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110
Into The
Spotlight
Angela Yan
‘And… cut!’
As the camera stopped rolling and Nolan uttered his last words,
adrenalin filled his body. The director met himwith a firmhandshake
and he replied with a grin, knowing that this moment was the start
of his career.
Pushing through the doors of
20th Century Fox Studios
, he knew he
had done a good job and loved the feeling. It was a feeling of
something changing; as if he had completely left his old life behind.
Looking up at the lavish apartments of Los Angeles, Nolan thought
about his own place with its faded timber walls and parched front
lawn. He longed for a better life, one filled with fame, fortune and
comfort. Strolling back to his hotel, he glimpsed his reflection in a
shop window, displaying the most lavish jewellery one would ever
hope to find. When he saw himself, he was wearing his old
Beatles
t-shirt with a pair of ripped jeans. Unlike before, however, his hair,
which was usually in disarray, was gelled to perfection. A flawless
head on his body stared at him and he smiled back.
After a year of anticipation, Nolan sat at the premiere of the
blockbuster, knees shaking and feet tingling. A week later, all of his
friends and family had seen the movie. That same week, he began
receiving offers from multiple directors wanting him in their own
films. With each letter in the mail or phone call that he answered, his
pockets became heavier. He replaced his worn
Dunlop
sneakers with
Louis Vuitton
slip-ons and his scruffy t-shirts with
Ralph Lauren
. To his
parents’ sadness but also their pride, he left home and moved into a
penthouse in the heart of the city. He fit into the ‘high life’ like a
hand in a glove and it welcomed him with parties, gatherings and
most importantly, money.
A year after the success of his first blockbuster, Nolan woke up to
the sun creeping through the openings scattering the forest of
skyscrapers. It was a Saturday, a day to relax and do whatever he
pleased with his wealth. The air was crisp, biting at his cheeks as he
left the well-heated lobby. Just as he placed his gloves over his numb
fingertips, he heard a squeal and looked around to find two star-
struck girls armed with their iPhones. After the selfies were taken,
he continued on his path, still hearing the chatter of the girls. It was
new to him, this world of fame, and he simply couldn’t navigate it
yet. As he turned the corner, he stepped into the café where he was a
regular, and was met by the aroma of fresh coffee beans and warm
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