….
The closing negotiations between Regal and Red Studio had stretched into a full week of meticulous back-and-forth - legal redlines, budget recalibrations, marketing provisions.
But finally, both parties found common ground.
Terms met. Contracts signed. Pens dropped.
And just like that, Regal & Team were already in motion - charting a roadmap with laser focus: setting the release date, preparing the trailer rollout, laying the groundwork for a sharp, punchy promotional campaign.
Everything moved fast. No one paused. That was the rhythm of Regal's post-deal world.
…..
Just as Regal was almost knee deep into the release of [Death Note] - he got a weird mail in his inbox.
An invitation to be exact.
However, the invitation is something that clearly had nothing to do with him - a Director and a Writer.
He had to double-check - more than once - with the other party, just to be sure they hadn't sent it to the wrong person. Regal hated wasting time, especially now, with deadlines looming and gears already turning.
However, in the end it was confirmed that it is indeed authentic.
Still Regal was unsure to accept the invitation, but he decided to go with it as he learned someone, a decent company would also be attending.
Someone he hadn't seen in a while. Someone he wouldn't mind catching up with.
…..
[January 12th, 2011]
…..
"Hey, man."
"Hey. Been a minute."
Regal exchanging a casual, one-armed shoulder hug with his so-called decent company he was expecting to attend.
It was none other than - Andrew Gleeson - [Following] second lead.
"How are you holding up?" Regal asked, giving him a once-over.
Andrew's lips twitched into a small smile. "Better now, actually."
Regal let out a short chuckle. "Yeah? I heard your movie is killing it. Congrats, man." He gave Andrew's shoulder a firm pat.
"...thanks." Andrew exhaled lightly, then added with a half-shrug. "Honestly, I was a wreck about it. Had no clue how it'd turn out… but, luckily, it stuck."
Regal's eyes narrowed slightly, a teasing glint in them. "What? You weren't sweating bullets when [Following] came out?"
His voice was light, but the memory was still fresh in his mind.
Back then, Andrew had been the most nervous out of all of them, more than the entire crew, and somehow even more than Regal himself.
It had gotten so bad that Andrew ditched the special screening planned for the crew.
Impatient, he snuck into a regular showing with the audience just to see how they reacted.
And then, a few hours later, he sat through it again with the crew on the same day, clearly too anxious to sit still until the official screening.
Andrew blinked. "Ah…"
But before he could figure out how to respond, Regal snorted softly, cutting him off with a wave of his hand.
"Relax, I am messing with you." He smirked.
Andrew shook his head, exhaling through his nose. "...You haven't changed a bit, dude."
A faint scoff escaped him, but the corners of his mouth curved upward.
It really had been a while since they'd seen each other in person.
Ever since Following took off, their paths had mostly split, both diving headfirst into their own projects.
They kept in touch here and there, a quick message, the occasional phone call, but nothing more.
Most of the time, they only caught glimpses of each other's work through industry news.
For Andrew, the sudden wave of attention from [Following] had turned his once quiet life into a blur.
Interviews, public appearances, and endless calls filled his days.
Old friends he hadn't spoken to in years suddenly resurfaced, eager to congratulate him.
Even distant relatives he barely remembered reached out, acting as though they had always been close.
At first, it was overwhelming.
He found himself fielding messages from unfamiliar numbers, some of which were thinly veiled business proposals, while others were people hoping to latch on to his success.
Eventually, he had enough.
He changed his phone number. Then his address.
Even the way he traveled had to be reconsidered.
The only silver lining in the chaos was his decision to sign with Iconic Talent Agency.
He hadn't been sure at first, but looking back, he was genuinely grateful for their guidance.
The first piece of advice they gave him?
Take a break.
So he did.
He vanished for a week.
And it worked.
By the time he returned, he was clear-headed. Refreshed.
The noise no longer clouded his vision.
Now, with a sharpened perspective, he could finally see the industry for what it was, the opportunities, the pitfalls, and the people around him, with far greater clarity.
And now, carrying that renewed drive, here he was, back in Hollywood's spotlight.
Appearing on Youngstars Round Table.
….
Soon after, Regal and Andrew were guided from the waiting room into the filming studio.
The studio itself was simple - a round table sat at the center, surrounded by eight neatly arranged chairs, including one for the interviewer.
Once inside, they were introduced to the other five interviewees who would be joining them. All young actors and actresses - this year's breakout stars.
Regal was the only director.
Actually, this was meant to be an actors round table - a spotlight on the fresh, young faces who had made waves over the recent years.
But since having a young director achieve such rapid success was practically unheard of, there was no dedicated round table for them.
So, in the absence of a more fitting category, Regal was simply thrown into this one.
….
Rebecca Keegan smiled warmly at the camera, then turned to the group.
"Welcome to The Hollywood Reporter: Youngstars Roundtable." Her voice was clear and professional, yet inviting. "First off, I just want to say… despite everything the industry has faced this year, your performances have truly stood out."
She glanced around the table, her tone genuine. "You've entertained audiences in a way that really mattered. So, on behalf of everyone watching, thank you."
She gave a small nod, then added with a lighthearted grin. "Actually… why don't we start with a round of applause for all of you?"
There was a brief pause.
Then, Luke Stone, the most senior member at the table, tilted his head slightly. "Wait…" He deadpanned, his voice dry. "Are we clapping for ourselves?"
The comment landed effortlessly, earning a round of chuckles from the group.
