Chapitre 7: Dream
After Lucas's plane landing and reaching the Los Angeles International Airport, Lucas goes to one of the restaurants in the terminal, and he relaxes in Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe.
After eating some American cuisine, Lucas goes to the taxi stands to fetch a taxi to drive him to Cheviot Hills.
After entering the taxi and telling the driver the locations he wanted to go, Lucas curiously looks at the brochures and pamphlets given by LAX near the airport earlier.
To be honest, Lucas has never even been to an American airport or something. So far, he has only traveled locally in his previous life country. In fact, even if he goes to an airport and takes a flight, it's only a local travel within the country and not outside the country at all. He was just a small-time actor in his previous life.
Lucas flips through the brochures first to read while the taxi drives off on the road. While reading, the taxi driver is listening to "The Godfather" soundtrack.
Lucas immediately recognizes the soundtrack as it is so familiar.
Lucas even hums in sync with the soundtrack, remembering the days when he watched "The Godfather" as a kid. He can say that it was such a masterpiece.
He watched the whole film of part 1 without getting bored and then proceeded to watch part 2, a full three hours, without getting bored at all. Lucas was easily bored in his previous life, and if he watched a film that didn't impress or occupy his mind for ten minutes, he would not watch it at all. Instead, he would read some books such as "Song of Ice and Fire" for some time. Yet, even with his mindset, he was able to fully watch part 1 and part 2 of "The Godfather" without getting bored or losing focus. Well, of course, except for part 3, which he couldn't stand to watch. "The Godfather" was a great film, even when it screened in the 1970s. For Lucas, the film aged like wine.
Actually, it was because of "The Godfather" that Lucas became an actor. He was inspired by Al Pacino, who portrayed Michael Corleone. Pacino's portrayal, transitioning from a heroic war hero with a hint of innocence to a cold underworld boss, was admirable.
Lost in thought, Lucas analyzed the great actors in "The Godfather."
He considered Marlon Brando, who played Vito Corleone, the first Godfather and Michael's father. Brando's portrayal shaped the character of the Mafia boss with stiff yet intimidating movements. He adopted a hunched posture and deliberate movements to embody Vito's age and physical weight. Brando's piercing eyes conveyed a range of emotions, from quiet contemplation to veiled menace. Subtle gestures, like stroking his chin or holding a cigarette, emphasized points or conveyed unspoken thoughts. Brando's unique gravelly voice, influenced by his Brooklyn roots and Italian heritage, added authenticity and distinction.
As Lucas reflected on Brando's acting skills, he also admired Al Pacino's portrayal of Michael Corleone. Pacino, a great actor in Lucas's eyes, left a lasting impression, especially with his role in "Scarface."
Thinking of that, Lucas couldn't help but smile. While it might sound presumptuous, Lucas was indeed inspired to become an actor because of crime thriller films, and he dreamed of acting in one.
Besides being inspired by "The Godfather," with Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, Lucas also came to know truly great actors such as Daniel Day Lewis, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, and Denzel Washington, Jack Nicholson.
Lucas hoped to stand on the same stage as them and, in fact, had thoughts of even surpassing them one day. It was just his dream, limitless and free to imagine anything he wanted, even if it meant risking his life.
"Great soundtrack there, sir," Lucas smiled, saying to the driver listening to "The Godfather" soundtracks.
"Haha, of course," the burly driver responded with a smile. After a while, he spoke with melancholic eyes, "To be honest with you, listening to these soundtracks helps me feel like I'm driving for an underworld boss..." He glanced at Lucas while saying so.
Lucas, hearing that, looked at the driver in surprise, finding him quite peculiar for thinking that way.
"Does he think he drives for the Godfather? A driver for an underworld boss?" Lucas avoided the taxi driver's stare while pondering, 'Usually, people feel like they're the Godfather listening to that soundtrack, yet this taxi driver thinks he's a driver for some big boss?'
