Richard, who’s 22 lives in a small apartment in a big city, along with his roommate Tony and strives to become a famous actor one day. As of now, he’s only auditioning for small roles, but regardless he heads on over to the directing board, and meets Christine, a strict administrator who’s in charge of setting up additions. Christine apologizes, claiming she doesn’t have a role for Richard yet, thus he heads on out across the lonely empty streets and back to his apartment. Tony strives to be a broadcaster, and it seems like he’s already making good progress, promising Richard he’ll file in a good word for him. Regardless, Richard continues looking for more additions and finally finds one where he’s in a five second scene, playing a small role in a small film. Richard plays the role full-heartedly and rejoices with the other actors at the dining table, now as an actor himself, however no one really socialized with him, and he felt as alone as he always had in life. Regardless, Richard heads on to his apartment again, practicing in private after Tony’s gone.
Richard continues picking up on more additions, and finally gets another part, where he plays another one-shot character who plays a funny gag. He continues auditioning for such roles as this, until one day suddenly everything begins to change, and he finally gets a bigger role in a somewhat known movie, where he plays as a minor character who plays a fair part of the story. While playing his part, he meets Josh, an impulsive actor alongside his cast who has a tendency to play mean tricks on him along with disregarding rules and overall, just being rude in general. Luckily the Film Director had nothing of that and caught Josh red handed on most of those stunts, but regardless Richard still remains Josh’s biggest target. Once filming has finished, Richard heads on over to a quiet corner to enjoy his meal, when all of a sudden some of the crew members actually invite him in their circle, all while apologizing about Josh’s behavior. Finally, Richard began to feel accepted, or so he claimed which he commonly didn’t.
Whilst Richard continues auditioning for small roles, months pass and he finally gets a bigger role in a more known film, where he plays as one of the supporting characters! This was big news for Richard, Tony congratulates him for it after hearing about his big breakthrough, and thus Richard heads on out to the directing board once again. Even Josh is seemingly happy for Richard at this point, and it seems like things were really looking forward for him this time around. Richard heads on over to the stage and cameras, everything flashes before him as he could sense the director flicking over the lights. Lights, Camera and Action! Richard puts out his best performance he’s done in a while; the lights turn off, the camera goes away and the show has reached an end. Richard leaves the room with a smile. He later strolls across the streets of his city, reminiscing all the times he’s walked across these streets, lost in his imagination as no one else would see him. Richard is overwhelmed and couldn’t wait for the results to come in, for now he heads on back to his apartment with Tony, who encourages his friend to smile and shine, and that everything’s gonna be alright.
Richard heads on over to the board again, among the rest of his crew, everyone along with Josh is friendly with him this time. Richard checks in with the process he’s made, along with his footage, props, ratings and overall performance. Everything seemed fine on the surface, but shortly after Richard realizes a nasty surprise awaiting him, someone has been sabotaging his act. Not knowing what to do, he heads on over to the shower rooms and gets shirtless with a robe, where he meets Josh alone, also shirtless who’s also auditioning for the same role, and proudly admits to sabotaging Richard, including bribing the filmmakers in his favor. He then threatens Richard to step out of the competition and that this role is his, and that he’s got friends with everyone on the alley. Richard tries to step away and leave, but Josh won’t let him, and corners him, forcing him to submit to his demands otherwise he’ll never leave. Finally, having had enough of his abuse, Richard smacks Josh across the face, thus ensuring a brawl. Josh slams Richard to the wall and berates him, but the latter steps on his foot, and then places him on a chokehold. Josh tries to break free and continues to slam Rich across the wall, until finally throwing him off balance to the ground. Josh then throws Rich over to the wall and proceeds to beat him, but this time Rich grabs a metal bar nearby and hits Josh square in the cheek, giving him a red mark and knocking him down. Before Josh could fully get up, not wanting him to expose and destroy his career, Rich then strangles him with a towel, as he’s on his knees trying to get up and struggles to breathe after finally collapsing to the ground, suffocated. Josh is now dead, and Richard flees the scene before any witnesses come by.
