Hollywood: From Shadows To The Spotlight

[Chapter 23: Under The Spotlight.]

Alternative Title - [Chapter 23: Alex's Curtain Call.]

Last Time on Chapter 022 of [From Shadows To The Spotlight] —

Catherine's eyes widened, a mix of shock and understanding crossing her face. "And what did you find?"

Alex exhaled slowly, his gaze distant. "Despite being a selfish bitch who thrives on chaos, she truly loves that boy. She's careful with him, protective even."

"I've seen her cancel meetings to pick him up from school, spend hours helping him with homework, and shield him from the worst of this circus. For all her flaws, she's a good mother."

Catherine studied him for a moment, her hand resting gently on his chest. "So you let it go—for the sake of that little Alex."

Now Continuing —

"For Michael's sake," Alex admitted, his voice low but resolute. "The kid's already lost his father. I wasn't about to pile onto his troubles, no matter how justified it might've been. He doesn't deserve to grow up with his mother embroiled in a lawsuit, being dragged through courtrooms and tabloids."

Catherine's expression softened, and she leaned down to press a tender kiss to his cheek. "You've got a good heart, Alex Masters. Even when the world's against you."

Alex let out a short laugh, his eyes glinting with a mix of humor and sadness. "Don't let that get out. I have a reputation to uphold."

Catherine chuckled and nestled closer to him. "Your secret's safe with me." She paused, her voice turning curious again. "But doesn't it bother you? Knowing she was part of all this?"

"It used to," Alex admitted after a moment of thought. "But not anymore. What's done is done. Besides... Michael wouldn't have wanted me to make his son's life harder. He and I may have had our differences at the end, but he was my brother. He always will be."

Catherine rested her head back against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. In the silence that followed, she found herself marveling at the man beside her—his resilience, his kindness, and his ability to rise above the worst of circumstances.

"You're remarkable," she murmured.

Alex smirked, his arm tightening around her. "Don't let me fool you. I'm just a guy trying to make it through the mess like everyone else."

But even as he said it, Catherine knew better. Alex Masters was anything but ordinary.

---------

~A Few Days Later~

Alex was sitting at his desk in the makeshift production office in Wellington, the glow of the desk lamp highlighting the fatigue etched on his face. Papers and storyboards were strewn across the surface, alongside several half-empty coffee mugs.

Outside the window, the New Zealand rain drummed softly against the glass, its rhythmic pattern the only sound in the room apart from the occasional scribble of his pen.

He leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms over his head with a groan, when the buzz of his personal cell phone broke the quiet. Alex glanced at the screen, his brow furrowing in mild surprise at the name flashing across it.

Margaret Ross.

He hadn't expected to hear from her so soon after the broadcast. For a moment, he debated letting it ring—he was swamped, and his to-do list was daunting enough without adding another conversation or obligation to it.

But something in him, perhaps curiosity, or maybe it was gratitude for her help that urged him to pick it up.

"Margaret," he said, his voice calm and measured, masking the exhaustion he felt. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Alex," Margaret's voice came through warm and familiar, tinged with a professional crispness. "I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time."

"Depends on how you define bad," Alex replied dryly, though there was a hint of amusement in his tone. "I'm juggling three timelines and enough caffeine to keep an elephant awake."

He used the word 'timelines' instead of movies, as he didn't want to give away that he's been working on a trilogy of films.

Margaret chuckled. "Then I'll cut straight to the point. I was thinking... After everything that's come out about you and the picture they tried to paint of you, this might be the right moment for the world to hear from you directly."

Alex leaned forward, his interest piqued. "Hear from me directly?"

"Yes. An interview," Margaret said, her tone steady but earnest, hoping that she would be able to sway him this time as she had already failed dozens of times before as Alex was notorious to have never given an interview.

"It's not just to address what's happened to you, but also to give people a glimpse of who you are. I've known you for years, Alex, and I know you don't like being in the spotlight."

"But you're more than just the man who's kept his head down and delivered magic behind the scenes. People should know the real you—the stories that shaped you, the journey you've been on. I think it's time."

Alex was quiet for a moment, the idea sinking in. He rarely, if ever, put himself front and center. His work spoke for him, and that was the way he liked it. But Margaret's words held weight.

After the scandal and subsequent public apology, maybe it was time for him to take control of the narrative—not as a reaction to this incident, but as an assertion of his identity.

