Shawn fit a pair of red trousers on, the loose linen fabric drifting over his legs. The Costume Department was responsible for the design, fitting, hire, purchase, manufacture, continuity and care of all costume items on the set. The costumes in the back room ranged from contemporary urban fashion to period ball gowns, and even wetsuits.

But this wasn't just any try out. It was a try out for the movie Kid Knight, which was going to have a guaranteed sequel. Shawn looked around and saw all manner of  jewellery, footwear, corsetry, hosiery, and even wigs hung up in the corner of the room. Mom always said that costumes were integral in defining the overall 'look' of a film. Shawn knew from working on sets that a good costume provided the audience with information about the period, culture and society the actors inhabit and, on a more subtle level, the underlying themes of the film itself. At least that's the kind of thing that he heard many directors say.

As Shawn sat in a chair in front of a mirror, various costume personnel ensured that different medieval costumes were available for the kids during this try out. During these try outs, the kids had been encouraged to pick anything that they liked. Shawn got the growing sense that whatever he picked for a costume, would be part of the overall evaluation.

Shawn still genuinely liked this part of acting; he loved dressing up in costumes, the more outlandish the better. He always found a good costume and makeup made it easier to pretend to be someone else entirely, to just disappear into a role. However, this was the first time he'd ever got to pick out one for himself.

This was a big audition, so he couldn't just pick things out willy nilly. He had to come up with a plan, and to be sure he was making the right choices. He looked around at the assembled clothes and tried to think logically. Even though they were leaving it up to the auditionees, the final costumes probably weren't going to be up to them. So this had to be a test, to see what the kids would do when given a responsibility.

Shawn decided to go formal, picking out not necessarily the clothes that stood out, but ones that seemed fancy and period appropriate. It would be a somewhat risky choice - a lead role required you to seem relatable and formal clothes were the opposite of that. But in a way, that was the idea. If he could come off as friendly and sympathetic in even the stiffest of period garb, they'd know he could do a good job regardless of what outfits or scenes they put him in.

Shawn could hear not too far away the sounds of the director and camera man, some other kid's take already playing out on set.

"Roll camera" the director said.

A response replied back from the camera team with "Camera Rolling"

It was then that Sally came up beside Shawn, always seeming to be around acting and studios, such encounters were common now.

"Hey Shawn. Good to see you." She said. She was wearing a long, red dress, hair all done up like some kind of princess, complete with golden crown.

Shawn was struggling to pull on some hosiery as Sally approached. "Hey Sally. That's a cool dress."

Sally seemed to drift over to him, long dress dragging behind her

"Thanks. I hope we get to be in a scene together, that would be fun. It's going to be a weird film Kid Knight. My Mom was telling me that its a time travel movie or something."

"Hey, you should sit at my lunch table at school. We can talk about stuff like acting." Sally suggested, suddenly.

"Yeah, I think it there's a magic wishing well or something. I guess you're trying out for the princess?" Hosiery finally in place, Shawn pulled himself to his feet.  "Eating lunch with you sounds cool."

Sally sighed. "I hope so." She said, a bit of nervousness about the scene and the upcoming tryout creeping into her voice, face taking on a distant look.

"Yeah. Maybe we can even talk more about getting out of acting." She said, wincing as if she instantly regretted saying it. Then looking up at Shawn's face, reading it for how he might react, her own nervous eyes darting back and forth. It was the look of someone who just realized that their big mouth might have gotten them in trouble.

Shawn gave her a genuinely sympathetic look. "If you want. It still makes you feel tired?"

"Oh yeah." Sally said, like she didn't have the energy to continue even one more try out. She leaned against a prop mirror, her arm draped lazily around it. "Honestly, I really don't want to spend another try out or day training in acting. But I don't have a choice. I don't have any choices any more. My Mom and my Dad want me to do this because it seems like it should be important. I guess I should always do what the important people think."

"What are you going to do Shawn? Are you gonna keep doing this? Do you even like it?" Shawn could tell that Sally wanted an honest answer. But she also wanted an answer that allowed her to validate her feelings. Her feelings that acting was something draining, and forced upon her.

"Acting makes me so tired, and all the training and auditions, the pressure is crazy." Shawn agreed with Sally more than she knew, but it wasn't something he could admit even to her. Too much of his life was riding on his career. "But, I mean, I do it because I want to do it. I want to be acting 'n stuff, so I endure the bad bits. But if you don't want to do it, I think you shouldn't have to, you know?"

