Chapter 51: Talk Show
….
[After Two Weeks]
[June 29th, 2010]
.
The backstage was alive with movement, a chaotic symphony of voices, footsteps, and the hum of last-minute preparations.
A crew member, clipboard in hand, approached Keanu, Andrew, and Grace with a quick, efficient nod.
"You are up shortly. Get ready." He said, barely breaking stride as he disappeared into the swirl of activity.
Keanu tapped his thighs as he stood up, Andrew gave his shirt a quick tug, and Grace straightened her dress.
There was no time for words.
Seconds later, the booming voice of the announcer filled the space beyond the curtain.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to welcome our guests! Any guesses? Here they are - the main cast of the latest box office sensation, [Following]!"
"Presented by none other, the two-time Oscar-winning actor Stephen Hawking. Let's give it up for Keanu Reeves, Andrew Gleeson, and Grace Violet!"
The audience in attendance applauded, breaking through the curtain like a wave.
Without hesitation, Grace moved first, stepping onto the stage with Keanu and Andrew just a half step behind her.
The transition from the muted world of backstage to the brilliant lights of the stage was instantaneous, almost disorienting, but none of them faltered.
They waved briefly, not breaking stride, and slid into the sofa waiting for them. The cheers lingered for a moment before settling into an expectant hush.
"Wow, just look at this lineup!" Jimmy Kimmel, the host, greeted them with a wide grin, settling into his chair across from the three. "Welcome to the show!"
"Thank you." Grace said brightly, while Keanu nodded and Andrew offered a quick wave to the audience.
Jimmy rested his elbows casually on the desk, his expression lit with curiosity. "So, this movie - what a buzz it's created. Everywhere I go, people are raving about it. Even I can't stop thinking about it. But let's be real for a second - did any of you see this kind of reception? I mean, it started as a small indie project, right?"
Andrew let out a short laugh, shaking his head.
"Honestly, no. I never expected any of it." His tone was unassuming, almost apologetic, like he was still processing how things had unfolded.
Grace straightened in her seat, her fingers laced together.
"I wasn't really thinking about how people would react." She admitted. "I just focused on doing my part, helping the team however I could. It was about getting the job done and getting it to the audience."
Keanu, relaxed but thoughtful, added. "For me, I was always sure people would enjoy it."
His confidence slipped past unnoticed, but he seemed to catch himself. "But yeah, it's like you said - it's a small project. So I could never guess the scale of the masses it is resonating with."
Jimmy leaned in, his eyes gleaming. "I heard the budget was around 50K. Is that true?"
Keanu nodded, his expression serious. "I know it's hard to believe, but yeah, that's what we worked with."
Jimmy's face lit up with disbelief. "Fifty grand? That's insane! The production was top-notch. You would never guess the budget was that low."
Keanu gave a small, appreciative smile. "All credit goes to our director, Regal Serphsail. He is the real genius behind it."
Jimmy raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.
"That's high praise. So, how did each of you end up on this project? Let's start with Grace." His gaze shifted to her, catching her a little off guard.
Grace blinked, her stoic expression briefly softening as she gathered her thoughts.
She cleared her throat before answering, her voice steady. "I saw the audition notice and decided to give it a shot. But, honestly, I have always struggled when it comes to the big moments. Nerves tend to take over, and I thought I completely messed it up during the audiation of [Following]."
She paused, before continuing. "Somehow, Regal saw something in that performance, though. I still don't know why he chose me, but he did."
Jimmy grinned. "That's surprising, especially considering how flawless you were in the film. Makes you wonder what would have happened if he had passed on you."
Grace's eyes held a trace of thoughtfulness. "I am grateful he didn't."
Andrew chimed in, his tone light. "Mine's way simpler. I came across the audition randomly. I didn't expect much. I just went in, performed, and Regal liked what he saw. Next thing I knew, I was part of the team."
Jimmy turned to Keanu, sensing a different kind of story. "What about you, Keanu? Yours sounds like it's not quite as straightforward."
Keanu chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Not even close. Regal and I met through a …mutual friend. And, on our first meeting, out of nowhere, he asked me to audition for his film - more like he offered me the role right then and there."