"And you'll handle this interview personally?" he asked, his tone cautious but not dismissive.

"Of course," Margaret replied without hesitation. "No one else. I can come to you, or we can arrange for it in Chicago. Your call. I just think this is a chance to make the people aware of your humanity—your story."

"Not as a defense, but as a celebration of who you are and where you've come from, and maybe you can even promote this super secret film you've been working on."

Alex exhaled slowly, leaning back in his chair. He looked around the cluttered room, his mind already spinning with thoughts of what an interview might entail.

It would mean revisiting some memories he hadn't touched in years—memories of struggle, of sacrifice, of the sheer grit it took to carve out a place in this brutal industry.

"It's tempting," he admitted. "But you know I'm neck-deep in work here."

Margaret's voice softened. "Think of it as a break, Alex. A moment to step back and breathe. Besides, I have a feeling your crew can manage without you for a few days. You've trained them well."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Alex's mouth. He glanced at the sprawling storyboard pinned to the wall, then at the pile of notes awaiting his review.

She wasn't wrong—Peter could hold the fort. And maybe, just maybe, it was time to pull back the curtain a little and tell the world his story, the story of Alex Masters.

"All right," he said finally. "Let's do it. I'll fly back to the States. You set it up, and I'll show up."

Margaret let out a soft laugh, relief evident in her tone. "You won't regret it, Alex. I promise."

"We'll see," Alex replied, his voice light. "Just make sure your questions are good ones. And Margaret?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks. For everything."

"You're welcome," she said warmly. "Now, get some rest before you collapse. I'll be in touch with the details."

After they hung up, Alex leaned back, the phone still in his hand. A small break, he thought to himself. A moment to breathe. He stood and stretched, already going over the conversation he'd have with Peter, telling him to hold down the fort while he went to the states and did the interview.

By the time Alex reached for his coat, a plan was already forming in his mind. This wasn't just an interview; it was an opportunity to connect and reflect. And perhaps, to tell his story, he might find something he hadn't expected—a reminder of how far he'd come.

---------

Alex had taken the opportunity to not just catch up on the piling-up work at the studio but also meet with friends, and spend some quality time together with his family. He really missed being away from his sisters all these months.

After a few slow days of lazing around and enjoying life, the day of the interview had arrived, and Alex took a flight to Chicago a day before so he wouldn't arrive at the interview sleep-deprived.

After a few introductory questions, talking about his hobbies and interests in general, Margaret thought it was time to ask a question that would inflame the viewer's curiosity and spike the viewership.

Margaret Ross adjusted her posture slightly, crossing her legs as she leaned forward with a thoughtful look. "Alex, there's a story I've heard whispers of over the years, but I never got the full picture, and no one even covered it. And it just became an industry myth over time."

Alex had a bad feeling in his heart when he heard Margaret say the line, 'no one even covered'. It always meant that it was a well-kept industry secret that almost everyone higher up knew about but didn't dare speak of as it is considered taboo.

"Back when Star Wars was at a critical juncture, I've been told you played a part in saving it." And that immediately made Alex's heart drop a little, but he wasn't anxious, as he was sure that Margaret wouldn't name-drop anyone and keep it civil.

"Can you tell us about that? What exactly did you do, and why? Weren't you worried about the risks, standing up to some of the biggest studios in Hollywood?"

She framed the question as vaguely as she could so that the people involved in the incident would be left to speculation, as she didn't want to get Alex in trouble.

Alex shifted in his chair, his lips pressing together as if considering his words carefully, thankful of Marge for her vagueness. He let out a slow breath, a faint smile tugging at his mouth.

"You know, Margaret, 'saving' is a strong word. I don't think I did anything groundbreaking—it's not like I flew an X-Wing and blew up the Death Star."

"I just… saw an opportunity to help a project I believed in. And let's be honest—there were plenty of people involved who worked just as hard, if not harder, than I did."

Margaret raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced by his attempt at modesty. "That's not what I've heard, Alex. From what I understand, George Lucas himself was in a serious pinch."

She wanted to raise the stakes, so she revealed a bit of a scenario involving the incident. "The studios were circling him, trying to squeeze out profits or wrest control of Star Wars from him."

"Most people wouldn't have dared intervene, let alone take on that kind of risk. But you did. Why?"

Alex's smile grew despite playfully cussing at her for throwing the hot potato of a question at him; he looked lost in his thoughts, his face tinged with nostalgia.

