...It's Just A Giant Turtle!
"Cut! Alright, that was good, but it could be better. Take five and we're starting once more, from the top!"
The bell rung as the actors moved from their places, some going back to their trailers, others just moving to the shaded areas to take a small breather, yet others remained in position, once more reviewing their lines, trying to see just where it was that they went wrong, whether it was them or the partner next to them who screwed up, and of course, making sure that they did not forget their lines. it was common among newcomers to the industry, where nerves took a hold of them and they believed that everything wrong was because of them.
And for one Sawaguchi Yasuko, it was even more pronounced, for the thousandth time she asked herself just what exactly was she doing here. She was not even a real actress!! She was supposed to be a regular schoolgirl, not trying to play the role of a... well, schoolgirl!
She groaned, the sun becoming unbearable for her as she seeked refuge in the shade.
"How you holding up Yasuko-Chan?"
Yasuko was startled at hearing the voice, looking back at her fellow co-star. Co-Star. What a word, she was not even a real star at the moment, yet the title really applied to the woman who was looking at her with both a comforting smile and serious concern. Ever since she had arrived to the studio for the first time, scared and unaware just what exactly she had gotten into, Yoshiko-San had been the one who'd taken her under her wings, teaching her the small tricks of the trade, enough not to make a fool out of herself.
"As best as I am able." She weakly smiled back.
"Hey. It's alright. It was not your fault, the sound technicians screwed up the take this time around. Many are still getting used to the new equipment, and working with some of the out of country staff is bound to create some friction as well."
"It's just...it's a bit overwhelming is all. I-I hadn't thought that I'd be selected. I didn't even know that the project would be this big. I just thought it would be something funny and corny like all others were. I was ready to play the side-character, not-"
"The main lead? I don't blame you. What kind of studio would go out of their way to hire someone with no experience. But, you still impressed them, you managed to do what many other seasoned actresses could not. Take pride in that at least."
"You know just what to say don't you?" Yasuko smiled, this time in relief. Both had taken a seat near one of the sets, looking at the staff members moving to and for, preparing for the next scene. "Did you expect working on this? I mean, you must have thought that you'd be making your film debut, but in a Gamera film of all things?"
Yoshiko took a moment to answer. "I didn't expect that I would be working in this franchise out of all of them, no. When my agent called me about this role, he was gushing about how it was going to launch my career. At the time I was considering firing him on the spot, right before he told me how this was made in cooperation with Lucasfilms. After that, if he'd been in front of me, I'd have kissed him."
And there was another fact that had made her feel just like she didn't belong here. It was one thing to apply for a role at Daiei Films, considered by many as one of the weakest Producing companies in Japan. It was another thing altogether finding out that they were collaborating with one of the most infamous producing companies from America. Though not one that put as many movies as the other big studios, each one of them had become unforgettable in some way.
Not that they were infallible, she still remembered the field day many of the entertainment magazines had when 1941 flopped so hard, even with Obi Wan as one of the leads. Still, being right 9 out of 10 times still made you near omniscient in her books. She could understand Yoshiko's emotions, for an up-and-coming actress making her big debut, Lucasfilms could be the one to put her on the map.
Much better than someone just trying for an audition on a dare. She still remembered her parents faces when they heard how she'd gotten the part. She should know, her face had the same expression back then.
"Besides, I think we can both agree that the script is nothing like the previous films. I half expected having to play another human alien chasing some kids around and trying to make it real. But this? I'm actually playing a key role in the film while not making a fool of myself."
"We'll both be doing that nonetheless. We are still running in terror from a giant turtle!"
Both laughed at the ridiculous thought, the tension and stress dissipating with it. Yasuko needed that, to just... vent at her situation. It was true that she had not expected to be selected. She had even thought that at best it would be a funny anecdote to mention at future reunion events; the time she skipped classes to attend an audition for a Kaiju movie.
Only the joke was on her in the end.
"The director's coming. Come on, we're about to begin once more."
"I'm coming." She stood and brushed at her clothes as she moved into position once more. At the corner she could see all other actors moving into position as well, all waiting. Not for her this time, as she joined them in looking at the outside of the set, watching the slow, ponderous steps of one Kenpachiro Satsuma. Veteran actor and stuntman from previous Godzilla films. She'd heard that he'd actually refused an offer from Toho to work on the rebooted film, all in order to keep on working as this one.
Word was that he'd been scouted by Lucasfilms for future projects in the states as well.
And all of that information that passed through her brain was to distract herself from how alive he made that suit look. It was supposed to be at least the same size of a human, and she understood that it would take special effects to make it look giant. But not a single explanation helped her, or the rest of the actors it seemed, as they were paralyzed in both awe and fear at the sight of
Gamera.
...Just a giant turtle, right?
A.N.: This just came to me when I remembered how Gamera is soon to be entering release, and I kept on thinking how the main lead would feel in acting in the film when she was still technically in High School. Sawaguchi Yasuko in OTL was scouted on her 19th birthday when she won the "Toho Cinderella Audition" in 1984, becoming the newest lead in their rebooted Godzilla series. Here? She is leading the Gamera rebooted films at a much younger age. I've also tried going out of my comfort zone here, and made this Omake with more conversation. Hopefully it works just as well.
