Hollywood: Lights, Ink, Entertainment!

….

[Ten Days Later]

[August 7th, 2010]

….

Regal had wrapped up the final draft of his second film, [Death Note], just a week ago and was now heading into the pre-production stage.

Casting the two main leads had been on his mind long before he even started writing the script, but so far, he hadn't locked in anyone.

…though when it came to the role of Light, he already had someone in mind.

A bit of a risky choice, but something about it felt right.

Since Darren and Simon were now on board, preparations for auditions were already underway.

Still, that was a problem for another day.

For now, Regal was on a break.

Yep.

That too, a full week off.

He figured he deserved that much while pre-production chugged along in the background, at least to the extent that it could without him.

But alas, today was the last day.

He had spent the past six days with his girlfriend, his sister, and her boyfriend. They even went on a double date at one point.

And today?

Today was supposed to be for himself.

…Or at least, that's how it should have gone.

But before long, boredom crept in, and he found himself calling around, seeing if anyone was free.

That 'anyone' turned out to be - Keanu.

Yeah… Gwen was busy too.

With Keanu over at his flat, the two were deep into a late-night gaming session, controllers in hand, the room dimly lit aside from the flickering glow of the television.

Regal's newly bought PS-3 was proving to be the perfect centerpiece for the duo's evening.

Empty beer bottles and a half-finished bag of chips littered the coffee table, silent proof of the hours they'd already poured into the game.

The rhythmic clicking of buttons filled the space, occasionally broken by bursts of laughter, curses, and cries of defeat.

"Damn it!" Keanu spitted the curse, gripping his controller tighter. "How the hell did you play that?"

Regal smirked, leaning back against the couch. He took a slow sip of his beer before setting it down. "...tsk, you thought you could beat a pro with years of experience."

Keanu shot him a glare. "You mean years of cheesing mechanics."

Regal only chuckled. "Call it what you want. A win is a win."

…actually, the experience Regal is bragging about is not from this life, it was from his previous life. But that isn't the point now.

Keanu groaned but was quick to recover. "One more!" He gripped his controller ready to dive in.

"Alright, but I need another drink first." Regal pushed himself off the couch, stretching briefly as his back gave a satisfying crack after hours of sitting. "Want anything?"

"Snacks." Keanu responded offhandedly, fully focused on the replay flashing across the screen, while absentmindedly eating the last chip from his packet.

"Got it."

Regal had already reached the fridge door, opened it and hunched over grabbed another beer as asked. Once done, he pulled out a bag of pretzels from the shelves before heading back to the couch.

Plopping back into his spot, he tossed the snacks to Keanu and began setting up the next match.

As the game loaded, Keanu broke the silence. "Hey, Regal…" His tone was casual, but there was something deliberate about it. "Can I ask you something?"

"Shoot." Regal replied, still focused on adjusting the game settings.

Keanu hesitated. "I have been getting some movie offers lately. What do you think I should do?"

"Huh?" - that got Regal's attention.

He set the controller down, his gaze shifting toward Keanu. "Movie offers? What's the issue?"

Keanu leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "Lately, it's been a weird few months. After the success of [Following], I have been getting a ton of audition calls. And don't get me wrong - I am thrilled. But…"

He trailed off, his expression clouding as he searched for the right words.

Regal didn't interrupt.

This wasn't just casual conversation. He knew Keanu well enough to understand that this wasn't about bragging. If anything, Keanu was grateful for the opportunities coming his way.

Regal had even encouraged him to take a role in a medium-budget film just to experience working on a set of that scale - that was the one and the first movie Keanu had signed on after [Following].

Keanu exhaled and leaned back. "The roles, they all feel the same. Flat, uninspired. Or worse, just another version of what I did in [Following]. I don't want to get stuck doing the same thing over and over."

Regal considered that for a moment. "How was the set?"

Keanu had wrapped filming just two days ago. That meant he had gotten a firsthand look at a larger production …even before he did.

So, Regal was curious about his take.

