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    Krissy stuck her head out of the line and immediately paled. It was too long.

    “We’re fucked,” Zoe moaned, echoing Krissy’s sentiment. “We’re in this only because of you, Krissy.”

    “Hey! I resent that!”

    “You should,” Zoe shot back. “I don’t ask for much, but when I call you near midnight and tell you to do something the next day, you do it. I mean, you go on vacation and ask your best friend to book an early Troy Armitage album, and she sleeps through the entire day.”

    Krissy sighed. “I told you I slept through my alarm, and by the time I woke up, it was sold out. You’ll never let me live it down, will you?”

    Zoe grinned. “Not for another century.” Then her smile faded. “I shouldn’t feel jealous of Riley, but she was one lucky bitch to get a personally signed album from Troy.”

    “Tell me about it,” Krissy grumbled, inching forward as more people bought the newly released album titled 2006.

    The worst part? Riley hadn’t even let them hear the album. Claimed the CD would get scratched if played too much. So their resentment was understandable.

    “Why do you think Troy released an album now?” Krissy asked, changing the subject.

    Zoe thought for a moment. “Probably to time the promotions of his film and album together. [Disturbia] has its premiere next week, so he won’t have to do a double press tour. I remember an interview where he said how much he dislikes press junkets. This way, he only has to do one round—and it might have the same effect as [Little Miss Sunshine], where his music fans watched the film and vice versa.”

    Krissy’s eyes widened slightly. “That hadn’t occurred to me.”

    “Of course,” Zoe nodded sagely. “Just like it didn’t occur to you to ask one of your parents to wake you up and book the CD in advance.”

    “I said I was sorry!”

    As they moved closer to the store, Krissy could hear a song playing—clear, powerful, and unmistakable. A voice she’d recognize even in her sleep.

    [Grenade, Bruno Mars]

    Gave you all I had, and you tossed it in the trash

    You tossed it in the trash; you did

    To give me all your love is all I ever asked

    ‘Cause what you don’t understand is

    I’d catch a grenade for ya (Yeah, yeah, yeah)

    “Holy shit,” Zoe hissed, keeping her voice low so as not to speak over the song. “Is that a new song from his album?”

    “Shush,” Krissy whispered, leaning forward as if it would help her hear better. Around them, everyone stood silently, absorbing the beautiful, painful song—Troy’s heartbreak laid bare after the breakup.

    The music store owners were very clever as they played the song on a loop, and any passerby, who didn’t even know about the album release would be willing to buy one, because it was a damn catchy song.

    “How the fuck can someone churn out one great song after another?” A boy slightly ahead of Krissy called out when the song ended for a second time. “Golden Hour, Arcade, That’s Hilarious, and now this? I don’t like Troy’s films, but when he makes music like this, you can’t hate him personally.”

    Zoe chuckled before turning to Krissy, “That’s the power of Troy, baby. Inducts even the haters into the Trojan Army.”

    After what felt like an eternity, it was finally Krissy and Zoe’s turn at the counter.

    “Please don’t tell me it’s sold out!” Krissy begged the music store clerk. After all, it had been nearly three hours since they had been standing in line to buy the record.

    The girl behind the counter just chuckled before taking out two sets of CDs for the girls. “We knew how big of a deal it was, so we placed a bulk advance order and made a strict policy that no one could buy more than one copy of the album. We are good for the next thousand or so customers.”

    “Oh, thank God!” Zoe moaned in delight when she finally had the album in her hands. She cradled it close to her chest as if it was a baby.

    “Here you go.” Krissy paid for her copy before turning to Zoe. “Quick, let’s go to my place. My parents are out. I want to hear the rest of the songs ASAP.”

    “That’s what I was gonna say!”

    The two friends rushed back to Krissy’s place. Neither of them had a CD player, but they could listen to the song on her computer, which had a CD drive. As Krissy was entering the CD in the drive, Zoe took control of the mouse and opened the browser, casually browsing Troy’s YouTube channel to see if there was some new video about the album release. What she saw, made her gape at the screen for all of two seconds before she clicked the video.

