ROLEPLAY HQ - lights-camera-romance

TW: Verbal abuse, sexual content, light manipulation.

It was finally happening.. After that terrible situation that happened almost three years ago, she had finally landed a big role in a leading production. She had worked so hard to get here, taking small roles in order to try and work her portfolio. Doing auditions even for roles she didn’t want to take, just so filmmakers would see her, notice her. Then this role came along. The love interest for a prince, set in a medieval time. Only her character never known what he truly is till the end. It had sounded right up her ally, something that fit with her style and her personality. The first round of auditioning had gone smooth and without issues. The last three were tougher. She had to fight against some big names in the industry, but ultimately she had been the one to take the crown. She was so proud of herself. Finally she was breaking through, going to he big leagues after it had been stolen from her three years prior. Today was the first day that she would meet the entire cast. The direction had seemed very secretive about who played which role. Shay had simply guessed that he did not wish for that information to leak into the world before he was ready to announce it. Not wanting to bring drama into it, Shay had not pushed for an answer to the question burning in her mind, the person who would play the prince. She had decided, whoever it was, she could do what she needed to do. Along with meeting everyone they would get their first look for the whole script. Do a read through and adjust it where needed. Her contract had involved signing for nudity, but that was not an uncommon. Shots of the back of a naked woman were in plenty of movies and frankly.. Shay had enough confidence in her body to not mind showing it off. He had chosen a comfortable outfit for today. A simple pair of jean and an oversized sweater. She had done these script readings before and they got long and boring, so the last thing she wanted to do was to end up also being uncomfortable in the

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clothes that she wore. She made it to the building with her car and came out with a big tote bag over her shoulder. She had brought a notepad and pens, wanting to start making notes on her script right away to help her with the role. She wanted to show she was eager.. that she was going to do this to the best of her ability. “Shay! How good to see you again!” The director would greet her with a firm handshake as she made it into the cast room. It was set up in a U shape with desks and chairs, the director being in the opening to read the script and explain things. “Director! It is good to see you again as well! Thank you again for the opportunity. I am really happy to have landed the role.” She said with a smile. A bit of sucking ass would not harm anyone. “I simply picked the bet of the bunch and you were it.” He assured her. “You deserved it Shay.” It brought a warm smile to her face as she thanked him again. “Now let me introduce you to your Prince!” He said in an excited manner as he motioned into the room. At first Shay could feel her excitement, finally meeting the person she would spend the next few months filming alongside with, but that excitement quickly failed her when she met eyes with the person before him. No. Fucking. Way.

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@Professional Shay Slander

The last three years had been like something out of a dream. Marco had landed his big break after staring in a film that was highly accepted. From there, his career took off. He had been able to capitalize on the first success, taking role after role. Now he was becoming a household name. He had reached to point where he had to audition less, his agent would just get calls asking for him to do they part. Such was the case with this movie, he had been requested to play the role because of his name. A fact he was proud of. Marcel arrived to the set in his expansive new all black Aston Martin DB11. The director wanted to review the script and do some preliminary edits before filming. He hadn't reviewed the script in depth. He saw it was some medieval thing with a prince reveal towards the end. Marcel didn't really care. His agent said it would be good, something that would show his acting diversity. Marcel trusted his agent, after all it was him who landed him the gig that launched his career. Marcel parked his car and walked into the studio. He was dressed in dark pants, a white t-shirt, and a leather jacket. He was greeted at the director with a smile. "Marcel my boy good to see you. You ready to make some magic?" He said reaching is hand how to shake. Marcel grabbed his hand. "Let's do it." Marcel was lead into the studio. "I'll set you up in the cast room while we wait for everyone else" The director led him into as small room with a table and chairs. "Alright, I'll be back" he said leaving Marcel. He pulled out his phone and waited. Shortly after the director came back with a woman. She was cute...had he seen her before. She looked familiar, he just couldn't place why he knew her face and more importantly why did he remember her face. He had met so many people over the past few year they all started to blend. No matter, I'm sure it will come back to me. He stood and put his hand out "How you doing?" He didn't chose his words carefully not wanted to reveal h