Keanu's lips curled into a faint smile. "The scale of it all was huge. The crew, the resources - way beyond anything we had on [Following]. Everyone knew their job, and everything ran smoothly. But at the same time… it felt a little empty, like people were just going through the motions. It wasn't our kind of set."

Regal gave a slow nod, prompting him to continue.

"I mean, when the cameras were rolling, it was fine. That part still felt right. Acting still feels like what I am meant to do."

Keanu hesitated before adding. "But the rest of the stuff? The politics, the distance, the way people act - it's draining. And then there is Seren. I have barely had time for her. I don't want to lose what I have with her, even if it means walking away from some of this."

Keanu finally looked up, meeting Regal's gaze. "So… what do you think? Is it worth it? Should I just take whatever comes my way and deal with it?"

Regal leaned back, crossing his arms. The room fell silent except for the faint hum of the PlayStation.

For all the bluntness in his words, he never spoke carelessly when it came to the people he cared about - especially not about something like this.

And he understood what Keanu was feeling.

Spending the past four months around him, maybe it was his own instincts as a director kicking in, but Regal had always been sharp when it came to reading people.

So he noticed Keanu was a mix of idealism and relentless self-reflection.

An INFP to his core - a dreamer, someone who moved through life guided by emotions and principles rather than cold hard logic. He sought meaning in everything, valued real connections, and struggled with anything that felt hollow or performative.

Hollywood, with all its facades and power plays, would never sit right with him.

But Regal also knew one thing for sure - Keanu loved acting or atleast started to.

Not for fame, not for money, but for the stories, for the way it allowed him to express, to communicate something real with masses.

He wasn't the type to walk away just because the environment wasn't perfect.

He would fight for it.

Regal exhaled, his voice even. "Keanu… you are just starting out. Don't waste energy stressing over things you can't control. Not yet. Save that for when your name actually carries weight, when you can change things instead of just dealing with them."

He met Keanu's gaze, firm but not unkind. "For now, just focus on the work. Pick roles that mean something to you, put everything you have into them, and let the rest play out. Enjoy this stage while you can, because when you make it to the top, you will have even more to think about."

"...." Keanu didn't respond right away, letting Regal's words settle. His gaze drifted, thoughtful but no longer clouded.

Regal let the silence stretch before smirking. "...And what are you even worried about? Getting a flop under your belt?"

He continued his smark widening. "Seriously? I am still here, amn't I? Worst case, if you bomb we will just make another movie together. I will turn you into a Superstar. So just freaking do whatever you feel like doing already."

Keanu exhaled a laugh. "Superstar, heh? Hah, with that arrogance, I can't afford to flop. Who knows what kind of disaster you might cook up in the future? I might end up having to save your career instead."

Regal shrugged. "Sure, sure. I will keep that in mind."

The conversation lulled, but this time, it wasn't heavy. Keanu seemed lighter, like he had shaken off some of the weight pressing down on him.

After a pause, Regal shifted gears. "Anyway, have you decided on which agency to go with?"

Keanu sat up a little. "Yeah, I am leaning towards the one Grace is with. I think they would be the best fit for me… also I kinda like their persistence."

Regal tilted his head. "Grace's agency, huh? What was their name again?"

Keanu sighed, exasperated. "Seriously? You can't have forgotten. Their CEO personally helped us out because Grace asked her to! That's how Stephen even got involved."

Regal held up his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, no need to bite my head off. Just making sure you weren't second-guessing."

Keanu rolled his eyes but didn't press it. "I hope it works out… But what about you? Wouldn't it be easier if you joined an agency too?"

Regal snorted, leaning back with a grin. "Don't even get me started. Samantha already complains daily about the endless calls from agencies trying to reach me. She's practically fuming every time I bring it up."

He stretched, cracking his neck. "Honestly, hiring her was the best decision I have made. She handles all that nonsense so I don't have to. Plus, having separate contact details? Absolute lifesaver."

.

….

[To be continued…]

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