    “Krissy!” she yelled. “Watch this first. Troy just released the second video of the album!”

    Krissy looked up to see what Zoe was talking about, and seeing the scene in front of her made her all the more excited.

    The video started in black & white, with Troy sitting on a couch, avoiding looking at the camera. As the music started in the background, he finally looked up, and there was an undeniable pain in his eyes.

    [If You Could See Me Now – The Script]

    ~It was December 25, Christmas Day

    Presents came, but they took you away

    Tattooed on my heart is a charm to disarm all the harm

    Gotta keep myself calm but the truth is you’re gone

    And I’ll never get to show you these songs

    Dad, you should see the tours that I’m on

    I see you standing there next to Mum

    Both singing along, yeah, arm in arm~

    As soon as she realized what the song was about, Krissy turned to Zoe and put an arm around her in support. As expected, Zoe immediately became emotional. She’d lost her father last year, so the lyrics hit closer to home than either of them had anticipated.

    Back in the video, Troy was on stage singing—probably a clip from one of his concerts—while the crowd in front of him went absolutely crazy as the chorus kicked in:

    [Golden Hour – JVKE]

    ~I still look for your face in the crowd

    Oh, if you could see me now

    (Oh, if you could see me now)

    Would you stand in disgrace or take a bow?

    Oh, if you could see me now

    (Oh, if you could see me now)~

    The rest of the song was just as powerful—if not better—than that electric beginning. Sung in a blend of pop-rock and hip hop, it hit all the right notes. The latter genre wasn’t new territory for Troy; he’d used a similar style in That’s Hilarious.

    When the song finally ended, Zoe wiped her face with the back of her hand and turned to Krissy. “Let’s play the next song.”

    “Err… the CD drive got jammed,” Krissy said apologetically. “I haven’t used it in a while, and they can stop working if you don’t.”

    Then, as if by divine intervention, a few suggestions popped up on YouTube:

    Arcade – Troy Armitage ft. Taylor Swift [Official Video] – 19 minutes ago

    Golden Hour – Troy Armitage [Official Video] – 23 minutes ago

    Playlist – 2006 – Troy Armitage [Official Audio Album] – 34 minutes ago

    Zoe turned to Krissy with a small smile. “It would seem Troy just released three video songs today—along with the full audio album on YouTube.”

    Without waiting for Krissy to recover from the shock, Zoe clicked on Arcade.

    The video opened with Troy Armitage and Taylor Swift standing face-to-face, clearly displeased. Taylor removed a bracelet from her wrist and threw it at Troy’s feet before storming off. Troy bent down to pick it up—a bracelet with a heart-shaped charm in the center, now visibly cracked. That’s when the lyrics began:

    [Arcade – Duncan Laurence, Fletcher]

    ~A broken heart is all that’s left

    I’m still fixing all the cracks

    Lost a couple of pieces when

    I carried it, carried it, carried it home~

    As the video continued, it showed the struggles in Troy’s life—random people yelling at him for no apparent reason, possibly a nod to the backlash from Rihanna’s fans after their breakup.

    Then came a scene of Troy alone in a real arcade, repeatedly playing the same game, never winning. Frustrated, he punched the machine and collapsed to the floor in anguish.

    The video wasn’t just from Troy’s perspective—it also told Taylor’s side. Her section began with her sitting in a makeup chair, waiting for her next shot. When she stepped on set, she couldn’t perform, and the director harshly rebuked her in front of everyone. Humiliated, Taylor ran back to the dressing room in tears.

    At that point, the two narratives merged, presented side by side, as Troy and Taylor sang the chorus in unison.

    ~Ohhhh ohhhh,

    All I know, All I know,

    Loving you is a losing game~

    “That was good,” Zoe noted. The song was great, though the video wasn’t anything out of this world. Still, she’d probably watch it again—if only to feel a part of the story.