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e didn't remember her, in case he should? @Nakachu

Marco Gates.. the very guy who stole that role from her three years ago. The one who took the fame that had rightfully belonged to her. She had fought for that role! And he had snatched it from her because of some kind of favor that had been owed to his agent. Shay had not had an agent at that point in her career and she had pulled the short stick. She had to swallow deep to keep those emotions away from her face. A deep breath into her nose as he put out his had towards her to greet her. It was a simple greeting, one you would give someone you just met. Does he not remember me? “I am doing alright.” She said back to him, in the same almost non interested way. It seemed the director at least was picking up on the bit of tension from her side as he looked back and forth between them. “You two know each other?” He asked. “Just in passing.” Shay quickly answered. It wasn’t even a lie. Even though she believed that Marco has stolen her career she had barely ever seen him face to face. He had quickly made a name and gotten out of reach. Eventually he didn’t have to audition for roles anymore, so she didn’t see him there anymore either. The direction soon nodded and would notice someone else coming in that he brought his attention to. “So I guess you are my prince huh?” She just said sarcastically as she let go of his hand and crossed her arms over one another. “You better get your act together. I am not planning on letting you ruin my performance.” It was a snarky comment from her side, one that was perhaps in bad taste. But how could she not? She still believed she could have done a better job. Just because it had been an action movie did not mean that a girl could not play it.. Instead they had gotten a dark and wide man to play it. That was just to common now wasn’t it? She would look over her shoulders as people were starting to trickle in and gather around them. They were the lead actors of the movie after all, their roles taking up the most of the play as

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the foreigner would lead the prince around back to where he needed to be. “Anyway, looking forward to playing with you.” She said with a smile now that others were close enough to hear her. @Professional Shay Slander

Marco racked his brain trying to remember who she was. Was she a minor roll in a previous film? A one night stand? She seemed to remember him. He still couldn’t place it, although she said she knew him in passing. When the director turned away. She made some snarky remark about how he better not ruin her performance. Last time he checked he was the ringer for this movie it should be him worried about everyone else. He started to tell her about herself. When others began to walk in. “Looking forward to playing with you.” She said with a cute smile. what the hell? She is trying to play me right now. Marco left it alone but he was curious. He sat back down and picked up his script. She called him “her prince”, so she must be the love interest right? He looked at the cast list. Shay Madden. He picked up his phone and messaged his agent. Who is Shay Madden?

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It didn’t take long for his agent to message him back. She was casted for Legion, remember I pulled strings and got you the role instead. Why? It all clicked for Marco. She jealous of him for getting that role. Well that’s Hollywood. Marco responded to his agent, as he watched Shay mingle and interact. @Nakachu

She seemed much more friendly with the other cast members. She shook hands and introduced herself to them. She asked after their roles and would talk about how she looked forward to the production. She would hop between group and group, seemingly trying to avoid Marco as much as she could. It was about half an hour later when the sounds of a pair of hands clapping would sound in the room. “Hello hello! Welcome!” The director would start and grab everyone’s attention. “Now that everyone is here, I suggest getting the script reading started! Shay and Marco please take the center, the royals on their right, the big role villager on the left and all the side characters please find a spot wherever you are comfortable!” He announced. She couldn’t help the soft whine from her lips, knowing she would spend the rest of the afternoon sitting right next to him. But she sucked it up. She sat down in the chair that was apparantly assigned to her. Putting her bag next to her and pulling out her notebook and pen. The script was right in front of them. As thick as a book with page after page of lines. Each script had been printed to only contain scenes that were applicable to specific characters and those of Shay and Marco were the thickest out of the room. “Well.. here we go.” She just said, without looking at him as the director was bout to get them started. At least the first hour or so should be just for Marco. Her role only came into play after the Prince had wrecked their ship. @Professional Shay Slander

