1: Quiet on Set

May 6, 2024 2:03 pm
[ +- ] Mood Music
It was cold for April in Hollywood. The cool morning air highlights your breath and layers of frost seem to coat everything. It's a stark contrast on the sagging palms along the boulevard. You arrive at the set of 'The Space Between'. This is the Church's first foray into the film industry, and as such has a lot of oversight from the hierarchy. You all have seen a synopsis of the script, although full details are a closely guarded secret. A typical facet of a Jared Woodward film is his emphasis on keeping the final stories a surprise. The loose details of the film are centered around a woman named Clarissa Hollows who is trying to find herself after being divorced. The role of Clarissa is played by Verity Harrow, an up and coming leading lady in Hollywood. Clarissa meets an enigmatic neighbor, Yvette, in her new apartment complex who helps Clarissa reach deeper and deeper levels of peace through a process of emptying her life in thinly veiled Church techniques.

Production was moving along smoothly until Verity Harrow disappeared. It has been five days since the star walked off set and no one has been able to locate or contact her. The production is still moving, keeping busy with background shots and busy work, but everyone in the Church feels the point of no return approaching. If someone can't get Verity back on set to finish shooting, the schedule will be compromised and the whole production will turn into a giant boat anchor for the Church.

You each arrive with different motivations and ambitions, but one thing is universal. Figuring out what happened to Verity Harrow needs to be the priority. The Church has sent Public Relations flaks, lawyers, and fixers to the set to deal with bad publicity or legal complications. Amanda is tasked by the secondary unit director Tektoop to cater to whatever needs the team needs.

Tekroop

Edmund_Balworth

May 7, 2024 12:15 pm
Tekroop

As the Church people show up, they are ushered to the lunch room where coffee, breakfast and fruit are on display for the taking. Tekroop pulls Amanda aside. The man is sweating despite the cool morning. Amanda, listen. People are here… from the Church… there is a danger they will shut us down. Take David and have him… I don’t know… entertain them… Emptiness abound… someone needs to find Verity… just… you deal with it. The man abruptly walked away, cursing under his breath.
May 7, 2024 7:05 pm
Amanda nods her acknowledgement of Tekroop's request and cautiously approaches David Ortera. "Excuse me, Sir. Our director, Mr. Tekroop has some concerns about Church officials being here on set this morning. He's asked that you make time to speak with them and use your entertaining charm to smooth their worries, while the search for Miss Verity continues."
May 7, 2024 8:02 pm
Spencer stood in a dim corner of the studio nearest the refreshment table, a steaming cup of good coffee in one hand and a bagel in the other.

That was just like the Church, he reflected, healing the soul but not neglecting the body either, even in something as trivial as good coffee.

He let out a contented little sight before returning his piercing gaze to the people milling around the studio. No one had told him anything about Verity’s disappearance; no one had asked him to look into it whatsoever. This worried Spencer. Had he done something wrong and fallen from favor? He wracked his brain but could think of nothing.

If he had inadvertently done something, that was all the more reason for him to mount his own quiet investigation, if for no other reason than to please the Church hierarchy with quick answers when they inevitably did turn to him for help.
May 8, 2024 12:08 pm
David turns to Amanda, looking up from a script that he was silently reciting from. The look in his eyes show nothing but disdain, but seeing the gathering crowd in the room, his mood turns on a dime as he ratchets up the charm for anyone nearby to hear.

"Well of course! I'd be happy to show these fine people around. It'd be my pleasure"

He rolls up the script and places it in his back packet.

""Folks! Folks! Welcome to the studio. I'm David Otera and I've been asked to give you all the grand tour! And might I just say, I think I speak for everyone when I say we appreciate the work you all do. Now. How about we start off with a little coffee. Amanda, would you mind passing out a few cups for our VIPs? Then I will happily show you all where the magic happens!"

Turning around back towards the refreshments table, he'll lean in close to Amanda and whisper.

"Don't you EVER put me on the spot like that again. I should have known they were here the minute they walked onto the lot."

Then he'll turn back to church group with a beaming smile and will wade into the middle to start shaking hands.
May 8, 2024 5:08 pm
In a calm even voice Amanda whispers back to David, "What part of conveying a request from your director doesn't register for you Sir?"

Before mister personality can return another assholic remark, Amanda moves away to prepare coffee for any of the high ups that are there on set.
Last edited May 8, 2024 5:10 pm
May 9, 2024 12:16 am
Daria rushes up to the lunch room's door, quickly smoothing down her flustered appearance.

Play it cool Daria, play it cool. She thinks to herself as she tries to make out the group inside without being spotted. She spots Tekroop's back as he walks off, Otera glad-handing some serious looking people, and Amanda by the food table. But still no sign of Verity.

She finishes fixing her hair just as Otera's call to some VIP's booms out. Curiousity raised she finally enters the room, moving with smooth grace that doesn't quite come-off.

She flicks her gaze around the others in the room, and catches her surprise as she spots Spencer in the shadows. Always in the shadows.

Daria joins Amanda at the food table.

