The Hollywood Version by Harry K. Malone

Author:Harry K. Malone [Malone, Harry K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781623804831
Google: gQGrdb7o28oC
Amazon: B00CPWOTPI
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2013-05-08T12:00:00+00:00

“LISTEN,stud, I’ve got some news for you,” Olivia yelled over the

speakerphone. “All that fundraising you’ve been doing for the LGBT center? You’ve made friends inthe gaycommunity.”

“Okay….”

“And now Loud and Proud wants to do a piece onyou.”

Loud and Proud was one of the foremost magazines for the gay community, with a very political focus. It was a respectable periodical, and if they wanted do a piece on Mark, it would certainly make himlook like a serious, intellectual philanthropist. In your face, Taylor Bryant, he thought. A lame tabloid blurb had nothing on a feature in Loud and Proud.

Of course, part of him felt slightly guilty that he’d only actually appeared at the center a few times, but if they wanted to continue using his face and name on their promotional materials, well, then it seemed fair to sayhe was “doingwork”for them.

“See, I told youworkingthere was a good idea.”

“Hey, I never said it was a bad idea,” Olivia corrected him. “I just said you should be clear about your trajectory. If you do this interview, you’llbe pittingyourselfas a serious advocate.”

“I don’t want to be a brainless pretty boy. I want people to see the realme.”

“We’ll need to go over the things you should and shouldn’t talk about, ofcourse, and there’s no wayinhellI’mlettingthembringup Zach Pericles.”

“Can’t we just stick to acting and charity work? Do I have to talk about mypersonallife?”

“You know you have to throw thema bone.” It was true; one of the first things Olivia taught him was that if he wanted to be a movie or television star—not a stage actor—part of his celebrity was his personal life. You could shield parts of yourself, and you could construct a plan with your publicist, but ultimately fans were buying you as much as they were your talent.

“I’lltalk about myfriendship withRoss,”Mark offered.

“Bad, bad idea, kiddo. Everyone’s going to read that as ‘we’re boyfriends and in love and this is my subtle way of coming out.’” Olivia picked up the phone. “You’re not, are you?”

“No.”Mark sounded convincing. “Ofcourse not.”

“I don’t care who you bang, you know that, but you’ve got to tell me first ifyouexpect me to be able to protect you.”

“I know.”

“I meanit, Mark.”

“You’re acting like I’m going to come out eventually,” Mark said withannoyance. “Ifthere were anythingto reveal, I’d tellyou.”

“Oh, honey, that’s what everyqueenI’ve ever worked withsaid.”

“Canyounot callthemqueens please?”Mark snapped. “Jesus.”

“Well, someone’s gotten sensitive,” she laughed. “You know I don’t care about that, hon. Homo, hetero, fag, dyke, vanilla soccer mom—it’s all about crafting an image, and they all have their advantages and disadvantages.”

“Okay, enough.” He ran a hand over the swoop. He knew Olivia was innocuous; she meant it whenshe said she didn’t care about anyone’s sexual orientation or lifestyle—or, for that matter, race or ethnicity or gender. She just had a way of saying it that pissed Mark off. Nobody at the center would abide that kind of language. “Just tell me about the interview.”

They were shooting a boardroomscene that day, which meant a lot of changing camera set-up to get different coverage.

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