Adam in Real World and Harry Potter(Showbiz/OC/HP/Hollywood)

Chapter 23:

…

-June 30, 1996

With just a few days left until Bogus' official release, Adam White's life had entered a phase that, while exciting, was also strangely exhausting—great, but tiring… and sometimes a bit tedious.

His schedule was perfectly calculated.

Yep.... his manager, Estelle Gable, had negotiated from the very beginning for him to have a short break from filming Leave It to Beaver so he could travel to Los Angeles and fulfill his promotional obligations for Bogus.

That's right.

He was back in the boring routine of interviews, photoshoots, press events… and, of course, a private screening before the official premiere.

This was supposed to be a temporary break before returning to set.

But honestly? He'd rather be filming a thousand times over than dealing with all this circus.

Anyway, what really mattered today was that he was about to see his work for the first time, in a private screening, before the official premiere.

....

-Universal Studios, Los Angeles

The small private theater inside the studio had been set up for the occasion.

It was an exclusive screening room, used to show early cuts to directors, actors, and executives before a film's release. The dim lighting, the massive screen, and the plush seats gave the space an elegant and professional atmosphere.

Adam arrived with Estelle Gable, and his mother, Sylvia White.

His father had wanted to come too, but work didn't allow it. Yea, it was pretty common for him to always be flying due to his employers. He didn't have a regular work schedule, he practically had to fly when the rich businessmen wanted to fly, and they used to do a lot of frequent flights at all times and for any reason you can possibly think of. It was so infrequent for him to be at home that many of our acquaintances or friends didn't even know him, which was kind of funny..., what wasn't so funny was when some people joked that he might have a second family somewhere besides ours since he was away all the time. 

Anyway, joining Adam, Estelle, and Sylvia were director Norman Jewison and a studio representative, both waiting to welcome them before the screening.

"Well, Adam," Norman greeted him with a warm smile, shaking his hand. "Ready to see the final cut?"

Adam nodded confidently.

"Definitely"

Though deep down, he couldn't deny that he felt a small knot in his stomach.

Not because he doubted his performance.

But because this would be the first time he'd see himself on the big screen.

The lights dimmed, and the projector flickered to life.

The room fell silent as the first scenes appeared on the screen.

Adam watched his own face, illuminated across the massive display, as his character, Albert Franklin, was introduced in the story.

The plot flowed.... err-ummm quite well?

Sureee, at least Adam guessed that much.

His performance felt natural.

Perfect Acting had guaranteed that.

But… something about the film felt off.

As the scenes unfolded, Adam started noticing issues with the pacing.

To put it simply—he was getting a little bored.

And it was his own damn movie!

That shouldn't happen!

That couldn't happen!

But yes, some moments dragged on for too long… and there were times when the story tried to be magical but just… didn't quite land.

At least not for him.

"..."

Well, at least the emotional aspects were kinda strong.

Adam performance—along with the others—carried the story, helping to compensate for the more boring or weaker parts.

Still, Adam couldn't help but frown at the thought that if he was feeling a little bored while watching fucking himself act, he couldn't imagine how other kids his age would feel.

Yettt, he really hoped he was just wrong.

But honestly? The movie itself just wasn't that entertaining.

The performances were good.

But the film…?

Not bad, but… not great either.

When the credits rolled, there was a brief moment of silence.

Then, Norman Jewison turned to Adam with a pleased smile.

"Congratulations, kid. You did an incredible job"

Adam thanked him but kept his thoughts to himself.

Everyone else seemed happy with both his performance and the film, so he saw no point in mentioning that he found it a little dull.

Besides, there was nothing he could do.

Even if Adam could, the film was already locked for distribution.

The press critics had already seen it.

And the official release was just five days away.

The only reason for this private screening was to make sure Adam and his family wouldn't have any surprises at the premiere.

No one wanted to see a kid crying in public at his own movie's debut.

So yeah, better to be sure.

...

The Following Days Were Pure Chaos

In Los Angeles, at the Four Seasons Hotel, Adam was taken through a whirlwind of interviews and photoshoots for magazines and TV shows.

Every interview.

Every photoshoot.

It was all part of the process.

Not that he hated it—honestly, Adam enjoyed it when it wasn't excessive and sooo exhausting.

Yep. Only now was he starting to fully understand the pressure of this industry.

And that acting well wasn't enough.

