Chapter 5 Use wit and cunning

Dave Jensen had been coming to Hollywood Star for three consecutive days when Jenny noticed him. He would come in at 2 p.m. every day, have a cup of coffee, make a few phone calls, sometimes take out a few documents to look at, and then disappear into the building across from Hollywood Star.

He was probably more than thirties, already starting to bald, a bit chubby, and dressed very casually, always wearing a jacket and different styles of flannel pants. He looked like a down-and-out agent that could be seen everywhere in Hollywood, the kind who couldn't afford a decent suit, which left a bad impression on Jessica, the other hostess at Hollywood Star, because Dave had clumsily tried to flirt with her, but she had rejected him without mercy.

Jenny had talked about him with Jessica once.

It was their break time, and Jessica went into the alley to smoke, and Jenny followed. Jessica handed her a cigarette, and Jenny held it in her hand, playing with it but not smoking.

"He's probably a small agent who comes to fight for roles for his actors," Jessica blew out a smoke ring and nodded towards the six-story building across the street, her tone revealing a hint of envy, and of course, some jealousy. "There's been a lot of action over there lately, with quite a few bitches coming in and out."

In Los Angeles, the entertainment industry is a major pillar of the economy. The office building across from Hollywood Star is rented by the television drama production department under Time Warner. It's usually busy here, but at certain times of the year, it gets quite lively. Hollywood Star's business also sees a small peak during this time.

The specific time generally refers to the pre-production stage of a new TV series, which usually takes place between May and June for the fall season. After the script outline is approved by the top management, the production department starts assembling the crew. In addition to the main actors who have mostly already been selected, there are many minor roles that require auditions. The location of Hollywood Star is quite close to Hollywood, but the rent is relatively cheap, making it a cost-effective choice for renting office space for auditions.

"It's time for auditions," Jenny said simply, putting the cigarette in her pocket. "Why don't you try your luck?"

The reason Jessica settled for Hollywood Star was because it was close to Time Warner's audition location, which she saw as her path to success. However, she had been working here for a year and, except for sleeping with a few security guards across the street, she hadn't been able to successfully hook up with anyone from the casting department.

Without a person in charge, you cannot enter any casting director's selection range. If you directly run over to submit your resume and attempt to dominate the audition, you will only be chased out by security guards. Jessica wasted a year of effort and could only give up on her efforts to break into the TV drama industry. In these few months, she started actively submitting resumes and applying for jobs as a print model, and also contacted a modeling agent.

Jenny mentioned her unhappy past, which made her face darken. "Don't you smoke?" she asked.

"My shift is about to start," Jenny explained. Jenny Jian sometimes smokes, but Chen Zhen does not.

Jessica didn't listen to her explanation. "If you don't smoke, give it back to me."

Jenny shrugged and handed the cigarette back to Jessica. "I have to go in, hey, Jessie?"

Jessica raised an eyebrow at her, still looking cold.

"I heard you have an audition next week. Good luck," Jenny raised her fist, and Jessica's expression softened. She reached out and fist-bumped her.

"Same to you, sis."

Jenny smiled and turned to walk into the restaurant. After about five minutes, she saw Dave push the door open and replaced Jessica to greet him. "Hi."

Dave was clearly looking for Jessica, and his response was absent-minded. "Hi."

Jenny handed him the menu, and Dave casually browsed through it several times. But Jenny didn't mind. The longer she stood next to Dave, the more she could read the words on the folder from the corner of her eye. - Although it was reversed and only half was pulled out of the briefcase, Jenny, or Chen Zhen, had a pretty good skill of reading inverted text.

She owed this skill to her ex-husband. In order to break or prolong the pace of her ex-husband's affair, Chen Zhen practiced this trick. In the end, her skill reached the point where she could silently read the text as long as there were words in the corner of her eyes.

She mainly used this ability to peek at her ex-husband's phone.

It seems that Jessie hit the jackpot this time. Jenny thought as she read those few lines in English again: "Audition schedule for May 13th, Office 1, 'Vampire Hunter Buffy'..."

She didn't need to read it all to know that this was the casting for the hit TV show "Vampire Hunter Buffy" on WB TV network. According to the shooting schedule, Buffy should start shooting in July. In May, some regular roles for this season would be selected in advance, and some script adjustments would be made. After the main actor returns in July, they can start shooting directly.

