Start Ups A Hollywoodland Story

[Lyrebird]

Accepted

@Lyrebird - Helen Johnston - 19 - Actress
@Terram Validus - Yannick Chatrieux - 22 - Actor
@Mako - Clyde Winchester - 27 - Agent
@Midorikawa - Dahlila Lynch - 19 - Journalist/Scriptwriter
@Flaze - Diego Montez - 23 - Director

Events That Matter - 1924

- Death of Lenin. Stalin takes over the USSR
- 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix - The First one ever
- Calvin Coolidge delivers a radio address from the White House
- MGM is founded - Rival Company
- First Around the World Flight is completed in 175 days
- Calvin Coolidge wins Presidential Election
- The Sea Hawk is the Film of the Year
- Columbia Pictures exists as CBC change their name

Events that Matter - 1925

- The Great Gatsby is published
- Chrysler Corporation is founded
- Mein Kampf is published
- First Television Pictures
- Premiere of Ben Hur - Costs more than $4m to produce
- Big Parade is the highest grossing film
- The Gold Rush - Charlie Chaplin is released
- Debuts of Gary Cooper and Joan Crawford


17/10/1925 or 10/17/1925 - Los Angeles, California

A young man was holding a brown envelope as he was running towards a giant office. He ran through a flight of stairs until he reached the right door. He knocked on it twice and then opened it. "A parcel for Mr. Harrison and Mr. Lange." He told a receptionist who smiled at pointed at the correct office. "Thanks doll." She then rolled her eyes and she continued to file some more files.

The young man could hear talk from the office where he was supposed to do deliver the envelope. He knocked on the door and was greeted by two older gentlemen. "So Rixon as the scout for this company. What have you found and remember your job is on the line for this." Mr. Lange opened a box of cigars. "Rixon? Please make yourself at ease and have a cigar or a drink?"

"No thank you sir but I have found these great bunch of dames and lades. First I'll tell you about the directors." Rixon started to talk as he looked at both Mr. Harrison and Mr. Lange.

"There is a director from Spain called Diego Montez. Done great work in Europe and they call him a charmer. He can get some great movies going and should work for peanuts cause he is naive about America and the world and he is gonna be a star for our manipulation. I got his work here." Rixon threw a couple of photos of Diego on the table. "A looker as well too bad he ain't on camera."

"He seems interesting Rixon and we have others lined up but we need a star. What do you have?" Mr. Harrison asked. "MGM and Columbia they have stars. We better watch out for Warner Bros as well I heard rumors that they were going to have sound soon. You know speech on the camera." Mr. Lange added. "I don't think that will take off but we should see if that is the case."

Rixon smirked as he threw down another picture on the table. "She ain't a star but they say she can write a good book. She ain't a looker compared to others but she's a scriptwriter. She has interest from other companies and she's a dame and a half. She's a flapper if you know what I mean. Dahlila Lynch and she's a Brooklyn gal like yourself Mr. Lange. We also have some agent called Clyde Winchester. He's a stiff but he knows business. He will get you going with the stars."

"Yes but what about the stars?" Mr. Harrison asked impatiently. "Oh right." Rixon started to explain the actor and the actress. "The actor is a great silent film worker. From Europe and the dames want him and the guys want to be like him. You know but he is a little bit of a stiff. One of those romance guys that can draw in the crowd. Bit of a snob though, you know a daddy if you know what I mean. Yannick Chatrieux, 22. Don't see him rivaling anyone as he is himself."

Rixon smiled as he pulled out the last picture. "Your other star. She is a theater actress learnt her craft from overseas and here. A doll I mean just look at her. She can be a future asset that will even outshine Clara Bow. However she ain't worth much now so you think that this doll is all about potential. Helen Johnston."

Mr. Lange and Mr. Harrison looked at all the information. "Yannick and Diego will help us grow a lot. Ms. Johnston I am a bit uncertain. Would anyone want to her watch her?" Mr. Lange asked Rixon. "I say yes because look at her but her range is pretty limited. Yannick would be a current star but I think Helen can go places. Diego is going to be a long star to keep with you. I would take a risk on Helen but Yannick is worth it now and Clyde you need a savvy agent and Dahlila is a great writer."

Mr. Harrison looked at Rixon. "We will tell them to come here for an interview and a tour. I'll get Daisy to send them letters. You have done very well Rixon but please leave now."


Right: Basically in your first post (my second) you will just sit at the office. Dahlila will just talk to a writer since it is her future job for the interview. Clyde will have a proper interview just like Diego while Helen and Yannick will have a screen test of their choice (Silent screen test though). So everyone will be having an interview basically around the same time.