    Without waiting any longer, she played the third and final video of the day: Golden Hour.

    This one was breathtaking from the very first shot—Troy and a girl sitting in a car.

    “Is that Scarlett Johansson?” Krissy asked.

    Zoe could only nod as Troy began singing the beautiful track:

    ~I was all alone with the love of my life
    She’s got glitter for skin
    My radiant beam in the night
    I don’t need no light to see you
    Shine
    It’s your Golden Hour~

    As the words golden hour were sung, the two lovers in the video were transported to a stunning, untouched beach. There wasn’t another soul or settlement in sight. The sunset—the golden hour itself—bathed the landscape in warm light, casting Scarlett in a radiant, ethereal glow, just as described in the lyrics.

    Then Troy was shown playing the piano in the middle of the ocean, singing as the sun dipped behind him. It was likely a clever CGI trick replacing the ground with water, but the visual effect was striking. Scarlett stood in front of him, offering her perfect smile. The cinematography and composition were truly exceptional, giving her a nearly heavenly appearance.

    As the lyrics came to an end, the two lovers were back in the car. Troy looked at Scarlett with quiet affection while the closing notes played. Sensing the emotion between them, she leaned in and planted a tender, romantic kiss on his lips. When they pulled away, they rested their foreheads against each other as the video faded to black.

    “Woah!” Krissy exclaimed. “Troy’s chemistry with Scarlett was out of this world.”

    “I know, right?” Zoe agreed. “Now I really can’t wait to see [Disturbia] and watch them together.”

    (Break)

    Rod Meyer looked around as the other critics gathered around him. He was one of the more distinguished film critics invited to the premiere of [Disturbia] in the heart of Hollywood at Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

    Of all Troy’s recent films, this was the one Rod hadn’t been particularly looking forward to. It seemed too much like a [Rear Window] ripoff, and from the trailer, it looked to share a lot of similarities with the original. It didn’t help that Rod wasn’t much of a suspense-thriller fan. Sure, Troy was a great actor, but in films like these, it was rarely the acting that stood out.

    Honestly, Rod would rather listen to Troy’s album 2006 again. The songs were simply out of this world. Although he wasn’t a music critic, Rod used to believe no album could top [Echoes of You]—not even by Troy himself. But somehow, Troy had done it. 2006 had deeper, more meaningful lyrics, more complex compositions, and an overall maturity that made it incredibly relatable for listeners like him.

    “Hey, Rod!” Troy greeted him enthusiastically. “It’s so nice to have you here.”

    One thing Rod absolutely loved about Troy was his uncanny ability to remember names. For a superstar of his stature to remember a lowly film critic from the New York Post—someone he had only met once in passing—felt incredible.

    “Hi,” Rod said, shaking Troy’s hand. “I absolutely loved 2006.”

    “Thank you,” Troy nodded genially. “Hopefully, you’ll feel the same about [Disturbia].”

    Rod smiled. “Since it’s your film, I know it’ll be amazing. You haven’t ever disappointed.”

    “As much as I’d love to talk more, I have others to greet as well. Enjoy the film,” Troy said before moving on to the other critics.

    Rod watched the teen star disappear into the crowd when a woman stepped up beside him.

    “What a kiss-ass,” she muttered, rolling her eyes. “The film must be bad if he’s sucking up to all the major critics, don’t you think?”

    Rod shrugged. “He did the same thing at [Little Miss Sunshine]’s premiere, too. And that film was great. In fact, he’s done it for all of his non-Harry Potter films where he’s also a producer.”

    He turned to get a better look at her. She was a rather plain-looking, overweight woman who seemed quite young—early twenties, maybe.

    “Are you a critic as well?” Rod asked.

    “Yes, I write for The Complete News,” she replied curtly.

    Rod frowned. “Which outlet is that?”

    “It’s a local Californian channel. We’ve got a very strong following on YouTube,” she said matter-of-factly.

