In the sleek, glass-walled conference room at Beacon Studios, the Old Guard sat around their usual table. Paulson, Nancy Park, and George Sullivan were deep in conversation, their faces lined with contemplation as they processed the events of the day. Dan Lawson's audition had been undeniably strong—strong enough to secure the role of Jimmy Rivers in Silent Heroes. But for them, Dan's casting represented something far more strategic.
Paulson leaned back in his chair, tapping a pen against his palm thoughtfully. "Well, we got him in," he said, his voice cool. "Dan's in Silent Heroes, and from what I saw at the audition, he nailed it."
Nancy nodded, a faint smile crossing her lips. "That was the plan, wasn't it? Dan's performance was flawless, but more importantly, we've got someone on the inside now."
George glanced up from the notes in front of him. "He's already established a rapport with Ethan and Liam. They think he's just another actor excited to be a part of their project. Little do they know, he's going to help us steer this thing."
Paulson smirked, his mind working through the next steps. "Exactly. Dan might be working for them as Jimmy, but he knows where his real loyalties lie. If he plays this right, he can help us exert some control over the production, even from behind the scenes."
Nancy crossed her arms, her tone calculated. "Ethan and Liam might think they've secured their cast and their vision, but once Dan's on set, he'll have access to everything. He'll see the day-to-day operations, the direction they're going in, and most importantly, he'll have influence."
George chimed in, his voice low and deliberate. "We're playing the long game here. Dan doesn't need to make his move immediately. He can start slow—feeding us information, pushing for small changes under the guise of 'collaboration.' Once he's established as a key player in the show, we can leverage his position to influence the direction of Silent Heroes."
Paulson nodded, his gaze sharp. "He'll be able to suggest notes, changes, ideas that we can filter through him. Ethan and Liam are passionate about their vision, but passion can blind you. If we push the right buttons through Dan, we can get them to make adjustments without even realizing it's coming from us."
Nancy leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with the possibilities. "And if we push hard enough, we can turn Silent Heroes into something bigger than just another passion project. With Dan on board, we can add elements that will make the show more commercial—star-driven plotlines, familiar tropes that draw in a broader audience."
George grinned slightly. "It won't take much. Ethan and Liam are riding high right now, thinking they've got control. But as soon as the production gets rolling, they'll realize how much influence Dan can have as the lead. If he subtly starts suggesting changes—whether it's to the tone, the pacing, or even the casting for other roles—they'll have no choice but to listen."
Paulson crossed his arms, his expression turning serious. "But Dan has to play this carefully. If he pushes too hard too fast, they'll catch on. He needs to make them believe he's on their side—someone they can trust. Only then can we start shaping the show into something we can control."
Nancy nodded in agreement. "We're not looking to completely dismantle their vision. We just need to shift things in our favor—small adjustments that give us more control over the direction of the show. With Dan as our inside man, we can get a foot in the door."
George leaned back in his chair, satisfied with their plan. "We've been pushed to the sidelines long enough. Ethan and Liam got Breaking Point, and now they think they're untouchable. But they've underestimated us. With Dan on our side, we're going to take back control of Beacon Studios, one project at a time."
Paulson grinned, a sense of victory creeping into his voice. "And Silent Heroes will be the start. If we can control this, we can control the future of this studio."
Nancy tapped her fingers on the table, her mind already racing ahead. "Dan knows his role. He'll earn their trust, and when the time is right, he'll start pushing our agenda. The rest will fall into place."
Paulson stood, signaling the end of the meeting. "Let's give it time. Dan's in, and now we wait for the perfect moment to strike. We're back in the game."
As the Old Guard dispersed, Paulson's mind buzzed with the possibilities. Dan Lawson's position within Silent Heroes would allow them to pull the strings from behind the curtain. Ethan and Liam might have secured their cast and their vision, but they hadn't won the war—not yet.
For Paulson and his crew, this was just the beginning. With Dan on the inside, they would shape Silent Heroes into something they could control. And soon, Beacon Studios would be back in their hands.