 

[Lyrebird]

Helen Johnston

A young woman jumped off a tram with wearing a black mid skirt along with black heels and a white dress under a nice black cardigan jumper. She had the most striking blue eyes that was stated by a Hollywoodland magazine to be the 'most dazzling in the industry.' However the only problem was that she was not in the industry. Helen Johnston was born in Sydney, Australia which then led to her getting into theater and honing her craft in Europe and the US.

She was called by the Lange-Harrison Industries to have a screen test for a contract that would make her a movie star. "I'm not sure I'm cut out for these pics. I'm not a silent actress. I'm a proper actress plus I'm really nervous." The studio was massive but not as big as MGM and Warner Bros. "This is big. Oh I think I'm going to get lost here. I better find the office." Helen said to herself. She found a man who was lifting boxes and she decided to ask him a question. "Excuse me but do you know where the office is located?" Helen has a soft spoken voice which kind of made her useful in talkies but they were no such thing.

"Thank you." Helen was pointed towards the direction of the office. Helen walked her way up there. She knocked on the door and was allowed to enter in. Mr. Lange got up and looked at her. "Miss Johnston. I know your eyes when I see them. The magazines don't lie." Helen blushed after that compliment. "Thank you but I'm here for my screen test according to the telegram that I had received." Helen pulled out the telegram. Mr. Lange looked at her and laughed "Miss Johnston we have seen your work and we will love to sign you up to a contract but we have to wait for a few others to arrive before we can decide. It all about managing money and I'm sure you know that."

"I do?"

"Yes Miss Johnston. I can tell you are a smart and talented woman. You will go places but I want you look around the lot and come back in about 2 hours." Mr. Lange escorted and saw her out of the office.

OoC: I want everyone just to rock up. Don't worry about the interviews. Just rock up to the lot and have a look around

 

[Flaze]

Diego Montez arrived at Lange-Harrison Industries with a smile on his face. He looked up at the lot with a bit of amazement as he got out of the cab that had taken him from his hotel, he passing his hand through his hair as he let the sun shine down on him and smiled at the place where he'd make his mark on the world. After arriving from Spain only a few days before Diego had become curious as to what the future awaited him and what types of movies he'll be able to shoot.

He started to walk into the lot, looking around with curiosity as he pocketed his hands, letting the feeling of it overwhelm him. It reminded him of all the dreams he used to have as a kid of becoming a big time director, as well as the reason for why he decided to leave his home in Barcelona. He knew that the film industry wasn't exactly a big place for someone from his country as some of the most famous directors were from either America or other European countries, but he was willing to give it a try and show how good he was.

 

[Lyrebird]

Helen was walking around. "I wonder if they have a radio station?" She was star eyes at how big the studio is compared to the little theater that she used to work in back in Europe and St. Louis/Chicago. "Oh I hope I do a good job here. They compared me to Clara Bow. Me I don't know if I can live with that pressure."

Mr. Harrison walked towards Diego. "Mr. Martinez? No I'm sorry Montez. Can you please follow me." Mr Harrison was a very hands on guy with the staff and directors while Mr. Lange sorted out the contracts of the actors and actresses.

They eventually walked into an office and Mr. Harrison looked at him "Do you want a drink? Scotch, Whisky? Your choice." His assistant poured him a glass of scotch and a glass of something for Diego. "Now we want you to join us, so here is your contract. You got 5 movies before a possible extension. You get accommodation here once we make your trailer. For now we just placed you in a hotel nearby where it is a tram away. Your contact is $400 per movie which is very fair and competitive so that we can evaluate you well."

Mr. Harrison placed a contract right next to Diego. "Your choice to sign."

 

[Terram]

Yannick wandered around Lange-Harrison Industries, to tell the truth, he had no idea where he was going. He knew he was supposed to be meeting some people some where, but found himself to be lost. He shrugged and walked around, knowing he'd bump into someone eventually.

 

[Midorikawa]

((Dahlila's Outfit))

Dahlila took a deep breath before entering the building that was Lange-Harrison Industries. The company had sent her a letter to come visit her, and considering the only thing noticeable about her was her writing, it must be for that reason. Her writing was her life and the chance to make big time with it was her dream. She nervously walked into the building, looking around at it as she did so, unsure of where to go next or who to ask as she gripped the letter she was sent, tightly in her hands.

 

[Lyrebird]

Mr. Lange was walking around the studio as they were building more sets to use for future films. "Everything is going very well. Great collective effort." He walked up to Helen. "Ahh Ms Johnston. How are you find our lovely studio?" Helen looked at him and smiled but did not really say that much. "I like it...." Well it would have helped if Mr. Lange did not notice Yannick.

