Hollywood Art: System of sunnys

Throughout the month, Billy never stopped perfecting his state of mind for the movie L.A. Confidential. After playing a cop for two weeks, interviewing numerous officers, he continued mimicking the serpentine work, the fashion, the way they danced, their manner of speaking, and even the occasional routines of life in Los Angeles during the 1950s. The style, the view—everything was replicated, even the newspapers. The set was magnificent.

Billy met some major players from the film industry, iconic figures of the 90s, and inadvertently found himself connected to Danny DeVito, the outstanding writer, director, and actor whose performance was extraordinary. When he, Curtis Hanson, and Arnon Milchan came together, they could make a great film. The working afternoons and the stellar cast saw everyone improving in various skills—from the first photographer to the supporting actors, the work ethic was strong. Billy’s intensity in his acting resembled the type of commitment Kevin Spacey was known for, although Spacey was more suited for villainous roles.

Not that Kevin was bad! He was a phenomenal actor, regardless of the role. But Billy was growing into the handsome-guy roles, a notable contrast because his photogenic profile fit perfectly with these characters.

The story of the three main detectives, each with their interpretation of justice, was compelling. Some, like ‘Bud’—played by Billy—were violent, strong, aggressive, and cunning. Roy Pierce portrayed a character bound by rules, honesty, and justice, the rectitude and wisdom of a man who saw people as flawed, but that didn’t change him. Meanwhile, Kevin took on the role of the cynical politician, a leader making decisions based on the city’s whims, corrupt yet fair, lost in a morally grey system.

The movie was rated R, undoubtedly due to its risqué scenes and the gritty way it depicted reality.

--Well, I think their pants are on pretty tight,-- joked Danny DeVito, commenting on the waiter’s snug trousers. The man was funny, and patient, and carried an effortless charm that was refreshing for someone his age. Despite being in his fifties during this 90s era, Danny wasn’t bogged down by the struggles typical for men his age. He was happily devouring a giant meatball sandwich with melted cheese.

Laughter broke out at the table, even from Billy, who usually maintained a quiet demeanor. He couldn’t help but smile at the man who silenced them all by pointing out it wasn’t right to mock a good employee. The poor guy was sweating buckets—he was a bit chubby, and he knew his cinema.

--The production has already started. We’ll likely be shooting quick scenes. Everything’s falling into place so smoothly that we’ll probably have most of the shots done in less than three weeks,-- murmured Curtis Hanson, the director, who occasionally stepped into an acting role himself.

The six members had spent two weeks eating together, doing their work, just as they gathered around a round table for six, forming a tight-knit group. They tackled the project quickly, but it was a task that carried a lot of weight and depth.

--The rehearsals have been outstanding,-- remarked Danny DeVito, particularly aiming to calm Curtis, who was under a lot of pressure. The meals were his moment to unwind, and for that and other reasons, they had to make a great film. The final cut was shaping up curiously. The only thing that didn’t sit well was Billy’s role. Though his performance was flawless, he still lacked that brutish element.

Everyone finished their lunch and prepared for another round of studies.

As they exited, Billy discussed acting methods with Kevin Spacey, who was practically an encyclopedia of knowledge. In so many ways, both distant and different, they shared tricks that were, at their core, the same but varied in execution. The essence was to take the role and make it their own, but every approach had its nuance.

-'Thanks, Kevin. I’ve got to get my workout in,'- Billy said, wrapping up the conversation. He had a lot of work to do that had to be done on his own. His workout routine was intense, though Billy’s physique wasn’t built for sports. He was slim, not naturally athletic, even though he never skipped his morning exercises. He couldn’t quite compare to some of the other actors.

-Make sure you stay sharp with those lines. Your character isn’t subtle; you’re like a machine,-- Kevin advised.

-Yours, on the other hand, is delicate and clever,-- Billy responded, concluding their talk and setting aside the final thoughts

***

Mónica was taking a break. This time, it was she who was visited, by Winona. Both women now wanted to cultivate a strawberry garden, covered by a white canvas awning, set over strawberries and raspberries. It was a new and curious endeavor for the model, but she felt happy and determined to have her garden. The winter wasn't harsh, and it reminded her of summers in the countryside.

-So, I’ll give you a vineyard as a gift?- asked Winona, who, though she did the same work as Mónica, was completely covered in dirt, with even some soil in her hair.

-It was amazing, really beautiful. It has a rustic wooden house on one side, with a stunning garden, full of yellow and violet flowers. Magnificent. We need to go there together and take a break, - murmured Mónica, as she planted small trees, finishing with a tomato plant at the end. Three lovely, small trees needed a lot of care.

-I’d love to go. When I attended fashion week, I always wanted to stay and take a tour, - Winona said, pausing her work.

-I’ll need to ask Billy, but I think we can go next week,”- Mónica replied.

The women found themselves lost in their thoughts under the fading light. Los Angeles was a good city to live in, but life doesn’t always allow us to paint the picture we want, and this time the stakes felt different. On one hand, Winona was intensely chasing an Oscar—she had a good film, but she thought it required more effort. On the other hand, Mónica now saw modeling as her primary role. Acting was fading into the background… the need to stand out had waned. She was looking for something more refined, something that better aligned with her evolving ideals.

--Billy has a lot of women, he’s... well, a man,-- the brunette blurted out, with a hint of venom in her words, realizing her mistake. --I mean, he has a lot of women around him. I just don’t want you to be disappointed. It’s complicated, and it can lead to trouble.--

The foolish talk of a woman driven by jealousy, envy, and the fear of betrayal spiraled into a rambling, a clear symbol of pride mixed with her demons.

--It doesn’t matter what he does or doesn’t do, as long as he keeps loving me, I can understand the rest,-- the darker-haired woman replied. It was a subject she didn’t want to touch. This was the first challenge of dating a younger man, one who seemed older with his seriousness and sharp features, his rough beard almost like a premonition.

-As long as he loves me, love can’t be forgotten. If that ever fades, I wouldn’t want to stay, -- Mónica commented, her thoughts drifting but no longer dwelling on the topic.

....

patreon.com/vin_modeus12  That's my patreon, I forgot to put it, but we're on chapter 340, have a good week.