It's My Life (Filming Rhiannon. Book 1) Page 4

  I nod my head in understanding. He leads me back out and further down the corridor.

  “The top floor is basically just storage for set props. We have elevators that lead straight to the back of the studio for the equipment.”

  “That makes sense.” I smile.

  “Yeah. Also back on the ground floor is the cafeteria, and a few lounge rooms where you can sit and gossip, watch TV or just relax while you’re not supposed to be filming.” he says firmly but with a hint of humor.

  Toby leads me back to the dressing room area and takes me in to a white room.

  “This on is yours, and will have your name on the door so people know it’s yours.” he says as my eyes scan the room.

  I see a big dark dressing table, with an equally big mirror. In-front of the table is a nice big black comfy chair. In the other end of the room there is a comfy seating are. They have gone all out to make sure you’re comfortable in here. There are some shelves to the side, and another mirror, only this one is floor length.

  “You can add, and change anything in here. No one will have access to this room apart from you, once I hand you this card key.” Toby says as he holds out my card.

  I accept it from him while he resumes talking.

  “People will knock and wait for you to answer, but it’s always important that you answer. On your table is your script for your first scene. I’m going to leave you alone to read through it. Can I get you anything to drink?” he kindly asks as my eyes roam back to the table, and see a stack of papers I didn’t notice before.

  “Can I have a mocha please?”

  “Sure, I'll be back in five with your drink, you best make a start on the script.” he says as he walks out.

  I drop my bag to the floor beside the big comfy chair, and slowly perch my ass on the chair. I shake my ass a little in the chair. Finding a comfy position and pick up my script.

  I lean back and open the first page. As I scroll through the first few pages I learn it’s not that bad. I somehow think they have given me an easy one to start with.

  Suddenly there is a knock on my door. I put the papers down and answer it. Toby is stood there with a coffee in his hands. I smile as I grab it from him, “Thank you,”

  “You're welcome. Have you started your script yet?” he asks.

  “Yeah, it’s not as bad as I thought it would be.”

  “That’s because it’s your first day, and Mr. Braxton wanted to see how you get on.”

  “It seems easy enough.”

  “You will regret saying that when it comes to filming.” he laughs, “For now though, you have to meet hair and make-up crew. They are going to be spending the next few hours here getting you ready.” he says as he steps aside, and two ladies walk in.

  “This is Millie, makeup,” he says as a small lady steps forward and shakes my hand. She is very pretty, and looks very young, younger than me in fact.

  “Hello Millie. I’m Rhiannon, or Rhi for short.”

  “Nice to meet you,” she says with a genuine smile.

  “Next we have Tina, who is hair department.” Toby finishes.

  Tina steps forward. She is bigger than Millie, and a lot older, with a few wrinkles marring her face.

  “Hello,” I greet as she too shakes my hand.

  “Lovely to meet you, and with such beautiful long blonde hair.” she says making me blush. I smile at her, the first thing she notices is my hair, which I guess would be right for someone who works in the hair department. Truthfully though, I love my blond locks, I refuse to cut them short, and only drag my ass to have it cut, when it really needs it.

  “Thank you Toby,” Tina turns and says to Toby, dismissing him. The poor guy is always getting dismissed. I think he is used to it though, as he just smiles, and makes his leave.

  “If you need anything Rhiannon let one of us know.” he says just before he exits my room.

  “Bless him, he is great and always looks out for everyone.” Millie says.

  “He is a little gem.” Tina comments agreeing with Millie.

  I just nod my head, I don’t know him so I can’t comment, but they all seem to get on with him. Maybe in time I will too.

  “Right, we need you to take a seat and let us get to work. You can enjoy some pamper time, and get paid for it, before the hard work starts on set.” Tina says pulling my chair out. I take a seat while the ladies cover my desk with all their equipment. Once they have placed everything they smile at me. You can’t see my desk for everything. It panics me a little when I see it all, but I have to trust the ladies. They must know what they’re doing.

