Ch 6 - Boot Camp and Script Readings

Author's Note : Hi guys!! I am very sorry for the long wait, the last few months is very tough for me, both physically and mentally as I had to constantly study and go to the tutor everyday for the College Exam.

As a form of apology, here's a couple of chapters for you guys :D

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The next day, after William had signed the 300K dollar contract with the film crew, he was told that as the film had many war element in it, Director James Cameron decided to enroll all war related cast to the Marine Boot Camp in Parris Island for a 6-weeks of basic training starting on May and finished by mid-June.

Even the female cast such as Michelle Rodriguez were not spared, though she and the other pilot cast were sent to an air force camp.

So here they are, coming out of the bus one by one.

Will, being the newbie he is, came out of the bus on the forefront. Although he got the main role in the movie, other actors doesn't seem to appreciate the fact that a 1-day-old fresh newbie got a main role in such a big film.

So the other actors seems to avoid wherever he goes unless they were told to.

'Sigh... The pain of being a newbie... Been a long time feeling it...' In fact this is not the first time Will had this kind of treatment.

When he was in the Theater circle in London, he too had this kind of treatment because he 'stole' an important role from a veteran actor there. So it's not surprising if Will didn't overly reacted to the situation he was in right now.

After all the cast came out from the bus, an instructor came and 'asked' them to- wait scratch that, FORCED them to line up in front of a platform neatly as everytime he sees any mistakes from anybody he would yell so loud, Will could even see the window vibrating.

Then a man walked out from the side door towards the platform followed by other men and some journalists from big media like Variety, Hollywood Reporter, New York Times, and such to promote the film. There's also some journalists who the crew hired to record for their own promotion.

After all the important people were in place, the man who identify himself as Lt. Col. Tyrone Kopke goes towards the mic on the platform and made a speech about this and that, and then some propaganda for recruiting new marines.

After the speech finished, the instructor divide them into 3 different groups, with 50 people in each group and another group consisted of 43 women.

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[Will Diary In Priso- Boot Camp]

-Day 1

The next day after we came in here, we were forced to do many exercises. Although they said the exercises are levels below the real marine exercises but it's still as tedious as hell.

There are some hot-headed cast who disobeyed the instructions. Result? More exercises with a lot of instructors yelling in the background.

It's quite a sight for some entertainment actually.

...

Day 5

Some of the casts had started to acknowledge me as they saw me as one of the hard working one in the exercises and never saw me throw tantrums like the other heavyweight casts.

...

Day 11

Today the heavy physical exercises had finally ended and we were instructed to do a one on one match against each other to let off some of the pent up 'steam'.

It was a fun activity actually, although some actor who had grudges for each other had an actual fight a few times, but the instructor quickly separate them before any casualties popped up.

...

Day 26

Today is by far the most uncomfortable day since I've come to this camp. It is far far worse than any extreme physical exercises before.

At first like usual, we were woken up by our instructor and led to the field. But mid way, the instructor suddenly told us to stop with this creepy grin on his face.

After that, we were led in front of a creepy chamber with big graffiti skull wearing a mask.

At first sight of that chamber, I instantly knew what we would be doing. The instructor gave us a mask each and then we were forced to go in and as the door closes CS gas or commonly known as Tear gas poured in from the pipes above us.

When I unclogged the seal of my mask inside that chamber, it felt like thousands of needles piercing every sensitive parts of my face. It was very very uncomfortable.

When all of us finally allowed to get out of the chamber and take off our masks, many just straight up screaming and crying while wriggling their arms in the air like a bird. I'm one of them.

...

Day 31

Finally, today is the official day where we finally learned to use guns. Because of the filming reasons, the guns that was used by some, like me, are SKS type.

The technique of using the gun is a bit different from what my grandfather taught me. Might be because of the different gun that was used.

The instructor was surprised at the first time he saw me using my grandpa technique. He thought I was a 'soft guy' judging from my looks. I'm not really surprised he said that.

Some cast thought so at Day 11, but soon they were sent to the infirmary.

Note, I'm not the one who started it.

...

Day 42

Today is the last day we're in this boot camp. The lead instructor congratulate us in the hall this morning and we're having a big celebration at the afternoon.

Now it's 3 pm when we finally set back to Los Angeles.

I really miss my little devils.

[End of William Diary in Priso- Boot Camp]

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8 pm at the Los Angeles International Airport.

A woman and two children was seen inside the airport's pick up area.

"Grandma Michelle, when will Papa come?"

"Well your Papa said his flight will arrived around this time... Well, there he is" Michelle said as both her and the twins saw Will came out of the big hallway.