    Ah. One of those critics—likely the kind who had nothing positive to say about any film. From her attitude, it was clear she wouldn’t write a favorable review unless Troy personally sucked up to her. Which he wouldn’t. And why should he? It didn’t make sense to prioritize a no-name critic over someone like Richard Roeper, the man he was currently talking to.

    Rod decided not to entertain the woman any further. He made up some excuse and walked into the theater where the film was about to be screened.

    Soon enough, the entire cast and crew of [Disturbia] filed in and took their seats. After a brief announcement by one of the producers—thanking everyone for coming—the movie began.

    It started as a family story. Troy Armitage played the role of Kale, a high school student who seemingly had everything going for him. He got decent grades, was a local MMA champion, and had two loving parents. This part of the film was presented beautifully through a montage of the three together, set to a very recognizable song—one Rod had just heard the day before: We Are Young.

    [We Are Young – Fun]
    ~Tonight
    We are young
    So let’s set the world on fire
    We can burn brighter than the sun~

    The film didn’t use the entire song—just about a minute—but it served its purpose: the thumping beat and infectious chorus pulled the audience into the story immediately.

    Then, without warning, things took a dark turn. Kale and his father were returning from a fishing trip when their car was involved in a major accident. The sequence was so sudden and jarring that Rod nearly jumped out of his seat.

    In that tragic accident, Kale lost his father—and with him, his sense of purpose. He fell into a deep depression, stopped turning in schoolwork, and quit MMA altogether. A year later, during Spanish class, a minor provocation from his teacher caused Kale to snap. He punched the man in the face.

    The teacher sued, and Kale was sentenced to three months of house arrest—just in time for summer break.

    As the punishment was being handed down, Troy’s portrayal was gut-wrenching. His eyes were hollow, expression unreadable. For a moment, Rod forgot this was a popcorn thriller. Troy brought the weight of an awards-season drama to the screen. Even in a genre film, he never dialed it in.

    Some critics liked to joke that Troy “acts the hell out of his films.” And they weren’t wrong. He always found a way to portray emotion that was authentic, precise, and never over-the-top.

    In the following scene, Kale decided to waste his summer indoors—playing video games and watching TV. His mother, played by Carrie-Anne Moss, grew frustrated with his apathy and canceled his Xbox and iTunes subscriptions, even cutting off the cable.

    Watching Kale, completely isolated with no one to talk to, was bleak. And the emotional weight was amplified by the second song from Troy’s album that began playing in the background.

    [Lonely – Justin Bieber, Benny Blanco]

    ~What if you had it all

    But nobody to call?

    Maybe then you’d know me

    ‘Cause I’ve had everything

    But no one’s listening

    And that’s just fuckin’ lonely

    I’m so lo-o-o-onely

    Lo-o-o-onely~

    The beautiful song made the scene even more heartfelt. Much like Titanium, Lonely played for less than a minute—just long enough to establish Kale’s state of mind. Maybe it was also Troy’s subtle way of promoting his album? It was also strange to see their one and only F-word being used in a song, of all things.

    Just when things seemed to be spiraling, a new family moved into the neighborhood. Among them was a girl Kale’s age—Ashley, played by Scarlett Johansson. Due to a prank by the neighborhood kids, Kale forgot about his ankle monitor and stepped outside the boundaries of his house. As a result, he was detained by police in full view of everyone, including Ashley.

    Embarrassed, Kale marked a perimeter around his home so he wouldn’t accidentally cross the line again. As he did, another track played in the background:

    [Titanium – Sia, David Guetta]
    I’m bulletproof, nothing to lose
    Fire away, fire away
    Ricochet, you take your aim
    Fire away, fire away
    You shoot me down, but I won’t fall
    I am titanium

    The music faded as Kale found a new pastime: spying on people through his windows. He even showed his friend Ronnie, played by a newcomer, how he passed the time. When Kale noticed Ashley swimming in her pool in a bikini, his expression turned soft, admiring. And as the familiar opening notes of Golden Hour began to play, it was clear this wasn’t about lust—it was about real affection.