  “Rhiannon, you have to change in to a robe dear, then we can start.” says Tina. She points to a corner in the room where there is a door I hadn’t noticed before. I get up and walk to the door. I open it and am suddenly in my own bathroom. It has a nice big shower, toilet, and sink. It’s all white, with the odd dashing of black, giving it a bit of life. I’m blown away with the house in general, but the more I see the more I love it. It surprises me at every turn. As I shut the door I notice the beige bath robe hanging on the back.

  I strip out of my clothes without hesitation, not wanting to keep Millie and Tina waiting.

  I’m back in the dressing room in three minutes. They both smile warmly at me as I sit down. Suddenly they both move as one. Tina goes to work on my hair, and Millie starts giving me a pedicure.

  They're so in sync with each other, you can tell they work together regularly.

  I get back to reading the script, leaving both ladies to their jobs, only moving when I’m asked too.

  Suddenly my phone vibrates in my bag. I’m hesitant to get it since I’m at work, but then Tina speaks,

  “You can get it dear. Sat here can be very boring at best of times. Everyone always sits on their phones.” she says smiling at me.

  “Thank you,” I reply as I bend down to retrieve my phone.

  I unlock the screen and notice a text from grace.

  **I’ve not heard from you, and its being 2 and half hours. Let me know how you’re getting on. I worry when I haven’t heard from you, and I need updates asap. G XoX**

  **Grace, it’s great. I’m currently sat having my hair done, a pedicure, and having make-up done after :-P you jealous yet? He he. Rhi XoX**

  I press send, knowing she might be a little envious. She loves being pampered, and we try to do it whenever we can, but I still like to wind her up.

  In no time at all I have a reply,

  **Damn yes, and you knew I would be. I'll get my own back. Hope you continue having a great day. I'll meet you at yours after. Be sure to try sneak in a few pictures. :-) G XoX**

  Honestly, she is so easy to wind up. I chuckle to myself. I can’t wait to see her tonight and catch up with her, and give her details of my day.

  I turn messaging off, and turn the camera on. I take a few pictures of myself through the mirror. I set it up to send to Grace.

  **Attachment. This is me right now ;-) I can’t wait to see you tonight, so much to tell ya. Rhi XoX.**

  **You look like you're having fun. I'll be waiting at yours with a nice bottle of dry white. Love ya girl, go rock it. G XoX**

  I smile at her reply. She always knows how to make me smile. She is the only other person who has a key to my home. I love it when I go home and find my best friend waiting with a bottle of wine for the pair of us.

  “Rhiannon, I need your hands now please” Millie says. I place my phone on the table in front of me while she proceeds to do my manicure.

  After two hours, I am done with hair, and make-up and have gone through my script twice. I think I have this.

  As the ladies pack up, I thank the pair of them.

  Just as they leave, Toby knocks again.

  “Rhiannon, we need you down in costume now please.” he says as he pokes his head round my door, informing me its time.

  “Wow, ladies you have done a great job.” he says complimenting myself and the girls, making me blush.


  “Thank you Toby,” Millie says blushing too. I have a feeling she might like him.

  “Okay, I’m coming.” I inform Toby. He pushes my door open further to let us all out.

  Leaving my phone in the room, I double check its locked before dropping my key in my robe pocket.

  I follow Toby a few doors down till he stops and knocks on a door.

  A young man answers and smiles at me and Toby.

  “Even more beautiful than the pictures,” the stranger states, matter of factly.

  Toby leans down and whispers in my ear,

  “He is overly affectionate some times, but don’t worry he won’t try anything. He is in a very happy loving relationship with his boyfriend.” he tells me. He straightens up and continues talking,

  “Scott, as you know this is Rhiannon. Rhiannon, this is Scott.” he introduces us both.

  “Great to meet you.” Scott says as he plants a kiss on my hand.

  “Like wise.” I respond kindly.

  Both men step aside and lead me into the room.

  I am astonished with what’s in front of me. It looks like I have walked into a never ending wardrobe. I have never seen so many clothes in one place, not even in a store.

