Wild Hollywood (closed)

[Asa]

Unable to find one she simply sighed then gave the signal to Tomo. She hoped the additional distance would help as that would be the easiest way for the scene to still be believable.

 

[WatchingCloud]

Tomo growled. Carl just kept picturing the way the leopard immediately went back to friendly after growling a few minutes ago. He didn't feel himself on the verge of a painful flashback.

"Better," he said after Tomo stopped. "Again."

They repeated it several times, each getting better.

"Much better. Ok, thanks. I think we'll be able to shoot the scene as scripted."

Carl reached into his bag and withdraw a tin of sardines for Tomo, cracking it open and setting it on the floor for the cat.

"A thanks to you," he said to Tomo.

He then withdrew the bottle of wine he'd procured from the commissary.

"Not sure if this is your thing, but I did want to thank you for helping me out." Carl offered the bottle to Alexis. "Can't read the label, but I think it's either Turkish or from one of the -stans. No idea if it's any good."

 

[Asa]

She took the bottle and held it to the light.

Iris Rosé... Very nice. Did you grab glasses too in that pack or do we just drink from the bottle. Or a bottle opener?

She clearly had never had anyone offer such a one on one thanks. Tomo wolfed down his treat and curled up with a yawn suspecting that they were going to be there for a while.

 

[WatchingCloud]

Carl retrieved two glasses, not exactly intended for wine but the best he could manage, and an opener.

"I was in the scouts when I was younger," he said. "Always be prepared.

"You want the honors or should I?"

 

[Asa]

She held the bottle out to him and smiled.

If you want.

 

[WatchingCloud]

Carl handed the glasses to Alexis and took the bottle, working the cork out in short order. He filled each glass halfway and set the remainder of the bottle aside. He took a whiff after taking one glass.

"Not bad," he said. "What should we drink to? How about to the most talented and lovely animal wrangler in the businesses? And to her companions, the real acting talent on this shoot?"

 

[Asa]

She tensed a little at the word wrangler. The animals were family to her but she smiled.

They would have no need to do any of this without human actors.

 

[WatchingCloud]

"I suppose not. How did you get into this business? With the push to digital effects, it's actually pretty rare to use animals so prominently any more. Not that I'm complaining. It's so much easier to relate to, and act with, a real animal on set than with a model or colored ball and my imagination."

 

[Asa]

The same can be said for traveling half way around the world to shoot a movie on site when there are such technological advances. I do this for the animals. Their safety and continued support and awareness of their continued existence. The money made from things like this... Solely go back into my reserve. Caring for and acquiring animals in danger and protecting those losing ground to man. This is my home and they are my family since I was born.

She shrugged sipping the Rosé and smiled.

With your issue with animals why did you agree to do this movie?

 

[WatchingCloud]

"I'm almost embarrassed to admit it, but I didn't know anything about this movie - not the animals, not even the location of the shoot - until after agreeing to take the role. I've been hoping for a chance to work with Dominic on a film, so I jumped on it on faith. He's one of the industry hold outs who still tries to do as much without computers as possible. Hence your animals, I get to do most of my own stunts, we shoot in exotic locations. That's just how I'm wired."

Carl took another drink and checked on Tomo, finding the leopard already nodding off after the snack.

"How big is your reserve? I'm assuming you must have quite a bit of help if you can travel around the world for things like this."

 

[Asa]

There are nomads who travel through and help as well as a nearby village and a small group of former militia turned wardens who protect my animals.

I was given an old warlord compound only kept a few of the houses and destroyed the rest letting nature and farming land for the villagers take over the land plus the land I bought so several thousand acres. Last film before this Franchise that Dominic and I work together with his niece I had a couple of elephants involved a mother and daughter. The daughter barely a year was more interested in being behind the camera and moving them when she felt they needed to be moved.

 

[WatchingCloud]

Carl was impressed. She had accomplished quite a bit already, no even taking her age into consideration.

"That's remarkable. I'd love the chance to see it some time, maybe even after the shoot. How far is it from here? Forgive me if my African geography is a bit rusty. Never really expected to visit."

 

[Asa]

Just a few miles away.

She smiled.

I think you getting to visit after the shoot would be fine. Zia would certainly like it.

Taking another sip of the wine.

 

[WatchingCloud]

"Just a few miles? So that's where you disappear to. I'm assuming Dominic must have taken advantage of that in picking this location for the shoot."