""Papa!!""

Will saw the twins ran over to him as he spread his hands to hug them.

"Woahahaha, how are you doing guys? You didn't give Michelle troubles did you?"

""No... We miss you Papa"" they said in a whisper only they and Will hear.

Will smiled and responded, "I miss both of you too Harry, Henry"

"Alright you happy family, let's go home before that pile of people behind you gets bigger" Michelle suddenly said.

Will look behind him and saw many people stopped to see the warm family reunion they are showing.

"Hahaha... Alright boys, let's go home and get some ice cream on the way"

""Yay!!!""

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3rd of August, somewhere inside the 20th Century's Studios building.

Will walked towards the receptionist calmly.

"Good morning miss, may I know where the Avatar's studio is?"

"Name?"

Maybe because she had seen countless handsome actor before, the receptionist girl didn't even spare a glance at Will as she asked his name.

"Will Coulson" Will gave her his stage name.

The receptionist girl typed something into the computer beside her for a minute before giving the directions.

"Okay you just need to follow that hallway and then turn left, the studio's door is on the right side of the hallway, there's a big sign above the door so you won't be able to miss it" then she continued typing.

Will nodded and looked at her name tag, "Thank you miss... Cleo, have a great day" then he walked towards the direction she pointed out.

The receptionist named Cleo stopped typing for a second and looked at Will's disappearing back, "A newcomer? Lucky for him to get such a big role, wonder when will I become as lucky as him..." Cleo shook her head and resume her work.

Meanwhile Will looked at the big studio door with a sign that reads "Avatar". He took a few deep breath before he finally stepped forward and opened the door.

What met his eyes are... No one.

Absolutely no one except a big square table and more than a dozen chair surrounding it.

Will froze on his place for a few seconds and then he quickly took out his smartphone to see the current time.

[09:30]

He was sure that the crew will start the readings at 10:00.

As he was doubting the schedule he was given, a door on the far right corner of the room opened up and a man came out.

The man look at Will's direction and was surprised to actually see someone came this early.

"Mr. Coulson? You've arrived very early" The man said surprised, then he goes towards the chair on the end of the big table.

"Pardon sir?" Will asked, puzzled. As long as he know, 30 minutes before the appointed time is not at all early in London. Some actor even came as early as an hour.

"Well yes, you've arrived very early from the appointed time" The man said again.

"I'm sorry Mr. Director, I thought the readings will be starting at 10 am, that's why I have come at 09.30 sir" Will replied.

"Well yes, but here in Hollywood the actors doesn't really have the word 'Early' in their dictionary. So, you may sit on the chair with your name on it and wait for the others to arrive" the Director gestured towards the chair on his right

"Well yes, thank you sir"

"Your welcome"

Then the director continued his work while Will read the script he was given for the nth time that day.

About an hour later all the casts had already came into the studio. Will looked at all the people inside, some are familiar faces and some are not.

Most notable though, Zoe Saldana and Michelle Rodriguez. One is the green alien girl from the Guardian of the Galaxy, and the other is one of the badass girl from the most famous Car racing franchise in the world.

"Alright everyone, let's start the script readings" Director Cameron said suddenly after he saw that all actors is here.

"Mr. Coulson, please..." he continued as he gestured at Will beside him.

Will nodded and readied himself for a few seconds before reading in a bassed voice, "When I was lying there in the VA hospital, with a big hole blown through the middle of my life, I started having these dreams of flying" his accent changed into a deep american accent, gone has his british accent as if he had never even use it in the first place.

Then his voice suddenly lowered slightly, depression was clearly heard in it, "Sooner or later though, you always have to wake up..."

"They can fix a spinal..."

As Will read his monologue everyone listen to it attentively as if there's a magnet in his every word that pulls their attention strongly.

Director Cameron who was right beside Will, looks at him approvingly. he is increasingly convinced that his decision to give the role of Jake Sully to Will was right. He's just waiting for the day when Will finally showed off his acting skills. He could only hope for the best until then.

"... If it ain't rainin', we ain't trainin'" Will finished his monologue as he waited for the actor of the agent to read his line.

But what greeted him was silence and dozens of eyes staring at him attentively. Will look at their gazes awkwardly and asked, "Uhh... Is there something wrong with my lines?" He said changing into his standard british accent.

Director Cameron was the first to came out of he stupor, "No no, your monologue is good... No, it's excellent! Keep up the good work, let's continue the readings"

As the readings continued for the next 7 days, some of the actors who still had some doubts about Will finally saw him in a new light, while others thought he's only good at talking. But one thing's for sure, at the end of the week, Will had given every single one of them a very deep impression.