Richard heads over to Tony again, back at his apartment, Tony insists he'll be busy with work; thus, he won’t be with Richard as much, but regardless he’ll still try to stay in touch when needed. Richard heads over to the board again, worried about his murder getting exposed, he decides to keep it a secret, he later meets up with Christine again, and chats with his auditions, to which she finally reveals he got the part of the supporting character. Overjoyed, Richard heads on with the other actors to announce his accomplishment and sure enough gets ready to be in front of the cameras again. A year passes, and at this point Richard has now become a more well-known actor, Tony too eventually finds out about Josh, and agrees to help Richard cover the murder, as of now Richard has become a star, and he’s getting more auditions for more big roles as his film has already been set to be released in theaters and is gaining traction.
Throughout his time as an actor, Richard meets Anne, a young bright girl who aspires to be a star, just like him. Richard met Anne at the board, where she’s observing the other actors doing their part, and promises her that with enough work and talent she’ll aspire to become whoever she’s dreamed of being. Richard heads on out across the streets, dim and dark as ever, as if things haven’t changed. He heads on out to his apartment and continues his private performance. Throughout his time however, Richard has fallen under suspicious to others about Josh's death, primarily the latter's friends, and has been confronted by such several times to confess his guilt. Rich finally decides to silence them and grabs a mask and gun before going after his first victim. He stalks his first victim by following her over to her apartment and shooting her inside, runs over another with his car at an empty alley who confronted him and shoots two more to death at the directing board. At the span of a month, he has killed four people and is now dubbed as the "Act Killer" by the news, he hides the bodies too and along with the help of some of his crew keeps his murders a secret within the past year, as his show goes on.
Two years pass, Richard is now 25 years old, and has become a five-star actor, known worldwide and auditioning in all sorts of popular movies, all while living a life of luxury. As he sits in his mansion among the millions he’s made, he reflects on his life, years ago back when no one noticed him and how he’s risen up after all this time. He then steps out and enters the directing board again, and speaks to Christine, who tells him of a big role as a protagonist on a mainstream film, which she bets not even he will take the part of. Regardless, Richard takes his chances and heads on to his mansion and continues on with his act. Richard practices hard to play the character he’s auditioning, until he hears a knock on the door and suddenly gets interrogated by a swat team who order his surrender. Richard puts his hands up, gets put in handcuffs and then gets taken to court in a police car, where it turns out he’s being accused of his string of murders which officials finally managed to surface after a year of research. Richard sits in court and later gets sent to a max security prison, where he spends the remaining three months there awaiting his next trial. Despite what he’s been accused of, he still has a loyal fanbase that stays strong, and even a couple who emulate his killer identity, after Richard gets out, he then stands next to the jury, who’s finally ready to declare him guilty or innocent.
The End
While Josh confronts Richard back at the bathroom, the latter obliges to his demands and leaves, but not before Josh warns he’ll be watching him like a hawk. Having no means of winning the competition, Richard leaves the board and heads on home. He didn’t get the part, however neither did Josh as he was found of his misdemeanors and is thus expelled, meaning someone else did. Richard sits on the couch in his lonely apartment, wondering what to do with his life. Tony has been going out more often, due to work and deadlines until almost eventually leaving Richard completely alone. At this point, Richard was struggling to pay the bills, and not knowing what path to take, he could either pursue another career or passion to excel at or just give up and despair altogether.
Six years pass, and Anne is now 18 years old. She’s become a beloved successful actress, and is found in numerous films, some more popular than others and is recognized by millions. Anne is similar to Richard in many ways, she always felt like an outcast and had trouble fitting in, she was a loner, but unlike Richard now has the chance to uphold this dream, be accepted and someone sweet; and be herself.
The End
