawing a line between a celebrity's personal life and professional life. But if they don't, I will.

(Break)

"What are you thinking?" Evan asked.

I looked up at him from the beautiful view of the snow-capped landscape I was enjoying in Park City from the window of my hotel room. Evan looked ready to head out, fully decked in a thick jacket.

"Nothing," I said. "Just enjoying the scenery. What about you?"

"Dude," he looked at me as if I had gone crazy. "We are in Sundance. Some of the world's best indie films of this year are shown here, and you are wasting your time in a hotel room?"

I sighed. The problem was, of course, my fame. Everyone knows that I'm here. Reporters and paparazzi are trying everything they can to shoot some sort of scandalous photo of me. Not that they'd find anything right now, but it was downright irritating when you see a camera at every turn. That's why I loved my time in Phoenix so much, away from all this nuisance.

"I'd rather stay here," I said.

"No," he said firmly. "Get up and get ready. I already have the tickets to see this movie called [Hustle & Flow], and you will join me. It is so freezing cold out there, no one will care if you are hiding your face behind a scarf or something. Come on." 

That was one movie I had not seen yet. I didn't get any sort of déjà vu at all. Seeing how there were so few movies that I could truly enjoy without getting everything spoiled, I was a little excited about it. Not to mention, I loved movies. Not just because I was an actor, but because I had grown to love the art and passion that went into making a movie. It didn't matter if it was a $200 million corporate assembly product or a $10k indie project. As long as the story was coherent, I would watch it irrespective of its language. The movie room set up in our home was used by me liberally, especially ever since Mum and Dad removed restrictions on what type of films I could watch a couple of years ago.

Evan really didn't have to convince me hard, because deep down, I wanted to go out myself.

"Alright," I got up. "Give me five minutes, and I'll be right there with you."

Evan grinned, "That's what I like to hear."

"Would you mind if I ask Emily to join us?" I asked casually after getting ready quickly. I had donned a beanie, big sunglasses, and a scarf that covered the lower half of my face. To anyone else, I may as well be unrecognizable.

Evan's grin widened if that was even possible. "Emily? You know you never introduced me to her, even though she's supposed to be the lead actress in my film." The teasing tone was quite obvious in his voice, but I ignored it.

"I can introduce you now," I offered.

"Works for me," he shot back. "I have to see what girl has captured my bro's heart."

I rolled my eyes at him as we got out of the room. "We're friends. Just friends. I'm not even looking for a relationship right now." I shot a quick text to Emily meanwhile.

"Whatever you say, bro," Evan said, making it clear he didn't believe me at all.

Me: My brother and I r goin out to see a film. [Hustle & Flow]. Wanna come along? 

Emily: Right now? 

Me: Yup. You can meet us in the hotel lobby? 

Emily: I am out. Meet you there directly? Send me the name of the theater.

I quickly got the name of the theater from Evan and texted it back to her.

(Break)

"So he fell down hard in gym class and tore open his shirt. Everyone started laughing, thinking he would be embarrassed, but he didn't care! He took off his shirt completely and shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal. Did I mention he was just 8 or 9 at the time of this incident?"

Emily nodded sagely, "You're right, Evan. He was a diva even back then."

"Of course I am right," he agreed vehemently. "No one knows him better than me."

"You do realize that I'm standing right here, don't you?" I asked rhetorically, but my question was ignored as my male and female best friends traded my embarrassing stories while we walked out of the movie hall after watching [Hustle & Flow], a very good film.

"And for the record," I continued, "I was embarrassed even then but chose not to show it. I knew that if you act like you aren't embarrassed, they won't tease you."

Evan and Emily looked at me dubiously before exchanging a look and grinning.

"Definitely a diva," Emily reiterated. "Doesn't mean I don't like my diva friend Troy." She linked her arm to mine as if trying to appease me.

I snorted at her antics. "It's good that you're cute or this would be our last conversation."

"Ha! As if you could stay away from me," Emily said challengingly.