    Then, one night, Kale noticed something odd. His neighbor, Robert Turner, was acting suspiciously. He was driving a car identical to the one mentioned on the news in connection with a serial killer.

    Ashley eventually caught Kale spying on her. To avoid seeming like a creep, Kale explained the situation with Turner. Intrigued, Ashley joined in. While the idea of catching a serial killer added excitement, it was obvious that the real draw—for both of them—was each other.

    Later that night, Kale saw a young woman at Turner’s house, shouting for help. Then Turner noticed Kale watching, and moments later, the same woman was seen driving away. Suspicious. 

    The whole sequence was edited masterfully—tense, escalating, never letting up.

    The next morning, Kale came down for breakfast—only to find Turner standing casually in his kitchen. Kale was visibly tense and confrontational, but Turner remained polite, calm, even disarming.

    Rod found himself wondering if Turner was a red herring. It would be just like a film like this to mislead the audience, only to reveal the real killer was someone else.

    Later, Ashley threw a party at her house. Kale decided to be petty, blasting dull music from his roof in protest. Ashley came over to confront him, only for neighborhood kids to dump water on Kale—leaving him shirtless.

    Rod had to resist the urge to roll his eyes. Troy always found a way to sneak in at least one shirtless scene in every movie he did.

    The next scene turned sensual as Kale finally confessed his feelings to Ashley. As he spoke, the soft piano melody of Golden Hour began playing in the background once again. When Ashley leaned in to kiss him, the song jumped right into its soaring chorus.

    Their kiss deepened into a passionate make-out session, the music swelling alongside them. It seemed, for a moment, that things were about to escalate—until the song cut off abruptly, giving the audience emotional whiplash as the tone shifted dramatically. Ashley’s eyes widened in horror as she looked past Kale and saw Turner, their neighbor, dragging a heavy, blood-stained body bag down the stairs.

    With renewed urgency, Kale, Ashley, and Ronnie began hatching a plan to uncover the truth. Ronnie’s task was to break into Turner’s car, while Ashley would tail him at the supermarket. The plan unraveled quickly. Turner cornered Ashley, threatening her in a chilling moment of veiled menace, and Ronnie accidentally left his phone behind in Turner’s car.

    When they tried to retrieve it, Ronnie ended up trapped inside Turner’s house. Kale, desperate to save his friend, broke his house arrest and rushed over. The police arrived just as he attempted to intervene. Kale insisted they check the garage, certain they’d find a body. But when they opened it, all they found was a dead deer.

    To smooth things over and prevent Kale from facing jail time, his mother went over to Turner’s house to apologize. Ronnie eventually returned, bruised and shaken, but alive. Everything seemed to settle.

    For a moment.

    And then, chaos.

    Kale discovered a videotape—on it, the unmistakable image of a girl’s lifeless body. One of Turner’s victims. He screamed for Ronnie, but it was already too late. Turner had abducted his mother and taken Ronnie down.

    What followed was a tightly-wound, perfectly executed sequence of tension and action. Turner bound Kale and left him trapped, but Ashley burst in just in time to help free him. The fight that ensued between Kale and Turner was brutal and visceral. Unlike most stylized Hollywood fights, this one felt raw and real. Every move Kale made showed his background in MMA—controlled, desperate, and effective.

    From the fear in his eyes to the gritted determination in his body, Troy gave a performance that sold every punch, every gasp. The camera never flinched, capturing the fight in a way that was both cinematic and grounded. The climax of their battle ended in a gasp-worthy twist: Kale, cornered, reached for a pen and plunged it into the side of Turner’s neck, finally ending the nightmare.

    Afterward, the story wound down. Kale was granted early release from house arrest. Peace, finally, returned.

    In the final scene, Kale stood with Ashley once again. They shared a quiet, heartfelt kiss—and as their lips met, Golden Hour played one last time. The sunset behind them mirrored their golden moment, bringing the film to a breathtaking close.