Carl took another thoughtful sip.

"So, would Zia be my host, or you? I know she likes me and all, but I'm not sure it would work out between us..." Carl gave Alexis a wink with that last bit.

 

[Asa]

She laughed a little with a smile.

What are you getting at? Is this more of the Hollywood flirting Joanna has warned me about working with action stars.

 

[WatchingCloud]

"Hollywood flirting? I'm insulted." Carl made sure that his tone was good natured and anything but insulted.

"If I was to flirt with you, I'd need a venomous snake wrapped around my shoulders and come riding on the back of a lion."

Carl paused, as if deep in thought. "You don't have a snake and a lion I could borrow by any chance, do you?"

 

[Asa]

Four lions that are capable of being around humans and most snakes are still quite venomous.

She laughed.

Then about forty more lions who are wild just protected on my lands.

 

[WatchingCloud]

Carl cringed. "I really shouldn't have asked. Or, rather, I should have known you'd be well-stocked with both the snaked and the lions. You're something else, you know that?"

Carl finished off his wine and topped off both of their glasses.

"What does your boyfriend - husband? - do for a living? Wrestle great white sharks? Or do you have a soft spot for guys who are intimidated by mere pet dogs and cats?"

 

[Asa]

It's just me. No boyfriends or husbands.

She shrugged and smiled as he topped off their classes.

What does you girlfriend or wife think of you being so far away from home last minute for so long?

 

[WatchingCloud]

"Ex, and I'm sure she could care less. That relationship was more a business arrangement than an organic, meaningful one. Two actors trying to raise our public profiles. I'll be perfectly happy to never do that again. Fame is overrated but a necessary evil in this racket. Fortunately, I think I've reached a point where I can worry less about that. I can turn jobs down rather than beg to be noticed."

Carl took a glance over at Tomo and found the cat happily dozing in spite of the steady drone of rain and diminishing rumble of thunder.

"And don't get me started on groupies and fans. Is it asking too much to meet someone who barely knows about the acting side of me and could care less when she finds out?"

 

[Asa]

I work with actors and directors all the time and have no clue who they are till Dominic or Joanna tell me. I think that is part of why they replaced actor in Franchise. He had no concept that as far as I was concerned the animals were worth more than him and he held no respect for their lives too.

She shrugged. She could care less about all their glitz and glamour and society this that and the other garbage. Which was evident the one time Dominic brought her to one of the press Galas for a film and she wore a dress the villagers had made for her and her hair in braids down her back and sandals and not some overpriced designer dress and all that stuff.

 

[WatchingCloud]

"Guess that's what I like about you...well, among other things. You're genuine and follow your passions. Those things happen to be meaningful, not shallow. People who get hung up on fame or popularity as if that was the ultimate goal scare me."

Carl wondered just how Alexis saw him. He felt most comfortable as an outsider to the Hollywood machine, yet he had to play the game to further his career. It sounded like she didn't really care, which was fine by him.

 

[Asa]

Yet you work in a world where that is exactly all that matters... Why?

She was curious about this one. He was not like the other actors she had ever dealt with and she also doubted that he would have cared what she wore to an awards show of gala or whatever just like Dominic it was just the rest of their world who made a fuss over such trivial things.

 

[WatchingCloud]

"I'm just a guy who likes to act, who loves action movies, and who has a thing for doing my own stunts. I grew up on those movies and dreamed about being in them. Not about being famous.

"I realized that to make those dreams happen, though, I had to play the game. Studios don't cast unknowns to lead the big movies, so I had to adapt. Make compromises. Thankfully, I have a really good agent who's good at making me look like one thing to the public while minimizing the time necessary to convey that appearance. So, basically, I'm sometimes acting even when I'm not on set... Just as little as possible. And I savor the time around people, like you, when I don't have to worry about that public shtick."

 

[Asa]

She smiled at his words.

Outside of Dominic and Joanna most just tolerate my being on set and around working with the animals. That is partly why I normally only work with Dominic. Most other on location required scenes most directors act like we are just the help like a camera or rock.

She looked to Tomo and back to Carl.

I have never really run across anyone in you line of work who wanted to learn to get used to the animals as if they were an important part of the film as well. I... I like that... That you are different than the others. Dominic did well choosing you.