Ventura

Capítulo 15

"And if there is any virtue in me; it is not to fear any prohibition." Friedrich Nietzsche

- Then? What are we going to do tonight?

I looked at my roommate.

- Drink, smell a little and pick up some girls. Isn't that what we do almost every day? - I replied lazily. Naturally, my academic life revolved around these themes.

Christ!! How I hated that college. The course was horrible and I had no interest in the classes.

Right from the start I realized that my expectations were totally wrong. I was just a pretty face among the countless people in the same space. Of course, I tried to continue my modeling career, but getting a job was almost impossible. The book of offers was huge. When an agency agreed to take a test it took days to schedule and then I heard one: - We will contact you.

Twice a week I would go through the branches taking my precious portfolio. After much wandering I got an interview at a medium-sized agency. They give you a huge questionnaire. "Height." "Weight." "Sexual orientation: Heterosexual, Homosexual, Bisexual, - I knew only the first three options, but the alternatives were endless and there was still the option" Others "." Do you have body hair? "Would you be willing to undergo a complete epilation if necessary?" "Do you have any type of communicable disease?" "Do you have any objection to photos of total and / or partial nudity?" Then you are directed to a room where you take a series of photos. You are heavy and measured. A kind of ruler is placed on your face and everything is measured to the millimeter. The symmetry must be perfect. Even the nostril hole is measured. I felt a piece of meat exposed in a butcher shop. After all this, you are dispensing with a plastic surgeon's card "just to make some adjustments."

I got one or two jobs but the pay was almost symbolic. One lesson that every newbie should learn is: "- you are nobody." "-you are not a star." and definitely "- you are not the last cookie in the package." So get there early. Do your makeup. Try on the clothes. Wait for the scenario to set up. And never expect too much from amateur photographers. After hours of waiting, the photographer takes the test and ...? Surprise. The place has no depth. You can only think: "-Shit! Shit! Shit!". The makeup is melting in the bright light. You feel the sweat running down your body. So the most sensible attitude is to stay calm and wait for them to put that damn blue plastic on the stage. In the end it is around eight to ten hours of work.

Small companies were real pitfalls. At first I found the question of some agents strange: - And what else do you do? - And of course I quickly found out what that meant: "Program."

I was possessed when I received this proposal, but I received a look of disdain from the agent and a "see you later."

On one of those boring days, Jack invited me to go to the rehearsal for a play at the college he was a part of. - Why not? - I thought. - Shakespeare, here I come. And he shuffles out after him.

What immediately caught my attention: THE STAGE. Something there seemed magical. Hear the sound of the wooden platform. The actors indulging in their performances. Jack had a secondary role but he was very excited and I was a little jealous.

"I can't choose how I feel, but I can choose what to do about it."

I had already seen many plays in high school. But that phrase, that scenario and that stage. I felt something strange. A kind of frenzy. I was totally focused on the rehearsal, and when they finished I ran over there and walked around the platform. I felt like a man who steps on the moon for the first time, such is my fascination.

Jack came to me carrying some sheets of paper containing his text.

- Then? What do you think?

- Please get me a paper. Any. - that's all I managed to say.

- You're kidding right? Jack looked confused by the request.

- No, I'm not. - I replied emphatically.

- But you never acted.

- Ah, ok! And you've already won two Oscars. I replied with a smile.

Jack was looking at me thoughtfully.

- One of the actors gave up participating in the play, and as the role is small, the director would not put anyone in place. We can talk to her, what do you think?

- When?

- Now. - he pointed to a point on the stage curtain - She must still be in the aisle.

The first thing I thought was, "-Wow! What a beautiful pair of legs!"

She was a beautiful woman. He was about forty years old, but he had a confident attitude that only more experienced women can do. She had black hair with a Liza Minelli cut, wearing a tight yellow dress and high-heeled sandals. She was sitting on a high bench with her legs crossed while reading some sheets. He looked up as soon as we entered. Jack came over and greeted her warmly.

- Hi Barbara, how are you? I want to introduce you to my friend Thomas Morgan. He would like to take that paper that is vacant.

She looked back at me. Or rather, he assessed me from top to bottom. I knew that look and I could only think: "- Here we go."

Jack turned to me.

- Thomas, this is Mrs. Barbara Carter.

She held out her hand to me with a cat smile in front of a saucer of milk.

- Please call me Barbara. Can I call Thomas?

I looked at her intently. That look rehearsed dozens of times in front of the mirror.

- But of course. - I replied.

- Then? Do you want to act? Do you have any experience with theater?

- Not really. I do some work as a model, but I would like to start my acting career. - I lied. - And I learn fast.

She gave me an approving look.

- I bet you do.

She was clearly trying to seduce me and I was having fun with that little game. I already knew the guy.

Jack stood there watching the conversation and looked a little uncomfortable. He turned to Barbara:

- What do you think? Does he have a chance?

Barbara looked away from him and regained her haughty stance.

- Yes. There's a lot of chance. - and turned to me. - Can you meet with me tomorrow to present your paper and set up the details of your essay? The staff is already ahead of schedule, so I'll have to pay a little more attention to you. How about - and pretended to look in your diary - Oh! my schedules are all taken. Could it be after seven o'clock?

Artful little woman. - I thought. - But why not? If she was the door for me to go up on that stage, then so be it.

- Yes, seven is fine. Right here at the theater?

- I'm afraid not my dear. he replied with feigned regret. - I have a room right here in college. There we will have more privacy for you to rehearse. Give me your phone number and I'll give you the location.

I gave her my number and we said goodbye. Outside the theater, Jack put his arm around my shoulders and smiled.

- What was that? My God! The woman almost jumped on you.

- You're imagining things. - but even I didn't believe my words. - Let's go to the pub to celebrate.

At the pub Jack raised his glass in a toast.

- Your promising acting career.