    As Rod walked out of the theater, he found himself weighed down by mixed feelings. He wasn’t sure if he could fully shake the impression that Disturbia was a step backward in Troy’s career. Sure, it had its moments, but it lacked the depth and nuance that the actor usually brought to the screen. Rod had seen Troy in far more complex roles, and in comparison, this film felt almost like a distraction. It was a commercial thriller designed to appeal to the masses, but from an artist’s perspective, it lacked the sharp edges that made Troy’s other works so compelling.

    As he exited the theater, he spotted the same female critic from earlier. She was standing by the entrance, her arms crossed in a self-satisfied manner. She looked at him expectantly as he approached.

    “So, did you like it?” she asked, her voice almost a challenge.

    Rod paused, considering his response carefully. He didn’t want to be dismissive, but he also didn’t want to praise the film too much. “It was not bad,” he said, his tone measured. “It’s okay for a one-time watch. What about you?”

    The woman scoffed, a sharp edge to her tone. “It’s one of the worst films I’ve seen this year. I don’t understand why a superstar like Troy would waste his time on such a forgettable film with a predictable storyline. He could have done so much better.”

    Rod knew that Disturbia wasn’t going to win any awards or leave a lasting cultural impact, but the woman’s reaction felt overly harsh. Still, he couldn’t deny her point: in the grand scope of Troy’s career, this film wasn’t exactly memorable. That’s why he had decided not to give a positive review, if only to stop Troy from making more such films in the future.

    He sighed and shrugged. “No actor has a perfect track record. Troy finally made his first average movie.”

    The woman’s eyes gleamed with an almost vindictive satisfaction as she nodded eagerly. “I guess he did.”

    Rod couldn’t help but notice how pleased she seemed by the idea of Troy not living up to the sky-high expectations. It seemed almost as if she was reveling in the fact that his film had fallen short, taking pleasure in his misstep. He found it odd—unsettling, even. It wasn’t just about reviewing the film for her. She seemed to have a personal stake in Troy’s failure, and that made him uncomfortable.

    He gave a noncommittal grunt before walking away, trying to shake off the strange feeling that lingered.

    (Break)

    The New York Post – ★★☆☆☆

    – Rod Meyer

    “Troy Armitage might be Hollywood’s golden boy, but even he can’t save this muddled mess of a thriller. ‘Disturbia’ tries to be edgy and suspenseful but lands somewhere between teen angst and recycled Hitchcock. Scarlett Johansson does her best, but the script gives her little to work with. It’s a mystery why an accomplished actress like her would take such a vain and forgettable role. The songs, which seem to be added last minute, are good, but you don’t need to watch this movie for them; buy Troy’s album instead, which is infinitely better than this stylish misfire.”

    The Daily Screen – ★☆☆☆☆
    – David Byrne

    “Watching ‘Disturbia’ feels like being trapped in your own house—but for two hours, and without a working remote. Armitage acts the hell out of the movie and is the only reason the film deserves even one star, yet his chemistry with Johansson is disappointingly nonexistent. A missed opportunity wrapped in glossy packaging.”

    Empire Magazine – ★★★★☆
    – Stella Brock

    “Troy Armitage delivers a surprisingly mature and layered performance as a troubled teen under house arrest. While the plot isn’t groundbreaking, the tension builds nicely, and Scarlett Johansson brings a grounded presence to the screen. A sleek, entertaining thriller for the popcorn crowd. The music used by the film from Troy’s latest album sets the mood of the film perfectly.”

    Variety – ★★☆☆☆
    — Felicity Evans

    “Despite flashes of potential, ‘Disturbia’ leans too heavily on its influences, offering little innovation of its own. Troy Armitage gives another great performance, but he’s clearly more comfortable in heartthrob roles than psychological thrillers. Scarlett Johansson is underused, and the pacing could have used a nuanced approach.”

