Chapter Four
Chapter Four
The ocean air filtered around her as Rakell strolled the short sidewalk past the back of a large home to a small bungalow she shared with another actress/model. This was her first time back to L.A. since moving into the place. She hadn’t been here other than when she’d moved out of that apartment she’d shared with several other girls. Her new roommate, Vee, had been living here for two years with a friend who’d ended up abruptly ditching on rent to live with her boyfriend in Santa Barbara. Vee, like Rakell—and the rest of young L.A.—was an aspiring actress making her way into the business with modeling and commercial gigs. There was something in the air that came in from the Pacific Ocean that inspired confidence, Rakell thought as she sniffed it in. Her sensory systems immediately responded to the variation of air in this city, a close-to-the-ocean scent that differed from Austin, New York, or even northern California, as if each place had its individual-inspired custom-crafted fragrance.
A couple of hours later, Ana, Rakell’s agent who worked for a firm based here with offices in New York, London, and Austin, called. Ana had dubbed Austin the “L.A. of the South.” Now she was calling with more information about the audition: “I sent you the revised script and highlighted the pages that you’ll need to read tomorrow.”
“Okay, is this a different scene from the one I filmed for the initial round?”
“Yes. I have more information about the next two days. Tomorrow, they’ll audition you and two other actresses. I know one of them is Maji Malone. She has an impressive resume, but the casting directors assured me you have an excellent shot. Their words: ‘She projects well in pictures and on film.’ So, this will come down to the energy they register from you. The other actress is an up-and-coming model, Shaina Jacobs. I think they said, she…”
Rakell jumped in. “I’ve met her. She’s in a toothpaste commercial, the one you sent me to audition for. I told you about her. She has perfectly straight white teeth. We are completely different look-types. She’s petite and has big brown eyes. Actually, she and my new roommate are friends.”
“I’m sure you already know this, but hair doesn’t matter as that can be changed. I don’t believe they’re searching for a type, more of a feeling. You’ll meet with the casting director and two others working on the film. Bernardo won’t be there. He’s delayed in New York. He’ll be flying back in the early evening. All three of you will accompany him to dinner, along with the director and a couple of other executives from the studio. I think this honestly will come down to who Bernardo feels more comfortable with being able to nail the part.”
Rakell sat on the edge of the bed, the magnitude of the next few days stilling her, making her take note of her life, how different she was from the girl living on a ranch in rural Australia. She had a shot here, an opportunity that could escalate her dreams. She sucked in a long breath, the desire to get this right washing over her. “I will look everything over tonight and practice those lines. Didn’t you say they would decide fairly quickly after this week?”
“The initial in-person auditions are early tomorrow, then dinner tomorrow night. Tuesday, they plan to have all three of you do a scene with Bernardo, as if they’re shooting the movie.” Ana’s voice almost had a stern air to Rakell's ears, like she wanted to ensure her client knew how crucial this was. “They’ll also have the other lead actor there—James Albright, who’s playing the father. He’ll just be watching. As you know, Bernardo is playing the father’s business associate. They’ll review the scene and make a decision within a week. I’m assuming I’ll know early next week. It’s positive that Bernardo specifically asked for you, and he has only seen the Sports Illuminated covers, along with the black and white commercials you did for Leather and Lace.”
Rakell laid back on her bed in the small bedroom listening to Ana clearing her throat. “Rakell, as I said, a few scenes would require you to be in a bathing suit, and one scene in the movie would be topless. In this movie, the father’s best friend and business partner develops an unusual obsession with his friend’s daughter. In the audition scenes, you will be wearing a bikini. And, of course, they have already seen you in a swimsuit,” she added, a quick jab of laughter vibrating through the phone. “I guess that’s a silly statement because the whole world has seen you in a swimsuit.”
“Yes, I suppose that’s true. Somehow, this seems different,” Rakell said, sitting up straight, pulling her shoulders in, before breathing in deep. “But I want this, I really do.”
“Then, over the next two days, show them what they want and how you can mold into any character. I’ve seen you shift when the camera is on you, so I know you can do this,” Ana reassured her.
Rakell didn’t miss the message in her agent’s tone and words: give your all…whatever that takes . Rakell knew how to do that. She knew how to put herself aside and be whoever was needed at the moment. You have no idea how many people I have been , Rakell thought. “Yes, I can do this.”
“I’ll let you go so you can read through everything and get your clothes ready. I suggest something youthful looking for the audition part tomorrow, like a low-cut sundress. I suppose it’s obvious that your body snagged their attention. Then tomorrow evening, something sexy…” She could hear Ana swallowing through the line before she went on. “Think, a little black dress, heels, but not too high. I think Bernardo is approaching six feet, like every other Hollywood actor,” she stated in a jolt of laughter. “So heels, black dress, simple jewelry…and don’t forget that demure smile.”
