"Well, the good news is that we’ve received an audition request from the director you asked to keep an eye on."
"He’s finally starting the casting for the Zombie Apocalypse movie he’s been planning, and it’s for submission to the annual Zoren Film Festival!" Betty shared the exciting news with enthusiasm, her voice brimming with energy as she spoke to Hera.
She paused for a mont, a soft smile curling on her lips before she continued. "It seems the director himself noticed your presence. He said your image—calm, collected, with just the right hint of a heroic vibe—struck him, and he felt you’d be perfect for the heroine in his film."
"At first, he didn’t know you were an actress, but luckily, with the online buzz still swirling around you, your na kept coming up. One of his close friends ntioned that you’re an artist, and that’s when he ca to find ."
"Seeing how unwavering you are and how you don’t easily get scared, he wanted to enroll you in a martial arts class first, just to see if you could learn a move or two and et the physical demands he had for his heroine."
"He must not have seen the footage from when you fought back against the mafia syndicate the other day. So instead of answering him right away, I sent him that specific footage. Only then did he eagerly send the invitation."
"But the bad news is, you’ll have to attend the interview this afternoon, and I don’t think you’ll have much ti to prepare. That might affect your audition." Betty’s tone shifted, becoming more serious.
"But the bad news," Betty continued, her tone turning grim, "is that you have to attend the interview this afternoon. That doesn’t give you much ti to prepare, and it might affect your audition."
"The reason the director wants you to attend is that he’s already sent invitations to so of the most popular action actresses in the industry, as well as a few well-selected newcors."
"Since you don’t have any acting experience—no dramas, no films—you weren’t even considered initially. This invitation was only extended at the very last minute after he saw your footage."
"Unlike the others, who received their scripts three days ago and have had ti to review and rehearse, you’re going in completely blind. It’s a tough position, and I hate that it feels unfair."
"This is such a good opportunity for you to make a na for yourself as a rising star with a clean slate, but it also opens the door for critics to question your abilities."
"That said, I’ve seen what you’re capable of, and your instructors’ comnts have only reinforced my confidence in you. Still, I can’t help but worry about the pressure this puts on you—it might affect your performance."
As a manager, Betty understood just how overwhelming this situation was for an artist.
Not only was Hera pressed for ti, but now she had to shoulder the weight of the director’s high expectations.
Failing to et those expectations could turn what was supposed to be a career-making opportunity into a chance to be labeled a diocre actress in the eyes of many.
The director was a major figure in the film industry, with a vast network of connections.
Once he passed judgnt on Hera’s acting skills, word would quickly spread. Depending on his evaluation, Hera’s future could either soar or co crashing down.
Although the director was thrilled and excited to et Hera—visually, she perfectly embodied the heroine he envisioned—he knew that looks alone wouldn’t be enough.
In terms of action, Hera exceeded expectations, excelling in both martial arts and driving, which were central elents of the film.
However, the director needed more than just a capable action star; he needed an actress who could breathe life into the character, soone with the emotional depth and talent to carry the role.
No matter how impressed he was with her action skills, if Hera couldn’t deliver as an actress, the film would suffer—and that was a risk he wasn’t willing to take.
His goal wasn’t just to create a good action film but to craft a masterpiece worthy of critical acclaim, with aspirations of entering the Oscars.
This project was his passion, one he had been ticulously planning and developing for over five years, and he wanted only the best of the best for his cast.
Although the director was impressed with Hera, he still needed to evaluate the other actresses he had handpicked to determine who would be the best fit for the role.
For him, acting skills were the top priority. He knew that while action sequences and driving were crucial elents of the film, they weren’t insurmountable challenges.
An actress could always learn the necessary moves from a martial arts instructor or rely on a stunt double to handle the more physically demanding scenes, including driving.
While Hera was undeniably captivating and possessed an impressive skill set, the director wasn’t solely focused on those attributes.
His priority was finding soone who could deliver the emotional depth and complexity needed to bring the heroine to life.
Action and technical skills could be taught or outsourced, but authentic, compelling acting was non-negotiable.
Hera chuckled softly, her deanor calm and even slightly amused. "It’s already more than enough that I’ve been given the chance to audition. I’m grateful for that. Please send the location and ti, and I’ll make sure to be there."
She had expected this outco all along. After all, in the novel, Alice also received a chance to audition for this sa film, though her invitation ca under unique circumstances.
Alice had saved the director’s daughter, earning his gratitude and securing an audition as a gesture of compensation.
Initially, the director didn’t have high expectations for Alice and was even considering offering her a minor role instead.
However, during the audition, Alice surprised him.
Despite her innocent appearance, she turned out to be a skilled actress with a solid foundation.
She managed to embody 85% of the heroine the director had envisioned.
Although she lacked martial arts and driving skills, her performance impressed him enough to commit to postponing filming by a few months so she could prepare adequately for the role.
With that understanding, Hera knew that her martial arts and driving skills alone wouldn’t guarantee her success—she still needed to prove herself.
She wasn’t sure if Alice had secured a spot in the audition this ti just like it was ntioned in the novel, but that didn’t matter; she needed to give it her all.
If her mory served her correctly, Alice had likely received her invitation two or three days earlier.
By now, Alice would have already practiced, created a detailed character biography, and thoroughly analyzed the heroine’s personality.
While Alice’s acting resu appeared as spotless and untested as Hera’s, the truth was far different.
Alice’s experience from her previous life, which included winning a prestigious acting award, gave her a significant advantage.
Her ability to embody complex characters allowed her to compete with seasoned actresses effortlessly because she’s already one.
It was no wonder the director had been thoroughly impressed by her performance in the novel.
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