….
[Twenty Days Later]
[September 20th, 2010]
….
The main cast of [Death Note] was finally locked in, every role, from the leads to the supporting characters, had been filled.
The only thing left?
Extras.
Since there weren't any highly coordinated sequences requiring large numbers of extras, their casting could be handled on the fly during scheduled breaks in filming.
With pre-production already in full swing, another crucial phase had been added to the mix -
Workshops.
Which Regal had been overseeing closely, ensuring the main trio of actors embodied their character to perfection.
But today was different.
Today was special.
All the key actors had gathered for the making of the movie announcement video.
Among them:
Timothée Chalamet - playing - L.
Stephen Hawking Jr. - playing - Light Tuner.
Kristen Stewart - playing - Mia Sutton.
And lastly, Ross Oakley - playing Light's father, James Turner.
…..
Among them, Ross had the least screen time.
Yet, he is the only notable name in the entire cast and can be classified as an attention puller for the project - in whatever way it might be.
Regal understood the value of that - after all, they were paying him extra just for his presence. Still, he knew better than to push Ross too much.
His part was kept simple in the announcement video, a brief introduction, a mention of his role, and that was it.
Within minutes, he was done and already on his way out.
The same couldn't be said for the three leads.
They weren't just here for a video - they were fully stepping into their roles for the first time. So it also kind of worked as a test shoot, though in this case the cast is already locked.
Timothée had undergone the most subtle yet striking transformation. Dressed in a plain white, long-sleeved t-shirt and blue jeans, his look was deceptively simple.
But it was the details that made the difference - his now neck-length hair was intentionally tousled into messy strands, black contact lenses deepened his gaze, and the application of mascara made his eyes stand out unnervingly.
His eyebrows had been thinned out to near invisibility, further emphasizing the sharpness of his expression.
And the most crucial detail - He was barefoot.
Stephen Jr. had it easier in terms of styling. He was dressed in a tan suit, paired with a red tie over a crisp white shirt. The look was clean, professional, and effortlessly fitting for his character.
Then there was Kristen Stewart, who had undergone the most drastic transformation.
Her golden-blonde hair was styled into sections, with portions tied into pigtails using red bands. At one point, she had even sported a brunette look.
But it was her outfit that made the biggest statement - a bold mix of Gothic and Punk fashion. Her nails were painted a striking shade of red, matching her vivid lipstick. Around her neck sat a black choker, adorned with a small but distinct jewelry piece.
….
"Well, someone is embracing the dark and brooding vibe." Stephen Jr. said, giving Timothée a once-over.
Timothée smirked, running a hand through his messy hair. "I would say the makeup team did a pretty solid job."
"Don't touch the hair. Sloppily." Regal, who had been standing nearby, cut in without missing a beat.
His sharp eyes flicked toward Timothée's head, instantly picking up on the disturbance. He stepped forward, barely shifting a few strands, just a fraction of an inch, before stepping back with a nod of approval.
Timothée just stood there, letting it happen.
Stephen Jr. chuckled. He had been warned about Regal's meticulous tendencies by Grace and Keanu.
Yeah, Grace and Keanu.
The three of them were now under the same agency.
ITA - Iconic Talent Agency.
Stephen Jr. had finally signed on. It had been on his mind for a while, especially given his bond with Charlie and the fact that his grandfather had started out in the same place.
For a long time, that connection had made him hesitant, maybe even a little doubtful. But at some point, he realized it didn't really matter.
Now, he just wanted to work with people he actually liked.
On the other hand, Regal had already moved on, discussing with the crew, but not before throwing a quick warning over his shoulder.
"Try not to ruin your look."
Stephen Jr. watched him disappear into the conversation before another voice cut through the studio.
….
Few minutes later -
"Am I late?"
Stephen Jr. turned and immediately spotted him.
"Keanu." He gave him a nod.
Keanu grinned as he strolled over, draping an arm around Stephen's shoulders. With an easy smirk, he reached up and ruffled Stephen's hair.
Stephen sighed, making no effort to escape the hold. "That's the idea. But just so we are clear, I have been brilliant from the start."
"Yes, you have…" Keanu chuckled, giving his hair one last tousle.
From across the room, Regal's voice snapped through the air.
"Hey! I just fixed that!"
Keanu barely glanced in his direction, only tilting his head slightly before smirking. "Ah, he has already started his nagging routine, huh?"
Stephen exhaled sharply, nodding. He didn't actually mind Regal's perfectionism, though. Keanu finally let go and stepped back, his gaze landing on Timothée. His eyes narrowed as he studied him from head to toe.
"You look…" Keanu rubbed his chin, circling him as if assessing a questionable piece of modern art. "Like a half-dead, creepy Victorian ghost that forgot to eat for a century."
Timothée, instead of being offended, gave a slow, approving nod, like he had just received the highest form of praise.