Marco moved towards the indicated chair. He dropped his script on the desk and began to read through the initial scenes. Marco discussed the interactions with the minor characters such as the king who sends the prince on his voyage. Overall the script's introduction was very well written. Marco made small points to the director about the fluidity of dialogue, some small pacing suggestions, but nothing too big. The initial scenes detailed how the prince was suppose to make a trip to an allied country. Along the way they hit a storm, capsize, and the prince washes up on an unknown beach alone. After each of his parts with the minor cast members, they complemented Marco saying they were excited to work with him. Some asked him for advise on moving up. Marco was polite and offered what little advice he could, while not trying to derail the scrip reading. At last they had made it past the intro and were moving on to the main plot. Marco describes the opening scene of his meeting with Shay's character. He is unconscienced on the beach with no belongings. "The prince lays unconscious on the beach. He his the lone survivor of the wreck..." He pauses, expecting Shay to pick up the dialogue. "This is where you step in." He whispers taunting her, not forgetting her earlier comment. @Nakachu

That first hour was quite boring for Shay. Her character didn't appear in it and neither would it ever learn the information that was told in it. Because of that she didn't pay that much attention either. It was better, the less that she knew. Mostly because she would not be able to portray any emotions on that character that did not belong there to begin with. So instead she played with her script paper and even started to doodle a little bit on the back of a page. She doodled faces of people around the room, and even some of the interesting objects that had been brought along. The director had shown some of the props and costumes of the set to give them a feeling for the story. "This is where you step in." The sentence got her out of the distracted sense that she had been in and she looked at him. She gave him a small side eye before going into the script and starting on her parts. From here on out it was a back and forth between Shay and Marco. The prince found a village nearby and asked them for help, her character being one of the first he came across. She brought him in, fed him and gave him dry clothes. The whole feel of the character gave a sense of her thinking he was strange and weird, especially for the way he talked. There was a bit of a sequence where he would do chores for the village as he earned his keep and his food before the time came that he would ask for help to travel to the land that he had been supposed to go. @Professional Shay Slander

As Marco and Shay reviews their scenes. Marco started to visualize the scenes. He could feel the desperation of his character. The relief he would feel when he was taken in. The clumsiness of him struggling to do mundane task he never had to do before. Over time the prince would be become quicker, used to their customs, more understanding of the struggles of non royals. Many of these things he learned from his time with Shay’s character. There was the undertones of them developing a romance. All the while the prince was saving to fund a way back home. The script was building to the point where he was almost ready to travel back home. “You know you are going to have to really sell the connection here? Do you think you are ready to pull of the range of emotion as they get closer over their travels” Marco was right this movie depended on pulling two people of opposite lifestyles and watching them learn to accept, and ultimately fall in love with each other. @Nakachu

She couldnt help the soft 'tsk' that came from him as he had leaned into her and spoke to her. "Don't you worry my dear co-star. Unlike you I actually had to audition for this part." She would say to him in half announce hidden away behind a gentle smile. "It seems the director has a lot more faith in me then you do." Again covered by a sweet tone and a kind smile towards him, before turning back to the script. It would continue to build till suddenly all at once it would seem to explode between the characters. Her character taking his down to the river to wash clothes. After some teasing they ended up in the river. Clothes soaked and sticking to their bodies as they shared their first kiss. It shouldn't come as a surprise there was a kissing scene in this movie. The scene would seem to lead to more before they got interrupted and would get back to work laughing. The scene then skipped to that very evening. The prince in his own tent, counting his money, knowing he had enough to start the first part of his journey. The flap of his tent opening as Shay's character comes in and sees it, knowing exactly what it means. She launched herself at him, trapping him in another kiss. Clothes being pulled from both their bodies and leaving them naked. But instead of the scene fading there it continued. The start of their intercourse described, feelings spoken between moans as he entered her. "Excuse me director.." she said then, facing towards the man in the middle of the room. "Is that really necessary? We are shooting a movie, not a porno.. no offense. I don't see the added value of showing that part of it." She commented. "I happy you bring that up Shay, but we do believe it to be necessary. We want to show the connection between the character. That moment between them that they decide they were made for another. We are not shooting a sex scene there, we are shooting the start of them being a unit, their love. That is the message, not the sex and that is also how I

