𝕋ℍ𝔼 ℂ𝕆𝕃𝕃𝔼ℂ𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ

Behind The Scenes 3/?

A/N: I hate when authors say they're going to try and update more and then disappear for two months... (it's me. I'm authors. Whoops.) Sorry for the long delay, I've been pretty burnt out from my AP classes and haven't had much time to write on top of a mental health spiral. Good news, I got accepted to my top choice college so I just have to make it to graduation!

"The results from audience polling are in!" The show's announcer said. You weren't quite sure who he was, but you did recognize his face from some tabloid magazines. He was usually followed by a different camera person while you were focused on the contestants. It had been a few days since the episode covering the first week had aired and the audience had voted who they wanted off the show.

Everyone had already filmed their confessionals, some choosing to be more messy than others and talk about who they wanted removed, and now it was result time. The camera team was focusing on close up face shots that would be edited in with some generic suspenseful music when the episode aired. 

Of course, the camera crew had already been told who was leaving so they could be focused on the right person the second the name was announced. So the second Cynthia's name was announced you were already filming her. The camera's caught their perfect shot as her smile fell and you could already tell where the editing team would splice in her exiting confessional.

There was a typical gameshow exit, where she gathered her stuff and shots were taken of her getting into her car and leaving the building. Her last words for the show would be filmed off location somewhere, but for the rest of the contestants, the next challenge was already starting. This challenge wasn't a teamwork challenge and instead were a series of games, the winner of the most games gaining immunity against the audience that week. 

The first game up was Sardines, a variation on hide and seek. One lucky person automatically won by having their name drawn to hide, in this case being Prince. Then he was given five minutes to find a hiding spot in the house. After that everyone else had to try and find him, the first three people joining him in hiding until one seeker is left. Because of the structure of the game, you got to chill in the main room with the announcer while the contestants were given go-pros to film as they ran around. 

It was a surprisingly long game, taking nearly 45 minutes before Prince and the three lucky hiders came back to the main room. Aviana was the only one who hadn't found Prince or the others and thus gained no points towards any kind of immunity. Shooting confessionals took up the rest of the day, with the directors wanting the contestants to talk about each other to spark some drama. 

You were lucky that Luka had finished his recording quickly, allowing you a few minutes to eat a meager lunch of microwave ramen, even if you caught Prince side eyeing your choice of food. It wasn't your fault that your paycheck had barely covered your rent and utilities for the month leaving you no choice but 24/7 ramen. Then again, this was a show about rich kids.

✧——⊹ ࣪ ˖ 📷 ⊹ ࣪ ˖——✧

The next day the games continue with some smaller board games. Luka decimated everyone at Twister, genuinely becoming a pretzel as everyone slipped and fell. Juniper wins at UNO twice, Prince winning once. You had never realized how cut throat some people got over card games. Lastly, Adonis wins a game of heavily censored Cards Against Humanity.

Off camera, while some of the other confessionals were being recorded, you also joined in for a couple of rounds of UNO. You were just happy that the contestants seemed to actually like you. They greeted you in the mornings and talked to you when the cameras were off. Prince, who seemed to constantly be an early riser, would make you coffee.

It made it a little easier to ignore when your directors would blatantly go against the terms in your contract. When they told you to forgo your lunch to keep filming, when you weren't given your contractually promised 30 minute break. When you hardly had time to drink water before you were being yelled at for missing things. 

It was getting to the point where when you called other friends in the industry you were asking if they knew of other jobs that would either pay more or have a fair contract. It wasn't that you wanted to leave, but you felt like if a better opportunity presented itself you'd have no choice. Your mental health was beginning to suffer and you were tired of living off ramen.

✧——⊹ ࣪ ˖ 📷 ⊹ ࣪ ˖——✧

Wednesday was another day of filming confessionals and spending all your time dodging makeup artists and wires. This time Prince had been on the couch, preparing for his take when the directors had called you into the hall.

"L/N. We need you working through 12 today. I guess if you finish your shots early, you can take a break, but your lunch break is being cut today." The director demanded. He didn't even wait around long enough to hear if you agreed, walking off yelling at other crew members.

You were so tired of being treated like this as you stormed back into the room, mumbling something about needing a new job. Prince didn't outwardly react as the makeup artists finished on him and the sound techs adjusted the microphone in front of him, but when you weren't looking his brow did furrow just a bit. 

It was only once you had finished filming and were setting up for the next person on the schedule did Prince approach you. He was holding a plate of food that looked good and smelled better.

"Here, the directors ordered some extra and no one else was eating it." He offered with a smile. "You're with Luka next, right? He's on the phone with his manager about something but should be in soon. Eat something while you wait."

Even though you really weren't supposed to, you couldn't help but accept the plate. It had been so long since you'd had a proper meal that it tasted heavenly. Prince started talking while you ate, telling you about what it was like being a singer. He showed you some behind the scenes pictures of his bandmates and mentioned how weird it was not seeing them every day.

The best thing to come out of it was a joking offer to tag along on their next tour. He laughed about how you'd gotten better shots of him during the disastrous cooking episode then some of their photographers got when they were posing. You hoped you hadn't sounded too desperate when you said he could hire you anytime, your mind wondering if maybe you should be looking for a new job in photography instead of in film. 

You were lucky enough to finish eating before Luka came into the room, already being fussed over by a couple of makeup artists. He and Prince shared a weird look and tension in the room grew for a second before Prince gave you a smile and left and you went back to going about your job, making sure the contestants looked their best even if you were beginning to hate working here.