From Zero To Stardom: My Superstar System

Chapter Five: Audition

Marcus finally arrived in Pollywood, the glitzy heart of the entertainment industry.

This legendary city, nestled in the golden state of California, shimmered under the sun's warm embrace.

Its palm-lined boulevards glistened with the dreams of aspiring stars, while its grand theaters and studios echoed with the rich history of filmmaking.

The iconic Pollywood sign, perched high in the hills and the bustling streets were adorned with posters of silver screen legends and the latest blockbusters.

Every corner of Pollywood exuded an air of glamour, from the legendary Walk of Fame, where the stars' names were etched in gleaming gold, to the world-famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre, where countless premieres had graced its red carpet.

"This is Pollywood," he said with a grin on his face.

It has been a long time since he saw the tall building and watched as fellow actors entered, they were holding a script in hand, and their expressions a mix of hope and uncertainty.

He still can't believe that he was back and he can change his past .

Taking a deep breath, Marcus stepped forward.

****

Marcus arrived on the floor where the audition was being held.

He approached the check-in table. However, the woman was too engrossed in her computer screen, her fingers typing away and didn't notice Marcus.

"Rude as ever," Marcus commented in the back of his mind, the memories of a painful past surged back.

He remembered introducing himself to the receptionist excitedly, but the woman just replied to him rudely.

Marcus didn't say anything, unlike what he did before, and just cleared his throat and finally got the woman’s attention.

She gave him a quick glance before looking at her computer again.

"Name?"

Her voice held a hint of impatience and boredom.

"Marcus Thornwood," Marcus replied firmly.

The woman showed a hint of surprise on her face and finally glanced up.

"Thornwood?" she asked and studied Marcus.

Marcus met her gaze, unflinching.

"Yes, that's right."

As he said that, the woman’s features softened.

"Are you related to James and Victoria Thornwood?" the woman asked, smiling at him.

"Yes, they are my parents."

The woman’s eyes widened slightly.

"Well, that certainly changes things," she mused, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

Marcus wasn't taken aback by the change in the woman’s attitude.

It was the same back then.

Her attitude changed when Marcus told her about her parents and changed back again when Marcus was humiliated.

With a quick tap on the keyboard, she recorded his name with a huge smile plastered on her face and said, "Grab a headshot and wait over there."

She handed him a clipboard and pen.

Marcus jotted down his details and handed over his headshot.

After accepting it, she motioned gracefully towards the waiting area.

"The auditions are about to begin. We'll call your name when it's your turn. Please have a seat over there."

Marcus followed her gesture to the waiting area. He looked around and found a seat in the corner.

He recognized a few faces. He had spent years on the street, but the memories of their laughter, the humiliation of those viral videos, all surged back, fueling an anger he couldn't suppress.

Marcus sighed and suppressed his anger.

He has to do the system's mission first and succeed before anything else.

Although this wasn't his first time, Marcus still couldn't help but be amazed by how many people were there with him.

However, it was given.

Two formidable figures are involved in this film.

Jake Powell is known for his artistic brilliance and ability to bring out the best performances from actors.

He has won multiple prestigious awards, including several Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture.

Throughout his career, he has created films that have left a lasting impact on audiences worldwide, making him the fifth highest-grossing film director.

He is famous for making rookies a major star in the industry who debuted in his films.

That's why rookies are desperate to get a role in this film, and Marcus is also one of them.

The other one is the playwright, and screenwriter in Polleywood, Frank Thompson, best known for his action and fantasy films and was nominated three times for the Writers Guild of America Award and the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for his series Harry and His Owl and the neo-noir action thriller John Strong.

He ranked as the 40th greatest screenplay of all time. He has 171 wins, including two Oscars and 284 nominations.

The movie John Strong was Marcus's favorite.

It was about John Strong, who is a legendary assassin but retired after marrying the love of his life, but unfortunately, his wife died of a terrible illness.

John Strong is living a quiet life when a sadistic mobster and his thugs kill the puppy that was a last gift from John's wife, John takes revenge and becomes a remorseless killing machine.

John Strong began a successful franchise that included three sequels.

The film was very satisfying to watch.

The movie that he is auditioning for, Brothers of Valor, is also written by Frank Thompson.

It's about Victor Petrov and Alexei Ivanov.

Victor, a spy from a rival nation, is on a perilous mission to gather intelligence in enemy territory.