    The Complete News – ★☆☆☆☆

    –Jane Scott

    “It’s ‘Rear Window’ with training wheels. The only thing more distracting than the derivative plot is the script’s obsession with moody close-ups of Armitage brooding by the window. Johansson appears to have wandered in from a better movie. Dull, predictable, and boring. I would rather watch paint dry than go for a second viewing of this movie.”

    Rolling Stone – ★★★★☆

    – Chris Winstone
    “Armitage shows he’s more than a teen idol in this stylish, if familiar, thriller. His performance carries surprising emotional weight, especially in the film’s final act. With Johansson’s steady support, ‘Disturbia’ rises above its clichés to become an enjoyable, nail-biting ride.”

    The Hollywood Reporter – ★☆☆☆☆
    – Craig Dickson

    “More like Distur-boring. It’s a shame to see a cast this stacked stuck in such a paint-by-numbers plot. Troy Armitage pouts, Scarlett Johansson reacts, and nothing remotely scary happens until the last ten minutes. This isn’t suspense—it’s cinematic sleepwalking.”

    Roeper and Ebert – ★★★☆☆
    – Richard Roeper

    “This is a cool little thriller with big scares and fine performances. Troy Armitage shows everyone that there is no genre he cannot tackle. Steven Yeun was great in his debut role. Scarlett Johansson and Carrie-Anne Moss were underutilized, yet the final product is exciting and thrilling. The editing was particularly noteworthy, driving tension up perfectly.”

    (Break)

    I stared at my computer, the bright screens of Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic mocking me. A 45% rating on Rotten Tomatoes with an average score of 6.1? A measly 57/100 on Metacritic? I couldn’t believe it. This was the lowest score of any of my movies, by far. If I was being honest, it felt worse than anything I’d experienced before. I suspected that this score was even lower than in the original timeline.

    What went wrong? I couldn’t help but replay the entire process in my head, trying to figure out where I made a mistake. Was it my performance? I mean, I had put everything into it, just like I always did. I thought I nailed it, but maybe I was wrong. Or maybe the script was the problem. Was it too predictable? Too formulaic?

    Or maybe it was something else. Was it my decision to get involved in the production process? I had to admit, I pushed for more creative control this time, tried to get my voice in there. But maybe I overstepped? Maybe I had undermined Caruso’s authority too much and he didn’t give his 100% as he would have otherwise. 

    It could be something as simple as Evan’s involvement in the editing. I shot a glance at him, and saw that he, too, looked just as worried. I hadn’t read the reviews—I made it a point not to—but I couldn’t ignore the compiled scores. But from the looks of it, Evan was actually reading all the reviews in detail.

    “My career is over,” Evan announced. “It is over before it even began. Oh my fucking God! Who else will ever give me work in Hollywood now?”

    “Will you stop being so dramatic?” I called out with irritation clear in my voice. “These things happen in the business. It’s nothing new.”

    “Yeah?” Evan raised a challenging eyebrow. “Which of your films have received similar ratings, huh? Even your worst film has only received a 76%. Now, because of me, your perfect track record has been tarnished.”

    I held his shoulder tightly, “I have watched the film, Evan. It wasn’t as bad as they are calling it out to be.”

    And that was true. I had seen this version of the film a few months ago, and I honestly felt that this version of film was much superior than the Shia LaBeouf version. Paramount had held internal screenings for two versions of the film, and this version that was edited by Evan had received rave reviews from the test audience. But the professional critics seem to say otherwise.

    “Then why do they call it forgettable and boring?” Evan asked challengingly.

    I had no answer to that question.

    “I’ll tell you why.”

    __________________

    Songs of the second album revealed till now:

    Golden Hour – JVKE

    Arcade – Duncan Fletcher

    That’s Hilarious – Charlie Puth

    We Are Young – Fun

    If You Could See Me Now – The Script

    Grenade – Bruno Mars

    Lonely – Justin Bieber, Benny Blanco

    Titanium – Sia, David Guetta

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