Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
“Yeah.” He nodded. He took a look around and suddenly noticed Amy next to him. “Oh, I forgot. Jamie, get her whatever she wants.” He pointed to Amy “My new assistant.” He explained.
Amy smiled “Just Chicken on rice.” She told the girl.
Philip paid for the food and they sat down eating lunch together. He took a huge bite and tapped her hand from across the table. “I wanted to ask you…” he said through a mouthful of food.
Amy wagged her finger at him “Didn’t your mom ever teach you not to speak with your mouth full? The question can wait.” She scolded lightly.
He rolled the food on both sides of his cheeks, causing them to look like two huge balls. “Yeah, but I like to eat comfortably.” He said clearly.
She winced in disgust “Don’t do that, you look like a chipmunk.” He only laughed and began chewing again before stuffing more food in. “For a star, you sure don’t have any table manners.”
He pulled up his fork and pointed it at her “Hey, I’m only human. I eat just like everyone else.”
Amy laughed as she looked around the room “Really? If you can find one person in this room that eats like you, I will stop picking on you.”
Philip rolled his eyes “Fine.” He got up and walked down to the next table where a couple was eating. They looked like small role actors, who were reading their lines with the script next to their lunch dish. Amy noticed him saying something to the guy and instantly, he scooped a spoonful of the left over rice on his dish and stuffed it in his mouth. Philip turned to Amy with a victorious grin, he nodded at the guy with his eyes and Amy shook her head sadly.
“I give up.” She put up her hands in defense. “What did you tell him anyways?”
Philip took his seat across from her with a wicked grin “You want to know don’t you?”
She thought about it for a few seconds and then shook her head “No, not really.”
His grin faded “Aww, come on! Ask me.”
Amy began to understand him a bit more. He liked to be humored. But she was not the kiss up type. “No.” she said flatly and ate her lunch.
“Fine, I’m not telling you.” He pouted and ate his lunch. After a moment of silence, he dropped his fork and threw a little tantrum “Why don’t you want to know?” Amy looked up with a surprised expression “Okay, I’ll tell you. I told him if he stuffed the food in his mouth, I would give him a role in my next movie.”
Amy chuckled with her head shaking “You are something, you know that?”
He smiled shyly “Aww, thanks.”
“It’s not a compliment.” She explained causing him to pout again. She laughed “You don’t have the power to give people roles in movies. Isn’t that the producer’s job?”
Philip narrowed his eyes at her “Liz taught you too much.” He looked at her half full plate and commented “You eat like a bird. Come on, we have to leave in 5 minutes.” He glanced at his watch.
“You only get 15 minutes of lunch?” she asked incredulously.
“No, one hour. But a certain someone was late, so the conference started late so lunch has been cut to a minimum.” He said spitefully. She only smiled apologetically and began to eat faster.
After lunch, Philip took Amy to Studio 10A, which would be the main place he would be filming indoors. “Now you have to, I mean absolutely have to remember this studio because I will be here most of my days. The station decided to give me my own room.” He pointed to one of the offices that they passed by with his name on it.
“I wouldn’t have guessed with your name on the door.” She quipped but looked around din awe.
“Don’t get smart with me, young lady. I could fire you today!” he joked.
She laughed “Sure, how will you explain to the reporters when you have a new assistant tomorrow?”
“Okay, you got me.” They both laughed as he opened the heavy doors for her to walk through. It was a sound proof room with hundreds of lights shining on certain sets. She’s never seen anything like that before. If it wasn’t for the fact that the cameras and lights were there, she would have thought she stepped into a hospital.
The director saw Philip as he waved him over “Right on time.” He commented. It was something he admired in Philip and hoped that all actors could be like him. He was always on time even with his popularity. “Should we start the first scene?”
Philip nodded as he turned to Amy “Can you get me a bottle of water in the cafeteria?” She nodded and stepped hurriedly out of the room to get him water. After she left, the two discussed the scene he would be doing. They already chose the main actress to be Athena Chu, who was popular for her childish features and feminine figure. The two have worked together before and the director thought it would be good to rekindle the on-screen connection.
When Amy returned she saw Philip and the popular actress, Athena Chu speaking in low voices as they rehearsed their lines. She waited on the side patiently for him to finish. When he was done, she rushed to him and gave him the bottle. He chugged the bottle over his mouth but no water came out. “Take it back, there’s nothing in there.”
Amy narrowed her eyes strangely “It’s not open.” She said cautiously, not sure if he was being sarcastic. He handed it to her and she opened it for him. He looked up and gave her a sweet smile. “You sure have a way with words.” She commented.
“Thanks. Hey, we’re gonna start shooting the end scene, so if you want to stay in here, just keep quiet.” He pointed towards the entrance “They’re locking the doors. So just stay around there.”
Amy nodded but at the same time, her face wrinkled in curiosity “The end scene? I thought it was just starting production today? Shouldn't you be filming the first scene?”
He smiled as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders leading her towards the back so the camera guy could get ready “Honey, this is the trick of the business. We shoot whatever scene is easiest. It’s not necessarily in order of the movie. FYI.” He gave her wink.
“FYI?” she didn’t know if it was code talk.
“For your information.” He explained with a calm smile and returned to the set.
She nodded and watched from the sideline as the scene took place before her very eyes. It was the scene where the main girl will have to convince Philip to go back into the surgery room and operate on his dying sister. He is feeling stressful. “Quiet on the set!” someone yelled “We’re rolling.”