Feeling a bit awkward due to the silence, Lucas remarked, "Usually, people listening to that soundtrack feel like they're a big shot, but you, sir, just think you're a driver for some big shot?"
The taxi driver chuckled at Lucas's words and replied, "Haha, my dream is not so big. I know my limits. My dream is for one day to become a driver for some big shot..." He paused and added, "A big shot like the Godfather."
Lucas smiled wryly, saying, "I see..." Inside, he thought, 'I guess that makes sense...'
Afterward, the burly driver handed a card to Lucas, who took it in confusion. Then the taxi driver said, "This is my contact card. I give them to my passengers, but not casually. I give them to people I think will make it big one day..."
When Lucas heard this, he was a bit surprised and said, "Oh? You think I'll make it big one day?"
The taxi driver responded with a laugh, "Haha, well, just my mind telling me something like that. As long as I see people my mind thinks have potential, I give them my contact cards..."
"Oh? Is it a card to call you when I need a taxi?" Lucas couldn't help but say with a wry and faint smile.
"Of course, but it's not just that." The taxi driver smiled and then added, "I'm giving you my contact card, sir, because if you become big someday, or maybe you're just about to make it big and still on the path to success, please remember my contact card and hire me as your personal driver..."
When Lucas heard this, he didn't know whether to feel happy or not. He felt happy that someone thought he would make it big someday, but at the same time, he felt a strange feeling, like pressure, knowing that someone had high expectations of him. It was the belief that he would make it big when he knew it wouldn't be easy, and perhaps it might never happen at all.
The taxi driver seemed to sense some doubt in Lucas's eyes and said, "Hey, kid. Don't doubt yourself. You will have your day someday. Just believe in the great above and yourself..."
Lucas, hearing this, nodded with a smile. With that, he found the conversation with the taxi driver more comforting.
The taxi driver, named Shawn, has a son and a daughter. He didn't mention his wife but said that he was supporting his son and daughter.
When Lucas asked why his build was quite burly, like a bodybuilder, Shawn explained that he was indeed a bodybuilder in the past. Due to circumstances, he applied for the job of a taxi driver to support his son and daughter.
While talking, the taxi driver reminded Lucas that they were nearing the neighborhood of Cheviot Hills...
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS 
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Chapitre 8: Filming Set
When Lucas arrived at the Cheviot Hills, he looked around and saw the American houses and neighborhood he typically saw in American series or movies.
Cheviot Hills was just near the well-known Beverly Hills and Century City, yet the quiet and peaceful area made Lucas feel that it was a good place for seniors and a place to live after retirement.
'I guess maybe because of this quiet area that the production of Modern Family chose this place for filming...' Lucas thought as he walked along the quiet road.
Lucas was on his way towards the private residence, the one rented by the "Modern Family" production.
Then, Lucas remembered the contract provided by the "Modern Family" production a few days ago. Although Lucas doesn't have an agent or manager to deal with it for him, he read the contract and so far, he doesn't see any clause that will be bad for him.
Basically, the contract provided was only limited to the pilot episode. He'll also earn the money provided in the contract after finishing filming the pilot episode.
Whether Lucas will receive a contract beyond the pilot episode depends on how successful the pilot episode of the show will be.
If the show becomes successful and the network is satisfied with the pilot, which Lucas expects, he may receive a full-time contract, covering the entire season or several seasons, higher compensation, and job security for Lucas. This would mean he can earn thousands of dollars just for appearing in episodes, but it also requires Lucas's commitment to the show, potentially restricting his ability to pursue other projects simultaneously.
---
The "Modern Family" production team was already prepared, and the director and writers gathered at a table to discuss the pilot episode.
Some of the actors and actresses were already present, and Julie Bowen's presence drew significant attention from the production team and the cast.
Not because she is famous, but because she has a bulging belly.