Ana spoke like she was reading from a grocery list. Rakell couldn’t stop the churning she felt inside, the sensation that she’d moved on from the escort world but was now being tossed into a parallel universe. “Okay, yes,” she answered robotically, reconciling the “to-be” list in her head. Don’t be Rakell; keep your thoughts to yourself and give them what they want.
“And Rakell, do not share any of this with your roommate. She knows Shaina, and we don’t want her to get wind of what you're wearing, or even that you’re her competition. She may already know, but I’m not sure. We don’t want to give her any edge. I have an in with the casting director’s assistant, so that’s why I know so much about who else they’re looking at.”
“I don’t think she’d…” Impulsively shot from Rakell’s mouth before she stopped herself. Everyone was competing in this town. Which is why Austin would always be home; she couldn’t picture living in L.A. full-time. She needed Austin to retreat to—to know her friends were truly her friends.
Almost mirroring the thoughts in Rakell’s head, Ana started lecturing. “Believe me, you think the modeling world in Europe was competitive? You have no idea what actors trying to land a part—forget about a substantial role with Bernardo—will do. I’m sure you can only guess. Just let me say, the less the competition knows about you, the better off you will be.”
“I just moved in with Vee. I didn’t know her before I answered the ad, but she works hard. She’s a hostess at The Beverly Wilshire. She puts in long hours…” she added, not masking the defensiveness in her tone.
“Rakell, I know exactly who she is. Masie Vera Simmons graduated from high school in Mississippi and goes by Vee because Masie sounds too hick-like and Vera sounds too old. She’s been taking voice lessons to lose her country accent. I would say it isn’t just Southern but pure hick-country. Yes, she’s a beautiful girl, but she’s well aware that making it in this industry is difficult, and she’s more than willing to make money in other ways, so smartly, she works at a place where a lot of eligible men hang out…well, in this town eligible is ill-defined. Vee has no qualms about batting her eyelashes, showing some skin, and letting that twang accidentally slip out. I know her agent well. We both went to UCLA for undergrad. Her agent has warned her that this business has a fine line; she can flirt at the edges but needs to be cautious.”
“She must have gotten some pretty good jobs because she drives…”
“A brand-new electric Porsche, a bonus for being a hostess at Jacobson’s extravagant Hollywood parties. On that note, if you are ever invited to one of those parties, it means you’ve made it or the town knows you’re climbing the ladder quickly, so never refuse an invitation to the Jacobson Estate.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Go read through everything, practice, but not too hard. You want to come fresh and appear na?ve yet intelligent. Hollywood executives froth at the mouth with the thought of the next ingénue. You could be that, coming out of nowhere from a ranch in Australia, then found herself on the Jumbotron.” Her voice took on a saccharine tone. “Yes, I quite accidentally…”
“That was an accident,” Rakell interjected, defensiveness driving her voice. “I didn’t plan that.”
“Rakell, like I said, when I gave Sports Illuminated permission to release your identity…I don’t care how it happened, it was brilliant. And all the speculation surrounding you and one of the biggest playboys in the NFL. Well, it was genius as well. Now get to it; this role may very well get you asked to the Jacobson Estate in a short time.”
Rakell halted the sigh that had been building in her lungs, but felt compelled to reiterate to Ana…hell, the world, that getting the approval of rich men was not her goal. She’d done that in the most direct way and she knew how depthless they were—there was nothing fulfilling about rich men thinking you were something for a moment in time. “A Jacobson invite is not really on my list of career goals.”
Ana cut her off with a chuckle. “It will be. I had to learn this the hard way, going between Austin and L.A. In this town, there’s a motive, or let’s say, an end goal behind every gesture, whether it be a party invite, dinner out, coffee, a stroll on the beach, or a callback. Everything is infused with a motive…regardless of who you are. You’ll learn that lesson soon enough. You’ll learn…the more you are exposed to people with money and power, you’ll see that nothing is motive-free.”
Rakell shook her head, fighting the urge to say, believe me, I know. Yet she hadn’t thought of pursuing acting as a stepladder of favors. She’d told herself it was based on talent and a drive to endure, to go the long haul. “Okay, I will make a strong showing tomorrow. I’m excited about the opportunity to be considered for a role that isn’t a background blonde bubblehead with one line or a head nod.” She let out a short chuckle. “Thank you. I’ll call after the audition.”
“Good luck,” Ana added just before the line went silent.
“Sure, mate , luck ,” Rakell uttered to the wall as she sat down at the small, whitewashed desk beside her bed, opening her computer to review the script.