Page 1 of Starring Role
Starring Role
by Hollis Shiloh
"What you're sayingis, there are no qualified wolf shifter actors out there? Not even one?" The talk show host leaned forward. Her hair and makeup were perfect, her outfit classic yet up to date, and in her eyes was the gleam of a hunter who'd caught the scent of blood.
Cooper watched the interview with the sinking feeling that his career, andperhaps his head, were on the chopping block.
Her opponent in the verbal tennis match, Sahil Singh, a short, brown-skinned man who was rather shockingly good-looking, remained composed. "Not at all. For this part, at this time, we had to go with the best actor for the role. I hope we'll be able to cast a lot of shifter actors in future. In the end, we just had to go with the right personfor the role, in the time and the situation we had."
"So, you're saying there are fewer qualified shifter actors out there at present?"
"For this role, we couldn't find anyone who was right. It's a very specific role."
"Yes, but such an iconic character—I assume the character is going to be iconic? Surely, you tried to get a more authentic actor for the portrayal."
Sahil smiled, a smilethat somehow looked like a wolf to Cooper. Not that he would know. Clearly, he wasn't a wolf—and being hired to portray one on TV might just haunt him for life, if it was already controversial before a single episode had aired.
This was supposed to be my big break!
"We're working with a lot of focus groups, and Cooper Hayes tests well with shifters and non-shifters alike. The kid has talent,what can I say? We've hired experts at every stage in the process, and shifters consult on script, acting, authenticity, and every other aspect. I admit it wasn't an easy decision. We went into this wanting to hire as many shifters as possible for the best portrayal on screen. But making TV is apparently all about compromise, and in the end, I hope you'll judge the final piece when you seeit. A lot of thought is going into it, I promise you."
He folded his neat hands on his lap and looked composed and faintly angelic. He really did have a face for TV, somehow.
It's like he's apologizing for hiring me,thought Coop, and he felt the noose of expectations and the likelihood of a short-lasting and possibly catastrophic role tightening around his neck. It was going to hurt if hewas fired after three episodes, after all he'd gone through getting this role; even if it meant they hired someone more authentic in his place, it would be difficult to deal with.
An acting credit, sure, but not the big break that would make him a known name, someone with some experience and recognition—in short, someone who could get hired in the future more easily. Possibly without havingto put on fifteen pounds of muscle in under two months. Because, yay, endless workouts and steamed chicken.
The talk show host continued with another pointed question. "And what does your husband think of you hiring a non-shifter for the role of Seth Waters? He is a wolf shifter, isn't he? Your husband?"
"That's correct." Sahil managed not to look smug—barely—as he folded his hands onceagain on his lap. "His was the deciding vote."
The segment ended with clapping and thanks and a commercial break that would probably be longer than the original segment. Cooper turned off the TV, stared at the blank screen for a time, then wandered out to the kitchenette. He was renting a hotel room near the studio where they'd be shooting, and it was still so new that he turned the wrongway to go towards the bathroom in the morning. He'd get used to it eventually.
If he lasted long enough onWolf Cop.
Of course, if he did last on the show, he'd be renting an apartment or buying a house near here. It would be wonderful to have that sort of job security. Certainly more than living out of a suitcase and hoping an acting job brought in enough to cover his needs for a littlewhile.