That there was so much more to it.

...

The Night Before the Premiere

That night, Adam sat in his hotel room, gazing out the window at the brightly lit Los Angeles skyline.

Tomorrow…

Would be his first red carpet.

Tomorrow…

The world would see his work on the big screen.

He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.

It was thrilling to think about everything that lay ahead.

After all…

Who wouldn't want fame and fortune?

Yeah…

He was definitely no exception.

And he wanted it all.

....

....

-July 5, 1996

The Bogus posters adorned the biggest theaters in New York and Los Angeles.

The faces of Whoopi Goldberg, Gérard Depardieu, and, of course, Adam White were displayed on marquees and in TV commercials.

This was his big cinematic debut.

Even after working on the film for months, meeting big-name stars, and experiencing the entire production process, Adam still couldn't quite wrap his head around the fact that his face was about to be seen on the big screen by everyone.

Though, to be fair… his face had already been everywhere—not just on the news but also in various photo shoots he had done for different brands.

Still, he was excited.

He was Albert Franklin, the main character of the film.

And tonight, at the premiere, would be the first time he'd watch the movie with an audience.

...

-Los Angeles – Mann's Chinese Theatre

Adam arrived at the event dressed in a light beige three-piece suit that complemented his light brown hair and gave him a charming, polished look.

The jacket, tailored with a straight-cut design and discreet lapels, was left open, allowing the matching vest to be fully visible.

The vest, with five front buttons, fit him snugly—elegant but not too tight.

Underneath, Adam wore a white long-sleeve dress shirt with its cuffs peeking slightly whenever he moved his arms.

A soft gold-colored tie, knotted simply, added a formal touch that still suited his age.

The matching beige trousers fell neatly, wrinkle-free, and sat comfortably around his waist.

On his feet, he wore polished black leather shoes, their sleek shine creating a subtle contrast with the lighter tones of his suit.

Beside him, Andrew and his mother, Sylvia, walked with him down the red carpet.

The flashing lights of photographers exploded the moment he stepped onto the carpet.

"Adam, how does it feel to be at your first premiere?" a reporter from Entertainment Tonight asked, microphone in hand.

Adam smiled naturally.

"It's incredible! I never imagined I'd see my face on a movie poster. Working on this film has been a one-of-a-kind experience, and I'm really excited for people to finally see it!"

Beside him, Andrew leaned in and muttered jokingly:

"And you didn't pass out from the flashes. That's already a win"

Adam shot him a mock-offended look before another group of journalists approached, asking about his experience working with Whoopi Goldberg and Gérard Depardieu.

"Whoopi is amazing," he replied sincerely, though he had already gone over all the possible questions with his manager beforehand. "She taught me a lot, both on and off set. And Gérard… well, he always had funny stories between takes. Plus, he loved speaking French with me… or making jokes in French that no one else understood except us heh"

That earned him a few giggles, so he wasn't doing too bad for his first time. 

After a few quick interviews, Adam and his team headed inside the theater.

Everyone was already there—Whoopi Goldberg, Gérard Depardieu, director Norman Jewison, and other cast and production members.

The lights dimmed.

The screen came to life.

The movie had begun.

As the story progressed, Adam noticed something.

While there were a few chuckles here and there, the audience didn't seem truly captivated by the film.

The emotional moments—especially those involving the relationship between his character and Harriet (Whoopi Goldberg) or with Bogus (Gérard Depardieu)—managed to touch some people…

But other scenes and the story felt way too long and kinda boring.

And the worst part?

The pacing was slow.

Yep.

Watching it for a second time, he could see it even more clearly now.

And Adam could only assume that wasn't a good sign.

At least not for a general audience.

He already knew Bogus wasn't an action-packed film or an over-the-top comedy.

But something in his gut told him it wasn't engaging viewers the way it was supposed to.

If he himself wasn't feeling fully drawn in, and he was the damn lead character…

Well… that was a problem.

When the credits started rolling, there was polite applause…

But not the overwhelming excitement you'd expect from a big premiere.

As they walked out of the theater, Andrew leaned toward Adam.

"Well… that was interesting."

For once, he wasn't as blunt as usual.

That was… surprising.

Adam sighed, already knowing what he really wanted to say.

"It was kinda boring… yeah, I know"

Neither his brother nor his mother argued.

No one really said much after that.

...

...

