"Good! Sir, can you turn to your left, please?”

“Ah, perfect!”

“Look down… Left side! I think your left side looks better than your right side. Maybe it’s how the hair is…”

The set members chuckled at the words of the photographer.

“Mr. Ian Renner, you look like a pretty decent model. Ah, if you ever feel like the career is not for you, shift to become a model. Your features are to die for!” The photographer said while still looking at them one by one.

Ian smiled hearing his words. It was true, and this wasn’t the first time he got to hear about the fact photographers loved Ian’s postures and all.

Although Ian had just laughed the whole compliment off, the entire thing he got was from his previous world.

As he was an actor, he had to pose in various ways, to look good in the camera.

The initial phase was not pretty looking at all. He had to go through different mentors and different photographers who revealed and realized his body’s strengths and weaknesses, which also made things much easier for him.

Ian took a small break while slowly gulping down the bottle of water that was in his hand.

The entire set was prepared to shoot photographs. Behind the camera, there were five to six men and a woman who put their efforts in to make the shoot a good one.

This was for Vanity Fair magazine. Recently, for how good Avatar had been doing, they had asked Ian for an interview, and for that, the photo shoot was technically attached.

“Sir, can you get back? We also might need some pictures of you doing the technical parts of the movie. We’ve got a spare camera and a monitor. Although there are plenty of pictures on the internet of you doing all sorts of things for a movie, including acting to show how the shot should be taken, we’d love to take some original pictures!” The photographer said while looking at him.

Ian was a few meters away, seated and the woman was touching up his make-up.

“Sure, why not?” Ian smiled at him and closed his eyes back again, of all the powder touch-ups going on.

“Perfect. It’s such a weird fact that you have perfect features. This is a first for me, I mean every celebrity looks good in their way, but are there any chances that you did plastic surgery? Excuse me for asking,” The woman asked while turning Ian’s face to the left side.

“Not really. What do you mean by the first time?”

“Uhm- What I exactly meant is how many celebrities look for their perfect version. But your face is good as it is. You have no idea how much effort it takes to hide the flaws in one's face.

But in my opinion, the flows are the things that make all of us human. We aim for natural pictures—some actresses pay to take the pictures down from socials,” the woman said, making Ian nod.

“I get what you mean. It’s alright, and their face and body matter a lot. They make a living out of them. Apart from their talents of course,” Ian said.

The lady swirled her brush across Ian’s cheekbones.

“Done. You are good to go, director!” She said while Ian stood up from his chair immediately.

“Let’s go for the next fitting. I think I have the perfect suit to go with the blue theme for the background.”

It was a fact that the dressings go after the makeup considering no one wants to make up touches in the dresses.

This was also why Ian was taken back to change his clothes for the next session of photography.

[...] Ian came out wearing a brown and blue combo suit, which made his eye color appear more highlighted.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

“Wow… That looks perfect! I’m pretty sure these pictures would go on the first page!” The photographer said and got prepared immediately to take the pictures.

Everyone else who had their mouths open at how good Ian looked, quickly distracted themselves from their job in no time.

“Are we ready?” the photographer asked while looking at Ian from the camera.

Ian nodded and smiled showing his perfect jaw and perfect smile to the camera.

*Click!*

The camera and the lights went off.

-

The next part of the day for Ian was everything including excitement.

Walking inside the office room, he couldn’t wait till he got to see the young Mark Hamill.

After the agent had talked with Ian, he made sure to check up on how this young actor looked. Just like he thought, he looked extremely young. The version which Ian had in mind was completely different from what he saw on the internet.

At one point, he couldn’t help but stare at the man that was on his laptop screen.

The main reason for all the excitement was that, if anything, he got to meet the previous actors, who he knew from his previous world by coincidence.

But this was new and fresh to him. This was planned.

Therefore, he had time and the chance to look up how the actor looked, and what he could offer for Mark to stay by his side.

Not to mention, it was a weird attachment Ian felt to give the chance to the actors he knew. Which was also why he decided to give-

“Mr. Mark Hamill is here, should I send them in?” Murphy’s voice came through the intercom, for which Ian smiled.

“Yes, please,” he muttered.

In no time, Mark Hamill walked in with a smile, and behind him, the agent followed him inside.

“Nice to meet you, director Renner, how are you?” Mark said as he stepped into his office.

“Nice to meet you too. Please, have a seat— you both!” Ian said as he showed the seats that were in front of him.

“I’m doing fine, and please, feel free to call me Ian. Tea or coffee?” Ian asked. “Or anything else? Although it’s still noon.”

“Ah, more of a coffee guy,”

“And for you?”

“For me, I’ll be out for a while. I just wanted to say hello to Ian,” the agent who was still on his toes said while earning a nod from both the men who were seated.

“Alright, excuse me,” he walked himself outside.

“Two cups of coffee, please. One with extra sugar,” Ian said through the intercom. “So, how are you?” he asked again.

The temperature turned calm and comfortable, while Ian took a look at the actors who were in front of him.

Same features. Same eyes. Even the way he talked was similar.

“First of all, my apologies for turning down the first chance. Honestly, I wouldn’t have guessed that you’d come this much of a long journey in the industry.

“At that time, everything was entirely biased for how it could be just the beginners' luck, but now… I don’t think it is.”

“Ah, let’s just forget all of it. After your agent contacted me, he did mention a lot about how things were back then, and trust me, I’d have done the same thing.”

“Thanks, Ian,” he said while sweeping his hand through his brown hair. Mark’s eyes were the same which gave Ian chills.

“Well, talking down into the business, I have a role for you.”

“Already?” Mark interrupted.

“What do you mean?”

“Uh-” Mark cleared his throat and looked straight into Ian’s eyes. “Ian, I didn’t think that you’d give me a role today, I was expecting things a bit late,”

Ian chuckled at the confused look of the young actor. Twenty years old is sure young compared to many actors who are graded B. Which in fact, explained a lot about Mark and his status as an actor.

“Don’t you know how we directors work? If we see something eye-pleasing and would match any… ANY role that we have in mind, we’d try our best to go with it!” Ian said with a smile that was genuinely reciprocated by the young man.

“What is it about?” He asked.

“The movie would be a romance, comedy, and drama. I’ll explain the outer touches of the movie, then we can focus on the role I have for you in your mind.”

“Sure, let’s go with it.”

“The name of the movie is, Marriage Story. The story is going to be about a stage director and his actor wife who struggle through a grueling, coast-to-coast divorce that pushes them to their personal and creative extremes. The couple in this movie have shared life, with a child and a mutual passion for theatre, but ultimately what they have not taken care of is their emotional connection.”

“What makes the movie special?” Mark questioned which came out as a surprise for Ian.

He hadn’t expected the question, but a smile drew on his lips knowing what the young man was thinking about.

“Hmm, good question. So, Marriage Story is going to be an incredibly emotional character study, and deeply human. The specialty of the movie would be all about execution, which I’m looking forward to. That is why I want to find the perfect people to fit the role.” Ian said.

[...] And then, the rest of the conversation followed with how Ian wanted Mark’s character to be.