Stephen Jr. suddenly remembered something. "Oh, and Keanu-" He turned slightly, gesturing. "This is Kristen Stewart. She is playing a key role in the film."
Keanu's gaze shifted toward Kristen and flashed a lopsided grin. "Ah, hello. So you are one of the newcomers."
"Hello to you. Yeah. Seems that way." Kristen responded shortly, like she wasn't in the habit of over-explaining herself.
Keanu chuckled, crossing his arms. "Hell of a project to start with."
Kristen let out a quiet breath, almost a laugh, then gave a small nod in agreement.
Keanu nodded back, then let his gaze wander around the studio. His expression shifted slightly as he scanned the room.
Regal had been here a second ago. Now, he was nowhere in sight.
Keanu muttered under his breath. "The real ghost on set is him."
Then, an idea clicked.
He turned towards Stephen.
"I bet if I so much as pretend to touch your hair again, he will pop up out of nowhere just to give me another lecture."
Stephen, standing nearby, smoothly dodged Keanu's hand, which had been casually reaching for his hair.
"He is over there." He said, pointing.
Keanu froze mid-motion, smirking. He hadn't actually planned to touch it again, this time.
Stephen ran a hand through his hair, adjusting it after the dodge. "Told us to wait until everything's in place."
Keanu's eyes flicked toward Regal, who, despite being across the room, seemed to pick up on the attention. His sharp gaze met Keanu's, as if he already knew exactly what was being said.
Keanu exhaled, shaking his head. "Man, that guy has got some kind of sixth sense."
Stephen, now settled, turned back to Keanu. "Wait… don't tell me you are actually in the film."
Keanu chuckled. "Nah, don't worry …I am just here to wish you guys luck."
Interrupting their conversation was Regal's voice ringing across the studio.
"Hey guys, and Keanu, you too! Come over here for a second."
Immediately, the trio moved toward the lighting setup.
Keanu greeted him for real this time. "Hey, man."
However, Regal didn't waste a second. "Take a seat." He gestured toward an empty chair.
The setup wasn't the issue, it was the fact that the chair was right in front of a camera. Keanu raised an eyebrow. "This isn't some kind of surprise casting announcement, is it?"
Regal grinned. "Maybe. But hey, a good luck message from a friend wouldn't hurt, right?"
Keanu exhaled through his nose, unimpressed. "So, in other words… you just want to use my face and name."
Regal didn't even flinch. "And?"
Keanu crossed his arms. "And the problem is… you expect me to do this for free?" His grin widened.
Regal clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Come on, man. We are friends. No keeping score, right? Besides, I already ran it by Charlie, he didn't complain."
Keanu scoffed. "You are such a shameless–"
"Someone get him touched up." Regal didn't even let him finish before waving over the makeup team.
Keanu exhaled, shaking his head. "You know what, Regal? You owe me for this. I am cashing this in the next time I have an argument with my girlfriend."
"Sir, please don't move." The makeup artist said as they worked.
Keanu sighed but didn't resist. He wasn't actually that bothered, just mildly irritated that, for once, he thought he had the upper hand… only for it to slip right through his fingers.
….
"Well, folks, this is Keanu Reeves…"
By now, standing in front of a camera felt second nature to him. Months of involvement in the project had made it easy to adjust, and he slipped into the moment without a hitch.
"I have no idea why I am in this video." He admitted with a light chuckle. "Unfortunately, I am not in the film. But since it's Regal's project, and by extension, mine too, I guess, it kind of makes sense."
A small grin crossed his face before he continued.
"Honestly, I am really excited to see how this turns out. No doubt in my mind it's going to be great. So, I just want to say congratulations to the entire team, and I hope the audience is as excited as I am."
There was no stiffness in his voice, no rehearsed lines. If someone had walked in mid-shoot, they might have assumed Regal had dragged him into a publicity stunt.
But that wasn't it.
Nothing about it felt forced. Keanu wasn't reading off a script, nor was he being coaxed into saying all the right things. His confidence was effortless, his words genuine. The easy way he smiled and spoke made it obvious, he meant every word.
….
The three main leads watched Keanu in front of the camera, each with their own thoughts.
None of them said it out loud, but they all recognized one thing - just now when Keanu was on screen, he was just being… himself.
His words were easy flowing, and had a way of pulling people in.
Stephen and Timothée exchanged a glance.
….
As soon as Keanu wrapped up his take, Regal strolled over from behind the camera, a satisfied grin on his face.
"Yep, I knew I could count on you." He said, holding up a fist.
Keanu let out a short breath, smirking as he met it with his own. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't forget this when I come collecting."
Regal's grin faltered for half a second. Keanu caught it, his smirk deepening.
Oh yeah, this favor wasn't getting swept under the rug anytime soon. Regal just had to hope it wouldn't come back to bite him.
.
….
[To be continued…]
★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★
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