Junior Year Box Set полностью

“No more than Harrison Ford had when he did Indiana Jones. I look at both roles as great opportunities. Personally, I think that when Mr. Ford did Indiana Jones, it enhanced his marketability in his most recent role in Star Wars.”

Joyce got up, and before she left, gave me a thumbs-up. I answered questions for another forty-five minutes. I did find out something that made me worry: if I got the role, I would lose my last semester of senior year. Filming started in January and would end in July. Dad didn’t look happy about that.

◊◊◊

We were given a tour, and then we went to lunch. As soon as we sat down, Dad started in.

“Your mother would kill you if you didn’t finish high school.”

“They would allow him to take classes on set, so he wouldn’t have to sacrifice his education,” Saul said.

“What about baseball?” Dad asked.

“We’ve always known that at some point I will have to make a choice. If I get this role, it might make that choice for me,” I admitted.

“The right choice isn’t always the one that makes you the most money,” Dad said.

Saul wanted to jump in, but he would just make it worse.

“I know that, Dad. We’ll have to talk about it as a family, and all agree. There’s no way I would do it without your and Mom’s blessing. Winning this role and doing the movie would establish me as one of the most marketable actors in Hollywood. It would also signal the end of my dream to either play baseball or football, both in college and professionally, if I get that lucky.

“This isn’t something I can take lightly. However, the rewards might be enough to outweigh the sacrifice I would make,” I admitted.

“What about getting your college degree?” Dad asked.

“That would have to be part of the conversation.”

“Before you get too worked up, why don’t we see if you get the role,” Saul suggested.

I think that was the most sensible thing he’d ever said.

◊◊◊

It was my turn to do my audition. I’d already done one with the Rogue One director, so I didn’t have to do that again.

It started with a read-through of scenes on my own, all done on camera. Art Faulk, the director, asked me to read it multiple times in different ways to see how I took direction. Next, I was grouped with other actors for my read-throughs.

I think I must have passed some kind of test because I was next sent to dress up as Han Solo and have my makeup done.

“I need you to remember that Han is a thief and smuggler,” Art coached me.

“He always seemed to have a ready smile, though,” I countered.

“True. But for this scene, I want you to play his darker side. This movie is about how his early years shaped him.”

“I think I have it,” I said.

When I stepped in front of the camera, I noticed Joyce enter the set and take a seat next to Art.

“Sound?” Art called out.

“Ready!”

“Cameras?”

“Ready!”

“Lights?”

“We’re good!”

“Action,” he ordered.

It differed from working with Jessup, but I fell right into it. The actors they had me playing with were professionals and worked to make me come off in the best light. I really appreciated that. It seemed like everyone had one goal in mind: to produce the best possible product. That had a lot of appeal to me.

◊◊◊

After we were done with the audition, I took Joyce aside.

“I realize this is all supposed to be secret, but could we do something fun that would get us both some press?”

I explained my plan, and she just laughed.

◊◊◊

Camera Angle: Bridge of the Millennium Falcon

I burst onto the bridge, decked out in my Han Solo garb. I looked out the window to see what was going on.

“Dad! Get the ramp up and the door shut!” I called towards the back.

“I can’t figure out the controls,” Dad called.

Sitting down in the pilot’s seat, I looked at the camera to talk directly to the audience.

“We’re at the secret base where they’re filming the new Star Wars movie, Rogue One. I’m here to audition for the part of the young Han Solo. I figured out what all the secrecy around the film is. Hopefully, I can smuggle this video out to let you know what’s really going on. All of it’s real! They even let me shoot blasters and use lightsabers. The best part is the spaceships.

“I figured while I was here, I might as well bring home a souvenir. I thought about getting a lightsaber, but when I saw this, I had to have it,” I said, waving my hands around to indicate the Millennium Falcon.

“David, we have company!” Dad called.

I heard blaster fire as it struck the hull.

“Why don’t you do that Jedi thing where you blow them up?” Dad asked as he poked his head in the door of the bridge.

They’d dressed him up as well for the scene. He wanted to be an Imperial Stormtrooper, so he was wearing the white armor and held a helmet.

“That’s not how the Force works!” I said.

I rolled my eyes to the camera and shook my head sadly, like a disgusted teen who’d just been embarrassed by his dad.