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-

The time had passed and it was three months ever since Christopher walked all the way to meet Ian.

By this time, the editing team had almost done their job with most of the movie. Thus, the trailer was just about to be released in two weeks.

Ian’s face was currently being dolled up by the make-up artist of the show that he was about to attend.

It was Late Night Spotlight. And this wasn’t Ian’s first time attending the show.

His eyes stayed glued to the mirror as he looked back at his reflection staring back at him. In less than an hour, he was about to walk onto the stage and talk about the upcoming trailer, but there was something in himself that he saw for a moment.

He paused for a moment and looked at the makeup artist. A young man.

“Can you leave me for a second? I’ll let you know when I’m ready to do the final touches,” Ian requested and withdrew his attention to his phone, which was in his hand.

The artist understood what Ian’s intentions were and quickly got out of his space.

Ian took a deep breath in and opened his phone.

“This is just pre-stage anxiety,” Ian reminded himself once again.

“Twenty minutes!” the voice of the producer came in.

Ian knew that he needed to calm his thoughts just for the sake of what was yet to come. And what was yet to come could be one of the greatest things that could happen to his career.

Especially now that he had everything planned and ready to take over Goofy, his only thought was that somehow he should be with the marketing team to make his plans a success.

Ian stood up and looked at the make-up guy who was seated in the corner of the room.

As soon as his eyes fell on him, the guy looked back at Ian.

Ian felt that he must have been waiting for Ian to get over his stage anxiety to call him back due to how the time was ticking.

Ian said nothing but nodded as he looked in his direction.

The guy came walking as soon as possible.

“How are you feeling now?” he asked while looking at Ian from the mirror in front of them.

Ian smiled politely. “I’m feeling better now, thank you. Can you touch up this side? I look better on that side,” he said while the make-up guy nodded.

-

[At the studio]

Ian was sitting on the blue, comfortable sofa, and numerous giant lights in front of him were directly facing him. Not only lights but also cameras from different angles.

The microphone and the little ear plug that was connected to him gave him access to the studio control panel, where the producer and the event manager had direct access to them.

Ian clutched both his hands and took another glance at the people who were present.

“Hey, William here,” a man who had extremely gray hair walked up the stairs to Ian.

Ian immediately stood up and greeted him.

“Ian Renner, nice to see you.”

“I’ll be tonight’s host. Isabella was supposed to be here, but she had to cancel the show last minute. The twenty minutes you’re allocated— it’s with me sir,” William chuckled and sat to Ian’s right where he had his own space.

He was surrounded by a brown table which had multiple magazines and papers.

“The questions are already run by you, right?” William asked with his friendly smile.

Ian nodded.

At this moment, after being in front of the big lights for more than twenty minutes, Ian’s anxious feeling was no longer there.

This was the first appearance where the trailer will be announced apart from the social media marketing, and he knew he needed to put up his best act.

“Yeah, the questions were good. I added a few questions in the end, hopefully, you got the amendment?” Ian questioned making sure.

“Oh yes-“

Before he could complete his sentence, Murphy walked in and leaned closer to Ian.

“Ian, the numbers will be focused on you today, and the reach should go beyond 12k. This is your first show about Star Wars, and focus more on the questions. The producers are already expecting a big raise in the numbers,” Murphy said while leaning closer.

“Yeah, it’ll be fine. I know the numbers will reach way more than twelve thousand, Murphy,” Ian said as his lips curled up.

The numbers weren’t his challenge, but the future was.

“Okay… In three minutes, we’ll be on air!”

-

[At Renner Studio]

The marketing team and the important staff were in one room, already clutching their clothes together for how they were anticipating Ian’s appearance.

“Well, how long is it?” Raelynn asked the man who was seated in front of her.

He was the manager of the marketing team, and if anything she knew that he needed to be aware.

“Just two more minutes. This is the first appearance, and if this is a success, there’ll be nothing to be worried about shortly,” he said the same thing for the millionth time.

They had been sitting at the same spot for the last hour. And in the end, Raelynn and Niko decided to keep their feet on the ground and stand up instead.

“Oh there!”

The intro of the show began to play, and soon, William was on screen.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another electrifying night of laughter, entertainment, and a touch of cinematic magic right here on the Late Night Spotlight! I'm your host, William, and I'm thrilled to be your guide through tonight's star-studded adventure. But today, Isabella was supposed to do this but she couldn’t. However, let’s begin!”

With that, the claps and cheers filled the air.

“Now, before we dive into the main act, let's talk about our very special guest tonight. Folks, get ready to be dazzled because we have a true luminary in the world of filmmaking gracing our stage. You know him, you love him – he's the young visionary who shattered all expectations and captured hearts across the globe with his incredible talent!”

The drumroll made things even more exciting for the people who were watching. Raelynn had her hands in front of her clenched tightly for the excitement.

Niko stood and kept looking at the screen intensely.

“That's right, tonight we're honored to have with us none other than the one-time Oscar winner, the maestro of the silver screen, Ian Renner!”

The applause that erupted through the studio was thunderous and simply louder than the previous one.

Raelynn and the people who were at the studio excitedly clapped simultaneously.

“This remarkable director burst onto the scene with a storm of creativity and innovation, leaving critics and audiences alike in awe of his boundless imagination. From indie gems that resonated deeply with our hearts to box office blockbusters that took us on epic journeys, his filmography is a testament to his unparalleled storytelling prowess.”

“And let me tell you, dear audience, the excitement doesn't stop there. Our guest has been cooking up something truly mesmerizing. Prepare yourselves for a rollercoaster of emotions, as Ian Renner is about to unleash his latest masterpiece upon the world. I'm talking about a project that's been shrouded in secrecy, generating more buzz than a beehive in springtime.

“So, grab your popcorn, and get comfy in your seats, because tonight we're diving deep into the mind of a cinematic genius and discovering the secrets behind his upcoming project. Get ready for a night of laughter, insights, and an exclusive sneak peek into the future of film, right here on the Late Night Spotlight!

Roaring applause and excitement from the audience!”

A moment of silence spread through the studio. But soon, William’s face, which was already beaming with pride and happiness, started to move with the words that left her lips.

“But before we bring out our incredible guest, let's take a quick break and hear from our sponsors. Don't you dare touch that remote – we'll be right back with Ian after these messages!”

As soon as William was done with what he was saying, everyone including Raelynn groaned loudly.

“They sure know how to keep the numbers coming,” a member of the marketing team said while typing something in his laptop.

“We’ll have to wait a little now.”