"Welcome Yannick. We have been expecting you." He put his hand out there for shaking "Have you met our future starlet? Miss Helen Johnston." Mr. Lange gave a smile to Helen.

While that was happening Mr. Harrison was waiting for Diego to sign the contract but he had heard news about a script writer appearing in the studios. "Get in her in there." He had sent two guards to get her to his office.

 

[Midorikawa]

Dahlila jumped as she saw two security guards approach her. After seeing they were just escorting her to her destination she calmed down. She followed them to see a man and a woman, along with another man. She assumed they either worked for the company, or they were there for the same reason she was; they were invited to join. "Hello," she greeted tentatively, not wanting to upset anyone.

 

[Flaze]

Diego looked at the contract that had been put in front of him, making sure to read everything in it as he processed what Mr. Harrison had said. He nodded his head and smiled at him before proceeding to sign. "I think we have a deal sir, it'll be nice working for you all and I won't let you down," he stated calmly as he took a sip from his drink.

 

[Lyrebird]

"Hi there." Helen said to the person right next to her. "Are you an actress?" was the question to Dahlila. There was still a lot of work to be done before any movie could be released.

18th of March - 1926

Events: - None

Mr. Lange and Mr. Harrison were talking to each other in their office. "We need to start filming pronto but we need a script idea. Nothing much happening in the world though but I have an idea. What about a poor girl who accidentally finds herself a briefcase full of money and a bunch of gamblers who try to steal it off her after winning it on a Jack Dempsey fight. We need a director and an actress and an actor for the main gambler but we need to get the script running. What do you think?" Mr. Harrison said to Mr. Lange.

"We will ask Dahlila. They say she can fine tune anything even Wuthering Heights." They both decided to pay Dahlila a visit.

While that was happening, Helen Johnston was enjoying herself but reading a magazine and listening to the music being played over the radio. "Oh I do wonder if they are going to be casting me in any movies." There wasn't much for her to do during that time since the movies that the studio made didn't include her. She was seen as a type of risk but at the moment there was not much she could do except ride out her contract and return to theater after.

"Mother did say that I should go out more. I should maybe go and look at some outfits." Helen decided to leave her trailer and told the studio guard that she would be going shopping with a guard to come with her as part of her contract.

"I wonder what do you think they have around here?" She asked her guard as they sat on the tram. "They say that there are some great places to shop and I do want to check out that radio station I've been listening to."

OoC: Basically right now just go to a bar, shopping, read at your trailer or do whatever till the script gets done.

 

[Terram]

Yannick was told about Ms. Johntson, and he was interested in meeting her. He figured he would have the chance sooner or later and left the studio, to look around Hollywoodland.

 

[Midorikawa]

Dahlila entered Lange-Harrison Industries after getting a call to come down and work on a script. After hearing the idea, the gears in her head started working for a story. "Okay here's how the story is going to go. Its starts with the main character named Evelyn working as a waitress at a diner. She keeps messing up due to being a klutz. So she is on the verge of being fired as is. Now after work that day while walking home late at night she stumbles upon the case. Not seeing anyone around she opens it and seeing the cash decides to take it home, figuring she could keep the money for herself."

"However in the shadows a man was watching. A man who had actually been at the diner earlier that night and frequents it just to see her. He loves her despite rarely talking to her or knowing her, however there is one problem which is that he is one of the gamblers. He decides to just let her have the case, unable to betray her due to his love for her. One of his buddies was nearby though and walks up to him saying they may have to kill her. So come morning she gets a knock on her door and there is the gamblers, minus the one that loves her. She runs withe the case, afraid they are criminals, her destination being the police. The one, lets call him Leon, catches her to help her."

"They go on a crazy adventure through the city, hiding the case at one point. Evelyn is capture by the gamblers, asking where she put the case. Also during this she finds out who Leon is, and when he rescues her, he finally tells her about the diner. In the end the gamblers are arrested since they try to kill Leon and Evelyn, while the two named keep the case and marry and live happy...for now. So thoughts and opinions? I have alternatives if that isn't good enough," Dahlila suggested to Mr. Lange and Mr. Harrison.

 

[Lyrebird]

Mr. Lange and Mr. Harrison started to have a conversation. They both finished after 20 minutes of deciding if it was a great idea. "It is a great idea, Dahlila. We love it but who do you think should direct it and star in it?

Helen Johnston

"Isn't this lovely." Helen happily exclaimed to her guard. "The sun is shining and I have money to buy some outfits. This is the life just me and my bodyguard walking along the street trying to figure out what I'll buy." Helen decided it would be a great idea to sing. There wasn't much for her to do but she really wanted to check out the construction for the new Chinese Theater that they were going to build.