"I can't." Sally said. "I can't not do it." She chagrined. Disappointment shrouded her face, making her look older.

"It's everything to my parents. I don't think they would...I don't think I could do anything living with that disappointment, with their disappointment over my head. I think I would be, just..just...nothing." she said, and her body seemed to sag, lose energy. Suddenly, she didn't seem like the lively, fun Sally anymore, but a fearful.

Shawn tried not to think about the parallels to his own life here. He wasn't sure if his parents would keep loving him if he stopped doing this, especially after they moved all the way to LA for him. And what would he be without that? And what would happen to Bobby? "That sucks." Still, all he could really offer Sally was sympathy. They were both trapped, she was just more honest about it.

"Urrgh.." Sally groaned, agreeing with Shawn. It was clear that his comment seemed to sum up how Sally felt. But it did nothing to help her. Perhaps nothing would. Still, her groan seemed to confirm her feelings.

"Yeah." She said finally. There was an awkwardness as the finality of Shawn and her comment lagged between them, a dour mood settling in. A moment of silence when only the sounds of the child actors whose turn it was to try out could be heard. A kid reading a line solo, the sound of scribbling notes, perhaps by the director or some other staff member evaluating try-outs.

Shawn didn't really have anything else he could think to say. "Good luck anyway, I guess..." He felt bad for her, but there wasn't anything he could do to help. Maybe if they got cast together they could hang out more?

"Cramer, Shawn." A stiff voice called out into the dressing room, rescuing Shawn from the awkwardness and offering the promise of a new kind of anxiety and excitement.

"Cramer...Shawn." The voice called out, beckoning out to Shawn, more urgent this time.

Shawn shook off his gloomy thoughts and got his game face on. When he was nervous or upset, it was almost a relief to disappear into the role of Good-Hearted Actor Boy Grateful For The Opportunity. He didn't have a million things to worry about and a dozen awful things on his conscience.

He headed for his audition.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:45, Fri 17 Mar 2017.

Shawn made his way over to the audition stage from the dressing room and was greeting by a man sitting in the audience. Next to him was an assistant and a camera man, behind a large camera. Bright harsh lights hit the stage.

"Oh! Your name please. Before we get started. Come on now, this is the 15th audition today. Name! Name!" The director said.

Shawn gave the director his best, brightest smile, a beaming grin that was like clouds parting to reveal the sun on an overcast day. Any trace of doubt or sadness was gone from his face - indeed, it was hard to imagine any such expression on there to begin with. He was excited to be here and ready to give his best. "Good afternoon! My name's Shawn Cramer."

The director seemed to take that in, absorbing Shawn's presence and perhaphs even comparing it to those that came before him.

OOC: Shawn Rolls Presence + Manipulation

OOC: 08:24, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 4 successes using 9d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 8,6,2,8,8,10(+2),6,7,5.  Presence + Manipulation + WP .

"Wonderful!" the Director exclaimed. "Make a mark on the name of this child." He said, with a lazy gesture of his hand at his assistant. Evidently, he had already forgotten Shawn's name.

"Finally, we have someone that looks the part." he advised, looking toward the camera man who nodded.

"Now, Shane" he said, addressing Shawn, "What part, if you could have any, would you want in a movie about a knight that saves a princess?" he asked.

Shawn made a show of thinking about the answer, even though questions like that had been a big part of his preparation. "I mean, being a knight sounds really cool! But I'd love to act in a cool movie like that, so I'd take any part; the knight, the squire, even the princess!" He giggled charmingly at his own joke. A boy playing a girl role - how silly!

"You hear that?" The director said to his assistant. "We need more kids like Shane on set. He's willing to take any part, and it looks like he's both punctual and not a complainer. That will take you far in this business Shane."

"Tell me. Where are you from?"

Shawn, always a sucker for compliments, found himself blooming more than usual. Even if the name wasn't quite right. "I'm originally from Milwaukee, but I live in LA now. It's all been really interesting!" He wasn't going to complain about being misnamed (he didn't want to be a complainer).

"Milwaukee" the director said. "Milwaukee!" he shouted a second time, delighted. He laughed. It was a light-hearted kind of laughter, airy and welcoming.

"What a delight to have someone of your kind here." he seemed. "Capital! Absolute capital!"

"OK Shawn. I'm going to have you read from Sir Kevin, the main character. The knight himself. Sound good to you?"

The assistant came forward with a hand full of papers, some loosely held. It looked like it was probably the script Shawn had to read from.

"That sounds great sir!" Shawn looked over his lines, preparing to deliver them with all the charm and skill he could muster.