-July 6, 1996 

The next morning, newspapers and entertainment programs trashed the film:

{ Bogus' appropriately titled!

Goldberg's flat character dooms film to mediocrityBy the Associated Press:What an unfortunate idea to title a movie "Bogus." It makes the work such an easy target.And that's too bad. Because the new Warner Bros, release, though shallow, a bit forced and at times downright irritating, is otherwise an engaging and harmless family movie.The story is centered around a 8- year-old named Albert (Adam White) and the imaginary friend who comes to life when his mother dies.Albert lives in Las Vegas where his unmarried mother Lorraine (Nancy Travis) works as a showgirl. His world-and his family-are the sequined stages of the strip's casinos and pleasure palaces. He hangs backstage with the performers and lecane all about media from illuslonist Mr. Antoine.

Then his world explodes. His mother is killed in a car crash. Albert thinks the other performers will gladly take him in and he will be able to maintain some sort of tie to the only "family" he's ever known, but that's not to be. Lorraine had left a will, naming her foster sister Harriet (Whoopi Goldberg) as Albert's guardian in the event of her death.

Big problem. Harriet lives clear across the country in the claustrophobic environs of Newark, N.J.

Albert reluctantly boards the plane and while doodling with a play book the stewardess has given hım, a drawing of a big, round face comes to life and starts to talk to the troubled child. The face soon takes on more shape and that of a body, too. It turns into a large, sweet Frenchman named Bogus (Gerard Depardieu).

Bogus is Albert's imaginary friend and companion and only Albert can see him. It's a device that worked so charmingly with Jimmy Stewart in "Harvey," but is played here for contrived laughs.

Back in Newark, the frenetic Harriet races through her work day to meet the youngster at the airport. She's stressed and full of attitude, and the last thing she wants or needs in her single life is a child.Harriet and Albert spend much of the movie struggling to find a common thread, other than Lorraine. Of course, they finally do and by necessity, Bogus must disappear.It's a predictable storyline from writer-producer Jeff Rothberg and screenwriter Alvin Sargent, complete with all the diversions usually seen in this type of relationship movie. Yes, Albert does try to run away; yes, Harriet does go after him; yes, they fight over most things; yes, Albert's magic tricks pop up.But the worst device in the movie comes when Harriet is able to see Bogus, thus destroying the fragile world of imagination. When he enters her psyche, the film slips to melodrama, because, as it turns out, Harriet also had a difficult and troubled childhood.And that's the biggest problem with the Norman Jewison movie. Harriet is a complex character who remains undeveloped and largely unknown. She's almost more of the story than Albert and Bogus, and far more interesting. But she's a flat Hollywood stencil. Too bad.

Jewison, an admirable filmmaker of such classics as "The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!," "In the Heat of the Night," "The Thomas Crown Affair" as well as the comedy "Moonstruck," manages to pull lovely performances from his actors, but they're all working with flimsy material.

Nevertheless, the performance of the young actor who portrays the main character Albert (Adam White) is noteworthy. He manages to show the character's emotions perfectly throughout, showing even the most complex emotions like a true professional, and anyone who appreciates good acting will agree that the boy has a lot of talent.

"Bogus" is produced by Jewison, Rothberg and Arnon Milchan and is rated PG. You can bring the entire family, but older, more sophisticated children might be bored. }

Luckily he also had an interview that was quite different than usual as it focused more on himself than everything else, so yea Adam really appreciated it:

Adam sat in the green room of a modest studio, his feet dangling just above the floor as he waited for the signal to start.

When a production assistant gestured for him to enter the set, Adam hopped off the tall chair and walked into a well-lit studio space.

At the center of the room were two plush armchairs facing each other, with a simple coffee table in between, decorated with a small bouquet of flowers. Behind them was a neutral backdrop, carefully lit to avoid shadows. The entire setup had been arranged meticulously to create an intimate, face-to-face interview setting.

Adam immediately noticed a woman with perfectly styled hair and a warm smile.

Her name was Bobbie Wygant, a renowned reporter known for her poised yet welcoming interview style.

She greeted Adam kindly, leaning forward to shake his hand.

The cameras were nearly ready, and a technician was making final adjustments to the lighting.

"Have a seat right here," the technician told Adam, tapping the left armchair.

Adam simply nodded and settled into the oversized yet incredibly comfortable chair.

A soft beep from one of the cameras indicated that it was now in standby mode.

