Hollywood Delight 16 Rejection After Rejection

Waiting until nightfall, you keep your attention closely to the elevator, checking each person who has exited. James Burton is nowhere to be seen. People is still coming in and going from the building even though business hours is over. The front desk is also emptied.

You let out a sigh and realize it is getting late. Your target has not left his office, and he is likely working overnight. You decide to check in to a cheap motel nearby after having some fast food and then return here tomorrow morning to continue waiting.

You are persistent that way.

Your effort eventually pays off, and you capture several key figures leaving the elevator. Walking on the side closest to you, almost completely blocking the people behind is your target. His face is in all the newspaper, so you knew it is him immediately.

Taking out another copy of your screenplay as the first is now forever lost in storage, you walk over to him without hesitation. The receptionist, Jessica saw this and immediately left her post and rushes to you.

However, before Jessica could reach you and you could reach your target, someone else call out your name.

It was a very familiar voice. "How come you are here?"

Hearing the voice, you turn your head slightly and avert your eyes from your target. The person who had call you out is none other than your agent. Well, your former broker now since your contract with him has expired.

You decide to ignore him as you have more pressing matter. However, you feel that him being here is a very bad sign. The universe is working against you.

"I'm so sorry to bother you, Mr. Burton. I have a script here. Can you please have a look?"

You said it in a very quick and polite manner.

The man smiles and gestures his hand to stop the security guards from coming over and remove you from the building. "If only I get a nickel everything this happens."

He takes your script and turns to your agent. "Is this one of your people?"

"He used to be one of my clients. But his contract has already expired this month, and the company did not renew the contract with him."

Your agent answers Mr. Burton very respectfully, and his meaning is very clear. The CAA is not very optimistic about you and voluntarily gives you up.

James Burton couldn't help but frown as he understands the hidden meaning very clearly. He hands your script to the receptionist.

"I have accepted your script. If there is a problem, we will contact you."

You about to speak and make your case, but he waves his hand, dismissing you. Seeing that the case, you stop and politely thank him and slowly left.

If you push this any further, security guards will come over and kick you out of the building. At which point, you will likely be barred from the building. While you fail this chance, you must allow your future pathways to remain open.

"Is that him? Her son?"

A man in the back asks your agent.

"Yes. I thought he has some potential when I first sign him up, but with the evaluation this year, his acting ability is E, the same with his potential. We cannot renew a contract with a person like that."

"I see. Keep in mind who his mother is. She is well-connected."

"Yes, sir. We are very sorry for the interruption, Mr. Burton. As he was one of our clients, we will take the responsibility."

James Burton laughs. "This is nothing, so you don't have worry about it."

It is too bad that you are abandoned by the CAA. If you are still with them, James might have given your screenplay some thought. Your future in Hollywood is looking very bleak.

Enduring the desire not to look back, you proudly left the building. The feeling of rejection is strong within you, and there isn't anything you could do change it. James Burton didn't even bother to look at your script or even request your contact information, and you don't want to risk using your power to make him see your ways.

You quickly left the Fox Building and head to the carpark. You left the parking and find somewhere to have lunch. This is only a minor setback in your mind, and after you have lunch, you will once again be on your journey.

Your next target is Warner Bros, so you drive your car to Burbank. You park it at the iconic Warner Building. It has become a major tourist attraction in your previous life, and you have been here many times in the past.

The front desk is more welcoming than Fox Building. The receptionist directs you to which office floor you need to go to deliver your script. Once again, the storage locker here is the same as the one in Fox Building. Your screenplay will simply be forever lost here.

It is pointless to leave it here. You need to find someone who can make the decision or has the power to vouch for you. You return to the lobby and tries your luck again. Since you haven't got any target in mind, anyone with executive power would do.

Luckily, the world didn't try to make it hard for you this time and you saw Jim Robinson entering the building and heading towards the elevator.

"Mr. Robinson!"

Unlike James Burton, Jim Robinson give you five minutes to explain yourself. You quickly use that time to the best of your ability.

"… a bus with a bomb is speeding through the city. If its speed is less than 50 miles per hour, the bomb will explode. There are many innocent pa.s.sengers, the female driver who is…"

Five minutes is short, so you must be very concise about the main idea or plot of your script and not to waste his time.

"Interesting. Why don't we talk more in my office?"

That is a good sign. You finally have one foot in the door. You didn't even need to use your power to make him see your way.

However, that is all you could get.

"If I understand it correctly, you… want to direct your script?"

"Yes."

You answer and give all the reasons in the world why you should direct. You understand that you need connections, qualifications and successful experiences to be successful in Hollywood, and you make it clearly that you will be very grateful for the opportunity.

Without any surprise, you walk out of the Warner Building, rejected again. It seems an opportunity to prove yourself is harder to finding than talents. And you know you have talent as you have Rank in Directing.

Although you have hit another wall, it didn't stop you from seeking another opportunity. In the next few weeks, living out of motel and eating junk foods, you annoy various film company and stalk their executives. All the film companies in the greater Los Angeles' area such as Disney, MGM, Paramount, Universal Pictures have all have the pleasure of your appearance. Even second-rated company such as Miramax was not spared.

However, no opportunity was reward for your effort. While some company are very interested in your screenplay, they are not interested in you being a Director.

Eventually, the endless rejection that follow each of your footstep chips away at your confidence.