The director smiled

"Yes. Yes indeed." he said. "Capital!"

Shawn read the lines briefly, looking up. Soon, the director signaled for the camera to start rolling.

OOC: Shawn Rolls Presence + Expression + 1 (Specialty) + Striking Looks +2 (good impression from director) with the following results {Willpower may be used}

0 Successes: A total bomb. Shawn fails. The director puts out the word. Shawn might be blacklisted for a while

1-3 Successes: Shawn is competitive and ends up in the top 3. Shawn finds out who else are his competitors. The director will choose after another running of try outs.

4+ Successes: Shawn nails it. The part for Kid Knight is his. Mom is thrilled and Shawn may ask a favor of her. The favor will be granted.

Shawn put on a show like a professional. Nothing earth-shattering, but very good, especially for a kid.

00:06, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 3 successes using 13d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling on 9 or more with rolls of 1,7,6,9(+10,2),2,8,6,2,4,7,1,4,7.  Presence + Expression + 1 (Specialty) + Striking Looks +2 (good impression) + WP.

"Capital!" The director remarked, after the reading. He turned to his assistant. "Add this boys name to the list. I want to do a few more try outs and then we'll close out. There's no sense in staying around too long when we've already had 3 or 4 more children. What did one shepherd say to the other shepherd?: Let’s get the flock out of here."

The assistant came forward with a smile congratulating Shawn on making the first cut, and with that, a fresh round of paperwork, signatures needed.

With a grateful smile, Shawn dutifully took the paperwork to his and went to give it to his Mom. He was still too young to sign things.

Shawn got to his Mom she was sitting on a well-worn brown couch. Next to her was some great big fat woman, busy scolding her child about having not made the cut. On the other side of Mom, a black woman was combing he daughters hair, looking like she was being to rough with the brush.

Mom's eyes smiled at Shawn, her arms outspread, waiting to embrace him.

"There's my Hollywood star!" she said as Shawn came forward with the papers.

Shawn spreads his arms and happily accepted the hug. Making Mom happy always felt nice, regardless of anything else. Eventually the embrace ends and he handed over the paperwork. "Mom, I made the list!"

"I know! I know!" Mom said, getting ready to sign the papers, but then putting her hand on Shawn and looking him straight in the eyes, squeezing his shoulder tight.

"Believe in the best...have a goal for the best, never be satisfied with less than your best, try your best, and in the long run things will turn out for the best." she said, reciting a well-worn phrase she used with Shawn before. It roughly translated as 'this isn't over yet' even though he could tell she was happy.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 09:16, Tue 21 Mar 2017.

Shawn looked up at her, face filled with determination. "I'm going to keep going until I get that role!"

"Shawn this is so much the result of our...your hard work. Remember. You need to place most of your effort in acting Shawn if you want to be a star." Mom was so overcome with joy, Shawn could tell it was time for one of her short life-lesson moments. Wisdom from a parent that had lived longer than most kids, flowing out of her.

"A lot of stars live lonely lives, even if people love them. They have a burden to bear, being famous and being loved. And being famous and loved is more important than having close friends. You can reach more people with fame than you ever can by just being a normal, regular person. People with fame are more important Shawn, they're more valued, and they're more special." She advised. Shawn also got the sense that Mom would love him more if he achieved the sort of fame she was talking about.

Shawn nodded seriously at his Mom's speech. He'd heard variations on it before, and his Mom knew more about this sort of thing than he did, so it must be true. He wasn't sure that he personally wanted that life for himself, but that wasn't really relevant. At the very least, if he got the big important role, Bobby would be able to stick around.

"And then there's Bobby..." Shawn's Mom added, as if reading his mind, or least tapping into something she knew he thought was important. "Just think of how much he and your other friends would love to see you on TV!" she added. It sounded like for a second she was going to talk about how Bobby could stick around if Shawn did well. But that seemed to be of less concern to Mom than the idea that Bobby might share the same joy that she would have: seeing Shawn on the Big Screen.

Shawn would've liked it better if his Mom had reiterated her promise to let Bobby stay, but if he squinted she had kinda implied that it was still in effect. Right? He wasn't going to bring it up, just in case it made her change her mind. Instead, he kept the conversation on something she could agree with. "Or even the big screen, right Mom?"

"Oh! The Big Screen!" Mom gushed. "I think Bobby would love that. Just think how much you'd just benefit from Bobby and from kids like him. Everyone would think that you would be the best kid. A kid with a real future. Not someone who stays at home or works in a cubicle. That would be the worst."