  “Please follow me.” Scott says.

  “I'll leave you here. Good luck Rhiannon.” Toby says stepping back out the room.

  I'm a little nervous, but I guess I have to do it some time.

  I turn on my heels and follow Scott. He takes me the other end of the big room, and stops at a rail hanger, full of colorful clothes. He pulls a few items of clothing to the side, and finally picks the piece he was after.

  Satisfied with what he has chosen, he strolls back over to me, where I’m stood waiting for him. He looks at me and looks down at the costume with a satisfied smile.

  He passes it over to me as I admire the fabric in my hands. I am holding two pieces of pink silk. It’s a bikini, full of sequences, and has some long strands of beads in pink and white that will cover my stomach.

  “This is for your scene today Rhiannon. You have twenty minutes to put it on before you have to meet the choreographer. She will run you through your moves.” Scott informs me.

  “If you go behind there,” he says pointing to a big screen, “You can get changed, while I get your shoes ready.” He walks over to another space in the room, where there is thousands of shoes all lined up. I don’t know how they find what they need in this cluster. I guess this is what you call ‘Organized chaos'.

  I nervously walk behind the screen, and carefully place on the costume.

  A few minutes later I walk back out, and Scott is waiting for me. He is holding a pair of white stilettos, with very high heels. I am glad Grace taught me how to walk in them, apparently 'every real woman can walk in high heels' Graces words, not mine, so she was resistant when it came to teaching me how to walk in them. I have never been more Grateful for Graces demanding ways.

  Scott places them on the floor and helps me step into them.

  Once my shoes are on right, and the straps fastened around my ankle, Scott takes my arm and leads me back in to the corridor.

  “We are now going to meet the choreographer.” he informs me as he pulls me along the corridor.

  I follow him till he comes to a room. He doesn’t knock, he just walks in with me following.

  It looks like a big dance studio.

  In the corner is a lady with lovely bright red hair. She stands up to greet us.

  “Rhiannon, this is Cassie. Cassie this is Rhiannon. She is the new one who needs to learn the moves for the new movie.” he explains to Cassie.

  “Certainly Scott. I've read the script, Kaleb gave me it a few days ago to get some moves sorted, and I think I have it set perfectly. Give us an hour.” she says smiling.

  “Okay. Good luck Rhiannon, and I’ll come see how you did after you have finished filming.” he says before walking out.

  I stand there, not knowing what to do. I feel out of place. Everyone is so friendly, and know each other, while I’m the new outsider. I hope I don’t feel like this forever.

  “Okay. You have read your scene, so you know what is consists off right?” she asks kindly.

  “Urm.... yes, I have read it.” I confirm.

  “Great, let’s get under way then. We have an hour.” she says walking over to a pole in the middle of the floor.

  “Now normally, we have people who know how to use the pole, but we can teach you the basics. Kaleb has given you a few weeks to do this. Today is just a rough, to see if you can do the basic, and to see how you are behind the camera.” she explains, as she plays on the pole.

  Deep down I am relieved a little. Knowing I will have a little time to perfect this makes it a little easier.

  Cassie pulls her hoodie off and slings it to a side.

  “While we practice you can take your shoes off, but you will need to practice with them on before we finish up.”

  I nod and bend, undo the straps, and place them neatly in front of the mirror.

  “Right I need you to come grab this bar.” Cassie instructs. I slowly walk over on shaky legs, and place both hands on the bar.

  “Okay. We are going to start with the 'Bumslide to standing'.” she takes her pole, beside mine, and shows me what to do. Once she’s completed it once, I copy as she talks me through it.

  “You need to hold on to the bar, have your feet about three feet apart, and just slide up and down the bar, but keep your back straight” she slowly explains, as I slowly follow instructions. It looks easy enough.

  After I practice that move a few times, Cassie informs me I have it, and we are going to try a different one.

  “Next we are going to try the 'Extended skater'. Watch then copy again. You will feel this one in your arms.” she explains.