Luke was well-known for his breakout role as the Blue Ranger, the youngest member of the team in what was now one of Hollywood's biggest film franchises.
Despite his celebrity status, he carried himself with a casual ease that immediately put people at ease.
Andrew, sitting just across from him, couldn't help but smirk slightly. When they had first met backstage, Andrew had been caught off guard by Luke's laid-back demeanor.
Considering the franchise he belonged to, Andrew had expected someone a bit more… detached. More 'Hollywood'.
Instead, Luke was unexpectedly down-to-earth.
"Heck yeah, we are!" Thomas Walker chimed in with a grin, slapping his hands together.
Thomas, much like Andrew, came from the indie film scene.
He had recently headlined a low-budget feature, a gritty crime drama. Unfortunately, unlike Following, his film hadn't managed to find its footing at the box office, struggling under the weight of a disjointed screenplay and weak distribution.
Still, he and Andrew shared a quiet camaraderie. They had crossed paths at countless auditions over the years, chasing the same elusive roles.
Now, sitting side by side at a major industry roundtable, it was a bit surreal.
Rebecca smiled, nodding toward them. "No, but seriously…" She added, her tone sincere.
"This really has been an incredible year for cinema. And you have all been a huge part of that. So, thank you for your work."
"Oh, thank you." Scottie Harper piped in with a playful grin, offering a small wave toward Rebecca.
"You're so sweet." Agatha Nova added, flashing a warm smile.
The two women, Scottie and Agatha, carried themselves with a graceful ease, both seasoned in the industry despite their relatively young age.
Scottie had recently shot to stardom after leading a major summer blockbuster, her name now buzzing through casting rooms and industry circles alike. Her film's success had catapulted her to 'next big thing' status, with major studios lining up offers.
Agatha, on the other hand, was already a familiar face to many.
She had built her career on recurring roles in major franchises, most notably as the Red Ranger's love interest in the Power Rangers universe.
She was no stranger to the big-budget scene.
Luke, who had been quietly observing the exchange, offered a humble nod.
"Our pleasure. Honestly, we're just glad we could give people something worth watching."
Rebecca's smile lingered briefly before she turned her attention toward Regal.
"Actually…" She began casually, her tone light but pointed. "Before we move on, I think we should take a moment to celebrate Regal here."
Regal, who had been quietly observing the conversation, glanced up, slightly caught off guard. "Huh?" He blinked. "Why me?"
His confusion was genuine. The sudden call-out seemed a little out of place.
From the far end of the table, a voice cut in, dry, with a faint trace of sarcasm. "Yeah, I am curious about that too."
Henry Bethell.
He had been mostly silent until now, but the slight smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth made it clear that his curiosity wasn't entirely genuine.
Henry was the type who always seemed to hover on the fringes of stardom.
A B-list actor whose career had plateaued just shy of the next level.
He had a knack for attaching himself to high-profile projects, just enough to keep himself relevant, often landing supporting roles in successful films.
The kind of actor whose face people recognized but whose name they rarely remembered. He leaned back slightly, feigning interest, but the glimmer in his eyes said otherwise.
Rebecca, however, didn't even glance his way. She simply smiled.
"Why?" She echoed smoothly. "Because…" She glanced down at her notes. "You're twenty-three, right?"
Regal gave a small nod. "Yeah."
Rebecca's eyes flicked back up. "Well, during our prep for this roundtable, we came across something interesting."
She held up her notepad slightly. "You are officially the youngest director to ever be nominated for a Golden Globe, Best Director of the Year."
The room stilled slightly.
Luke Stone, who had been sipping his water, froze mid-motion.
He blinked once.
Then twice.
His brows knitted faintly, as if wondering whether he had misheard. "Wait—what?"
A few of the others exchanged glances, clearly surprised.
But Regal?
He simply offered a brief, almost indifferent nod.
He wasn't feigning modesty, he was just genuinely unfazed.
After all, this wasn't news to him.
The Golden Globe nominations had been announced two weeks ago, December 14th, to be exact. And with the ceremony scheduled for January 17th, it had already been public knowledge for a while.
He had been well aware of the nomination.
In fact, the news had been a major morale boost for his team, especially with [Death Note] release right around the corner.
Still, he hadn't put much stock in it.
Not because he didn't care, but because he knew how the game was played.
There were objectively better-directed films in the running that year.
More importantly, [Following] lacked the one thing it needed: studio backing.
Sure, Red Studio had distributed the film, but their contract didn't include any clauses regarding award promotion.
Meaning they had no obligation to campaign for him. No press coverage, networking pushes, and strategic ad placements.
Without that studio muscle, winning was a long shot, basically impossible.
Regal knew that.
Could he invest in himself? Sure.
There was always the option of running his own mini-campaign, press interviews, public appearances, targeted ads.
It wasn't unheard of for indie directors to do that.
And if he somehow pulled off a miracle win, the credibility boost would be massive, especially with [Death Note] right around the corner.
A Golden Globe win would give the upcoming film immediate prestige, making it easier to market and push for international distribution.
But in the end, he had decided it wasn't worth it.
Spending on [Death Note] promotion made far more sense.
That was the bigger play. The smarter one.
Still, there was one thing that genuinely caught him off guard.
He hadn't known he was the youngest nominee in Golden Globe history. That detail was new.
Huh… maybe I should have a word with Red Studio, Regal mused quietly, filing the thought away.
There might be an opportunity there, something worth pressing on.
.
….
[To be continued…]
★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★
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