Most of the parts in this latest chapter are based on the scenes from the Love Actually film, some may not be in order but i hope that's not a problem for while reading this chapter. This latest one is more about Derek and Geoff/ manager and artist friendship, Geoff considers giving up on the music industry for good, can Derek possibly talk him out of it?

Love at Christmas

Chapter 4- How hard can filming a music video be.

Derek Litton swore that one these days he would surely get involved in an argument with someone, who he felt displayed a few unqualified Music and Showbiz skills and who should definitely have gone back to College or University to relearn. He stood awaiting choreography moves as the director and the choreographer both stood looking awkwardly behind the camera. He felt they were making him look like a poncy fairy the longer the set effects people took to rearrange everything on the set.

"Derek, we just need you to stand still, smile as the fake snow is thrown over your head and your jacket as you're miming along to the song." The music director explained, feeling he had to repeat what was need to be included in the music video.

"Bloody Nora I'm not Robbie Williams, older brother you know, I should be able to do my own particular moves on camera my own way" Derek didn't look grateful for being bossed around too much, coincidentally it was beginning to get on his nerves very much, he was thinking of storming off but then again in his mind, a lot of optimistic thoughts, advised him not to, he just couldn't make matters terrible especially after the hard work Geoff undertook to book and hire the recording studio for.

As Geoff eagerly watched on from the far background twiddling his thumbs apprehensively , he still remained hopeful and positive that no problems would occur as they finally shot the long anticipated music video. On the off chance as he looked around and over his broad upper shoulder to see what everyone else was doing, he then overheard one of the music producer's mumbling, he wasn't exactly thrilled by what he heard "Christ he's looking snappish already giving the director what for and everything else, better watch out, he's well known for ranting, well back in the 1980's he was. His famous saying was he had more fun and enjoyment at watching a woman in the bedroom bouncing on his very own bouncy castle" Both young men snorted with laughter as they continued conversationally, Geoff was unhappy to hear them talking partly about Derek's famous interview, the last one he rather forget about, the interview he did 20 years ago when he was still very young. The two men moved away as Geoff approached their current standing positions.

"Go on, go and natter about who's doing well on the X Factor" Geoff replied, telling them they should be keeping them entertained by the discussing the latest X Factor reject.

The two younger men glanced at one another, muttering something between themselves, before turning to face Derek's manager and surprisingly attempted to apologize to him "Sorry Mr Bevan didn't mean to upset yer, we'd just noticed that Derek isn't especially enjoying shooting this music video "

Geoff frowned, he was intrigued by their surprising honesty and look of embarrassment. "He hasn't entirely been, what you call positive about his comeback, he's always suggesting that he would like to cover version of Tears For Fears, Mad World but that's already been covered a few years ago" he sighed sadly, looking discouraged, he'd always known Derek would be a hard artist to handle, especially for promotions and CD signings.

"Derek's a rock god, Geoff definitely an inspiration to a rock bands nowadays, you should keep that thought to yourself"

xxxx

As the filming day began once again for a night-shoot Chris had thought long and hard about asking Shaz out a date, he knew for definite his nerves were most likely to get in the way everytime they chatted to each other during breaks from filming.

"Chris you're going to have to take your shirt off and your trousers, its just so we can get a close up of your arse as the camera is zooming in on the love scene" The assistant to the director asked him.

"This isn't an erotic film is it?, where everyone is snogging and having sex all the time?, see the thing is I've always been a bit camera shy and I've never been naked in the buff before, well apart from when getting on with a beautiful woman" Chris stopped to ask after he'd taken his shirt and trousers off, he looked up facing the assistant.

"No its an indie drama film set in and around London, the storyline is based on four friends and their struggles with their career and love lives, did you happen to read the script at all?" Tom, the assistant sighed inconveniently as he began to lose any patience he had with him.

"Well, yeah I understood half of it, I understood I had to strip off and lay on a mattress." Chris strongly answered, looking inquisitive as the assistant then walked away after not saying another word , he walked over to stand behind the camera, standing alongside the director once more. The overhead lighting in the room soon started to unsatisfyingly blaze into Chris' eyes, making everything around him too bright and illuminated.