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wish you both to play that part." He explained to him. "And if you are worried about nudity, neither of your genitals will show and I believe you Shay signed for top nudity in your contract?" He asked her. "Yes sir.. I did." @Professional Shay Slander

Marco shook his head at the comments she made with regards to the sex scene. “Look if she isn’t ready, then we need to think about finding someon…err a better solution.” Marco refrained from openly insulting her, but as he saw it was if the rookie was ready then his name shouldn’t suffer and she should be recasted. “All I’m saying is the selling point of this movie is the romanticism and the journey of two unlikely people falling in love. If the passion isn’t there it’s dead in the water.” @Nakachu

She would look towards Marco with a look of disbelieve on her face. Did he really just say that about her? That she should be replaced? She couldn’t keep the anger away. Not only had this guy stolen that role that had been meant for her those years ago, he was now trying to once more keep her from seeing the glory of a red carpet on a premier. “I will not have you insult me like this in front of the entire cast.” She said to him through a tightened jaw. “If you do not want me to be your co-star please just say so. I earned this role and I am not letting you push me away from it.” Only the did she look forward the director. “All I wanted to point out is that perhaps depicting a sex scene that way would not fall well for the female audience.” She started. “This just means that I have the job of making it more enjoyable for them. Let’s continue the reading.” @Professional Shay Slander

Marco kept his composure as she berated him. He said what he said. He didn't think it was untrue and he didn't say it for dramatic effect. He was just establishing his legacy. He caught the emphasis she put on the word "earned". It was a concealed attack. No one in the room but the two of them would understand what she was implying. It pissed him off. It didn't matter if he did technically take a role from her. He had proven himself in that film and the many afterwards. "I'm not insulting you in front of the cast. I spoke out of turn....I apologize" Marco said in an attempt to smooth things over publicly. The last thing he wanted was the cast members who were depending on this opportunity to feel like it might get pulled from under their feet. This film was a good gig, he wanted to so his diversity as an actor, and if that meant he had to deal with Shay he would suffer through it. They continued the reading. After the sex scene, the two laid together in each other's arms. The prince said that he was going back home soon. He would ask if she would come with him. He contemplated telling her who he was, but didn't afraid she would see him different. @Nakachu

She would give him a small bit of a side eye as he spoke back to her. She didn’t get a chance to say much back, seeing as he apologized so she just left it at that. As she looked back to the director, it was clear he wasn’t sure what was going on between his co-stars, but he too just decided to ignore it. “Yes, let’s continue.” He just said gesturing to Marco to pick up with the next scene. And so they did. They continued to the reading, going from scene to scene as the village girl and the secret prince started their journey to his home lands. They went through different challenges. Crossing rivers, coming by pickpockets on the road and more. Through all that their love slowly progresses. Turning from that one night of passion into a place where neither of them can or want to be without the other. Eventually their journey finally takes them to the capital where the prince his family lives. It doesn’t take them long going into the city before the trouble for the couple starts. It starts with a few cut scenes where he shows her around, her character never having seen a big city before. But soon that fun and happy changed. The prince got recognized by one of the guards. They would walk up to them, bow down an adress him by title. Asking if he wished to be taken to the castle. Shay’s characters turmoil is easily read just from the script alone. Her reaction to it a feeling of being betrayed by the person she thought she loved. Realizing the lies that he told her whenever she had asked him for his past. The hurt written on her face before she just dashes off into the city. It was perhaps the first moment that Shay started to feel that connection to her character. She knew the feeling of being betrayed and hurt and she could not help but see the irony of it being by the same person who had done it to her before. She knew that scene would be the best of her career so far. @Professional Shay Slander @

