"So, guys, gather round," Guy the director said, as he ushered us to join him at the end of the large double bed.
"This is a really important scene. Pivotal, yeah? It's so important we're going to split it over two sessions. So let's go over what we're trying to establish here," he continued in his broad New York accent. He was a short, anxious-looking middle-aged man with a craggy face, dark goatee and large bags under his eyes that suggested he lay awake at night worrying about ratings, deadlines and budgets.
"Right," Mia said, casually flicking through her copy of the script as she perched on the end of the bed and crossed her legs.
"Sure," I agreed, trying hard not to be distracted by the sight of her dressing gown riding up over her long legs, baring another inch of her smooth, tan thighs as I glanced down at the first few lines of my copy of the script:
"FADE IN. INT: AMARETTI MASTER BEDROOM. JOHNNY and VANESSA lie in bed, the half-light of dawn revealing their bodies lying entwined beneath a thin sheet. Clothes are scattered untidily over the carpet. JOHNNY stirs in his sleep as VANESSA runs a hand over his bare chest.
VANESSA: Morning, handsome
JOHNNY (sleepily): ..."
I didn't really need to look, I'd learned all the lines off by heart the night before, pacing up and down my tiny one-bedroom apartment, determined not to make a fool of myself by forgetting my lines on the day. I felt like I was acting all the time here, not just when I was on-set, always trying to hide how nervous and excited I felt being on-set. It was my most challenging role: Jake Smith, a promising, talented young actor who was worthy of his place in the cast.
This was my first serious role, actually playing a named character in successive episodes of a proper television series rather than "Rowdy guy in bar" or "Over-eager young cop", and I was playing opposite Mia Starling, a professional actress who I had a lot of respect for. Not exactly a household name, but you might know her face if you saw it. An actor who made a comfortable living playing any number of cheated housewives, devious widows and distraught soccer moms in TV staples like Law and Order and CSI, as well as supporting roles in dozens of movies.
This was a big opportunity for both of us, playing solid, well-established character roles in the second series of "Amaretti's Way". Mia was reprising her role from the first series as 'Vanessa', the manipulative wife of small-time mobster Vince Amaretti. And I was playing 'Johnny', a small-time crook and aspiring mobster who's recently started working for her husband as a chauffeur and general dogsbody. One of the key storylines of this series was the affair between Vanessa and Johnny. Vanessa wants out of her marriage as her husband Vince is an over-bearing bully, but knows she can't simply walk away, and so she seduces Johnny in the hope that he'll be able to help her get rid of her husband. Of course, it all ends badly for poor young Johnny, and I'm killed off in the last episode when the murder plot goes badly wrong, but still the chance to appear in just a few episodes of prime-time drama made it a terrific opportunity.
"So, let's set the scene," Guy continued. "Vince has gone to Vegas to sort out a problem at his casino, and Vanessa has wasted no time in seducing Johnny. You guys are waking up in bed having spent the night together for the first time and now it's morning, Vanessa wants to start sowing the seeds of her plan. She's not entirely sure where she's going yet, but she just feels that Johnny may come in handy in some future plot against Vince. Okay?"
"So Mia, we know how manipulative and scheming you can be. In the first part of this scene, you need to get Johnny onside. You need to convince him how badly Vince treats you, you've got to get his sympathy, make him want to protect you, make him desire you, even love you. But you can't be too obvious, you know Johnny is still loyal to Vince at this point, but he is young and impetuous and that could work in your favour."
"Sure," Mia said, looking slightly bored as if he was stating the obvious.
"And Jake, you've been attracted to Vanessa for a while, and now you've finally got to spend the night in her bed. You're a little bit in love with Vanessa, and can't help but feel protective. But at the same time, you're terrified about what would happen if Vince found out. Plus you're loyal to him for giving you the opportunity to work for him. So you're kind of torn, but open to persuasion alright?"
"Right," I confirmed.
"So no sex in this scene just a little foreplay. Now you two have just spent all night making love alright? So you're going to be comfortable touching each other, so feel free to touch and caress one another, and kiss if that feels right, the audience has to be convinced that you're into each other, alright? Just go with whatever feels natural and organic."
We both nodded.
"Okay, positions please everyone, let's go for a first take," he yelled, striding over to speak to the sound man briefly before putting on some large headphones and sitting behind a monitor in a darkened corner of the bedroom-style set.
Although Guy had insisted that anyone non-essential must leave, there will still eight or nine people on the bedroom set: the guy holding the sound boom, the director, the script girl, two guys who arranged the lighting, Mia's assistant and several others. Aware that the role required some nudity I'd been working out at the gym and my body was relatively lean and athletic but I still couldn't help feeling embarrassed as I quickly slipped out my dressing gown and threw it onto a chair, leaving me clad in just a pair of tight grey briefs. I quickly slipped into the bed, the sheets cool against my bare skin.
"Here, take this," Mia said as she slipped off her white towelling dressing gown.
"Yes, Mia," her assistant said, taking it from her outstretched hand.
I felt my pulse quicken at the sight of her gorgeous body clad in a sexy emerald green silk slip that was edged with black lace and split at the side exposing a sliver of her tanned thigh. She was an attractive woman in her mid-thirties with large hazel-brown eyes, and her long, honey-blonde hair artfully tousled, as it would be after a night of passion. In the subdued light, I could see how the slip clung to her body, emphasizing her rounded hips, slim waist and generous boobs. I felt my cock stir as she got into bed beside me, going over my lines to try and keep myself focussed as she pulled the sheet up over her boobs, and settled into the pillow, closing her eyes.
"OK, everybody good? Action!" Guy said.
"Morning, handsome," Mia said and after a short pause she rolled over and ran a hand across my bare, hairless chest.
"Morning, gorgeous, did you sleep okay?" I said, opening my eyes and clutching her hand.
"Like a baby. Must have been all that intense physical exercise last night," she said, smiling as she planted a soft kiss on my neck.
"Mmm, I love exercising with you," I said, running my finger over her arm then using a finger to circle a fake bruise that had been skilfully applied in make-up. "Hey, is this a bruise?"
"Oh it's nothing, I'm just clumsy, that's all," she answered.
"Did Vince do it? Did he hurt you?" I replied, twisting around to look closer and trying to ignore the cameraman moving a little closer to the bed.
"Come on, let's not talk about it," she said, twisting around so that her back was towards me.
"Is he ever rough with you? You know if I ever saw him lay a hand on you..." I said, twisting around too and sliding my arm beneath her pillow so that we were spooning, my body curved around hers
"Come on, don't. You're sweet but let's not talk about it. Not now," she insisted, snuggling back into me, and I felt my cock stir as I felt her firm bottom wriggling against my thighs.
"Well, I'm just saying..." I said, sliding an arm around her trim waist and pulling her body close, and trying to ignore the swelling in my shorts.