"What's going on here?" She whispers. "Who are Mr Otera's guests, and any sign of Verity yet?"
May 9, 2024 9:26 pm
Amanda shakes her head to Daria's question. "Church high ups..or so I am to believe as per Mr. Tekroop. I haven't been here long enough to know for sure, but they seemed to get our director spooked when he saw them." Amanda gives a cursory look about the room, as if Verity would suddenly appear out of thin air and shakes her head again. "No. Still no sign of her. Someone here in this room has to have been the last to see her, right?"
May 9, 2024 9:36 pm
That’s a good question, Spencer broke in, One that I’d like to know the answer to myself. Amanda, you work with David and the other stars. Any idea who Verity hung around with?

He feigned nonchalance, staring out at the two women over the rim of his paper cup. Someone in this room was indeed likely to have been the last one to see Verity alive. A good place to start asking questions Spencer thought to himself.
May 9, 2024 9:57 pm
Amanda glances over to Mr. Shull, as she's pouring coffee. "David Otera would be my best guess. They are couple, aren't they? Well...that's what all the public and gossips are saying anyway. Though, to be honest, he doesn't seem to care about anyone but himself."
May 10, 2024 5:06 am
Daria looks over at Otera, as he schmoozes the VIPs.

"Yes, I doubt much goes on inside that mind except a repetitive What about me? What about me!" Daria comments, a snarky tone in her voice. "Where is Verity's PA, and are they still around?"
May 11, 2024 12:01 am
"Julia Cortese is helping Mr. Woodward..or at least I think she is." Amanda replies to Daria in a conspiratorial whisper.
Last edited May 11, 2024 12:02 am
May 11, 2024 6:29 pm
Daria casts a glance at Spencer.

"Have you spoken to Mz Cortese yet, Mr Shull? If not, then maybe we can join you on your walk over there?" She looks over to where Otera is buttering up the VIP's. "Now seems like a good time to go."
May 13, 2024 10:21 am
OOC:
Since Verity’s disappearance Jarod has stopped coming to the set, stating he will return when his star shows up to shoot. He instead has been working on musical scores and fine tuning the script at his apartment. Julia would likely be there helping him.

OOC:
@AceRancheros , would you start a tour of the set for Blake and the others?
May 13, 2024 7:40 pm
Spencer nodded at the suggestion. This was foreign territory to him. Even if these people were part of the Church, he knew almost nothing about them. At this rate everyone was under an equal amount of suspicion as far as he was concerned. The more of them that could be gathered together in one place and observed the better.

Sure. Although I’ll leave the introductions to you two movie folks. I’m just a guest at the studio for the moment.
May 13, 2024 11:58 pm
OOC:
Amanda would know that Jared has a condominium in West Hollywood. A little bit of a drive from the studio. She has delivered items to the gate guard into his community before for him.
May 14, 2024 5:49 am
David talks and is affable, never dropping his smile once. But as they hit a break in the conversation, David uses it as his chance to get this dog and pony show rolling.

"Well, how bout that tour folks. C’mon, I’ll show you just what it is we do here. Let’s take a look at the set and then we can check out some of the nearby rooms. Now, you might be surprised to see just meticulously everything is placed, so I’ll have to ask you not to touch everything TOO much.

David give them a chuckle and a wink, leading the crowd forward and regaling them with stories about the little details and why certain things were chosen on set to convey specific tones. For all of David’s faults, he genuinely knows his craft.
May 14, 2024 10:28 am
OOC:
Can you give me an Art/Craft Acting roll for David?
May 14, 2024 12:11 pm
Let’s go!

Rolls

David Otera: Art/Craft (Acting) (55) - (d100)

(36) = 36

May 14, 2024 1:52 pm
David successfully fields questions from the group of lawyers and relations consultants on the tour, explaining the use of different lighting to emphasize different emotional scenes, how framing is done to put audiences into the sets, it all flows easily as David walks them through the studio.

As the group moves through the sets, David sees workers darting this way and that, trying to stay out of the groups path. David knows its because nobody wants to be asked THAT question. Where is Verity? David manages to keep the question from being asked by deftly continuing the tour without stopping long enough to let a silence occur.

David walks the assembly through the various, intricate sets constructed for the space between. Each set is a 2 or three walled construction that from the camera perspective will comprise the entirety of the scene. He talks about Clarissa's apartment and is able to point out subtleties with the decorations and layouts that will unconsciously remind people of the churches teaching. As they move through a street scene, David sees a setwork he hadn't yet seen through the open door of the alleyway wall.

Towards the back of the studio is a massive set piece, easily twenty feet high. In the foreground of the set are massive dark boulders that seem to be jutting out of a cliff face in a ragged line. At the back of the set, to the right he sees a similar rock climb to the height in a sheer face. On the left is an open tapestry that depicts a gray and stormy sky. As David looks at the set, above the jutting rocks at the front, he sees someone stand up at the back of the set. It looks to be a woman based on her hair and dress, but she is facing away from David looking out at the tapestry at the back of the set. As she stands, she moves... wrong. Her arms hang at her side, not stiff, but not the natural way someone would hold their arms at rest. As she rises into view, David can't make out her legs with the rocks, but the way she lifts it almost seems like she is being elevated, not standing up. Her black hair spills down to mingle with a dress of exquisite design. The fabric seems to be of a silk, but has a soft fuzz to it. Nested within the fabric appear to be pinpricks of light, possibly small LEDs?, that seem to sway and move with the dress although the woman herself seems to be standing still.

A worker mumbles an apology to David as he walks through the door and closes it. David blinks and realizes he had paused in his oration. This is all nice, but where is Verity? A short fat man in glasses asks David with concern.
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