"God, you two have so much chemistry that together you could create a bomb," Evan remarked.

"Ugh," I groaned while turning to him. "That was terrible, Evan."

"That was bad," Emily agreed with me. "And please don't say things like 'bomb' when we have a film coming out soon. I don't want a box office bomb to be my first film."

Evan chuckled before pointing at the line of people outside one of the theaters. "I don't think that will be a problem."

It was only then that I noticed what he was pointing towards. The movie theater we had just passed, with the huge audience queue, was showing [Brick].

"Your film is already a hit," Evan declared. "For a budget of $1 million, it'll more than just break even. The critics love it, and all of them have singled out both of your performances."

I shrugged. "I've stopped reading reviews. I just check the score on a review aggregator like Rotten Tomatoes to see if the overall reception is good or bad."

"But I love reading those reviews," Emily butted in. "How else will I know where to improve?"

I laughed out loud at her naivety.

"What?" She hit me across the arm in slight offense.

"It's cute that you think their opinion matters about your performance," I said. "Pick out any Oscar-winning performance from the last ten years and read their reviews. There will be people who hate those performances, too. After my Oscar win, some people even called my performance bad. One review said, and I quote: 'If Troy was ten years older, no one would care about his performance in [The Sixth Sense] at all.' Someone else called me an overhyped monkey."

Emily looked surprised. "They said that about a kid?"

I shrugged again. "That was an eye-opener for me. After that, as long as the majority of critics are positive about the movie and don't outright hate my portrayal of a character, I'll be happy."

"I don't think anyone can truly hate anything you do," Emily remarked. "They're just jealous assholes who couldn't do anything meaningful with their lives."

"Hear, hear," Evan called out as we reached our Range Rover that would take us back to the hotel.

The three of us kept talking like old friends who had known each other their entire lives, which was a little strange considering it was the first time Evan and Emily were talking to each other. Being with the two of them, I had forgotten about all my worries. Today was a great day. I didn't run into crazy fans, didn't get papped, and most importantly, I enjoyed the day.

So of course, it had to come crashing down. Hard.

As soon as I exited the car with Emily and Evan (having removed my scarf and sunglasses previously), I came across the scene I would have avoided in any other situation.

Emma Watson had just arrived at Sundance for the premiere of [The Perks of Being a Wallflower], and was getting clicked relentlessly by the photographers. She was wearing a long beige trench coat to stave off the cold. Her hair was done up in a messy bun, which only added to her beauty.

"Troy!" someone in the crowd of photographers shouted my name. "One photo with Emma!"

This was the worst coincidence I could have faced as I internally groaned in displeasure. Because Emma had just arrived here, it would be suspicious as hell if I didn't greet her, especially with so many witnesses and cameras around.

As my eyes met Emma's, I could see the turmoil present there, despite the easygoing grin on her face.

I donned a huge smile as well and walked over to her. I didn't want any unnecessary controversy right now. I hugged her casually, just enough for the paparazzi to get their shot of us together, before we both walked inside the hotel lobby where Emma's mother was already present.

"Emma! Where were you?" she exclaimed upon seeing her, then a look of understanding came to her eyes as she saw me. "Troy! Isn't it lovely to see you, love?"

"Yes, Jackie," I nodded with a fake smile. "But I guess I have to go now. See you at the premiere, yeah?"

I turned around to see that Emily and Evan were standing to the side, waiting to avoid all the drama.

"Troy, wait," I heard Emma's voice, which made me stop in my tracks. "Can we please talk?"

Seeing that we had a bit of an audience, I motioned with my head towards an out-of-the-way corner where we could talk without being disturbed by anyone.

"Go on," I said.

"I'm sorry," she began. "I shouldn't have broken up with you the way I did. I shouldn't have—"

"No," I cut her off. "Please don't say you want to get back together."

"That's not what I was going to say!" she defended herself hotly. "You're so judgmental."

I rubbed my forehead in frustration before saying, "Listen, Emma. I loved you a lot. I still do. But you broke my heart, and I need some distance from you right now."

