Hollywood. She’d realized that rhinestones shine like diamonds; that marble can be trompe-l’œil plywood. She’d found herself in platform-shoes handling days of fading dreams.
Amanda learned to smile; giggle to their inane jokes; charging for time and services.
“Hi there” — sighing she wondered what today’s lie would be.
“You’d be perfect for the role” – Mental check-mark: fake producer; she turned around to meet the well-known eyes.
She kept a straight face:
“OK … I’ll just check with my agent when I’m available”.
Less than one year afterwards, Amanda wondered who else she’d thank at the Academy Awards ceremony.
Copyright-Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
This week my choice went with an actor’s dream. I would guess it’s one the less unique one this week. Hope it gave you a smile anyway.
Friday Fictioneers is directed by Rochelle Wissoff Fields, and is a weekly prompt to write 100 word stories to the same picture.
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November 12, 2014
Björn Rudbergs writings 
A dream that came true. You just never know, do you?
janet
Small odds .. but I guess it has happened.
I’m sure it has, but not as often as the reverse.
Wonderful when we start to live our dreams.
I so hope it could happen…
Someone has to be the winner – you never know when it’s your turn.
Indeed.. it could happen..
Cool, Bjorn. I remember Mercedes Ruehl getting the best supporting actress award for The Fisher King and hearing she was told she’d never make it in the beginning. It was so real and sincere, too. Love reading the success stories.
We have to read a few.. there has to be the lucky ones..
What are the chances. I grew up next door to Hollywood and to this day, even though I have family in the business, it depresses me. So many more failed dreams than successes. Good write though!
The chances are non-existent I would say.. but there are a the odd case.. but so many more fail..
Made me smile 🙂
Smile is good.
Ah, a happy one! Nicely done.
Nice to read a positive story!
Bjorn, Good for her. It usually doesn’t happen overnight. My daughter worked her way up for years before she could make a living at acting. It’s really hard work and not as glamorous as most think. Well written. 🙂 — Susan
Nice twist at the end, Bjorn. Thanks for a story with a bright side. Alicia
Dear Björn,
It’s nice to see a happy ending. For some dreams do come true. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
She sounds a pretty canny lady and it stood her in good stead, her dreams finally realised!
life does take an odd turn, sometimes
Apparently, we both took the less “unique” approach. Seemed the way, when I went there. 😉 Nice job, Björn.
6th line up from the bottom, what’s mentalling?
Mentalling was an odd choice .. hmm but I did change it around a little.. (I had to cut down so many words on this…)
I had a lot of trouble with word count this time too. I got it to 100, but only after several tries! I think “mentalling” must be Swanglish; I like it! 😉
a good lesson to learn: a winner never quits.
Dear Bjorn,
Happens all the time. Chance, circumstance and not a little talent have to be in the right mix but it can happen. Great story for the prompt. Hollywood is the town of dreams.
Aloha,
Doug
I always admire those stories of actors who stick it out and had to pay their dues. They’re finally in the limelight, and they say to everyone, “I’ve been working at this for years!” but people call them an overnight success. Oh, the price of fame and stardom. Great story!
A rare win in Hollywood – 🙂
Wasn’t sure if it was a dream come true or her fantasy. For me, there’s a sense of ambiguity that works sort of like the end of the movie “The King of Comedy.”
So pleased this turned out well. For a moment I thought we were having a Mulholland Drive tale.
It’s always nice when we are pushed out of our cynicism into the realization of a dream … loved your story! Georgia.
You know, I can just see her in the role of Rachel Crofton in one of my stories. Have her swing by my casting couch . . err, I mean office, and we’ll discuss it over a glass of wine.
Bjorn,
Now that’s a twist of the happy sort. Glad I came by to read.
All my best,
Marie Gail
I like the “realness” of your word choices. “Lies” “fading dreams” – it’s sad that the reality of this scene is so familiar to us.
Amanda made it very quickly. She obviously went in with her eyes wide open and knew how to play the game. I’m still glad she made it. I like how you’ve drawn her – she’s an appealing character.
Love that she had a positive outcome. Her opening resignation indicated years of waiting and living in fakery.
Nice. What I love about some actors’ stories is the improbable series of events they go through to becoming famous. You never know what it’ll take.
Dear Bjorn, Great story and I’m sure you would win an Oscar if you acted in a movie. I’m glad she was successful. Awesome! Nan 🙂
Dreams can certainly fade quickly wearing platform shoes and charging for ‘time and services’…and a wonderful dream ending!
Ellespeth
I loved the setting of the scene here – “marble can be trompe-l’œil plywood” 🙂
Oh, the happy end. How unusual for you. I thought this would end bad, with that intro.