As you sit in the lobby, you watch the people come and go. A few of them talk to the receptionist, and she gives each one a professional greeting before directing them to where they needed to go.
“Is Mr. Burton in today?”
You pay attention to the two newcomers. One of them is about your age – perhaps a bit younger. The other person is an older man in his mid-thirty. He has a suit on, looking savvy and professional. He also has a briefcase with him.
He is an agent – a well-known agent.
“Yes, sir.”
The receptionist replies professionally.
“Do you have an appointment.”
“No, but here’s a letter of recommendation from the CAA.”
The older man hands her the recommendation letter. She takes it in her hand and gives it a quick read to see if it is authentic. She then picks up the phone, dials and speaks into it briefly.
“Mr. Burton will see you now. Please take the elevator to your left.”
The older man nods and directs his companion to the elevator. They left the front desk as quickly as they had come.
You watch the scene playout and wish you had a recommendation letter or an agent that could help you with your endeavor. However, it is unlikely you could get any of them anytime soon. Your previous agent has said that your acting is no good, and you haven’t directed any blockbuster movies and make a name for yourself yet.
The only thing you could do now is wait. Luckily, you have a way to entertain yourself. After two hours of chilling and checking out girls with your all-seeing eyes, you approach the front-desk again.
“Is Mr. Burton not in? It has been 2 hours already.”
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
The receptionist looks at you for a moment, trying to remember who you are.
“I’m sorry, sir,” Jessica replies calmly and professionally. “Mr. Burton currently is busy. He said that he does not have time for an unscheduled appointment. He said that you can directly leave your script to the editorial department on the eleventh floor. There will be someone there to accept it, and when he has time, he will have a look at it and give you a call.”
It is the same answer she gives to people who doesn’t have connections or standings like you, but you didn’t know that.
“Thank you!”
You thank her sincerely and head towards the elevator.
She didn’t give you any more attention than that. You are a nobody after all.
After taking the elevator to the eleventh floor, you ask around and found the department where you could deliver your screenplay. It is not an exaggeration to say that there are hundreds of scripts being submitted every month.
“Speed?”
A man in his forties receives you after you enter the department and reads the title of your screenplay.
He didn’t read any further than that and hands you a form. “Please leave your name, phone number, address and email. If there is any news, we will notify you as soon as possible.”
You thank him and quickly fill out the form and hand it back to the man. He looks at it and put it with your screenplay into a folder. He places the folder into a file cabinet nearby.
You take note all of this, especially the number of file cabinets stand unison, rows after rows. They all undoubtedly contain scripts and screenplays waiting to be reviewed. Some of them has dust on them, telling you that your chance here is almost zero.
“Is there anything else?”
The man asks once he has done his task.
“No. Thank you.”
You answer him. You didn’t even mention about a director position, as the man is just an office worker and has no power whatsoever. Although your heart is unwilling to let it go like this, you knew there is nothing you could do.
Back to the lobby on the first floor, you pass by the receptionist.
“Thank you for your help. I have handed it in.”
The receptionist didn’t give you a single shred of acknowledgement. She knew as well as you did that your screenplay will likely never see the day of light, and she is far too busy to have time for a nobody like you.
You shrug at her lack of response and find a seat in the lobby. You sit at one where you can basically see the entrance and the exit of the elevator. There, you wait patiently.
Becoming successful in Hollywood has never been a simple matter, especially for a nobody like you. However, with enough patience and determination, you are sure that you can seize an opportunity when it comes.
Of course, you must be there when the opportunity arrives.
“One step at a time.”
You tell yourself and keep a keen eye on the elevator. James Burton will leave his office eventually.