Love Unscripted

“No. I researched some of it on the net. I was curious.”

“So you think it’s a good role for me?” he asked, wiping his wet hands on the dishtowel that hung over his shoulder.

“I think it’s a perfect role for you. You’d be able to show a wider range of emotions with this character. There are a lot of heart-wrenching

scenes. They did their research on dogs, and one of the dogs that he was really attached to dies.”

“Sounds sad. You really think it has Oscar potential?” He narrowed his eyes on the script.

“Yeah, I do. The story is very compelling and you’d play a hero instead of an action star,” I stated. “I visualized you in the role the whole time I

read it. It’s a tear-jerker. This is the type of role that wins awards.”

“Since when did you get so knowledgeable about films and awards?” he asked in a teasing fashion.

“Since I started dating this hot movie star who’s getting cast into all these romantic popcorn films. I’ve just been doing research on acting and

stuff,” I admitted.

“Well then, move that one to the top of the stack. I’ll talk to Aaron and David… see what they think.”

“You don’t want to read it first?” I was surprised that he was just going to take my word for it.

“I trust you.” He smiled.

“Did you read this one… Gordon’s Way?” I asked, peering at it inquisitively. “I haven’t seen this script before.”

“Yeah, I read through it last week. It was couriered to the set. I really liked that one, but Aaron told me that they already signed Chase

Westwood, so that one is out.”

“And what are your thoughts about Bottle of Red?” I removed the script from the stack. It was the first one that I had read.

“Lame,” he answered dryly.

“I agree. O – U – T out.”

“Sacred Mountain?” I continued, pa

“What was that one about again?” he asked in between taste-testing di

“Secret UFO base in the mountains.”

“Oh, yeah. That one was heavy sci-fi. What did you think of it?” he asked, almost sounding hopeful.

I pursed my lips and sneered.

“What’s that reaction about?” he countered.

“Aliens?” I think I rolled my eyes. “That would be a huge diversion from the roles you have been taking. Is that something that interests you?”

He shrugged. He seemed unsure of his direction.

“Ryan, what’s your goal here? I mean when you dreamt of being an actor, what kind of actor did you want to be?”

“Brando!” he stated with admiration. “I wanted to be Marlon Brando. The Godfather, you know! I can’t tell you how many times I looked at myself

in the mirror while trying to imitate him. He was the reason I wanted to get up on stage and act.”

Ryan sat down at the table with me. “When I did the first Seaside, I was thinking about Gary Cooper – how he would have delivered it. I can only

hope to be in that league as an actor one day. That would be the ultimate!”

“Well then, there’s your direction. If that’s the perception you want people to have when they think of you as an actor, then you need to position

yourself correctly in the right roles. Isn’t that something your agent and manager should be helping you with? I mean some of these scripts… well,

they aren’t going to get you there.”

“They’re just trying to get me jobs so I make a name for myself. It’s tough. You’ve got to take what you can get sometimes,” he responded.

“I don’t know about that. By the looks of it I think you could afford to be a little more choosey.” I patted the nine scripts under my hand. “Perhaps if

you needed a paycheck you could consider some of these, but I think that if you want your dreams to come true then you need to point yourself in

their direction.” I held up the script for The Isletin Solution.

He smirked. “Yeah, you’re right. Hey, after di

I smiled from the thought. I really enjoyed helping and watching him get into character.

I tried to “act” when I read the lines instead of just reading from the script, to the point that Ryan started coaching me when we rehearsed

together. We rehearsed so often that I was starting to memorize the lines of dialogue of the other characters and the feelings they were intending to

portray in each scene.

Ryan did have a cool job. It was oddly liberating “pretending” and feeling permitted to have different emotions and reactions from your own. I

could see why he loves what he does for a living.

The lead female role had a lot of dialogue. She was a medical student and avid rock climber who rescues Ryan’s character out on a mountain.

What I liked most about her was that she didn’t take a lot of crap from anyone.

It was very eye opening, making me acutely aware of my own personality.

Chapter 25 - Thanks

“You two wait in here. Give me a minute. Let me get your bags out first, then I’ll get you into the terminal,” Mike said, leaning over the front seat

to speak to us.

There must have been almost fifty photographers, fans, and people gawking out on the sidewalk by the doors for departing flights.

“This is fucking crazy,” Ryan muttered. He had his back turned to the car door but the photographers ran to the other side of the car trying to get

shots of him. It was hard to see in through the dark tinted windows.

“I hate airports,” he whispered. “Are you ready for this?”

I nodded, despite the fact that I was feeling like a nervous wreck.

Airport security was waiting outside now; they were trying to move people away from the doors to the terminal. Mike opened the car door and

Ryan slipped out. His foot wasn’t even on the ground yet when the frenzy began.

“Ryan! Ryan! Can you sign this?” People were yelling at him repeatedly.

“Ryan, over here.” The cameras flashed non-stop.

“Can I take my picture with you?” some young girl asked sweetly.

My poor Ryan didn’t know which way to turn. Mike and our driver flanked Ryan on both sides while he signed a few autographs. Some of these

people had glossy photos of his movie character in hand and it amazed me that they were so prepared for our arrival.

Ryan scribbled his signature quickly with a borrowed pen while Mike used his arm and hands to block people from getting too close. I noticed

he avoided the men with professional prints and signed his autograph for the fans instead. He posed and smiled for almost twenty photos.

I removed my backpack from the trunk of the car, slung it over my shoulder, and readied my small carry-on suitcase. The paparazzi swarmed

like angry bees, fighting amongst themselves for better position to take pictures. Mike finally handed Ryan his messenger bag and duffel bag and

then asked the crowd to back up.

I felt so helpless. These ‘people’ for lack of a better term had us surrounded. I grabbed the back of Ryan’s jacket, fearing I might get left behind

in the mayhem.

Ryan felt his jacket tug and glanced back at me to confirm I was the one doing the tugging. I tried not to look at the photographers, even though I

knew my picture was being taken over and over again.

Ryan grabbed my hand and we hurried into the terminal. Mike was by his side; Ryan had me in tow. Airport security had us surrounded now.

Never in my life had such a simple task like getting on a plane been so frightening!

“Ryan! So is it official? Are you and Ms. Mitchell an exclusive item?” some paparazzo asked. Ryan didn’t answer.

“Is it true that you and Taryn are living together?” another photographer asked while ru

Ryan still didn’t answer. He had that familiar look on his face; the one he wore when he was sick of all this shit but tried to look indifferent.

“Come on guys. That’s enough,” Mike said to the paparazzi who were walking backwards, taking our picture and filming us.