"Troy," Peter, my danstructor, called out to me when the css was over, "Is by any y of your parents here to pick you up?"

  That questio a shiver down my spine. After all his full name is Peter Darling. Who in their right mind would tinue using such a horrendous family name?

  "Yes, usually my Mum es." I answered with uainty, "She must be waiting outside. Is there a problem?"

  While I didn't show anything on my face, I was ready to run away and shout at a moment's notice if he even took a step towards me.

  "Oh good. If it is not inve, could I talk to her for a moment? It's about a role you see." Peter expined, "A friend of mine is making a movie called 'Dancer' about an 11-year-old boy who wants to bee a ballet dancer. I've got the job of chraphing the dance sequences for the film. You would actually suit the role perfectly, so I was thinking, if you're free for the few months, you could audition for the role as you already have ag experien a big-budget movie. And I ot reend your hout your parents' approval to anyone because of the NDA."

  That expnation eased some of my worries about his weird behavior, and I rexed a little.

  "Okay, sure," I answered nontly, but inside I was excited about the ce to dan a movie.

  I led Peter down the daudio near where Mum is usually parked. Seeing me approach her with the instructor in tow, Mum got out of the car and raised an inquisitive eyebrow in my dire.

  "Mum, Mr. Darling wanted me to audition for the role of a dancer in a film," I replied to her unasked question.

  Peter groaned audibly, "How many times have I told you to call me Peter?" Evidently, he didn't like his st all.

  I snickered, "But that's your name, innit? And you're my instructor, and so much older than me. I must show proper respect. If you prefer, I could call you Darling-sensei. Y'knoayle?"

  "Troy, don't tease Mr. Darling," Mum said with aical smile on her face.

  Peter groaned again at her jab.

  "How about 'Peter-sensei'?" I suggested with a grin.

  "Just. Peter. Let's stick with that."

  Mum, amused by our banter, nodded. "Alright, Peter it is then. Now, what was it about a role?"

  Peter became serious as he began his expnation, "My good friend Stephen is a director. He has directed many stage pys in the West End as well as on Broadway. He is making a movie about a young dancer about Troy's age who wishes to learn Ballet but his family is not supportive of his dream."

  Mum mulled over the idea a bit before askier, "It seems oddly tal that you happen to have a role that suits Troy perfectly, don't you think?"

  Peter replied immediately, "ly. You see, the movie is set in 1980s Durham. The only problem with Troy's sele would be the at. Luckily, he told me that he learhe Ameri at within a few weeks, so I know he get the Northern at of Durham residents as well if he tries."

  Mum looked thoughtful at the idea of me taking up another movie before [The Sixth Sense] could even be released. She turowards me, "What do you think, Troy?"

  "Oh, I love the idea! I would get to dan a movie, and as you know, I'm mostly free from work until August. If only the script is good enough, y'know, to get Dad's stamp of approval as well." I said with barely cealed excitement.

  "His father is a swriter and filmmaker," Mum expio Peter.

  Although the movie 'Dancer' didn't ring any bells in my head, it probably wasn't a hit film or a popur one. But still, I'm a new actor with only two film credits under my belt. If I could get this film, it would bring diversity to my film portfolio.

  For any future directors or producers, I could boast of having sung and danced in a film as well. And of course, then there's the fact that I've already received a Golden Globe and worked in a potentially Osominated film as the seale lead.

  Harry Potter would be mostly selling the IP of Jo. After the end of the Harry Potter film series, it may bee difficult for me to find aype of role that could potentially break the preceived image of Harry Potter. This was the same problem with Dan Radcliffe in my past life where he couldn't shake off the image of Harry Potter from most people's minds. More people reized him as Harry than Daniel.

  To solve this problem, I decided to take as many diverse roles as possible. That begin with the lead role in Dancer.

  "If you want to audition," Peter said, "I get you the script of 'Dancer,' but please uand that it is subject to you successfully learning a Northern at to the director's satisfa. Till now he is only sidering kids in Durham and surrounding areas who dance as well. You only be sidered for the role as a favor to me and because I've seen how good your Ameri at is. And of course, 'cause I know you could dance for the part that is required of you."

  Mum nodded and turo me, "The usual, love. Give the audition but don't get hung up on the role. If it goes to someone else, it does. It's life, it happens. Right, Peter?"

  "Mhmm," Peter hummed in agreement, "Also, you'll have to give me written sent to share the information about Troy with Stephen and the producers. And if you could add a headshot and a resume of his with all his works aracurricurs, that would be wonderful."

  Mum nodded, "I'll give you that by tomorrow."

  eter goodbye and sat in the car as Mum drove home.

  "Do you really want to take another role so soon, love?" Mum asked worriedly. "Didn't you promise me that you'll take up only one film a year? What about [Harry Potter], huh?"