“Action!” the director announced. And like magic the scene unfolded before Amy’s eyes. Philip was sitting in a waiting area and Athena rushed in from around a corridor that was actually empty.
“Ray! I’ve been looking all over for you!” she announced. But her face frowned when she saw the sad expression on his face. She took a seat next to him and began speaking in a quieter tone. “What’s wrong? I thought you were operating on Kimmie?”
Philip had his hands on his face as he rubbed them roughly, giving it so much feeling. Amy actually felt his stress and pain. He leaned back against the wall and let out a long sigh “I can’t do it, Keli. I just can’t.”
She reached over and rubbed his back in a circular motion “Yes, you can. You’ve done it before. What makes this time any different?”
“She’s my sister, what if something happens during the operation?” he said with much concern. “It would be all my fault.”
“Why do you think like that? Whatever happens is up to God’s hands. All you can do is try your best to save her life. Listen to me, Ray, you are saving her life. She has half a chance to live. If you don’t do it, no one will.”
He shook his head and dug his face into his lap as he groaned in agony. “I can’t!” he cried openly and she took him into her arms as she rocked him lightly.
“Ray, do you know what I admire about you?” he shook his head “The fact that you never give up. Since the day I met you, you’ve always finished what you started. I thought to myself, now there’s a guy with a good head on his shoulders.”
Philip looked up with tears in his eyes, Amy covered her mouth as she too began to tear up. She didn’t think he was that good before, but this seemed more real, it was definitely raw talent. “Really?” he asked, his voice shaking.
Athena nodded with a smile, her eyes reddened too “I think you’re great at what you do. I’m sure your sister would not want anyone else to operate on her than her own brother. Her life is in your hands. Whatever stress or pain you’re going through, you have to put it aside for her. She needs you.” Her voice was earnest and meaningful.
He nodded after a moment, letting the words sink in “You’re right. I can’t sit here and complain about it. It’s not about me anymore, it’s about her. She can’t die.” He wiped his tears with the back of his hand as he let out the brightest grin “Thank you so much!” he hugged her warmly as he got up and walked towards the direction she came from at the beginning of the scene. He turned before disappearing around the corner “I owe you one, Keli.” She smiled at him.
Amy was so into the scene that she found herself clapping after the scene ended. “Bravo!” she cried out.
“CUT!” the director called out and the whole set began to bustle around. He turned towards the voice behind him “Miss, please do not speak until I say ‘cut’. Would someone please escort her out?” he looked around like a mad man.
Philip quickly came to her defense “I’m sorry director Cheng, she’s my new assistant. It’s her first time on the set. Don’t kick her out.” He was practically begging “She won’t make another sound right?” he raised an eyebrow at Amy.
“Yes. My lips are sealed.” Amy promised. She rushed over to them “I’m so sorry. I just got so into the scene. That was amazing!” she gushed at Philip.
“She gives me a little inspiration. Can she stay?” he asked again.
The man, who’s face was friendly during the conference was sour now. He eventually nodded “Fine. But not a peep from you!” he pointed to Amy. She nodded with her lips curled inward. The man soon left to check the camera and scene leaving the two there.
Amy smiled guiltily “I’m sorry…I didn’t mean.”
Philip only laughed “You’re so funny! I can’t believe you did that. Looks like I got myself a fan.”
“I was always a fan, just not a crazed fan. Maybe it’ll change.” She was teasing.
“You like that scene?” he asked.
She nodded “Yeah, its so meaningful. Wow…and the tears, are they real?” he nodded and she was full of admiration all over again “That was brilliant.”
“What did you think of her role?” he pointed in Athena’s direction.
“She did good. But…I don’t know if I should comment.” She had another idea how the main girl should approach the main guy but didn’t want to butt in, since she wasn’t a professional.
“Tell me.” He crossed his arms with interest.
She shook her head “I don’t want to be nosy.”
Philip frowned “There’s no harm in telling me. I want to hear suggestions, maybe I’ll tell the director if it’s good.” She shook her head not saying a word and he sighed shortly “My patience is running out, Amy. Tell me now or I’ll kick you out.” He threatened.
She smiled at him, knowing that he was kidding “Fine. It was so awkward the way she ran down the hall and finding you sitting there with your face in your hands. She sat next to you…I thought she should have bent down on her knees and place her hands on your knees giving it a more personal and ads a little more…”
“Feeling?” he asked. He nodded with a smile, it was a good idea. He smiled “Someone’s got a bit of hidden talent in them don’t they?”
She smiled proudly at his compliment “Really?”
He nodded “It’s good.” He turned and rushed over to Athena and whispered something to her and she nodded with a smile. Amy ruffled her brows wondering if he made the suggestion. Soon they were ready to shoot the scene again. This time Amy covered her mouth to keep it from saying anything. The director gave her a quick glance before calling out ‘action’.
This time Athena did what Philip suggested and Amy thought it looked wonderful. It was more real. After the scene was over, the director called out “Cut!” he clapped his hands “That was great. I love that little change at the beginning.” He pointed out. “Did you think of it, Athena?”
She shook her head “No, Philip suggested it. I wasn’t sure if it would look right.”
“It was more than perfect.” The director was satisfied and he turned to Philip “Great suggestions. You never seem to fail when it comes to ideas.”
Philip gave Amy a wink of the eye as he smiled in her direction. She grinned happily knowing that she was responsible for the slight change of one of the most important scenes in the movie.