Bobbie took a seat across from Adam, crossing her legs in a relaxed but professional manner. She was dressed in a soft blue blazer, adding a touch of elegance to her look.

"Are you comfortable?" she asked kindly before they started.

"Yuup"

"All right, so shall we begin?"

He nodded, and she smiled, then gave the camera operator a quick signal to start recording.

A hush fell over the studio as the crew gave each other silent cues.

The time had come.

A producer nodded to Bobbie.

She gave Adam one last encouraging smile before focusing on the camera.

The interview had begun.

"Adam, I'm so happy to have this opportunity to talk with you because, of course, like almost everyone in the world, we all saw the big news—you're going to be the next Beaver! Congratulations!"

"Thank you"

"And, uh, do people recognize you already?"

"No, not yet… though my entire family won't stop talking about it. Andd, wellll, they do count as people, heh, so maybe the answer is yes? I mean, it's a really big family, so if I count them all, I guess plenty of people recognize me!" Adam joked.

Bobbie laughed. 

"Haha, they definitely count!" 

"And what do they usually say when they come up to you?"

"Err, well, my whole family is British, so they mostly joke about how I've become a real American. Though, to be fair, they've always called me that"

"Oh, really?"

"Yuup. They even gave me a nickname—The American"

"Aha but where are you from originally?"

"I'm from here, I was born in the U.S."

"Oh, so is that why they call you that? No one else in your family was born here?"

"Well, I think so…. I have dual citizenship, and pretty much my entire family is British. And yea, I'm the only one who was born and raised in New Jersey… so I'm kind of the black sheep of the family" Adam smirked, making her chuckle.

"I see! I have to say, I like the nickname. So, how long have they been calling you that?"

"Umm, I'm not sure, but I think it started when I was younger. We were at a family gathering, and everyone was watching a Manchester United game, really excited and focused on it. I don't remember exactly what I said, but I called it soccer instead of football—like everyone does here in the U.S.—and well… they never forgave me. And that's how I became The American"

She laughed at the story before smoothly transitioning to another question.

"Well, let's talk about Bogus because you have a very special role in the film. In Bogus, you have an imaginary friend played by Gérard Depardieu, and I think a lot of us had imaginary friends when we were kids. Did you ever have one?"

"Yep, I kinda had one when I was five or six, and it was a clown who used to talk to me whenever I got bored"

"And what was his name?"

"Uh, I think it was umm Captain Spaulding" Adam chuckled.

"Oh! Like the one from the movie?" She laughed too.

"Um, I never actually saw the movie, but I guess I got the name from the song"

She laughed again before moving on.

"And in this movie, you want to be a magician"

"Yes." Adam nodded.

"And I heard you're actually quite the magician yourself!"

"Well, I wouldn't say that… I just know a few tricks"

"Oh, come on, what you can do is pretty impressive!"

"Thank you"

Adam smiled as the interview continued.

"Then I think a fun scene in this movie is where you and Gérard are in the bathtub together. Now, what was that like? Were you in the tub almost all day long, or what?"

"It was just one of those scenes where we had already done three other short scenes that day. It didn't take us long—only about two takes. They put me in this, um, special bathing suit that was camouflaged in the water, and we filled up the bathtub, which was actually a set built five feet off the ground. Then they filled it with bubbles, and Gérard and I got in—fully dressed. He even had his shoes and socks on. We did the scene twice, and that was it. It didn't take very long at all"

"That's just great. I also heard that you speak French and talked with him a lot during filming, which is very impressive. Tell me, did you ever have any trouble understanding his English?"

"Not really… except for one time. We were doing a scene where he had to say 'biodegradable,' but it came out as 'by-degradable.' So we had to—well, that was the only thing we really had to teach him"

"He never did get it quite right, did he?"

"Yeah, but I think they actually wanted him to say it a little off-key because he's French from France, and his character is supposed to be French too"

"And that makes it even more enjoyable"

"Yep." Adam nodded.

"Well, Adam, it's been nice talking with you"

"Nice talking with you too"

"Thanks, and congratulations on all your work, especially in Bogus"

"Thank you"

"And we're going to have a lot of fun watching you in your next movie as Beaver, so all the best to you. Thank you!"

"Thank you! Bye!"

"Bye!"

After that, the camera finished recording.

"Very good. I think that was very good," she said with a gentle smile.