He paused, looking slightly amused. "All he knew was that I have had a couple of disastrous theater experiences. And somehow, that was enough for him. Before he even told me he was considering me, acting wasn't something I had ever thought about doing seriously. It all felt... completely random."
Jimmy leaned back, clearly entertained. "So let me get this straight. Grace thought she bombed, Andrew walked in by chance, and you basically stumbled into it through a friend. And here you all are, starring in one of the biggest hits of the year. Sounds like Regal's got a serious gambling habit."
The trio erupted in laughter while Grace's smile was a bit reserved. She did smile, all of them nodding in agreement, convinced this was the perfect example of a gamble.
Keanu raised an eyebrow. "I don't know about that."
Jimmy shot him a curious look. "What do you mean?"
Keanu leaned forward, his tone shifting. "You asked how sure we were about the movie doing well, right? If you ask me… Regal never saw it as a gamble. He was completely certain it was going to be a hit. Like a madman."
He smiled, shaking his head again. "Maybe that's what it takes to pull off something like this. Producing, directing, even the camera work. From pre-production to distribution, he gave everything to this movie. A real madman."
??That caught Jimmy off guard.
His eyes widened. "Wait, the director of the movie, Regal, was also the producer and handled the camera work?"
Keanu, Andrew, and Grace exchanged confused looks.
They didn't know that?
Andrew spoke up, still a little puzzled by Jimmy's reaction. "Yeah, it's true…"
Jimmy quickly tried to cover his ignorance. "Well, there you have it, folks. It seems the movie [Following] wasn't just a fluke - it was always meant to be a box office hit."
The word 'fluke' seemed to set Keanu off, his right eye twitching slightly, though he stayed silent, letting the comment slide.
Jimmy, sensing the reaction, quickly moved on. "So, about the second part, when's it coming?"
Keanu and Andrew exchanged an awkward glance, as if unsure how to break the news.
Before they could speak, Grace cut in.
It seems she was also hurt by the host's word when he called their movie a 'fluke' though she didn't show it on her face.
Her expression remained calm, but there was a slight edge to her words. "There is no second part."
Her statement hung in the air, leaving a heavy silence. Jimmy froze, his face a mix of confusion and surprise.
Keanu and Andrew, however, shared a knowing smile, their reactions muted but satisfied.
It was the same silence they had experienced when Regal first dropped the bombshell on them.
Jimmy blinked, trying to make sense of it. "Sorry, but the end credits - didn't they show the title for part two, [Following Too]?"
Grace's gaze was steady, but her voice didn't waver. "There is no part two. That was just… a placeholder."
Jimmy's mind raced, confusion spreading across his face.
He had seen it happen before - movies announcing sequels, only for them to be canceled when the first one flopped at the box office.
But this wasn't a flop.
[Following] was a hit.
So why would there be no second part?
The more he thought about it, the less sense it made. And yet, there was something in their certainty that made him uneasy.
It was as if the second part had never even been a possibility.
But how could that be?
Jimmy couldn't figure it out, but the trio before him seemed resolute.
Andrew broke the silence. "Actually, we didn't understand it either at first. We weren't told about any second part either. Regal just threw that title in at the last minute before the final reel was distributed."
Jimmy frowned, his curiosity getting the better of him. "But if there was no second part, why would Regal add it?"
Andrew paused for a moment, as though weighing whether to answer.
Finally, he sighed and spoke up. "We asked Regal the same thing after the screening. He just shrugged and said, 'I don't like low endings. I don't want my audience to leave with a dull feeling.' And that was it. He just added it to hype things up a little."
Grace nodded, but there was a hint of disbelief in her eyes. "Please, don't mind Andrew. He is just trying to act like that's what Regal actually said."
Jimmy was taken aback, still struggling to grasp the situation.
He cleared his throat, trying to salvage the moment. "Ah, I see. Guess we will just have to wait and see what happens."
The interview ended soon after, the awkwardness lingering in the air.
A few more questions were asked, but the atmosphere had shifted.
Everyone seemed to be silently processing what they had just learned.
.
….
[To be continued…]
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