"Hey Chris" Shaz appeared, in a bathrobe, she joyfully smiled t him as if she was overjoyed to see him, she admired his obvious anxiety, he blinkered his eyes.

"Shaz how do you cope with all this sparkling lighting set effect?, blimey it must leave your eyes feeling stinging and uncomfortable" Chris murmured, questioning her about this.

"Oh its easy, you just have to ignore they're even there, pretend you're standing behind a glass panel and keep your eyes and mind balanced, that's the rule I always follow everytime and amazingly it does actually work, it works for all the Hollywood actors nowadays " She answered the question for him, she looked closer at him at noticed that the evident attraction constantly remained indestructible.

The stressed director came towards them, with a clipboard. "Chris, Shaz can you get into position against the wall here, Chris could you stand behind her" as he spoke, she whipped off her white fluffy bathrobe which left her naked from the upper body and leaned forward pressing both hands against the cold arched wall. Chris swore he'd lose awareness and focus any minute, his eyes were glancing down at her perfect bouncy breasts, those word two words he liked to describe them as.

"Chris!" The director snapped his finger against and near by his eye trying to get his full attention. "Anyway where was I, ah yes, Chris can you place both hands on Sharon's hips please, not to tight though just lightly" The experienced director instructed. Chris observed and complied with all he was informed about doing, he'd only done this to keep the direct happy seeing as to be secretly truthful he wasn't exactly satisfied by being pushed around, everytime he made a mistake on different scenes. Bloody hell this numb-nut is really beginning to do my head in, he can't help swaggering around as if he's just been dropped off by the Black Pearl from the Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

xxxx

Back on the filming set, Derek really wanted to sneeze badly, as the last minute applied make up and facial products were being spread across his cheeks and under his eyes by the female make up artist, it soon began to make him feel very ticklish and itchy . " You know actually I'm starting to resemble Adam Ant with all this added cosmetic stuff over all my face, makes me look very glam rock, early 1980's, maybe even like any of the New Romantics" He soon took note of how he was currently looking, as he stared directly across at the dressing room mirror.

Geoff entered without knocking, he looked downhearted as he spoke "Derek can I have a word with yer privately, yer know manager to music star" He smiled nervously, feeling very awkward as the female make up artist continued to apply some more added touches to Derek's cheeks.

"Yeah of course, erm sweetheart can have a few minutes with my manager, I'll keep an eye on whether any make up starts to fade away and let you know instantly" Derek respectfully asked, as he turned around to face his longtime manager who was standing more less further away, they both watched as she eventually left.

"So what's up Geoff?" Derek requested as he glanced up at his towering manager, he was curious to know as to why he'd been so strangely quiet and reserved ever since earlier that afternoon.

Geoff answered immediately but soon began to stutter and feel hesitant as he was speaking "Listen Derek I've been thinking, well I thought long and revelatory hard about this. No I'm just come out and say it, Its been a wonderful privilege of being your manager, I guess over the last month I've been thinking and have come to a decision that I want to retiring from being a manager which means I won't be managing you or any other artists anymore. Its just getting too much for me, I'm feeling pressured enough as it is, promising the music moguls back at Sony Atlantic that your Christmas song will beat the X Factor winners song, which presumably will be another cover version"

"How can you retire you're only 40 years old, for crying out loud. You've been one of the best managers I've ever known and acted more customary and well behaved than any of other manager that's managed me previously " Derek sighed sadly, feeling gutted that Geoff was giving up his lifetime dream of being the greatest music and showbiz manager, he assumed it must have been on his mind for quite some time, considering his best possibilities for the next few years. A honest and caring man like Geoff surely felt the strenuous pressure to achieve a successful managerial career.

"Mind's made up, once the Christmas charts been announced, I'm going to have a long luxurious holiday in Majorca for three weeks." Geoff wasn't willing to change his mind yet again, for some reason he knew Derek looked quite surprised by this sudden announcement, he could tell by the way he kept taking time to ask him questions.

