Chapter 333
“I just took a break,” Zola replied without elaborating much.
She didn’t want to disclose certain aspects of her previous life.
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In the entertainment industry, people were not stupid. Zola was suddenly stripped of all endorsements, had all her projects shelved, and faced a comprehensive ban. It indicated that she must have offended an influential figure in the industry.
Leah didn’t press for details and shifted the topic, asking. “Hey, after ten years in the industry, it’s my first time feeling this nervous. Are you nervous, Zola?”
Zola nodded and said honestly, “I made a few mistakes yesterday and couldn’t sleep the whole night.”
“Same here. The rehearsal yesterday was all over the place. I’m afraid today will be the same.” Leah said, “The rules for this competition are different. In the first phase, the judges directly select contestants. After the preliminary round, it enters the actual competition, where the audience votes. I’m worried I won’t even make it past the preliminary round.”
Leah added, “I heard that this time, Mr. Cavanaugh is here to select cast members for his next movie. He probably doesn’t need to find a lead actress here since he has a regular one, but many outstanding supporting roles will be chosen from this show. I hope to catch Leopold’s eyes.
Leah inquired. “By the way, I remember you’ve shot a movie with Mr. Cavanaugh before.”
“It never aired, so it doesn’t count,” Zola replied calmly.
“True” Leah chuckled nervously and then continued, “But you and Leopold should have some connection, right?”
“No.” Z
“No.” Zola directly denied it. “Among all the judges today, the one least likely to choose me is him.”
Leah asked, “Really? Why do you think that?”
Zola did not answer.
“Could it be that you have some grievances from before?” Leah Blurted out.
Zola still kept her silence.
Leah felt like she might have pried too much. However, hearing Zola saying that Leopold wouldn’t pick her, she couldn’t help but feel a slight sense of relief.
She took the initiative to chat with Zola, hoping to probe into the situation and assess her chances of advancing, as well a the possibility of catching Leopold’s attention.
The actors participating in this competition were relatively unknown, and the only one who could pose serious competitio was Zola. She had high popularity before but faced a ban later on Now, making a comeback, her presence shouldn’t be underestimated.
Due to insufficient popularity, they invited Jaelynn as the special guest performer for the first episode to boost the show’s
excitement.
After finishing their makeup, they waited backstage to go on stage. At this moment, everything on the stage was ready.
The live audience of 1,000 people added tension and excitement to the competition venue.
The judges took their seats first.
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Chapter 333
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There were four judges, including Leopold, a male director and actor named Reuben Marshall, the esteemed actress Carly Stokes, who had won numerous best actress awards, and the emerging actor Dexter Buck, who currently had substantial popularity.
As the four of them took their seats, the enthusiastic cheers from the live audience filled the venue.
This heightened the nervousness of the actors backstage, who were encouraging each other.
Even though they were competitors, they maintained a friendly atmosphere in front of the cameras.
The host introduced the judges and provided an overview of the competition before officially commencing the performance.
Thirty actors participated in the preliminary round, and half of them would be eliminated. The remaining contestants would continue to compete in each subsequent round.
Zola took the stage in the middle of the lineup.
Despite having acted for many years, she had never felt this nervous before.
Sweat formed in her palms as she watched others’ performances. Suddenly, she seemed to have lost confidence in herself.
In the past, Zola had never considered herself inferior to anyone in acting. At this moment, she felt like she was lacking in
every aspect.
Indeed, when one lacked confidence, self-doubt tended to take over.
Before Zola’s performance, there was an interlude featuring a stage performance by Jaelynn.
Through a musical and dance presentation, Jaelynn skillfully elevated the atmosphere of the venue.
Her growth on the stage over the years was truly remarkable.
Zola also watched television.
She often saw Jaelynn’s scenes. From Jaelynn’s initially naive acting to her current maturity and adeptness on stage, Zola couldn’t help but acknowledge Jaelynn’s excellence.
Zola even wondered if her performance would extinguish the fiery atmosphere that Jaelynn had ignited.
The staff reminded Zola to prepare, and she rose from her position in the waiting area.
A few scattered individuals offered words of encouragement to her.
People in the industry weren’t naive. They knew that Zola must have offended some big shot to face blacklisting. T without knowing the situation Zola was in, they refrained from showing too much friendliness, not wanting to be implicated in any way.
The entertainment industry had always been harsh.
Zola, in her return, had made all the preparations.
Her comeback was not only driven by the pursuit of her dreams but also by a desire to make her life even better.
It wasn’t that she was currently in dire straits, but improvement was always welcome.
She walked towards the backstage of the stage, taking a deep breath.
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Chapter 333
As the host announced her performance, she took another deep breath and stepped onto the stage.
Since it was the preliminary round, once on stage, the participants went straight into their performances without introducing themselves.
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Many performers didn’t have the time to introduce themselves either, as some introductions were recorded afterward, while others simply didn’t have the chance.
In the entertainment industry, it was all about one’s popularity.
Appearing in the center of the stage, Zola began a ten-minute scene from a drama.
The audience in the venue was still restless from Jaelynn’s recent performance.
The judging panel also maintained their smiles, seemingly influenced by the energetic atmosphere.
Then, Carly suddenly remarked, “Is this Zola?”
Zola’s performance depicted a classic movie scene where a mother found her long-lost child. Her appearance was deliberately transformed to resemble a worn middle-aged woman, and the contrast with her usual self was quite striking-
Leopold, who had been busy organizing the notes of the actors performances, stiffened noticeably.
The production team had provided a list of participants in this competition, but Leopold didn’t go through it. Leopold intentionally avoided learning about the participants in advance to prevent any preconceived judgments. When selecting actors, he didn’t need to consider the actors’ past experiences. He would only assess them on the live performances and didn’t attend the rehearsals.
Therefore. Leopold had no prior knowledge about Zola’s participation
Zola, who had disappeared for three years, suddenly reappeared in this way, and they unexpectedly met here.
Leopold slowly lifted his head, watching the stage where Zola was performing with sincerity but evident nervousness.
Leopold’s fingers, gripping the pen, trembled ever so subtly.
Carly, watching the performance, whispered to Leopold, “She’s been away from the entertainment industry for so many years. Her performance seems a bit rusty. Some expressions and movements aren’t up to par with her previous standards.. Mr. Cavanaugh, what do you think?”
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