Ethan sat at his desk, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he compiled the final casting list to send to TRN. They had worked tirelessly over the last few days, locking in the actors they believed would bring Silent Heroes to life. Rory Campbell was, of course, their lead for Tommy Greaves, but they had also found strong contenders for the rest of the roles.
There was Connor Blake, the F-tier actor they'd tapped for the role of Sammy Lee, who had blown them away with his emotional range during his audition. His ability to convey both vulnerability and resilience made him a perfect fit for the youngest member of the group. Then there was Ethan Greene, another F-tier actor who had the gravitas they needed for Al Barker, the moral compass of the story. For the troubled POW, Carl Henson, they had found Dylan Rivera, a rugged actor with the intensity and physicality the role demanded.
Ethan was confident in the lineup they had assembled. Each of these actors wasn't just cast based on their ratings—they were chosen for their talent, their understanding of the roles, and their ability to connect with the deeply emotional core of the story.
He glanced over at Liam, who was reviewing the self-tapes one last time. "Everything ready?" Ethan asked.
Liam nodded, tapping his finger on the screen. "Yep. I've reviewed Rory's tape again, and he's still the best fit for Tommy. Connor's tape is solid too—he's going to surprise a lot of people with his portrayal of Sammy. And Ethan Greene's audition for Al was exactly what we needed."
"Good," Ethan said, turning back to his laptop. "Let's send this off to TRN before the Old Guard gets any traction."
The Old Guard had been quiet for the past few days, but Ethan knew better than to think they weren't scheming. Paulson and his crew would be contacting TRN behind the scenes, trying to push their own actors into the project. The pressure was on to get the network on their side before the Old Guard could make any moves.
Ethan opened a new email, addressing it to Lindsay Corbett and Tom Allen, the TRN executives who had been overseeing the project's development. He attached all the self-tapes they had received, along with a detailed breakdown of why each actor was chosen for their respective roles. Then he began typing:
Subject: Silent Heroes – Casting Submission
Hi Lindsay and Tom,
I hope you're both doing well. I'm excited to share the casting choices for Silent Heroes based on our recent auditions. We've assembled a talented group of actors who really understand the depth and complexity of these characters. Below are the actors we're proposing for the main roles, along with their self-tapes for you to review:
Tommy Greaves – Rory Campbell (E-Tier)
Rory's audition captured the internal struggle and raw emotion of Tommy perfectly. His recent training with Bryce Maddox has sharpened his skills, and we believe he has the depth to carry the emotional weight of this role.
Sammy Lee – Connor Blake (F-Tier)
Connor's vulnerability and emotional range stood out in his audition. He brings a unique energy to Sammy, showing both his youthful innocence and the psychological scars of war.
Al Barker – Ethan Greene (F-Tier)
Ethan has the gravitas needed to play Al, the group's moral compass. His performance during the audition showed a strong understanding of the character's inner conflict, making him a perfect fit for the role.
Carl Henson – Dylan Rivera (F-Tier)
Dylan's intensity and physical presence are exactly what we need for Carl. His portrayal of a POW struggling to adjust to civilian life was gripping and grounded in emotional truth.
We believe that these actors will bring a fresh, authentic feel to Silent Heroes, and we're confident that they can elevate the show's emotional core. Please find their self-tapes attached for your review, and let us know if you have any questions or feedback.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Best,
Ethan Parker
With the email written and the files attached, Ethan hovered over the send button for a moment before clicking it. He sat back in his chair, exhaling slowly.
"It's done," Ethan said, turning to Liam. "Now we wait."
Liam grinned, but his eyes betrayed his own nerves. "TRN's going to love this. We've got the right actors for the right roles. Let's just hope the Old Guard doesn't derail things."
Meanwhile, across town in the sleek, modern offices of Paulson and Co., the Old Guard was making their own moves. Paulson, Nancy Park, and George Sullivan sat huddled around a conference table, their expressions serious.
"We can't let the New Bloods win this," Paulson muttered, pacing the room. "They've got a decent concept, but their casting choices are weak. We need to push for bigger names."
Nancy, her eyes sharp, nodded in agreement. "TRN wants ratings. And ratings come from recognizable faces, not from a bunch of F-tier actors no one's heard of."
George, ever the strategist, leaned forward. "We need to act fast. TRN's going to want to see star power. If we can get some of our top-tier talent on board, we can pressure them to reconsider the casting decisions. We've got Dan Lawson, Melvin Park, and Sophia Trent—all C and B-tier actors who will draw viewers."
Nancy crossed her arms. "We can pitch it as a way to guarantee ratings. A project like Silent Heroes needs emotional depth, sure, but it also needs visibility. No one's going to tune in if they don't recognize the cast."
Paulson nodded, his mind already working through the angles. "Let's reach out to TRN directly. We'll emphasize the importance of casting names that will bring in an audience. They're investing heavily in this project—they can't afford to take a risk on unknowns."
Nancy smirked. "If we get Lawson and Trent on board, TRN won't even consider those F-tier actors."
Back at Beacon Studios, Ethan and Liam sat in their office, trying to focus on other work while they waited for word from TRN. But the anticipation was almost unbearable. They knew that the Old Guard wouldn't go down without a fight, and the battle for control of Silent Heroes was far from over.
Ethan's phone buzzed, jolting him out of his thoughts. He glanced at the screen and saw a new email notification from Lindsay Corbett at TRN. His heart pounded as he opened the message.
Subject: RE: Silent Heroes – Casting Submission
Hi Ethan,
Thanks for sending over the casting tapes. I've reviewed them, and I have to say, Rory Campbell's performance as Tommy Greaves is exceptional. He really captured the internal conflict we're looking for in the character.
Connor Blake and Ethan Greene also stood out for Sammy and Al, respectively. Both brought a rawness to their roles that aligns with the tone of the show. I'll need to confer with Tom, but from where I'm standing, these choices feel right for Silent Heroes. I'll be in touch soon with the final decision, but things are looking positive on our end.
Best,
Lindsay
Ethan let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. "Lindsay's on board. She loves Rory and the rest of the cast."
Liam smiled, relief washing over his face. "That's huge. If we can lock this down before the Old Guard pushes too hard, we've got a real shot at keeping control."
But even as they celebrated this small victory, Ethan knew that the real test was still to come. The Old Guard wouldn't stop at just making suggestions—they'd be contacting TRN directly, pushing their higher-tier actors and pressuring the network to reconsider the casting.
For now, though, they had the edge.
And with Rory's performance already winning over the network, Ethan felt more confident than ever that they could hold their ground.