The Director's Cut by Js Taylor (if you give a mouse a cookie read aloud txt) 📕

says. “Most people feel worse about their behaviour than we give them credit for. As actors, you can use that knowledge to add real texture to your roles.”

We’re all taking this in.

“Think about the hidden things your character might be feeling,” adds James. “I hope you’ll find it helpful.”

It has been helpful. And I am struck with deep pride for James. He really knows how to expand an actor’s sensibilities.

The exercise has really opened my eyes. It’s done something else too. It’s made me think so much better of Natalie.

“We’ll wrap up there,” James is saying. “There’s a buffet in the next room, and we can grab a bite to eat. Thank you all for participating. I hope you can apply what we’ve learned.”

We stand, and Callum and I smile at one another. Then I make towards Natalie.

“Hey,” I say, touching her arm, “that was really brave of you, to be so honest about your memories.”

Natalie gives me a shy smile.

“Oh, well, you know,” she says softly, “I’ve just come from rehab. It probably comes easier to me. Rehashing all that shameful stuff.”

She glances up and me, and her deep green eyes look intensely vulnerable.

“All the same,” I insist, “I really admire you for doing it.”

Natalie’s face transforms into gratitude.

“Thanks,” she mumbles, playing with her hair. “That means a lot.”

Chapter 12

I hadn’t realised how hungry I was until we stepped into the buffet room. But when the smell hits me, I feel suddenly famished.

The nerves of revealing parts of my past must have subdued my appetite, I realise. But now it’s over with, and nothing terrible happened, I am ready to eat.

As we enter the room, we see the rest of the cast has already arrived. I grin. Lorna is talking to a young male props handler who I recognise from our early rehearsals.

“Shall we get some food?” asks Callum. This time, he’s including Natalie in the conversation. And I realise that the Berkeley Method is having the same effect on him as it is on me. It’s making him warm towards Natalie Ennis.

Who’d have thought it?

I smile to myself, wondering if this isn’t part of James’s genius.

“Sure,” replies Natalie. She stares over at the buffet.

“Bread,” she says with a grin. “Goody.”

Knowing her usual refusal to have carbs in her presence, Callum and I exchange glances. Maybe the Method is working on Natalie too.

James has gone back to his hotel room, and I find myself wondering whether this is deliberate, to further bonding between the rest of us.

Callum and Natalie drift to the buffet, but I head over to where Lorna is standing, telling them I’ll be back in a minute.

Lorna turns and notices me in the last few seconds before I reach her.

“Hey, Issy!” She grins at me. “Come meet David. He’ll be making your props. Sounds like an amazing job.”

“We’ve met already,” I smile, shaking David’s hand. I remember him from before. He looks uncertain as he returns my handshake.

“Hi,” he mumbles shyly.

“Hey listen, Lorna,” I say. “I’m just going to grab a plate of food. I’ll be back in a minute.”

“Sure,” she smiles. “Make sure you load up. The food’s amazing. In fact,” she adds, “would you grab me another piece of chicken?”

“Sure,” I reply. “David, would you like anything?”

David looks surprised. Flustered even. I judge him to be in his early twenties, around the same age as me. So I can’t imagine why I would have that effect.

“Um. No. Thank you,” he manages.

Lorna winks at me. “There’s no need to be star-struck,” she says to David, “Issy is normal. I promise.”

I widen my eyes at Lorna, but she just grins back.

“Better get used to it, Ms Leading Lady,” she says. “Take it from me. I’ve been with the extras and crew all day. You’ve got a lot of fans already.”

Poor David flushes red.

“Oh, ok,” I babble, unsure of what to say. “I’ll be right back with your chicken,” I manage, heading for the buffet.

Fans? I’m not sure how to handle that.

My mind is spinning with how I would cope with any level of fame, since it makes me uncomfortable to have admirers in the crew. But my need for food soon takes over.

I grab a plate and bunch in next to Natalie and Callum. From the pile on his plate, Callum has taken full advantage of Will’s absence to load up on carbs.

Natalie’s plate only has salad on it.

“Whoa, Callum,” I joke, helping myself to some vegetables and chicken. “Looks like a carb binge.”

“Don’t tell Will,” he says, flicking his eyes back and forth in pretend terror.

I glance back at Natalie’s plate. I don’t feel close enough to her to ask if she plans on eating anything besides salad. So I concentrate on stacking up my own food.

The choice is incredible, and I have to restrain myself from trying a little of everything. Instead, I aim for a compromise. Rice and vegetables, with a decent sized piece of fried chicken. And one extra for Lorna.

For a moment, I think that Natalie might join us to eat. But she heads over to a little cluster of her entourage instead.

Callum raises his eyebrows at me.

“We can’t expect her to change overnight,” he says.

I nod, and Callum joins me as we head to join Lorna and the props handler.

“Hello, Mr Reed,” says Lorna, almost tripping as she dives forward to shake his hand.

Callum is encumbered by his buffet plate, so he balances it on one palm as Lorna pumps his palm enthusiastically.

“I have always wanted to meet you,” enthuses Lorna. “I am a huge fan. I love your movies.”

“Thank you,” says Callum, smiling. “You’re very kind.” I glance at his face, struck by the grace and ease at which he deals with this all.

As a normal person coming into the scenario, I am suddenly realising how very strange it is to have perfect strangers approach you in this way.

David the props handler is obviously overcome with nerves, and Callum introduces himself politely and strikes up a