"And you're just going to throw away 15 years experience, just so you can go holidaying abroad and desire to shag the most gorgeous and attractive blond haired woman you have the ultimate pleasure of meeting and clapping your eyes on" Derek argued, feeling unhappy that he'd been told this now.

"Don't be like this Derek, I know you don't want to be left without a manager and I'm sure if I mentioned you to other music producers and official managers I'm really confident that they'd sign you straightaway even without questioning"

Geoff looked elsewhere, sighing despairingly to himself, he simply couldn't look at Derek knowing how moody he was currently looking at that precise moment , "See I knew you wouldn't be rather pleased by this. Let me tell you that I've had no money coming in at all, I''m already behind on paying the housing and electricity bills"

Derek surprisingly paused for a few minutes, as he stared at the mirror, trying to gather anything he had to say to Geoff, anything to change Geoff's mind on quitting his favourite lifestyle, he huffed exasperatingly before turning back to glance at Geoff, who looked confused by why Derek hadn't said anything for over a minute or so.

"Geoff what would you say, if I suggested we set up on own music label together" Derek passed this possible proposal onto him, staying completely hopeful he might take some time to consider it.

Geoff was massively impressed by Derek's unanticipated suggestion, he rested his head backward against the dressing room framed entrance-way, closing his eyes and picturing what setting up his own music label would be like, would the executive producer's main office be swanky and would be there be tons and tons of wall framed platinum discs everywhere he looked. As he reopened his eyes he thought of the best answer he could provide.

"You've got a bloody deal" He enthusiastically answered, reaching over to shake Derek's hand eagerly and patting him on the left shoulder.

"Geoff be careful will yer, I've still got fake snow sprinkles on my shoulders if you pat my shoulder any longer they'll think I've been at the white powder too much" Derek shook his head annoyingly but chuckled lightly. "One more thing don't be thinking of quitting again, you've got so many years to achieve so much well and buying the best house in Britain"

xxxx

After the late night filming had been completed and fancying a one on one chat along the way Chris walked alongside Shaz, both walking throughout a jam packed London street. The temperature of the weather had dropped considerably during the early evening.

"Ah I've praise you for having to put up with the director on set, he can be a right knobhead at times, acting too pushy and annoying, apparently I heard a few years ago when he was directing a film back in Manchester, he'd upset two British actors on the day of filming for a really important significant scene, in the end they stormed off, claimed they never wanted to work with him again" Shaz playfully nudged him in the stomach as she realized he couldn't stop looking down at her chest as she spoke.

"Cheeky bastard he must be then" Chris tried to make out he had been listening to every word she'd been saying, he anxiously placed his hand in both of his jacket pockets to keep warm.

Shaz infectiously giggled even though she felt somehow displeased with him for not paying any attention "Chris you haven't been listening, your mind's been too preoccupied by what bra size my breasts are"

"Honestly I have, just that standing around with no clothes on within a freezing cold room and forty bloody cameras pointing at yer was hardly the best evening I'd ever experienced in my life. One thing I want to ask yer , You don't mind going for drinks with me one night maybe next week, maybe Monday night if you aren't doing anything at home" Out of the blue Chris had gained the courage to ask her out, he soon shivered coldly as he awaited her response.

"I'd love to, Chris" She accepted his generous offer and placed a gentle kiss on the tip of his nose as she stopped them from walking any further, "this is my street, so I guess I'll see you tomorrow then, at the film set, I can't wait, should be another fantastic day, if the director's not going around upsetting anyone for once, have a safe trip home" she continuously smiled as she turned away from him and left him standing on the street corner as she went home, walking down her illuminated local street. Chris confidently smiled to himself, feeling elated that she'd agreed. As he walked away, he heard his phone vibrating, taking it out of his pocket it read that the text message was from Ray, wondering where he'd gotten to, Chris pressed on new message and sent him a quick reply on his phone.

'Sorry Ray, I was with Shaz, had an interesting time on the night shoot, director almost pissed me off. Anyway I took your advise & asked her out for drinks she said yes, think my love life is starting to get better, Nelson was right with what he told you, earlier today' After he'd sent the replied text message, he placed his phone back inside his pocket and carried on walking along by the near by shops

End of Chapter

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