Chapter 4: A Glimpse of Success

Nate walked out of the audition room, his heartbeat still steady but his mind buzzing with energy. He had nailed it—he could feel it in his bones. Years of failure in his past life had taught him to recognize when he had flopped an audition and when he had left an impression.

This time, he had left an impression.

But there was no time to celebrate. Hollywood wasn't a place where you sat back and waited for miracles to happen. It was a game of momentum—the ones who made it weren't just talented, they were the ones who kept moving forward, never waiting for opportunities to come to them.

As he stepped out of the audition building into the California sun, he pulled out his phone and started making plans.

---

The Waiting Game

The worst part about auditions was the waiting.

Days could pass without a word. Weeks, even. Most of the time, actors didn't even get a rejection email—just silence.

But Nate wasn't going to sit around like a clueless rookie.

First, he checked his email. No response yet. That was expected. Indie films weren't as fast-paced as big Hollywood productions when it came to casting.

Second, he opened up a job board for actors. He wasn't about to put all his hopes on one audition. He needed to build up his portfolio.

Most of the listings were garbage—low-budget horror films, sketchy reality show gigs, and background extra work that wouldn't get him noticed.

Then, something caught his eye.

[Casting Call: TV Commercial – New Sports Drink Brand]

It wasn't glamorous, but it paid well—$500 for a one-day shoot.

More importantly, commercials were often a stepping stone. Plenty of A-list actors had started in commercials before landing bigger roles. If he got lucky, this could get his face out there.

Without hesitation, he submitted his application.

Then, he moved on to Step Two.

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Building His Image

Hollywood wasn't just about acting talent—it was about branding.

He needed to look like someone worth casting.

Nate scrolled through his phone gallery, checking his photos. They weren't great—just casual selfies, school pictures, and a few awkward group shots. Useless.

If he wanted to be taken seriously, he needed professional headshots.

Problem was, professional photographers charged a fortune.

Luckily, he had a sister.

---

"Lily, I Need Your Help."

Back home, Nate found Lily lounging on the couch, scrolling through social media.

"Hey," he said, sitting next to her.

She raised an eyebrow. "You want something, don't you?"

He smirked. "Yeah. I need you to take some pictures of me."

She snorted. "Oh wow, Mr. Model now?"

"Something like that." He leaned in. "You have that nice camera, right? The one you use for your art projects?"

Lily squinted at him suspiciously. "Why?"

"I'm trying to get into acting."

There was a beat of silence. Then, she burst out laughing. "Oh my god. You? Acting? Since when?"

Nate sighed. "Since now. Come on, just take a few shots for me."

She stared at him for a moment, then shrugged. "Fine. But you owe me."

"Deal."

She grabbed her camera and dragged him to the backyard. The golden-hour sunlight was perfect for natural lighting.

"Okay, try to look… I don't know, cool or whatever," Lily said, adjusting the lens.

Nate smirked and got into character.

A casual, confident pose. A serious, brooding stare. A bright, charismatic smile.

Lily snapped away, rolling her eyes. "You're such a dork."

An hour later, he had a solid set of photos. Professional? Maybe not. But they were good enough to submit to casting agents.

Step two? Complete.

---

The First Callback

That night, as Nate sat in his room reviewing his audition footage, his phone buzzed.

An email.

His stomach tensed as he opened it.

Subject: Callback for "Fading Echoes" Audition

His eyes widened.

"We were impressed with your performance and would like to invite you to a second round of auditions this Friday. Please confirm your availability."

A callback.

A fucking callback.

In his past life, he had rarely even made it past the first round of auditions. And now? He was already on to the next step.

His hands clenched into fists.

This was it. This was proof that he was on the right path.

He quickly typed out a response, confirming his attendance.

Then, he sat back, exhaling slowly.

The first domino had fallen.

And he wasn't stopping now.