Rising Stars: A Prequel Novella: That's Entertainment

By Christine Harvey

One sweet, one cynical, unlikely friends whose stars are on the rise in Hollywood, 2008.

Samantha and Victoria are auditioning for roles in a highly coveted television pilot. After years of disappointment, skeptical Victoria is ready to give up on Hollywood. She can't help herself from quoting dire statistics about the low odds of a pilot getting the green light. Samantha is still a starry-eyed, enthusiastic hopeful, spending her down time watching "Outback Jack" reruns while wearing her favorite bunny slippers. As fame approaches, they are pulled deep into the celebrity world of Zach Manley, boy-band phenom turned actor.

Rising Stars is the story of two young women on the verge of stardom, unexpected friendships, and the joys and challenges of dreams fulfilled.

If you like Hollywood behind-the-scenes stories and celebrity gossip, you'll love Rising Stars, a prequel novella in the That's Entertainment series. Grab your copy now, and take a look back at the decisions and events that lead Samantha and Victoria to the life-changing romances awaiting them in Take Two and In Concert.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Meadow View Press
• Release date: Jan 12, 2019
• ISBN: 9780996315289

Christine Harvey

At the age of 11, I wrote my first book, about orphaned animals with names like “Bob Katt” and “Chip Monk.” My parents took the original typed manuscript and had it bound into a book. I don’t think I’ve stopped writing since. I majored in Creative Writing at San Francisco State University and wrote a personal column for a quarterly newsletter focusing on the entertainment industry for four years. My “That’s Entertainment” series combines my love of pop culture with a story that takes the reader to another world for a few hours. Although my day job as a non-profit fundraiser requires database geekery, I find writing a great deal more fun. Both my characters and I know that a pair of colorful cowboy boots can change your life. Plus, life is better with a little romance.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

March 2008

VICTORIA

Victoria had one finger on the coffee grinder button when she shoved her unruly hair out of her eyes and looked at the clock. She shrieked, inadvertently hit the button so the handheld grinder turned on, and dropped the whole thing. The top popped off, and beans flew everywhere.

She had to be at her audition in forty-five minutes.

Ignoring the spilled beans, she streaked out of the room to shower, change, and prep hair and makeup before charging out of her apartment, only pausing long enough to grab an envelope taped to her door. She broke a speeding law or two on her way to the office complex near Underwood Studios, but still pulled into a parking space with five minutes to spare. That was a miracle, considering L.A.’s typically thick traffic.

She took some belly breaths to relax, the way her sister had taught her, and put on a friendly smile before opening the door to the large waiting room . A woman sat at a sturdy desk to one side, and, after Victoria’s introduction, shoved an open binder across the top.

Sign in here for your check-in. The time is... She consulted a digital clock in front of her. Ten-oh-two. Her eyes shifted back and forth before she leaned close to add in a quiet tone, Let’s round off and call it ten even.

Victoria signed her name and wrote in her Screen Actors Guild ID number, and the adjusted time. If she was late, and didn’t meet the required length of time at the audition, she wouldn’t get paid for it. Thanks, she whispered. You saved me.

The woman nodded. They’ll call you when they’re ready.

Victoria did a quick room scan: the only available chair was next to someone with a ridiculous Hello Kitty bag on her lap. It was pilot season, and since January, every actor in Los Angeles had been showing up with a smile to daily auditions for the 70 television pilots being cast. This was her third callback for Fostering SoCal, which focused on a group of Los Angeles teenagers in the foster system. Everyone in the room wanted to find a way to stand out.

She felt the eyes of the other actresses on her as she wove through their chairs to the far side of the room and the lone empty seat. She kept her head up and a well-practiced smile on her face: serene, confident, and friendly, all at the same time. She avoided eye contact because she didn’t want to connect with any of the other actresses trying out for Rosalind, the tough girl with a soft heart.

At twenty-three, Victoria wondered if she might be a little too old to play a high school junior, but gritty, misunderstood Rosalind appealed to her. Plus, a long-term acting job would prove her last five years of hard work had been worth it.

Still not making eye contact, she sat next to Hello Kitty, a willowy blonde clearly trying out for Juliet, and dug through her bag for her sides, the printed pages of the scenes she’d be reading today. The envelope she’d grabbed on her way out sat on top. She slid out a thirty-day eviction notice.

Just great, she muttered, crumpling the letter in her lap.

She didn’t have much luck with roommates and hadn’t replaced the last one who’d left a few months ago. She was working for a temp agency and taking extra shifts at Roscoe’s, but the eviction notice ratcheted up her desperation to get this pilot.

She shuffled things around in her purse, moved aside phone, keys, wallet, hairbrush, compact, and lipstick, but couldn’t find the printed pages with her lines for the day.

Well, shit, she said, staring down into her purse.

Everything okay? the girl next to her asked.

I forgot my sides.

Oh. The girl peered into her Hello Kitty bag. She pulled out items similar to Victoria’s—brush, keys, lip gloss—along with a paperback with a bent spine. She set it on her leg, and Victoria couldn’t help but pick it up to study the cover showing two hands cradling a red apple.

Hello Kitty nodded at it and asked in a wistful voice, Have you read it? They’re making it into a movie. She sighed. It’s my favorite book right now.

