Chapter 38: Chapter 36.

[... Conversation of Seb and Mason]

“Hmm… Anyway, Did you give a thought to what I asked before?” Mason asked. 

They kept talking about Ian and the good old days they had for an hour. On one hand, that is what happens when two old good friends who haven’t met in a long time meet each other and get to talk about hot topics. But it was slightly different, they were talking about times they spent in college, the girls they dated, and of course the infamous Ian Renner. 

“The songs? You did say Ian was working on the music, right?” Sebastian asked back. 

Before Sebastian came here, Mason talked to him on the phone asking if he could distribute some music in the new movie via SS. But Sebastian was quite curious about what Mason could probably be talking about or if he has any chance to take a peek at Ian or his new doings. 

He might sound like a creepy man, but in fact, Sebastian used to keep everything clear. He wanted information and was very helpful. Which brought a lot to the table for them as friends. During their hardest times, Sebastian was of a lot of help to both Mason and Henry.

“Yeah, he will be done with it anytime now. Can we get your word regarding the distribution? I heard that Sound Supremacy is doing good,” Mason said jokingly. 

“Hell yeah, anything for my boy Ian. Hearing you talking about him actually makes me want to meet him. But working with him doesn’t sound bad, either. Let’s distribute both physically and digitally through SS if that's fine?” Sebastian smirked. 

“More than fine, thank you,” Mason retracted his joking tone. The joking tone was mainly because it’s already been confirmed SS would help distribute the songs in La La Land, but Mason asking it again, left Sebastian something to mock about.

-

On the other hand, Ian was focused on composing the music by himself. At first, it was critical and not easy to practice completely, but later on, playing the piano became his favorite pastime. 

It was said that, in the original world's La La Land, according to composer Justin Hurwitz, all the piano performances featured in the film were first recorded by pianist Randy Kerber during pre-production. Ryan Gosling then spent two hours a day, six days a week in piano lessons learning the music by heart. By the time filming had begun, Gosling was able to play all the piano sequences seen in the film without the use of a hand double or CGI.

Ryan Gosling learned the instrument within a matter of months. He took on the role as a novice but won the role.

In fact, Ryan Gosling was a true legend for doing that. Ryan Gosling had even suggested many things here and there throughout the movie. Most of them were based on his experiences as an actor in Hollywood. It was a remarkable way that the movie put out the true faces of Hollywood in the movie. 

Ian who was closing his eyes while his fingers trembling on the keys of the piano decided to compose all the music by himself the other day. As he had time even when there were things happening around him, he came late in the night daily.

His eyebrows furrowed as he sang the lines while his fingers played magic.

“I don't know why I keep moving my body

I don't know if this is wrong or if it's right

I don't know if there's a beat, or something's taking over me

And I just know I feel so good tonight

I don't know what your name is but I like it

I've been thinking 'bout some things I wanna try

I don't know what you came to do, but I wanna do it with you

And I just know I feel so good tonight

Oh, if we keep on dancing

Take our rhythm to new heights

Feel the heat of passion, baby

Light up the night..”

The song, which was originally sung by John Legend, was now in the hands of Ian Renner. Surprisingly, after the late-night practices, he was smashing the keys, not literally but yes. 

But in the original world, for John Legend, the chance to work with Ryan Gosling was a thrill. "Ryan is one of the best actors working right now, so I came into it with real humility", he said. Legend said "Gosling was very helpful and supportive. He really encouraged me to feel like 'OK I can do this.'"

Start a Fire, the song had its own history. John Legend says Chazielle's main instruction for the song, "Start a Fire" was to make it a fun song that you can see as a single but still has some jazz influence. Legend said "writing the song was like threading a needle because you don't want it to be so bad that it's embarrassing but you want it to be something that Sebastian wouldn't want to make. Something he wouldn't be proud of.

Talking about John Legend, he was in the movie as Keith. A role that is portrayed by ten-time GRAMMY winner and Academy Award-winning singer-songwriter John Legend. Legend jumped at the chance to appear in the film saying, "I thought this would be a great opportunity to transition into doing more acting in a role that feels pretty familiar to what I already do for a living, which is making music." Also fascinating to Legend was the conflict between Keith and Sebastian which is how one adapts to a rapidly changing culture. Legend also said, "Keith's philosophy is let's not try and preserve something that happened 50 years ago; let's take what we've learned and make something for these times."

“Am I disturbing you?” Ian suddenly turned back to see who it was. 

Sebastian Evans. The good ol’ friend of his father. The surprising fact was, he wasn’t expecting him to be here, although he knew about the deal for the songs of La La Land; he didn’t expect it, not now at least. 

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“Uncle Sebastian, I’m surprised, how did you even know I’m here?” Ian asked, faking respect. He didn’t know this man to the core to respect him, but he had to. 

“Mason told me, I was surprised, too. And still am, you were playing so good, how have you been?” He asked and sat on the small bench that rested in the corner of the room. 

“I have been fine with all the movies and everything, how about you?” He asked to be polite.

“I have been awesome. You do kind of look like Henry. I hope I’m not disturbing you, right?” Sebastian questioned again. 

‘Not like you would go now’ Ian thought, yet replied, “Nah, it’s all good. Wanna listen to ‘City of Stars’?” he asked. 

“City of stars?” Sebastian asked back. 

“It’s the greatest hit of La La Land and has the potential to make it go big,” Ian confirmed. 

Ian was never one to say things aloud to people, especially things related to his projects or success. But he somehow wanted to show that whatever Sebastian thought about the previous Ian was false. But in fact, he knew all the Box office numbers proved so much, yet he thought it was fun to do it in person. 

SEBASTIAN:

City of stars
Are you shining just for me?
City of stars
There's so much that I can't see
Who knows?
I felt it from the first embrace I shared with you

MIA:

That now our dreams
They've finally come true
City of stars
Just one thing everybody wants
There in the bars
And through the smokescreen of the crowded restaurants
It's love
Yes, all we're looking for is love from someone else

SEBASTIAN:

A rush

MIA:

A glance

SEBASTIAN:

A touch

MIA:

A dance

BOTH:

A look in somebody's eyes
To light up the skies
To open the world and send it reeling
A voice that says, I'll be here
And you'll be alright
I don't care if I know
Just where I will go
'Cause all that I need is this crazy feeling
A rat-tat-tat of my heart

SEBASTIAN:

Think I want it to stay
City of stars
Are you shining just for me?
City of stars

MIA:

You never shined so brightly

Ian kept imagining the song and the video in his mind and played it using the piano while the lyrics left his lips like the sweetest melody. It perfectly suited the tone and Sebastian looked awestruck. 

Such good lyrics, melody, pitch, and voice were something he didn’t expect from the young director. Ian pressed the final keys and threw his head back in a dramatic ending. 

Sebastian stood from the bench and walked towards him still finding it hard to believe his eyes, “That was… WOW! I am so thrilled to work on this! Man, this is pure talent!” He said and tears were forming in his eyes. 

“Thank you, I’m trying my best,” Ian said and smiled genuinely. 

[..] After a while of chit chat Sebastian went back saying he had some stuff to do, but not before making Ian play two more songs. 

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