Behind The Spotlight Chapter 184
"Also, here, I thought Woodie's line was 'there's a snake in my boot', but why is it 'there's a snake in my pants, please pull it out and calm it down'?" Her brows furrowed deeply as she reread the sentence multiple times in disbelief.
Jennifer pointed at the lines. She read them again and confirmed that there was indeed a snake toy in Woodie's pants, but the line didn't feel right at all. She felt that there was something sexual about it, something suggestive that made her uncomfortable despite understanding the context.
"Jennifer, this is nothing new."
"But it's a cartoon movie. This is meant for kids."
"This is also meant for adults. You know how this industry works."
"…" Jennifer sighed and decided to skim through the script, choosing not to argue further.
Cartoon movies were double-layered entertainment that targeted both kids and adults, a well-established formula in the industry. Many movies, especially animated ones, were marketed to both groups to maximize profit.
Kids enjoyed the surface-level jokes, while adults caught the subtle, more mature meanings. This kept parents entertained too, so they didn't get bored watching alongside their children.
On top of that, parents were the ones who bought tickets and watched the movies together with their kids. To keep them entertained, animation studios had to come up with lines that would make them laugh or giggle.
Since Jennifer was offered a gig, she wasn't going to decline it. She admitted that she had been looking for something new because hosting The Singing Voice for three seasons had become stale due to repetition. Although it was repetitive, she had no intention of resigning. That would be a stupid thing to do financially and professionally.
As for voicing a cowgirl toy in Toys Stories 2, she found it novel and refreshing, different from her usual work. Of course, she wanted to try it. Jennifer accepted the job with enthusiasm.
The next day, Collin called the producer of Toys Stories 2. The negotiation didn't take long. They talked over the phone and quickly agreed on a $120,000 contract without unnecessary back-and-forth.
For Fixar, this amount was acceptable, so they had no problem with it. Collin knew Jennifer's box office pull, or rather, the lack of it. She had no box office appeal at all, so hiring her for $120,000 was already reasonable. After all, Jennifer hadn't starred in any films over the past three years, which had lowered her market value.
With that, Jennifer signed the contract, and Collin earned a $7,200 commission. It was a small amount, but money Collin never disregarded, because every dollar mattered. He could buy a car with that amount or invest it elsewhere.
If there was anything unexpected, it was the fact that Jennifer rarely swore now. Collin felt chills whenever he talked to her lately. He wasn't sure whether Jennifer was the real Jennifer, or if she had been possessed by the devil, or eaten by a skin walker that had taken over her identity.
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"What do you think, Don? Is it really a poltergeist or just a ghost?"
"Shamie, you've been gone for years and left us to go to college. Perhaps your memories got rusty after retiring from being a Hunter," Don smirked at his younger sister.
Shamie rolled her eyes.
"It's a poltergeist," she answered with disdain toward her brother, who irritated her to no end.
"Why bother asking me then?" He chuckled.
Shamie had been a simple college student just a week ago. However, her older brother suddenly showed up and told her that their father had been missing for almost a year, a revelation that shattered her normal life.
Shamie came from a family of Hunters who hunted ghosts and dangerous entities that killed people. However, she chose to pursue college, leave the family business, and seek normalcy. She fell in love with her boyfriend and hoped for a peaceful future.
But a supernatural event occurred, and Shamie woke up to find her boyfriend glued to the ceiling, blood dripping from his body. He was dead, a horrifying sight that haunted her.
Since then, Shamie accepted the fact that she couldn't truly leave her past behind. Now, Shamie and her brother, Don, had to face a poltergeist and destroy it.
"You know the rules, and so do I."
"I'm never gonna let you down."
"I'm never gonna turn around and desert you."
The siblings grabbed their weapons to face the poltergeist, ready for battle.
"Okay, cut—!"
The director announced, and the production crew moved quickly. Some fixed the cast's makeup, while others offered warm chocolate to fight the cold.
Madison Morgan humbly thanked the production crew. After having no projects for years aside from small roles that were technically extras, Madison felt happy that she had landed a starring role in this new show.
"Don't be nervous. People may look down on you," her co-star, Toreto Dominos, reminded Madison.
"I know, but I'm still thankful. Thank you, Toreto."
Madison and Toreto were the actors cast as Shamie and Don. They starred in a new horror show titled Unnatural, where two siblings faced different creatures in each episode.
They were shooting the first episode of the show, in which a handsome man was possessed by a poltergeist.
"Can you try smiling the whole time? I'm thinking of shooting this scene three times. One with you smiling handsomely, the second with you staring coldly, and the last with you grinning like a madman."
"No problem, director."
While Madison and Toreto were talking, they noticed the director speaking with a famous actor. Lawrence Terrence was deep in conversation with him. The actor was sitting comfortably on a couch, with one crew member fanning him and another feeding him grapes. It had become normal for Lawrence to snack between breaks and be excessively pampered.
In fact, the situation felt unusual because the director was speaking humbly to Lawrence while the actor simply relaxed. Lawrence looked like a king, while the director seemed like a servant. The huge difference in their status was clearly displayed on set.
Lawrence was interested in trying something new. When he saw a version of the script where his character was possessed by a poltergeist, he personally called the director and requested that version.
The script had originally been rewritten because the production team feared Lawrence would be angry about portraying a poltergeist. Yet the outcome was the opposite of what they had expected.
Lawrence was tired of playing prince charming roles. He drew inspiration from Axel Gunner, who starred in different genres and broke stereotypes.
Madison forced a bitter smile, and even Toreto averted his gaze. They knew the director was merely being humble and fake.
Whenever the director barked orders at Toreto and Madison, he was completely different, like a tyrant, demanding and unforgiving.
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[Author's Note:]
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