Even though stirring up drama had tarnished her reputation within the production crew, Diana was not ready to walk away.
She knew sticking around meant a brighter future in the industry, but it seemed to escape her that not a soul on set wanted her there. A pang of regret gnawed at her; it was a classic case of cutting off your nose to spite your face.
If things were not properly mended, the movie would bomb at the box office once it. wrapped.
Online, the film would be tainted as the product of an oppressorâs making. Who would want to foot the bill for an oppressorâs work?
Colton was baffled. âI just canât wrap my head around what you ladies are thinking. You stay, and you think Iâll still give you your scenes? Arenât you scared Iâll cut you out completely?â
Diana replied with a smile, âI trust you would not. Youâre a stickler for detail, and without -the supporting actressâs scenes, the pace and logic of the entire movie would suffer.â
The smiles on the faces of the director and producer evaporated.
Diana had them pegged â she knew just how much they prized the quality of their film.
âSo, what do you want?â Colton asked.
Diana, smugly confident, thought she had the upper hand. âIâm not asking for much. Iâm still the second lead. Letâs pretend none of this ever happened. Colton, we worked well together before, didnât we?â
Their confusion was palpable. If that was all she wanted, why kick up a fuss in the first place? The crew had treated her just fine before this mess.
It was not until Diana continued that they finally came to a realization.
âBut, I do have one condition. I want more screen time than the leading lady. Colton, youâve always said you donât play favorites. Whoever needs more screen time gets it, regardless of whether theyâre the lead. So, just bump up my scenes over Ivyâs. Easy enough for you, right?â
Dianaâs true desire was crystal clear: to overshadow Ivy.
Yet, Diana failed to recognize the gap between her and Ivy.
She believed that with more screen time, she would shine brighter and win over more Colton could not help but scoff, âAmbitious as ever, huh? Think you can become the belle of the ball overnight? What does Ivyâs screen time have to do with you? No wonder you accused her of pushing you. Seems like this has been your solo act all your pain act needs work.â
Diana clenched her teeth. âWhatâs the difference between her and me? Iâm a newbie, and so is she.
Anything she can do, I can do better. If you want peace, just do as I say. The scriptâs been changing daily; rewriting it shouldnât be a big deal.â
She was adamant about using this opportunity to demand more prominence than Ivy.
Colton and the producer exchanged glances, somewhat understanding.
Most actresses, especially the novices, get caught up in the whirlwind of the industry. Seeing Ivyâs popularity and her rapid rise in followers, it was natural to feel envious.
But not everyone could be the next lvy.
Ivyâs success was a blend of talent, skill, luck, and unique charm and looks a rare. combo in the industry. That was precisely why Colton and the producer had been so keen to sign.lvy.
you have a better alternative to my proposal. Whatâs the point âLetâs be frank. I donât think of protecting Ivy?â Diana pressed, undeterred by their silence.