  Cassie grabs the pole at the top, lifts herself of the floor, keeps one leg beside the bar, leans back, lifts her left leg back and grabs her left foot with her left hand, behind her back.

  I watch her do it again, so I know I have it right. I attempt it, but my hand slides down the bar, making me fall down. I try it another two times, both times I fail.

  “Rhiannon, you need to concentrate.” she castrates me.

  She’s the pro not me. I think as I’m starting to feel defeated. This is actually harder than it looks.

  This time I try again, determined not to fail, and like magic, I do it perfectly.

  “That’s better,” Cassie comments as she stands, and watches me. She makes me do it another three times to make sure it wasn’t a fluke, and all times I do it, but now my arms are aching.

  “Fab, Two more for today.” she says like another two is easy. My body is aching just after two, and this is before we're even ready for filming.

  “Now, we are going to do 'Hang tough' and 'Dove'. Watch and copy.”

  “First we have the 'Hang tough'.”

  She puts both arms on the pole, and lifts herself of the floor, and kicks her legs up, basically so her legs are straight, and her feet are level with her ass.

  I attempt it, and manage to get my legs so far before my arms slip.

  “Just lift your legs a little higher.” Cassie encourages me. I try again and succeed, but it is very hard, and I feel like I’m going to fall any moment.

  “Okay, let’s take five, give your arms a rest and come back.” she says as I release the bar. She walks to the chair she was sat in when we entered, and takes a break herself.

  I take a seat in-front of the mirror, trying to bring some life to my shoulders that have suddenly become dead weight.

  “The studio is always open for you to use, so you can practice as often as you like if you would like.” Cassie tells me.

  “The key to your dressing room is also programmed to open the front gates, so when reception staff have gone, you can still get in.” she says warmly.

  “I know you think I might have been a bit hard on you earlier, but I knew you could do it. You just needed tough encourageme
nt, and it worked. You are actually doing fantastic for your first time on the pole.” she says kindly with a hint of humor in her voice.

  Okay, maybe she isn’t as bad as I thought she was.

  I grab a glass of water from the water cooler beside the door before we resume what we were doing.

  “Okay, we are now going to try the 'Dove' move, then do them altogether. Come on.” she encourages.

  “'Dove' isn’t as easy as it may first appear. You have to hold at the top of the pole, arch your back away from the pole, and kick your legs behind the pole, while the pole is between your legs. You have to have your hands above your head at all times.” she explains as she does it.

  She makes it look so easy, and in side I die a little just thinking of my poor arms.

  Taking a deep breath, I start to do it. I slowly lift one foot at a time till both legs are straight behind me.

  “Rhiannon, arch your back further.” Cassie instructs. This is harder than it looks. At this moment in time, the pole is rubbing against my legs, and my arms are stuck I think, locked in place.

  Taking a deep breath, and closing my eyes tightly I arch my back further. I do it, but just as I’m about to let go, Cassie stops me, “Hold it for five seconds, before you let go”

  I don’t think I can let go if I tried. I think my arms are firmly locked in place.

  “Okay, and drop it.”

  I do as I’m told, and almost drop to the floor. Cassie laughs at me.

  “How you feeling?” she asks.

  “Dead,” I laugh, “but no seriously, you made that look so easy, but it’s actually hard.”

  “The more you practice the easier it will be. You're just not used to it. I'll give you five minutes then we have to put them all together.”

  Jeez, I’m not sure I could do any more today.

  After taking a five-minute break she asks me to get back to the pole. I hesitate, but eventually get to the pole.

  “Once without shoes, then you have to put them on and do it again.”

  “Right, we are doing - 'Bumslide to standing', then 'Extended skater', 'Hang tough', then 'Dove', and finally, 'Bumslide to standing' again. Your scene for today is only five minutes, same tomorrow, to test your skills. Day after, Wednesday will be a full day rehearsal ready for a few hours filming on Thursday. If they get the scene right, you might get the day of Friday, but don’t hold me to that.” Cassie explains to me.