The actor Ty Burrell, who plays the role of Phil Dunphy, looked at Julie Bowen, who has taken on the role as Phil Dunphy's wife. He observed people such as Sarah Hyland, Ariel Winter, Nolan Gould, the children of the Dunphy couple in the show, talking to Julie Bowen with curiosity and a bit of interest.
Although the actors and actresses greeted each other upon first meeting, there was still a bit of unfamiliarity among them. However, as the director and writers suggested, they needed to get along well since the show was about family and not just drama.
Ty Burrell sat near Julie Bowen and curiously listened. After a while, he joined in the conversation, talking with Julie and even making a lighthearted joke about her pregnancy.
---
After a while, Lucas finally arrived at the filming location and saw the iconic Dunphy house from his previous life in front of him.
Lucas looked and noticed that the production team had already gathered. Vans and cables, thick as garden hoses, snaked across the driveway. He also observed a group of curious neighbors perched on lawn chairs across the street, watching the "Modern Family" production team in action.
The house known as the "Dunphy house" from Lucas's previous life had shed its usual facade of normalcy. Lights, resembling giant fireflies on steroids, clung to the eaves, casting an artificial glow on the manicured rose bushes. Cameras, perched on towering cranes, peered through the house windows, ready to capture and film the inside of the rooms.
A steady stream of crew members scurried in and out, their bright orange lanyards flashing like traffic cones in the sunlight.
This scene was markedly different from what Lucas had seen of the TV show in his previous life, but he had been expecting this.
Indeed, Lucas had underestimated the production team, expecting a small crew that wouldn't attract much attention. However, it turned out that the production team was larger than he initially thought.
Being a small actor in his previous life, Lucas didn't really know the extent of the filming set in Hollywood.
After approaching the house, he was stopped by a staff member. Only when Lucas explained that he was part of the cast playing the role of "Marshall Dylan" in the show was he allowed to enter. As he stepped inside the house, Lucas saw the familiar interior of the "Dunphy Family" home.
Although Lucas was a bit surprised that the episode would actually take place on the onsite location of the exterior scene, typically TV show houses would have an exterior scene, and the interior shots would be on the soundstage of a studio.
Perhaps 20th Century Fox hadn't yet recreated the interior sets of "Modern Family" in their studio. They might have used the onsite house as the filming location, unsure if "Modern Family" would be well-received by the audience or not.
Lucas was led by the staff towards the living room where the cast, director, and writers were gathered. Along the way, Lucas could see crew members walking around the house, preparing everything for filming. Some were shouting to each other, even though they were wearing headsets equipped with microphones.
Experiencing this scene, Lucas felt like he had returned to his previous life when he had a chance to be an extra in a certain love team movie project.
Upon entering the living room, Lucas saw the familiar faces of the "Modern Family" actors and actresses. Two actors, Ty Burrell and Nolan Gould, and three actresses, Julie Bowen, Sarah Hyland, and Ariel Winter, were present.
All present seemed to be only the Dunphy family cast, and the other main casts, such as the Pritchett family, were not there.
When the staff leading Lucas announced the arrival of another actor, it captured the attention of the casts, director, and writers in the room.
They looked, and some of them sighed in relief that the actor had arrived on time.
Jason Winer glanced at Lucas and nodded, while Steven Levitan observed Lucas thoughtfully. To be honest, they casted Lucas Knight, despite only auditioning once, because of his good looks—blonde hair, blue eyes. They felt that the character Dylan seemed to suit Lucas more, and at the same time, Lucas's embodiment of Dylan resonated well with the writers.
The network also agreed with casting Lucas due to his very American yet charming appearance. However, they weren't entirely sure whether the young man would meet their acting expectations. Nevertheless, since it was just a supporting role, the role of "Marshall Dylan" didn't demand much acting, and any performance shortcomings wouldn't be quite apparent.
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS
NewComer714
NewComer714
If my novel tickle your linguistic taste buds, consider showering me with powerstones to boost my writerly ego.
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