Pointing the Way

Old Gary wasn't modest at all, grinning smugly. "It's nothing special. If you want fame, honestly, that's down to luck. But if you just want to scrape by, I can help with that."

"Wow, you're being really honest. Most people would be spinning a grand tale, acting like they can do anything."

"What good would lying to you do me? I'm not a talent agency trying to trick you into a contract or take a cut of your earnings. If I said I'd make you a star and couldn't deliver, what's stopping you from coming after me?"

"Haha, I wouldn't dare trouble a pillar of the industry like you. I just want to ask you a few questions."

They say drunk promises don't count, and Henry didn't want to take advantage of the man. Besides, Old Gary seemed perfectly sober—no chance of tricking him.

"Ask away, ask away." Whether Old Gary was bored and wanted to chat or genuinely felt like lending a hand, he was certainly open about it.

Henry figured he might as well ask, but he wouldn't take everything at face value. "I saw in the Yellow Pages that the actors' union is split into the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. If I want to be an actor, where should I start?"

"An actor? Find a good talent agency, of course. Even better if you land an agent willing to throw resources at making you famous."

Bro, this is a Marvel Universe story, not a Hollywood Oscar-bait novel. Even if he actually won an Oscar, he'd still be screwed by S.H.I.E.L.D. pulling strings behind the scenes.

Henry really didn't put much stock in threats like the Mad Titan or Dormammu. Even Galactus showing up wouldn't faze him—death was just death.

But Hydra, with its political clout and bureaucratic tricks, genuinely gave him a headache. They couldn't kill him, but they could annoy him to death.

So he had to develop under the radar, not make himself a household name. Know what a sitting duck is?

Even if he became an Oscar winner, what then? If someone wanted to ruin him, it'd take a few news cycles. Fame was built by backing, destroyed by smear campaigns—pure capital games. Even Superman got dragged through the mud all the time.

Don't think fame is some Golden Bell Shield that makes you invincible. In the eyes of capitalists, it's utterly useless, maybe just limits the more direct methods.

So Henry said, "Gary, I never wanted to be famous or anything. I just want to be a background actor, get a taste of Hollywood. Maybe meet some big stars, so I can sit in a rocking chair someday and brag to my grandkids that I saw so-and-so."

The Bald Old Man gave him a look that screamed "What the hell are you talking about?" But Old Gary quickly accepted the idea.

Groupies collecting scalps wasn't unheard of in America. It was just that rock stars treated it like a badge of honor, making it widely known.

But was Hollywood any cleaner? Did it not have such people?

No. From Old Gary's experience, that hidden world was darker, dirtier, and more foul than anyone knew.

Rock stars and their groupies might make the entertainment pages. But if Hollywood's dark side ever came to light, it'd all be front-page crime news.

"How about... You go straight to Saint Valley? I don't have connections there, but it's all in Los Angeles—I can find someone to hook you up. Give it a shot?"

Henry scoffed at Old Gary's suggestion. "Fuck! You really think I'm here to sleep with stars? I'm here to experience life, you know? Experience life!

"Everyone knows those little bitches are all packaged. Shiny on the surface, but God knows what they're like behind closed doors. Half of them are probably petri dishes, full of every virus out there."

This was the era when AIDS was at its peak, the incurable HIV virus terrifying everyone. Not to mention syphilis, gonorrhea, and other old-school STDs still rampant in certain circles.

Old Gary was no stranger to this—he knew more than Henry did.

He'd seen plenty of young people who thought they were invincible, dismissing the warnings as rumors or conspiracies. But when they caught something themselves, they regretted it more than anyone, and it was too late.

"So what level are you aiming for?" Old Gary asked, puzzled.

Henry answered honestly, "For now, I just want to land some background roles, see what Hollywood's really like. I'm not about to sell my ass for a chance."

"You're not short on cash?" Feeling the question was a bit abrupt, Old Gary added, "We agreed—I only take tenants who rent for at least a year. If you can't pay next month's rent, I don't care what changes you've made to this place; you're sleeping on the street."

Henry replied, "Don't worry. As long as I'm not getting high every day, I won't starve, and your rent won't be late."

Satisfied, Old Gary began explaining, "Alright then. If you really don't mind that and just want to soak up Hollywood, joining a union or finding an agent both work.

"The advantage of an agent is they'll actively hunt for opportunities. Some chances aren't out in the open—just knowing they exist is a hurdle.

"But agents take a cut of your pay, and whether you want it or not, they'll push you up the ladder. That's the only way they make more money. Unless they drop you.

"Still, whether you get an agent or not, if you want to act in Hollywood with some security, joining a union is a must. Even if you have an agent, if you've got potential, they'll recommend you join."

Henry asked, "I heard you don't need an agent, just the union. Is that right?"

Gary said, "You have to understand—only about forty or fifty movies hit theaters each year, but Hollywood churns out an average of seven hundred films annually. Most go straight to the Video Market, never seeing a cinema.

"Not every film is a multi-million-dollar production. Low-budget, shoddy movies are the majority. Or ones the director and actors think are masterpieces, but nobody even wants on video.

"These production companies, unless they already have ties to certain agents—especially CAA, which offers package deals to assemble a whole crew—usually don't like dealing with agents.

"Because when agents push, it can inflate production costs, squeezing an already tight budget.

"In those cases, the small studios post casting calls through the union for open recruitment. So if you're just looking for work through the union, you've got the guild backing you up to ensure you get paid, but you won't usually land good gigs."

New book is signed. Request for follow-up reads, collections, recommendations, thanks~~