Chapter 106: Baker Studios
Wednesday, January 4th, Evening
(Song lyrics in italics)
Sound Stage One at Baker Studios was a hive of activity. Sawyer Scott walked out of hair and make-up and was quickly herded to a holding area for the extras. A lot of the people looked very relaxed there, many of them it was an old hat, for Sawyer it was all new. She was excited when Aunt Brooke told her she was going to be in a music video, along with Keni and LK. It just sucked that it's a Chris Keller video. Aunt Haley was here with LK, but it was Aunt Brooke who was watching after her and Keni, her dad was busy.
Sawyer took a seat and looked around the group waiting and talking amongst themselves. She noted she saw most of Gothic Serpent, minus their lead singer, Persephone the Goth Chick, but that was typical for them. There were also several of those famous actresses from that TV Show that films here, Corvus, or something like that, it's about a bunch of high school friends. Sawyer noted they looked too old to be playing high school girls since Sawyer herself is a sophomore in high school. Sawyer also noted that all the members of Nordwind were waiting.
Suddenly the blonde lead singer of Nordwind looked up at Sawyer. The older woman smiled, excused herself and walked over to Sawyer.
"Hello Sassy," Katrina "Kat" Jared said, and took a seat next to her, "Where's the rest of the Terrible Tree?"
"I don't go by Sassy anymore, Mrs. Jared," Sawyer said.
Kat chuckled, "I get it, I'm sorry, it's been a while since I've seen you," she said.
"Keni and LK are still getting their hair and make-up done," Sawyer said, "Yes, it's been a while, wasn't it at Punk'd and Disorderly?"
Kat nodded, with a big smile, "Yeah, Mags was watching y'all and Evan had you on the drum kit," she said.
Sawyer smiled, "I remember that day, it was fun," she said, "It's just before you and Mr. Jared went on tour with Brian." The smile from her face faded and Sawyer finished with just a nod.
"That was an interesting time," Kat said, "So, how did you end up here?"
"Aunt Brooke," Sawyer said.
Kat laughed, "She does find her way into everything," she said.
"That she does," Sawyer replied.
Keni and Lk came out of hair and make-up and took seats on the other side of Sawyer.
"Hey Kat, my brother roped you into this too?" Keni asked.
"Yeah, Tucker sweet-talked Devon into suggesting this to us," Kat said.
"That's Tucker," Keni said and laughed.
"Sassy, why are all these people here?" LK asked, she almost looked like she was starting to tremble.
"Because they are filming a video with us," Sawyer said.
"When you make a video there aren't this many people," LK said.
"Because our videos aren't as well made, LK," Keni said, "also this is Tucker's video project," she watched as a certain young actor from that show about high school friends walked by, dressed as a minister, "He's a reptilian," she whispered.
"Enough with that, Keni," Sawyer said.
"What's that?" Kat asked.
"Nothing," Keni said.
"Just Keni and her conspiracy theories," Sawyer said.
"Been listening to your brother and YouTube?" Kat asked.
"Their arguments are very compelling," Keni said.
"They always are, until you subject them to the light of day," Kat said.
Before Keni could answer Brooke and Haley came out of hair and make-up. Sawyer noted they were also dressed in what people would call Sunday Bests. They weren't in the clothes they came with, so they had gone to Wardrobe as well.
"Mom, you're in this too?" Keni asked.
Brooke nodded, "Yeah, it's a last-minute ask from your brother, it seems I'm famous enough to qualify to be in the crowd," she said as she came over. Sawyer and Kat gave each other knowing looks and shared a silent chuckle.
An assistant comes into the holding area and looked over the crowd. "Okay, we're about to start, so follow me to get seated," the assistant said.
The area emptied out, and they were herded onto the main set. Each person was placed, and Sawyer noted Persephone had joined them, in all the glory of her standard stage attire. Sawyer looked to see who she's next to, which was Brooke, with Keni on the other side of Brooke. LK was to her other side with Haley next to her. Sawyer looked up to the alter end of the sound stage.
Tucker was standing there and talking with that actor, from that show, that was dressed like a minister. When he was done, he turned and looked at the congregation, well that is what they were playing for this video. "Thanks for being here, I know most of Y'all have other places you could be, so thanks. I thank you, Chris thanks you, and Red Bedroom thanks you. With your help we're going to make a great music video," Tucker said.
Someone else explained what they were going to do. Also, they went over the various motions and moves they were going to do. That person also went to a few people to explain or correct somethings. Once they were done the actor dressed as a minister took his place at the set's alter.
Tucker did a few last checks, and finally, he stepped behind the camera.
"Action," Tucker called out.
The actor dressed as a minister stood up and walked to the sent of the set's alter, "Welcome brothers and sisters, thank you for coming today and testifying. We have a special treat today, our special guest preacher, is the charismatic traveling preacher Reverend Christopher Keller, please welcome Brother Keller," he said.
