Sitting among the group of young women who have come to apply as new actresses at Lonald Entertainment House is Amara Davis. A 22-year-old fair-skinned young lady, she stretches her long, slender, and beautiful legs, waiting to be auditioned.
Her dream is to become one of the best actresses in her country. She has heard that many CEOs in the Actors Guild Association in her county usually expect new, young, and upcoming actresses to sleep with them for a movie role. However, this doesn't concern her as she simply wants to become an actress.
Amara recalls her experience with the previous CEO of Alfred Entertainment House.
The CEO, an elderly man, had insisted that Amara spend a night with him before being allowed to audition at his film institute. He had hinted that she would likely not need to audition again, as he would simply cast her in one of the available movies. Amara reluctantly agreed to spend the night with the CEO, thinking it was just a social invitation. To her surprise, she arrived at the hotel location to find several other ladies lined up for the same reason.
Fearing the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, Amara returned to the house she shared with her best friend turned sister, Emily Jackson. Both girls had decided not to return to their village after graduating from university due to their poor family background. This led them to become best friends turned sisters in the city.
"What happened, Amara?" Emily asked, as Amara came back home angry and slumped onto the only white couch in their shared room.
Amara shook her head in disgust, exclaiming, "My goodness!" This startled Emily, who was still standing in front of her, waiting for her to speak.
Emily, who shared Amara's light complexion, stood staring at Amara, as Amara fanned herself with her fingers, feeling overheated despite the cold night.
"I can't believe what I saw at the hotel today," Amara shared with Emily, shaking her head in disbelief and reclining on the single couch facing the bed.
"What did you see?" Emily inquired, hoping it wasn't something sinister like ritualists or kidnappers, given their financial struggles and determination to succeed.
Amara explained, "Emily, can you believe there were about fifteen other ladies there for the same reason as me? When I asked them why they were there, they mentioned 'personal business' with the CEO. What other business could it be, if not sleeping with the CEO?"
"What! So you agreed to sleep with the CEO for a role in Alfred Entertainment House?" Emily questioned with concern. Amara sadly nodded in response, "Yes, Emily. What choice did I have? I need a job, I want to act in movies."
"Calm down, sweetheart. Seeking a job shouldn't lead you into compromising situations. What if the CEO exploits you or uses it against you?" Emily cautioned. Amara widened her eyes, "What do you mean by 'uses it against me'?"
"Don't you understand how manipulative these CEOs can be? They might record it and use it to blackmail you since they know you're eager for a job," Emily explained. Amara gasped, "What! I could take legal action against him if that happens."
"Take legal action? How would you afford a lawsuit?" Emily asked, but Amara fell silent, gazing away.
"It's better to wait for a genuine job offer without any strings attached, instead of rushing into something that could cause you trouble," Emily advised. Amara responded, "I've already decided not to go back there; I'll look for other audition opportunities."
"Wait, isn't the CEO a married man?" Emily asked, unfamiliar with the entertainment industry. She had chosen tailoring after university, unlike Amara who pursued acting due to the limited job opportunities in their country.
"He's not young, Emily. He's someone's husband and father," Amara replied, shaking her head in disapproval. Emily exclaimed, "What! You were willing to sleep with a married man for a job opportunity?!"
"Leave me alone, Emily! I've already made up my mind not to return there. I'll search for other audition centers to try again," Amara replied, standing up angrily and walking to the bed to rest. Emily sighed and left her to ponder her decisions.
====
"Ma'am, it is your turn now to go in and see the auditors," a female receptionist says to Amara. She stands up from the guest seat, smiles at the receptionist, and replies, "Thank you."
Amara turns and adjusts her dress properly. She sees the previous lady before her step out with a frowning face. Amara sighs, pushes the auditioning room door open, and walks in, holding her breath. As she walks to the front stage, she stares at the three auditors sitting.
"Good afternoon, miss. You're Miss Amara Davis, right?" the male judge asks her first. Amara stares at him, gulps as she recognizes him to be William Jack, one of the best veteran actors in the country.
"Yes, sir," Amara replies with a shaky voice and a faint smile curving on her face. She feels both palms sweating and rubs them together to calm her nervousness. She hears the second judge ask her, "Okay. Feel free to show us what you've got. What will you be acting as today to get enrolled in Lonald Entertainment House?"
Amara stares at the second judge's face and recognizes her to be Stephanie Roland, a veteran actress in their country. Amara's face lights up with joy as she looks at the three top judges sitting across from her, all of them stars. She wonders if she can express herself well while the three top judges examine her acting skills. She hears the last judge ask her, "Are you ready now?"
Amara stares at the last judge too and recognizes her to be Fiona Wilfred. "Yes, ma'am."
"Wait, what will you be acting as again?" William Jack asks her. Amara stares at him and replies, "A poor, kind girl."
"Oh! That's what is written here already and I can see that's probably your kind of person. Why not act as something you're not? Acting as your daily lifestyle doesn't show us your real acting skills. Act like a professional, portraying someone you're not, with the pain and passion of the new character you're taking on. What would you like to act as to top your points and see if you can get enrolled in Lonald Entertainment House as one of our new actresses?" William Jack asks her. Amara gulps as she stares at him, feeling confused. She replies, "I don't know. What suggestion can you give me? Anything you ask me to act, I will do it perfectly."
Stephanie Roland suggests, "Okay. How about you act as a princess with class, a female gangster, or a police officer arresting a suspect?"
Amara gulps in silence, but Fiona Wilfred yells at her, "Pick one and be quick! We have other people waiting to be auditioned out there."
Amara quickly replies, "Okay, ma'am, I will act as a police officer arresting a suspect."
"Good. At the count of three, you start acting once you hear the buzzer sound. Are you ready now?" William Jack asks her. Amara replies, "Yes, sir."
"Okay. One, two, three and go!" William Jack commands. Amara starts acting as a police officer arresting a suspect.
"Hey, you! Stop there!" Amara commands, holding a lot of seriousness on her face while talking to an invisible suspect.
"If you move, I'll shoot. Now move. You're under arrest for all the crimes that you've committed. You have the legal right to remain silent, as anything you say shall be used against you in the court of law. Now move!" Amara commands and acts as if she's dragging the invisible suspect away, pretending to handcuff them, and finally drags the invisible suspect away.