  I shrugged, "[The Sixth Sense] will be released this year, given its shooting schedule, this film will most likely be released year so that's one film a year. It's also possible its script is so bad that I end up not doing it in the end. In short, what's the harm in trying out for the role? We could always say no before signing the tract. And I haven't signed any tract with Warner Bros till now, so I'm free to pursue other roles, as far as I'm ed."

  "Sometimes," Mum shook her head, "I could swear you have a silver tongue. Fine, you've vinced me. Let's just get the script first before deg."

  (Break)

  It took a full 3 days after givier my headshot and resume before he got the script for us.

  "You didn't tell me you had a Golden Globe Award to your name!" Peter almost shouted after handihe script as promised, "Do you even know Stephen's and the producer's rea? I didn't eveo give my word about your at learning capabilities, they gave me the script easily as Stephen has seen your film apparently and he was impressed by your performance."

  I didn't reply, simply opehe script to the first page.

  Dancer

  Spy by: Lee Hall

  Director: Stephen Daldry

  Wait a minute. Wait a fug miephen Daldry!? One of the most aplished directors who directed Osominated films like [The Reader], [The Hours], and… [Billy Elliot]!!??

  Usually, I don't remember a lot of directors' names from my past life, but for some reason, Daldry came bae immediately as soon as I read his name. Not just that, I could also recall information about the film [Billy Elliot]. A small-time indie film that went on to make more than 100M at the box office. It started the career of its male lead Jamie Bell and won him a BAFTA at the age of 14, making him one of the you persons ever to win a BAFTA.

  I don't eveo read the script. This movie is an automatic yes from me, being one of my favorite movies in my st life. Not as much as the [Harry Potter] series, sure, but I definitely liked it more than [The Sixth Sense].

  Now that I think about it, I don't think Dad would be happy with the script because of the number of 'fucks' involved in the movie. I always argue that he should've also thought of that before he wrote [Sex Education].

  "Troy," Peter began, "Read the script, discuss it with your parents, and tell me whether you're ied or not as soon as you . I'll fix an interview with Stephen after that."

  I nodded slowly. I had no logical reason to give my immediate acceptaer only seeing the director's name. So I would go home, discuss the script with my parents, and vihem to let me give this movie a serious try.

  Hopefully, they'll see the script for what it really is. A gem that just needs polishing from a good director like Stephen Daldry.

  (Break)

  "This is a great script, Troy," Dad ceded after reading it from cover to cover.

  He didn't have much time these days because of his busy schedule, but he still made time when I asked him for it.

  "But?" I prompted the question I could see ing from miles away.

  "But it's an R-rated film. Only and only because of the nguage. Warner won't be happy that you're leading such a film," he expined.

  "Oh, e on!" I protested, "It wouldn't even be released by the time Harry Pins shooting. Please? You could even say you didn't read the script! Mom could sign it for me. And I haven't even been firmed for the part! I'd have to learn a new at, a lot of new dance moves, and practionths before the shooting could even begin. Please let me do this!"

  Dad sighed but didn't say anything, just went into his thinking mode.

  I waited for a whole minute before adding a few more points to my argument, "Also, the ditions Chris told me, all abide by my sele of the film. I do not have a ive role. The role is remely mature like in the case of [Sex Education]. The only thing is the little nguage issue, and that is quite on in the tryside so it would be very unrealistic to ge the script for that!"

  Yeah, I could see the dire of his thoughts. Dad robably pnning ways to vihe makers to make a PG-13 level film with little to n, if I'm selected, of course.

  "Dad, I didn't know you'd curb my talent like this after getting in the clutches of corporate vultures," I threw one parting shot, hoping to finally sway him to see my point of view.

  Thankfully, that seemed to do the trick.

  "That was a low blow," he enunciated clearly.

  "Everything's fair in love and war," I fired back. I love movies and anyone who gets in my way of making a movie I love decres war on me.

  "Huh," he scoffed. "Fine, you do the movie. But I will have a talk with the director if you do get selected for the role. Deal?"

  I shook his offered hand, "Acceptable terms. Deal!"

  I knew a lost case when I saw one. He won't budge from his idea about the image that I have to maintain fging the role of Harry Potter. It's not like my image hasn't already been tarnished for doing [Sex Education]. Warner executives have vely fotten all about it, the only visible thing being the Golden Globe I won for it.

  "Dad, do you know ah a Durham at who could teach me?" I asked.

  Dad rubbed his before answering, "Frankly, I don't even know what a Durham at sounds like. I'm Ameri, ask your Mum."

  So I did just that.

  "Yes. You know my cousin Tiffany?" she asked after thinking about it for a moment.

  I nodded, "The interior designer with the amazing red hair?"

  "Yes, her long-time boyfriend Beau hails from the North. They don't live very far. I could talk to them. If they aren't busy, maybe we could go there tomorrow?" she mused out loud.

  Sometimes, when you wish for something with all your heart, the whole world spires to fulfill that desire of yours.

  _____________________________

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