Red Carpet Romance

The Rising Star

Chapter 1: The Rising Star

"Melissa! Melissa! Look over here!"

Melissa turned and smiled for the dozens of cameras. Her eyes had long grown use to their bright flashes.

"Melissa!" a woman in a short neon pink dress called, waving her over.

Melissa shook the woman's hand.

"Hi, I'm Trish from Hollywood Insider," she told Melissa. She then turned back to the camera men before them. "This is Trish bringing you, Melissa Temple from the red carpet premiere for the must see movie of the year 'Sparrow.' Tell us, Melissa, what makes Sparrow better than all the movies before it? Why isn't it just another pirate movie?" Trish asked, shoving a glittery mic in Melissa's face.

Melissa smiled at the camera. "Well Trish," she said. "Sparrow is a classical Jack Sparrow movie except everything is better. From the ships we filmed on to the sword I carried, captured a lifestyle. I really felt like...well a pirate," Melissa said with a small laugh.

Trish nodded. "Who are you wearing tonight?" she asked. "That dress looks stunning on you!"

Melissa stepped back and straightened out the short train of her dress. "Alexander McQueen," she told everyone.

Her red carpet outfit was a black strapless dress with gold embroidery on the front and a floral pattern along the hem. Her hair was soft and wavy and done in a princess twist.

"One more question everyone's dying to know. What's up with you and costar Alec Harvard? Are the rumors true?" Trish asked, eagerly.

Melissa hated this question. "No sorry," she said into the mic. "Alec and I are strictly professional."

Trish looked disappointed. "Alright...well you heard it first from Hollywood Insider. This is Trish signing off!"

Melissa smiled and waved. After a few more pictures, she went inside to join her mom and Gracie.

"It's bad to be late for your own movie," her mom chided gently.

"Mom..." Gracie said. "You know the movie won't start until all the stars are here... Look, Alec just sat down," she said, pointing to a shadowed figure in the back.

On cue, the theater lights dimmed and the opening credits rolled onto the giant screen.

Sparrow was a Jack Sparrow movie except the main character was a girl named Jackie Sparrow played by Melissa. Jackie is the captain of the Black Pearl who later meets the rebellious European navy general, Ralph aka Alec.

Melissa was amazed at how everything came together. The fighting scenes and stunts were amazing though Melissa knew it was her stunt double who did the intense ones. When Alec and her kissing scene came on, Melissa winced. There she was...kissing Alec on a giant movie screen. She heard the people around her quietly sigh

Melissa shivered and tried to enjoy the rest of the movie. Melissa always found it awkward watching herself on the screen but during filming she and the rest of the cast had seen a rough cut of the movie. Now with special effects, music and elegant editing, it was a whole another experience.

The movie was impressive. Melissa was sad when it was over. She really liked filming Sparrow and it had been her first big hit. Before Sparrow, Melissa played various supporting roles in different movies- very small parts. The director for Sparrow, Jim Graph, discovered Melissa when she was playing a waitress in a TV show called "Midnight." Her part had been small, a supporting character, however, Jim claimed she had potential and gave her a chance no one else had. Melissa went in for a reading and bam! She was given the role of Jackie Sparrow.