Chapter 42: Guiding the Lost

Old Gary wasn't humble at all, grinning proudly: "Just average, really. If you want to go viral, honestly, you need luck. But if you just want to make a living, I can still help you out."

"Wow, you're being so honest. At a time like this, shouldn't you be blowing smoke, acting like you can do anything?"

"What's in it for me to lie to you? I'm not an agency trying to trick you into signing a contract or taking a cut of your earnings. If I told you I could make you a star and couldn't deliver, what would you do when you came looking for me?"

"Haha, I certainly don't need someone like you as a pillar of support. I just want to ask you a few questions."

Everyone knows drunken promises don't count, and Henry didn't want to take advantage of someone like that. Besides, Old Gary looked perfectly sober—no way to trap him.

"Go ahead, ask away," Old Gary said, whether out of boredom or genuine willingness to help—he certainly seemed cheerful.

Henry, following the principle of asking if you don't ask, but not believing everything you hear, said: "I saw in the Yellow Pages that there's a Screen Actors Guild and an American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. If I want to become an actor, where should I start?"

"To be an actor? Obviously, find a good agency. If you happen to meet an agent who actively offers resources to push you to stardom, even better."

Bro, this is a Marvel universe story, not a Hollywood Oscar drama. Even if you actually won an Oscar, the Shield Agency would still sabotage you behind your back.

Henry truly didn't care about insane titans or Dormammu—these overpowered enemies? Even Galactus showing up wouldn't be a big deal. Just die, that's all.

But Hydra, with their political resources and ability to crush people through administrative means? He genuinely found them a headache. They couldn't kill him, but they could drive him insane.

So development must be subtle, not making yourself known to everyone. Do you understand what a "flying bird" means?

So what if you become an Oscar winner? They can ruin your reputation with just a few news broadcasts. Fame comes from promotion, destruction comes from smear campaigns—it's purely a capital game. Even Superman gets smeared constantly.

Don't think that fame alone acts like an impenetrable golden bell shield protecting you from all harm. To capitalists, it's utterly useless—only slightly limits the most direct methods.

So Henry said: "Gary, I never wanted to go viral or anything. I just want to be a background actor, to see what Hollywood's like. Best case, I meet some big stars—then later, I can sit in my rocking chair and brag to my grandkids about who I've met."

The bald old man gave him a look like, "What the hell are you talking about?" But Old Gary quickly accepted this mindset.

Groupie collecting wasn't unusual in America. Only rock stars didn't mind it—they even saw it as a badge of honor, which made it widely known.

But how clean was Hollywood? Were there really no such people?

No! According to Old Gary's knowledge, this hidden world was darker, dirtier, and far more foul-smelling.

Rock stars and their groupies? At most, they make the entertainment section. But if you exposed Hollywood's dark side, it'd all be front-page society news.

"How about… you go straight to the Valley? I don't have connections there, but we're both in LA—there's still a way to find someone. Give it a try?"

Henry scoffed at Old Gary's suggestion: "Fuck! You really think I'm here to sleep with stars? I'm here to experience life. You know what? Experience life!"

"Everyone knows those little sluts are all packaged. On the surface, shiny and glamorous; underneath, who knows what they're really like? Maybe they're all bio-labs full of every virus imaginable."

This was the peak era of AIDS—the incurable HIV virus terrified everyone. Not to mention syphilis and gonorrhea, still widespread in certain circles.

Old Gary was no stranger to these things—he knew even more than Henry.

He'd seen too many young people who thought themselves immune, dismissing the rumors as lies or conspiracies—until they themselves got infected, then each one regretted it more than anyone else, but it was already too late.

"So what exactly do you want to achieve?" Old Gary asked, puzzled.

Henry answered honestly: "For now, I just want background roles, to see what Hollywood's really like. I definitely don't plan to sell my ass for opportunities."

"You don't need money?" Feeling his question came out abruptly, Old Gary added:

"We already agreed—I only take tenants who commit to a year or more. If you can't pay next month's rent, no matter how much you've renovated this place, I'll kick you out onto the street."

Henry replied: "Relax. As long as I'm not constantly high and starving, I won't short you on rent."

Understanding now, Gary began explaining: "Alright then, if you truly don't mind these things and just want to experience Hollywood's vibe, joining a union or finding an agent are both options."

"The advantage of an agent is he'll actively seek out opportunities for you. After all, some opportunities aren't public—just knowing they exist is already a hurdle."

"But agents take a cut of your pay, and whether you like it or not, they'll push you upward—because only then can they earn more. Unless they abandon you."

"However, whether or not you get an agent, if you want any protection as an actor in Hollywood, joining a union is inevitable. Even if you already have an agent, if you show potential, he'll still advise you to join the union."

Henry asked again: "I heard you don't need an agent—just joining the union is enough. Is that true?"

Gary said: "You need to know that although only forty to fifty films get released in theaters each year, Hollywood produces an average of seven hundred films annually. The vast majority go straight to video, never hitting theaters."

"Not every film is a multi-million-dollar blockbuster. Low-budget, shoddy productions are the norm. Either the director and actors think they've made a masterpiece, when in reality, no one even wants to buy the VHS."

"Unless these small studios already have connections with certain agents—especially those with bundled services like CAA, who can assemble entire casts and crews—they prefer not to deal with agents at all."

"Because agents pushing for higher pay can inflate production costs, making already tight budgets even tighter."

"At that point, these small studios post actor needs to the union, publicly recruiting. So if you only want to work through the union, yes, the actors' union ensures you get paid—but you usually won't land good roles."

New book has been contracted—please follow, collect, and recommend, thank you~~

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(End of Chapter)