He leaned back slightly, his fingers tracing the edge of the armrest, and decided to just say what came to his mind. It wasn't like the Big Six won't start gunning for him when he starts launching his cinematic franchises.

"Because I couldn't stand by and watch something as extraordinary as Star Wars get diluted into just another corporate product."

"George Lucas is one of the greatest storytellers of our time. His vision inspired an entire generation, me included. It wasn't just about spaceships and laser swords—it was about hope, resilience, and defying impossible odds."

"When I saw the pressure he was under, the vultures circling, I knew I had to do something."

Margaret tilted her head, curiosity sparking in her eyes. "But wasn't it risky? This was some of the biggest studios in Hollywood we're talking about. You weren't worried about making enemies?"

"Of course, I was worried," Alex admitted, his voice soft but firm. "But I also knew that if George gave up even a sliver of ownership or profit, it would be a slippery slope."

"The studios would push for more and more until there was nothing left of his original vision. Sometimes, you have to stand your ground, no matter the cost. It was worth the risk to keep Star Wars in the hands of the man who created it."

Margaret nodded slowly, visibly impressed. "And it paid off. Not just for Lucas but for you as well. You co-directed Attack of the Clones with him, right? That must have been an incredible experience."

Alex's face lit up at the soft ball of a question, and he decided to use the opportunity to toot his own horn for a bit. There was a cunning glint in his eye as this thought formed in his mind; he hid this by lowering his gaze briefly before answering.

"It was. George gave me an opportunity I never dreamed of—to work alongside him, to learn from him."

"I mean, come on—this was George Lucas. I grew up idolizing him. To be trusted with something so close to his heart was... humbling, to say the least."

Margaret's curiosity deepened. "And what was your contribution to the film? From what I've read, your role was more than just co-directing."

Instead of answering directly, Alex leaned forward, a sly smile on his face. "Marge, have you seen The Phantom Menace?"

"Of course," she replied, nodding. "It was fantastic. It felt... well, real. That's the one thing I couldn't get out of my mind—the authenticity. The world felt alive in a way that was so tangible."

Alex's smile widened. "Exactly. That was my pitch to George. I persuaded him to invest in lifelike sets and props—things the actors could interact with, touch, and feel. CGI and special effects are incredible tools, but I've always believed they should enhance a story, not replace reality."

"We kept CGI to a minimum, but when we did use it, we made sure it was the best quality possible. I even put up some of my own money to increase the budget because I believed so deeply in the idea."

Margaret blinked, stunned. "You invested your own money?"

He nodded casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "When you believe in something, you go all in. George was hesitant at first, but he trusted me. And I think it paid off."

~George Lucas's POV~

In his quiet office at Skywalker Ranch, George Lucas sat at his desk, a marked-up draft of the Attack of the Clones script in front of him. A small TV played Alex's interview in the background, but George's attention was split between the screen and the script.

Hearing Alex recount the story brought a nostalgic smile to George's face. He leaned back in his chair as his fingers began to drum lightly on the wood.

Memories of those tense days flooded his mind—the pressure from the studios, the sleepless nights wondering if he'd be able to recreate the magic of the original trilogy, wondering if they would be able to overcome the pressure from Hollywood giants.

Alex had been a godsend. Where most people would've balked at standing up to the Hollywood machine, Alex had stepped in with unwavering confidence, offering support and solutions that George hadn't even considered.

Glancing at the script, George's smile grew wider. Alex had a way of refining ideas, of adding layers to the story without overshadowing the heart of it. If not for him, George knew, Star Wars might've become a lifeless shell of what it was meant to be.

"Thank you, Alex," he murmured to himself. "For believing in this as much as I do."

As Alex's voice on the TV faded into the next topic, George turned his focus back to the script, his determination renewed. Attack of the Clones was shaping up to be everything he'd dreamed of—and he had his protégé and dear friend, Alex Masters, to thank for it.

— To be Continued...

{2,555 words}

{TRL: This is the new Hollywood story that has been bouncing around in my head. I really need to get this out, so here's another chapter.

Also would you like to read ahead? You can do so for free up to 5 chapters ahead of the public release on my Patreon page as Free Member.

Yes, free. If you're interested you'll find the link in the Author's thoughts section or just google TheRamenLord and Patreon.

If you like my work and would like to support me then by becoming a paid member you read from 10 to 20 chapters ahead of the public release depending on tier you purchase.