A mockumentary was a television programme that took the form of a serious documentary and satirized its subject.
Averie had never been part of a mockumentary, not even as Gene Conti.
The working title of the show was changed to Long Live the Quinn.
"We are ready for you," a crew member informed Averie, who was relaxing in the RV sent by CBC.
’These things are nice. Will I ever be able to buy one?’
He got up and went out, a coffee mug still in his hand.
It was a slightly cloudy day, with the indication of a clear afternoon.
’Don’t know why people like a sunny sky more than a cloudy sky. Cloudy skies feel serene and magical. Good day to start something new.’
He sipped his coffee. It had a slightly nutty flavour.
Each step he took felt lively.
It was the kind of day that Averie knew would make filming fun. He was at his best on such a day.
He took another sip and placed the mug on the table where sandwiches and juice dispensers were arranged.
He was in the parking lot of Venus’s Son Park, one of the biggest zoos in the world and the biggest in the UK.
It had a large glass dome, making it seem more like an art museum than a zoo.
"Beautiful, isn’t it?" came the voice from behind.
Averie looked back to find an older spectacled gentleman.
"Mr. Sloan?" Averie extended his hand. "I didn’t expect you to be here."
The tall gentleman shook his hand.
"I always visit the site on the first day of filming."
"Even for smaller programmes?"
He played with his stubble. "Yes, although this one can’t be considered small."
"Is it not?" Averie grinned. "Why would you hire a new actor like me otherwise? I have never even worked in comedy."
He wanted to test and tease the old man.
"I think a fresh personality was what we needed. People get bored with the same faces, and if the idea isn’t entirely original, it becomes imperative to take risks rather than stick to the safer options."
"Don’t you think it was a bit of a hasty decision? Hiring me, I mean."
"No, we needed to do it."
"You think I can deliver comedic value?"
"I believe your ability to insult, anger, and confound the other party might just be an extraordinary talent. You won’t even need to try. It will come naturally, I am sure."
After sharing pleasantries, Averie moved on.
He noticed Hyerin on a call and decided to leave her alone.
A number of ladies swarmed him, checking his clothes and fixing his makeup.
"Beige looks good on you, Mr. Auclair."
He was wearing a double-breasted teal green coat over a beige turtleneck and black dress pants.
His hair was neatly parted, and his eyeliner was removed.
His piercings and chains were in the care of Min-Ha, who was busy taking selfies with her lips pursed.
"Smile for me, Quinn," she said as she captured a selfie of the two together. "This is going on my Delfa account."
Averie spotted a man instructing the first AD.
"One camera should continuously keep filming at all times, and..."
He was the director chosen for this project.
Director Gerrard Harrison was his name.
He was in his late forties, like most established directors.
’A director who has only ever directed documentaries.’
Noticing Averie’s gaze, the director left the AD and approached the diabolical actor.
"This is our first time meeting, isn’t it, Mr. Auclair?"
"Yes, sir. I would have preferred to meet earlier."
The wrinkles around his eyes made him look like a harmless old man. It lent him his calm air.
"I had hoped that, too. But the schedule was tight; I had to leave everything to CBC. Of course, I am sure you will do fine." He smiled like a man of mercy and grace. "A mockumentary is just a documentary with a few jokes after all."
After discussing the details of the show, he left for his chair.
The AD signalled Averie, and the actor nodded back.
A crew member handed him a mic.
After a little touchup, the crew cleared the area.
Averie breathed in a deep breath.
There weren’t that many crew members. A production , where on-location filming was common, didn’t involve large crews.
There weren’t any other actors involved, so he didn’t have to worry about synergy and all that.
The cameras were trained only on him.
The only thing running through his head was the premise of the show.
The character he was playing was himself with a sprinkle of fiction mixed in.
’I am Averie Quinn Auclair, an egotistical actor. I lost a bet with Mr. Sloan and had to film a documentary series.’
’But I am unhappy with the situation, and it shows through my grumpy, cynical, and unserious attitude.’
The AD gave a signal.
After a moment of silence, he called, "Sound."
"Speed," replied the sound mixer.
"Scene 1, Ant, Take 1," the second AC read, holding the clapperboard in front of the camera.
"Rolling," replied the first AC.
The second AC clapped the jaws of the slate shut, removing himself and the slate from the frame.
"Action," called the director.
Averie stood at the back entrance of the zoo.
"A friend once asked me, ’What is zoology?’ He died before I could answer. It wasn’t a smart idea to ask a question in the middle of the road," he said into his mic.
"Well, zoology is the scientific study of animals. A famous online archive describes a zoo as ’a facility where animals are kept within enclosures for public exhibition and often bred for conservation purposes.’"
He took a leisurely step towards the entrance.
"What are these conservation purposes?" he asked with a solemn face. "Is breeding animals a pastime of conservatives?"
Struggling with the mic in his hand, he took off his coat.
"The panda population is in decline. It is known that they rarely breed." His brows furrowed. "Then, are pandas ascetics?"
He took off his turtleneck and stood there half-naked.
’Is that a tattoo on his chest?’ Hyerin wondered. ’When did he get one?’
"Why do my friends tell me that I belong in a zoo?"
He picked up the black t-shirt hanging from the knob of the back door, waved it in the air, and wore it.
The Quinn was printed on it.
"Are Hyenas evil? Why do they hate lions?"
With a serious expression, he ran a hand through his hair.
He opened the door and took a step in.
"We will find the answers to these profound questions in this episode of Long Live the Quinn."