Victoria turned the book back and forth. She leaned more toward thrillers and mysteries like Elmore Leonard and John le Carré. That’s what her dad had around the house when she was growing up, so that’s what she read. But she’d heard of this book; it was everywhere. I don’t know. Isn’t Edward kind of stalkery or something?

The girl held her hand out, and Victoria relinquished the book. He loves Bella, and feels the need to protect her, but doesn’t understand his admitted obsession with her. He’s confused.

Ah. Victoria nodded, as if that explained why it was acceptable for a vampire to sneak into your room at night and watch you sleep. 

Anyway, the girl continued. She pulled out a sheaf of paper and shoved everything back into her bag. Here you go. The sides for today.

I can’t take yours.

You’re not. The girl’s soft brown eyes brightened as she held up the pages. These are extras. I’m reading for Juliet, you’re obviously reading for Rosalind, and we’re in the same scene. She shrugged. I always bring an extra copy.

Oh. Victoria had just dissed a book this girl clearly loved, and yet she was still being generous. Thanks, then. She took the pages and unfolded them. She felt the girl watching her and wondered if she was expecting a more enthusiastic response. Um, I’m Victoria Clausen. She waved the pages. I appreciate this.

Samantha Jamison. And we’re going to rock this audition.

SAMANTHA

Samantha waited just long enough for Victoria to review the sides before she leaned close and whispered, I heard there’s a big name attached to this project.

How do you know?

My friend Liz is a PA. She just worked on a movie with Paul Dano, and the second assistant of his agent was on the set and mentioned it to the cute coffee guy at craft services.

Victoria leaned back. Not solid enough to ring my bell. I just need a job.

Samantha held up her purse. Do you think Hello Kitty is too young for a sixteen-year-old? I saw some girls at Beverly High with some when I was researching the part. She twisted the bag back and forth, admiring it. Of course, theirs were designer. I got mine at the thrift store.

How much did you research?

A ton. It’s creepy to hang out at a high school, so I didn’t do too much of that. But I talked to a couple social workers who work with foster kids, and they introduced me to a family that’s fostered over a hundred and twenty kids. I interviewed them and their kids. I also went to a few malls and hung out at food courts and places teenagers were shopping. Juliet’s sixteen. I’m twenty. That’s close, but still far enough away that it feels like another world. I really wanted to be prepared.

Victoria scanned the room. I think you’re closer to sixteen than the rest of us.

Samantha couldn’t tell how old Victoria was. It wasn’t that her face or figure looked over sixteen, but her serious attitude declared her more mature than the other girls. Samantha knew saying that wouldn’t sound like a compliment, even though she meant it that way.

Instead, she said, "Gabrielle Carteris was twenty-nine when she got the part of Andrea on 90210, so you never know. I think you’d make a great Rosalind."

Victoria eyed her a moment before responding. Gosh, thanks. And I’m sure Juliet would have some Hello Kitty barrettes to go with that bag.

Samantha opened her mouth to apologize, realizing far too late that she’d just suggested Victoria might look twenty-nine years old, but the door opened and a casting assistant stepped out holding a clipboard, her presence silencing the entire room.

Samantha Jamison?

Samantha whisper-squeaked, Oh, shit. To the deadpan CA, she said, Here. She adjusted her white miniskirt on the way in, wishing she’d chosen to wear her own sandals instead of her roommate Cricket’s too-small size-six wedges. She clump-clumped in with her toes crunched up instead of gliding, like she’d practiced the other day.

Hello! she chirped to the line of equally deadpan faces at the wide table. None of them responded and Samantha held tight to her purse straps while she waited to hear the door close behind her.

And waited.

And felt a bead of sweat roll down her spine.

She looked around and saw the casting assistant still in the doorway.

The CA called another name.

VICTORIA

Victoria sighed. Her sister always said she was too prickly for her own good and might have more friends if she tried a little kindness. She’d been a second away from apologizing to Samantha when the CA showed up, the room went silent, and her opportunity disappeared.

Victoria went back to her sides and the ridiculous dialogue. No one talked like this, especially not teenagers.

The room stayed quiet, and Victoria looked up with a start at her name. The CA was looking around expectantly.

Victoria Clausen? she repeated.

Victoria stood and went inside the small conference room, noticing Samantha’s puzzled look. She stood next to Samantha, then edged half a step forward, watching the four casting people. They sat in a row but had managed to huddle together, whispering heatedly back and forth.

They finally separated with a lot of huffing, and a bald man with glasses said, Ladies, we’re having you read together.

Thank you, Captain Obvious, Victoria thought, but kept her mouth shut and her eyes from rolling. You need this job, she reminded herself. L.A. isn’t that bad. It’s full of insanity, but you wanted this, and you can do this.

When you’re ready, the man said.

Victoria clutched the borrowed sides in one hand, wrinkling them with a loud crunch. She forced her hand to relax so she could read the lines, and looked at Samantha, who now faced her. Samantha shoved her own sides into that absurd Hello Kitty bag, then shrugged.

I know them by heart.

Trying to win points with the casting people by being off-book, Victoria thought. She’d heard Casting didn’t take that into account as much as they used to.

Samantha stood arms crossed and one foot resting on top of the other. Defensive, but nervous,