"We have at least three more films to shoot together," she said. "With you ignoring me, don't make it as uncomfortable as filming [Perks] was."

"Don't act like it was my fault!" I retorted, then saw the hurt expression on her face and immediately regretted it.

"Sorry," I whispered. "I'll try not to make it uncomfortable. But I can't talk right now. You've clearly moved on with Nicholas Hoult. I need some time before I can see you normally."

Emma hesitated for a moment before saying, "Nick and I, we…"

"I really don't want to hear it," I said firmly. "Please."

She nodded once before walking back to where her mother was waiting. I walked back to Evan and Emily, who were trying—and failing—to hide the fact they were attempting to discern what Emma and I had been talking about.

"That wasn't awkward at all," Evan noted.

"Let's go," I motioned with my head towards the elevator, ignoring his comment. "Wanna hit the gym with me, Evan? Emily?"

Evan shrugged. "Might as well."

Emily shook her head. "You guys have fun. I need to go see my parents."

(Break)

(Time Skip)

"So, what do you think?" I asked Barry Meyer, who sat opposite Dad and me in his office.

"The audience and critics' response was exceedingly good," Barry replied meticulously. "[Brick] and [The Perks of Being a Wallflower] are the two most-watched movies of this year at Sundance. It's such a shame they didn't let [Perks] compete in the competition. It's a much better film than [Brick] and could even go as far as the Oscars if we play our cards right."

"What do you have in mind?" I asked curiously.

"We'll launch an Oscar campaign later in the year, but for now, we need to release [Perks] before [Brick]," Barry said as if it made complete sense to him. "Your character is younger in [Perks]. If we release [Brick] first, your dedicated fans might get confused about your age. So I was hoping we could release [Perks] by the end of February, and [Brick] could be released a few months after that."

My eyes widened. "But that's less than a month away," I protested. "We don't have enough time for the promotions."

"Don't worry too much," Barry reassured me. "We released the trailer online and on a few TV channels last week. We've also started printing the posters and other promotional materials, which will go into the market as soon as you agree. All that's left is active promotions, which won't be an issue as long as you're ready. You can then begin shooting that musical after the release of [Perks]."

I turned to Dad, who gave me a nod.

"Okay," I agreed. I would have preferred a longer promotion period like with [Harry Potter], but sometimes you have to defer to the wisdom of industry experts. Plus, this isn't a big-budget extravaganza, and it doesn't have the mass appeal of a magical fantasy world like Hogwarts. I'd already more than doubled my investments in the two films, from $12 million to $25 million. So, I was literally risk-free at the moment.

"There's just one thing," I continued. "Promote it by saying that all profits I receive from the film will go to a charity helping victims of child sex abuse."

Barry raised an eyebrow before turning to Dad.

"He's already written a check for $10 million from the upfront amount we received," Dad explained to Barry. "Troy opened the charity last year, and it's already helped hundreds of kids in the UK. With this money, they can branch out in the US as well."

"That's very noble of you," Barry remarked. "Let me talk to some people in the company. Maybe we can even chip in a little from our share as well, as part of our annual CSR. It will make one hell of a marketing campaign given the main theme of the movie."

I nodded in acceptance. Some people may see it as bad that you are doing a good deed and advertising about it, but I thought differently. Celebrities have the power to influence other people to follow in their footsteps. Our charity had already received more than hundred thousands pounds worth of donations from people who knew about my involvement. This number is relatively low at the moment because the charity was still a little on the unknown side. That's because I hadn't promoted it a lot through wider media channels.

[The Perks of Being a Wallflower], with a very relevant theme, will serve as the perfect time for me to remedy that and let the world know about the Frank Armitage Trust.

__________________

AN: I know you were expecting the premiere of Perks in this chapter, but I didn't want to write two back to back movie summary chapters, so it will be included in the next one. Also, this will be the last conversation between Troy and Emma for quite a while because I think their breakup has stretched on for quite a bit.