Along the way, he forms an unlikely bond with Alexei, a young soldier thrust into the chaos of war.

"Wow, so you're a Thornwood?"

Marcus looked up to see the man who had just talked, and his face contorted as soon as he saw the man.

It was a face he knew all too well.

'He's finally here,' Marcus said in his mind.

It was Jack, the same person who had tripped him during the audition, causing his face to crash with the cold and hard floor.

Marcus already knew the order of events that would occur since he had already experienced this timeline thanks to the system and knew that he would come at him.

He waited for his appearance and finally he was here.

Memories of that humiliating incident flooded back, but this time, things would be different.

He won't let what they did to him happen again.

Audible gasps escaped from some of the auditionees upon hearing his surname.

"A Thornwood?!"

"I never heard and seen him before, though. He's not good-looking either. Did he get here because of his parents?"

"Wow, if that is the case, then it's really unfair."

"Wait, is that Jack?"

"Jack Collins? The guy who's been making waves with his solid acting skills?"

"Yeah, that's him! Didn't realize he was auditioning for this part, too. He's even better looking in person!"

A mix of admiration and critique spread quietly across the room.

Ethan's grin widened, and his little plan to grab the spotlight had worked like a charm.

He then swept his gaze to Marcus's script and saw the name Victor Petrov—the role that both of them are auditioning for.

"I don't care about you being Thornwood or whatsoever, but I'm gonna get the role," Jack said with arrogance.

Dressed in expensive clothes and his wrist bore a prestigious Patek Philippe watch, Jack grinned and crossed his arms.

Marcus couldn't help but laugh.

It was true that Jack was incredibly talented for him to get an award for his first project but as someone who came back in time, Marcus knew everything that would happen 10 years from now on, and that includes Jack's fate.

Marcus couldn't forget that face.

His face was everywhere on TV, especially in the news.

The truth about him came out – Jack had gone under the knife multiple times, not just for his face but his whole body.

And to make matters worse, whispers spread about his dependence on drugs to elevate his acting skills.

This scandal destroyed Jack's life, but it made Marcus’s life a little better as he was living in the streets.

"You're laughing?!" Jack shouted, clearly irritated.

Marcus scoffs.

"And why do you think you're gonna get the role?" he said, a mix of challenge and disbelief.

Jack's face twitched, caught off guard by Marcus's response.

He scoffed, a smug grin quickly replacing his momentary surprise.

"Do I really have to spell it out? I've got the looks and the talent, my friend. I even got an award despite it being my first project."

His tone oozed arrogance.

Marcus's grin widened. It was time to drop the bomb.

"How's Jef? How is he doing now? Are you keeping a close watch on him?" Marcus asked casually.

Jack's eyes narrowed.

"H-How did you know that name?"

Following the series of scandals that had torn apart Jack's career, stripping him of sponsorships and fans, he decided to exploit his one-year-old son, Jef, as a pawn to regain media attention.

He lied that Jef is Angelina Crof's son, causing a scandal about the actress, but Jack just got sued, and people didn't even pay attention to him.

Marcus didn't respond immediately to Jack and looked at his fellow auditionees. Their eyes were on them as they listened silently.

They were waiting for Marcus to explain what he said and were ready to capture any tidbit for a scoop.

Even though they admired the rookie actor Jack Collins, he is still a rival that they must defeat in order to make a name in the industry.

That's how Polleywood works.

A sly smirk pulled at the edges of Marcus's lips as his eyes focused on Jack's.

"Well, I guess you should enjoy that award as much as you want. It will be your last award, after all."

Jack's brows furrowed, and his jaw clenched tightly.

The arrogant grin that had adorned his face moments ago twisted into a snarl of frustration.

"You bastard—"

"Marcus Thornwood," the staff member cut off Jack and commanded the attention of everyone present.

Marcus felt the eyes of fellow auditionees on him.

Marcus rose from his seat but didn't go in immediately. Instead, he walked towards Jack and tapped his shoulder.

Jack turned, anger evident in his eyes.

Marcus's eyes pierced through Jack, and he came in closer, his lips twisted into a sly smirk.

"You can flaunt your shiny award, Jack, but remember, it won't save you from being exposed."

Drawing even closer, Marcus's tone lowered, "Talent can not be faked with drugs and surgeries."