Chris Keller came out onto the set and he hugged the actor. Keller was also dressed up. He was wearing a white suit with his jacket open. He turned to Sawyer and the extras and held his hands apart. Sawyer noted he was holding a book in one hand. Also, Keller wore glasses, Sawyer noted.
"Brothers and sisters, you can run on for a long time. Run-on for a long time, but sooner or later God'll cut you down," Keller said.
You can run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Sooner or later, God'll cut you down
Sooner or later, God'll cut you down
Go tell that long tongue liar
Go and tell that midnight rider
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter
Tell them that God's gonna cut 'em down
Tell them that God's gonna cut 'em down
Well my goodness gracious, let me tell you the news
My head's been wet with the midnight dew
I've been down on bended knee, talkin' to the man from Galilee
He spoke to me in the voice so sweet
I thought I heard the shuffle of the angel's feet
He called my name and my heart stood still
When he said, "John, go do My will!"
Sawyer just noted there was Keller's band was on the altar and started to pretend to play their instruments as the music started to be played. The extras, including Sawyer, started to clap and stomp as they were instructed, to the beat of the music.
You can run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Sooner or later, God'll cut you down
Sooner or later, God'll cut you down
Go tell that long tongue liar
Go and tell that midnight rider
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter
Tell them that God's gonna cut 'em down
Tell them that God's gonna cut 'em down
Well, you may throw your rock and hide your hand
Workin' in the dark against your fellow man
But as sure as God made black and white
What's done in the dark will be brought to the light
Chris started to clap along, with the book still in his hand. One the cue hit he started to lip sink to the track. He danced around and generally hammed it up. Sawyer clapped along and looked around to see what the other extras were doing. Several were swaying with their hands up as if they were in religious ecstasy.
You can run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Sooner or later, God'll cut you down
Sooner or later, God'll cut you down
Once the music ended Keller stood center of the altar and removed his glasses and dabbed his forehead. He looked over the crowd. "Thank you, brothers and sisters," Keller said.
"Cut!" Tucker yelled, "Alright, let's reset."
Sawyer swore they did it three or four more times. After that, he sent the extras home. Sawyer wandered to where her stuff is, she came dressed in what she wore in the shoot and started to collect her stuff. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Keni and LK. LK didn't look like she was doing so well.
"Where's Aunt Brooke?" Sawyer asked.
"She and Aunt Haley are getting changed," Keni said.
"What are we going to do about LK?" Sawyer asked.
"I don't know, we need to find an office of something," Keni said.
Sawyer nodded, "That's obvious," she said, and went off looking for someone she knew. She bumped into Kat.
"Sawyer, what's wrong?" Kat asked.
"I'm looking to find a place where we can bring LK. She's losing control," Sawyer said.
Kat nodded, and handed her a set of keys, "I'm in trailer three, bring her there and I'll let Brooke or Haley know where y'all are," Kat said.
"Thanks," Sawyer said and headed back to where Keni and LK were. Sawyer grabbed her stuff, "Come on, we have a trailer," Sawyer said.
"How'd you get a trailer?" Keni asked, grabbing her stuff and LK. Sawyer grabbed LK's stuff and led them to the trailer. Sawyer unlocked the door and let them in. Keni put LK on one of the sofas and took a seat. Sawyer closed the door behind her and joined them.
"Again, how did you swing this?" Keni asked, stretched out looking at the trailer.
Sawyer shrugged, "This is Kat Jared's trailer," she said.
"Interesting," Keni said.
"Sassy, Keni, I'm sorry," LK said.
Keni pats LK's hand, "It's okay, LK, we understand," she said.
LK nods and looks around the trailer. "How is my mom going to find me?" LK asked.
"Mrs. Jared will tell Aunt Brooke and your mom where we are," Sawyer said.
LK nodded.
Keni also nodded, "I wonder what they stock these things with?" she asked and got up to start snooping around. That's when the door opened up and Kat, Brooke, and Haley entered.
"Kendall Marie, what are you doing?" Brooke asked.
"Nothing," Keni said.
"Don't give me that nothing BS, it looks like you were snooping," Brooke said.
"I just wanted to see what they stocked the trailer with," Keni said.
"Nothing," Kat said, "I asked for the trailer to not be stocked."
"Damnit!" Keni said.
"Kendall," Brooke said.
"Sorry Mom," Keni replied.
"Sawyer, Keni," Haley said, "Thanks for helping with LK."
"You're welcome Aunt Haley," Sawyer said.
"You're welcome," Keni said.
"C'mon, you two let's get going," Brooke said.
"You too, LK, you've had a big day," Haley said.
The three girls grabbed their stuff and followed Brooke and Haley. Leaving Kat alone in her trailer to think.