Having such a document and coming every day, he couldn't just be a simple actor's agent. He should be the casting director of the Buffy crew, or even higher, maybe the writer or producer of the Buffy crew. If she could establish a relationship at this level, getting a guest role in the TV show should be an easy task.

Although Jenny Jane was somewhat reluctant to use this "electrocution" method, it was only because she had a lofty goal, to dominate Hollywood. In reality, for someone like her, no matter how she uses it, such resources must not be missed. Even if she is not interested in TV shows, she can ask him to introduce industry friends to find an agent for herself, or simply introduce her to a small supporting role in Warner Bros. film crew...

This is when she started paying attention to Dave. In the following days, she subtly figured out Dave's full name, and confirmed his identity again from the phone - because of the popularity of "The Avengers" in 2012, she had a deep impression of Joss Whedon and did some research. One of Joss's masterpieces was the charming "Vampire Hunter Buffy". And Dave received several calls mentioning Joss's name.

This is a good resource. Landing in Hollywood can be said to be the arrangement of fate, or the result of Jenny Jane's multiple efforts: there are reasons for so many Hollywood drifters. Once occupying the geographical advantage, there will definitely be opportunities nearby, but whether one can recognize and seize them depends on the individual.

Jenny. Jane did not flatter Dave, she took the route of small talk, which is normal in all restaurants. In order to get tips, waiters often chat with customers.

Dave was served by Jessica for the first three days. On the fourth day, Jenny just greeted him. On the fifth day, they started talking about the weather. On the sixth day, they talked about Dave's dog. On the seventh day, they talked about Jenny's audition.

Now Dave is used to being served by her. On the eighth day, they talked about Jenny's imaginary audition. Jenny told him that the audition didn't go well and they found the vase girl they wanted.

"Oh!" Dave sympathetically said.

Jenny smiled bravely at him, "If you want to encourage me, tell me I would be a good vase."

Dave laughed, "Darling, you are more than just a vase--"

Jenny put her hands on her hips and pretended to be angry. Dave raised his hands in surrender, "Okay, okay, you would be a great great vase girl."

Jenny put her hands down and they laughed together. "Thank you, I feel more confident now."

Dave gave a 30% tip that day.

On the ninth day, Jenny asked Dave if he would be working here in the future. Dave told her that he lived in New York and this was just a temporary job. He would be leaving next Wednesday.

But he still didn't reveal his profession.

There were six more days until next Wednesday.

Jenny smiled, not in a hurry. She wasn't desperate enough to hold on to any opportunity.

Calculating the time, on the tenth day, she greeted Johnny and took a day off using her accumulated vacation time.

In the afternoon of the eleventh day, Dave arrived half an hour earlier than usual. He seemed restless until he saw Jenny, and then he smiled.

"Hi." Jenny still smiled at him, "Same as usual?"

Dave blurted out, "Yesterday, Jessica served me."

His tone sounded accusing, as if being served by Jessica was not part of his original intention.

"I had a day off yesterday." Jenny said with a smile, "I hope you weren't inconvenienced."

Dave made a noncommittal expression, and Jenny smiled as she returned to the counter. Besides coffee, she took an extra muffin.

"This is compensation for yesterday, on behalf of the store." she said, winking at Dave. "If you need anything, just let me know."

When it was time to pay, Dave still gave a 30% tip. He seemed nervous, but he bravely looked into Jenny's eyes. "You said I could call you for anything."

"Yeah." Jenny said.

"But I don't have your number." Dave said, stuttering. He quickly explained, "Without a number, how can I call you?"

Jenny had been throwing this pun at Dave every day, and it seemed like it had built him up too much. Now that he was going down the stairs, he was actually afraid and stuttering?

This man was so innocent and cute that Jenny couldn't help but laugh. Now, she actually liked Dave a little.

"Should I say 'I'm glad you finally asked' or 'Oh my, I didn't expect this at all'?" She took out a pen, but her hand stopped halfway and she pretended to think with a serious face.

Dave stuttered, "Of course the former, oh please, it has to be the former."

"You don't have to be so nervous." Jenny chuckled, leaving her phone number on the receipt. "If there's anything--"

She gestured with six fingers, wiggling them near his ear.

Holding the coffee cup and muffin plate, she started walking back. She noticed that Dave kept staring at her back until she disappeared behind the counter.

"He asked you out?" Johnny asked curiously. "Tell me you turned him down--look at him, he's a loser, he doesn't deserve you."

Jenny just smiled and didn't say anything.

Dave called that night to ask her out for dinner.