Marco reviewed the scenes with Shay. He could feel the growing tension in the prince. As the trip progress, his feelings for his companion grew and grew. His feelings made it all the more difficult to tell her the truth, the hole just kept getting deeper and deeper. The prince was sure that in the end it would work out. She would see his homeland and apricate his need for discretion Marco could understand the prince's thought process, both with regards to Shay and her character. Marco did jump his way into the role of his first big movie. A deal made behind close door with his agent. He couldn't every reveal these things it would make him look unprofessional and sleazebag. Marco was so besotted with his new fame, it was impossible in his mind to hurt it in any way. But just like the prince, Marco was certain it would work out in the long run. Look she is in this movie now...she is good. I didn't hurt her at all. He told himself. They finished with the first reading and there were some minor edits that were thrown out by various cast members. Marco didn't have much input himself, he was ready to get out of there. He didn't want to spend much time with Shay, he didn't like the judgement in her eyes. He was so used to seeing adoration, the judgement in hers was almost painful. The room was starting to clear out. The director walked up to Shay and Marco. "I don't know what was going on back there, but if you guys need to build some rapport you should." @Nakachu

The rest of the script reading went by without much more. Eventually the prince and girl ended up together in the castle and the movie actually did have a happy ending. The last parts of the movie filled with drama and convincing and heartache, right before the big giant wedding and happily ever after. She closed the script and sat back down with a deep sigh. Just like Marco she did not have much to add. Anything she would wish changed could be done improvising on the spot. It was a skill she used to make her character more genuine and it worked out for her so far. She had already started to gather her stuff, not bothering to give Marco the light of day after when the director walked up to the both of them. “I don’t know what was going on back there, but if yo guys need to build some rapport you should.” She had to give it everything she had to not roll her eyes and instead just stared at the director in silence. “Yes Sir..” was all she said then, because you did not go against the director of an important movie title. She would watch him walk off again and let a big sigh leave her mouth. Already her phone in hand she was texting her agent. You better tell me you did *not* know that Marco Gates was playing the prince or we got some words to exchange.. “I guess I will see you in two weeks when shooting starts. If you need to get a hold of me I am sure your agent can find mine.” She then said to Marco and forced the fakest smile on her face before trying to still simply dash off. @Professional Shay Slander

Marco listened to the director's words and considered asking her she would like to get a some coffee or something. He wanted to clear the air, clearly she didn't like that he got that role, and he didn't think he didn't do anything wrong. Marco was willing to listen to her gripes, if it resulted in a good movie. Before he could say anything, she walked off. Well I'm not going to beg her to belittle me Marco grabbed his things and leaving. As he walked back to his car, he replied to his agent. She is the other lead roll in the prince film. He made it back to his car and as he sat down, his phone vibrated. Oh boy. I'm sure she know I pulled that role. I wouldn't be surprised if she's pissed. Marco shook his head at the response. You don't say. I'm not worried though, not like she can do anything to me. @Nakachu

She left that day in a mood. She made it to her favorite coffee place and contacted a friend to meet her to blow of some steam. It helped, to just get things of her chest. She had been confronted with him out of nowhere and even she could see that perhaps she had acted like a straight up bitch that day, but could she be blamed? She didn’t think so. Now that she had had time to calm down though she could see his reasoning. Would she have done it differently if she was in his shoes? Perhaps not.. A week or two went by and requested changes were made to the script. The final one was send through and she got the date for their first shooting days. They were expected for six days straight, being send out to a remote location where they would shoot the starting scenes of the prince getting shipwrecked. The scenes for the start of the movie in the castles would be shot separetaly on different days. As she looked through the script it seemed the ‘sex scene’ was not yet on the planning for it. So at least she had that going for her. On the day of she was flown out together with her agent and met at the airport by a driver who would show her the rest of the way. She came into a terrain that had already been transformed into a medieval village. All kinds of people already walking around and being prepped for their roles. “Good morning Shay! Glad you made it. This way please, I will show you your caravan that you will be using.” Someone told her once they arrived. She was shown across the terrian and into a caravan that would be her housing for the next few days. It had everything she needed and was honestly more luxurious to what she was used to. “I will leave you to get settled. We would like you in hair and make-up in about an hour.” The assistant called out. “Alright.” She said with a smile. An hour later she was where she was supposed to be, getting ready for that first day of shooting. Her hair was first styled and the roughed up to fit the style of the village.

