It's Just Ann

Chapter 6 - Casting

~unedited! I'll re-upload it tomorrow in a better quality~

"Come in,"I cry when I hear the knocking at my door. I'm expecting Paul so I'm not surprised when I see him opening the door then approaching my desk and taking a seat across from me.

I immediately untangle my legs and sit up straighter. If I could come in jeans and trainers to the office I totally would, but for as long as I have to work here I need to look professional and sophisticated if I want people to take me seriously. When I'm alone in the office I roll up my skirt and sit more comfortably but the moment someone comes in, I'm a lady once again and not a teenager.

"Good morning, Miss Tachibana,"he says between clenched teeth.

"Good morning, Paul,"I greet him with a slight bow.

I was born and raised in England, but Grandmother has made sure I keep the Japanese traditions alive. Everyone in TP is used to Father and his manners so it is not weird for me if I greet them or bid them goodbye with a bow.

"We've completely finished the script and I've come to showed it to you as the casting is today. We figured it'd be necessary to know the final product before selecting the actors to play the parts,"he explains handing me the script and I smile at him.

"How was it working with Terry? Did her input help?"I question next because I'm confident the script is much better now, but I still want to know if my decision to include Terry in the writing team helped or not.

Paul looks away and I notice a vein in his neck getting thicker. "She helped. She really had some scenes that weren't in the book and that help the view of the film we want to accomplish."

"Fabulous, Paul. I'm sure this time it'll be a perfect script. Thank you very much for bringing it. I'll read it over before the casting,"I inform him trying to use my better tone. I don't want him to hate me but taking in consideration the way he glares at me I don't think my best smile will make him tolerate me.

He nods once before standing up and leaving my office and I start reading the script immediately. I notice the differences, the modifications in the existing scenes, the addition of new ones and exclusion of others. It's not the book, but it is a good adaptation and what I think is most important: the characters are true to themselves and don't betray their nature that fans have come to know through the books. And I'm delighted to know that Rana is back in the story. I figure Terry managed to convince Paul that the character is actually pretty important in the storyline.

Once I finish reading the script, I go to meet with the casting team, especially the leader. We've been talking already about the lead actors for the main characters and all the supporting roles. For what Teru has informed me, eighty percent of the actors we contacted, inviting them to take part in the project showed enthusiasm to actually take part in the film. I hope they show up today for the auditions. They started first thing in the morning but I wasn't able to join them. I do after my lunch break and by then Ryan, the leader of the casting team hands me the portfolios that have been selected so far as possibilities. They have also recorded all auditions to make the final decision later on.

Up to now, none of the main characters have been selected. Although there are some possible options, nothing is settled yet.

The first person to come up in front of us after lunch break is a girl and I look at the portfolio. Mare Johnson, I read. She's a new artist and I think I've heard one of her songs, which is actually catchy. I can't remember the title but I know I had it stuck in my head for almost a week. She's prettier than I remember, with a contagious smile and bright red hair.