"Bobby would love to see you on the Big Screen. Just imagine you and him going to see you!! Going to the movies with your friends to see yourself. You would be the most popular kid in the whole schools, the whole town! I mean, Shawn, can you imagine having a future like that?"

"I can imagine it - and I think I can do it more than I could yesterday." Shawn gave her an excited look, which was real, but probably not for the reasons Mom might think it was.

"I know you can." Mom agreed. "Now get back out there and make something happen!" She rejoiced. But there was a sense of expectation in there too. A sense that Mom's future approval and perhaps mood would depend heavily on the outcome.

"Cramer....Shawn..." A voice called out from the corner, Mom busily working the papers

Shawn nodded seriously. He knew from experience and precedent that Mom's happiness and affection required him to earn it, and that's what he intended to do. He heard the voice, and looked over to see who was calling him.

It was the stiff-looking assistant again. A woman with a round face, spectacles that hung on the edge of her nose.

"Cramer, Shawn." She said, emotionless.

All around kids were moving back and forth behind the stage where Shawn was. A kid was crying, his mother trying to care for him in a soothing way. Obviously, he hadn't made the cut. Another kid was hopping along, frantically trying to get ready for the next try out, one leg in his costume, one jumping up and down as he tried to balance.

Shawn made the very subtle transition from the (somewhat faked) open excitement he showed his Mom to the more reserved enthusiasm he used for auditions and meetings. It was about seeming professional but still excited, otherwise they'd think you didn't care about the role. He walked over to the bespectacled assistant and gave her a cheerful smile. "Hi, I'm Shawn Cramer."

The woman nodded, and Shawn heard the crisp sound of a pen on paper, the woman looking down with her spectacles, scratching off something on her clipboard with a flourish.

In the corner, next to a kid that was getting dressed, a radio was playing, A Total Eclipse of The Heart. One of the stage workers walked by and turned it off, the remaining kids now getting ready for the next try out.

The woman led Shawn back on stage, and the Director seemed pleased to see him again.

"Shane! You're back. No surprise really. You had an outstanding audition. This is the part where we separate the remaining kids trying out as we get a better feel for what might be a good fit artistically." He explained. Shawn had noticed that in between takes, the Director was now donning a gray beret.

"So, now I will ask you to read the part of the villain Kasamere. He is the main antagonist in the movie. He is the one that the Kid Knight must face off against to save the princess."

Shawn gave the director another 1000 watt smile and somehow amplified his visible excitement even further. "The villain sounds like it'd be a fun part to play. Really different from Kid Knight, but my teacher says I've got range, so I'll do my best!"

"Capital!" the Director shouted, seemingly agreeing with Shawn. "Capital!"

The director signaled for the camera to start rolling with a lazy wave of his hand.

OOC: Shawn Rolls Presence + Expression + 1 (Specialty) + Striking Looks +2 (good impression from director) with the following results {Willpower may be used}

0 Successes: Failure. Shawn fails. Shawn doesn't make the movie

1-3 Successes: Shawn is competitive and ends up in the top 2. The director will choose after another running of try outs.

4+ Successes: Shawn nails it. Shawn gets to choose which part he wants, the villain or the hero.

Shawn was competent and professional in the role of Kid Knight, but as Kasamere it's like he's channelling someone else entirely. He's spoiled but sympathetic, arrogant but vulnerable, and above all those things, dangerous. It's hard to think of him as anything else but a villain now.

OOC: 22:37, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 6 successes using 13d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling on 9 or more ((9(+1),1,4,10(+2),7,3,5,10(+5),10(+9,10,2),3,7,2,6)).

"The perfect Kasemere!" the Director said after the scene was over. The lights came on with a bright flash. The camera man stepped out from behind the oversized camera--his mouth agape, jaw slack, eyes wide. Shawn could even see the bespectacled assistant gave a smirk of approval at Shawn's performance.

A single pair of hands could be heard clapping. Followed by another. And soon more. Eventually, Shawn saw the whole crowd--really only 10 people and one of them was a kid his age--all clapping.

It took Shawn a few seconds to break character, but once he had he breathed out a sigh of relief - he'd gotten his first real big part. But he quickly realised there wasn't time to just rest on his laurels. He was being praised, and he had to accept it the right way. He had to look pleased, but not arrogant or conceited.

"Capital!" The Director emphasized. "Just Capital!"

OOC: Shawn Joins Thread

Shawn: Grandpa is Getting Senile