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Her make-up done in a day that almost made her look dirty, which obviously was the task there. She would imagine Marco would look even worse, given her had just shipwrecked. @Professional Shay Slander

Marco left the studio. He didn't really have any plans so he left to return home. As he drove, he couldn't help but think of Shay. He didn't have any regrets about what had happened, he enjoyed the life he was able to create from that film. But even if he did enjoy it, he wasn't so self centered to not realized that in getting his dreams he stole hers. At the time, he was so concerned about getting his own "big break" he didn't stop to consider who he might have trampled on. Now in hindsight, it left a sour taste in his mouth. As he got home, he opened the shared calendar the production aid sent him. Over the next few weeks there wasn't much, just a few script changes. He looked at the calendar and saw that he was expected there a few days before Shay. The schedule had him shooting some if the initial scenes that took place before he was shipwrecked. The day for him to leave finally came. His travels were fairly smooth, seeing as though he was on a private plane. As he arrived, he was ushered to his trailer. It was the largest one there, the director apparently spared no expense and wanted him to feel like he was important. He had grown accustomed to this treatment as he grew in fame. Marco stepped in to set his bags down and check the trailer out. It was fully stocked there a small cooking area, food, and drinks both alcoholic and not. "Not a bad setup" Marco said as he looked around.

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Marco would do the fist initial scenes of the movie with not problem. It was all quick the opening to set the scene for the larger plot. He enjoyed wearing the regal clothing of a prince. Initially, he was worried about the role because he hand only been cast in action movies. However, he found that the "found" the essence of royalty easily. During these days he only worked with minor cast. The minor roles were always easy to work with. They adored him and asked for advice. Some of the scenes he improvised his lines, all of which amazed the cast and were accepted by the director. Marco now sat in his trailer, reviewing the upcoming scenes to be shot. Now was time to work with Shay as he was about to get shipwrecked. Marco looked over his new wardrobe, the tattered clothing complete opposite of the regal clothing he had been wearing thus far. When he was all set up with wardrobe and makeup, he left his trailer for the set. The first thing he did was scan the set for Shay. When he didn't see her, he decided to approach the director to find out where he wanted him. @Nakachu

The final look was something that she had never seen before. She truly looked like a peasant walked out of a medieval book. With a brown top and a white skirt that showed streaks of dirt and mud on it. Her hair was roughly put in a bun with streaks of it looking greasy and running down the side of her face. Her make-up done in a natural way that seemed to suggest no make-up at all. Her cheekbones contoured to make them appear even more hollow from hunger. It was a strange view, but it did help her get in the mindset of this character. “Alright.. No longer Shay. Now I am Mary.” She said to herself in the mirror. She finally made it out of the trailer, lifting her skirt so it wouldn’t get dirty even if it already did look very dirty. The walk to the set was not that far and she made it there in no time. The scene set before them would include the prince washing up to shore and then Shay would arrive with a part of the village to hunt for supplies. It takes them a while to find the prince and ultimately Shay is the one to do so. Needing to revive him on that beach, the first contact between them. As she made it there she saw the director already talking to Marco and she walked up with a smile on her face. It seemed that whatever hatchet she had brought to the script reading she had buried away, at least for now. “Good morning.” She said to them in a melodic voice. “Finally time for my first shooting day. I am excited.” @Professional Shay Slander

Marco had already been on set for a while when he saw Shay walk out of her trailer. He couldn't help but stare for a moment, admiring her transformation into the character of Mary. He had to admit, she looked good, even if it was in a dirty, peasant sort of way. He reminded himself to stay focused on the scene, even though he couldn't help but feel a bit distracted. He watched as Shay made her way towards the set with a determined look on her face. He knew they had a rough start at the script reading, but it seemed like she was putting it all behind her now. He was glad, because he didn't want any drama on set. "Hey Shay," he said as she approached. "You look great as Mary." He hoped the compliment would ease any tension between them. "I'm excited for our first scene together." He gave her a friendly smile, hoping to make a good impression. He knew they had to work together to make this movie a success, no matter how they felt about each other @Nakachu