In the cooler air of the Car Park outside, Annabel takes a moment to read through the Rejection Letter. Perhaps the space away from the jostling crowd of partygoers does indeed help change her mood:
-Oh, this is the Elbridge Colony, the Arts Fellowship, I know this! (Annabel frowns, and then seems to look at you in a new light) I go there all the time. It was part of my wellness recovery program, see. It was very spiritual and lifechanging. I think it used to be called the Urban Project for Youth Rehabilitation, they developed all these pioneering therapy and wellbeing initiatives, called Structural Adjustment Programs, as charity to help poor and impoverished regions all around. But I think they changed the name because "rehab", well, it has connotations. And they discovered the same therapy techniques can also help artists unlock their creativity. They are all about growth, really deep meaningful artistic growth and enabling your personal and spiritual journey. It really works! Look at me! It isn't like a cult or anything, they don't give you shock therapy! Oh and the house there is really, really beautiful, you have to see it. It belongs to this lady, Melinda - she was married to that former CEO, Eric Sunder, of the Imago Technology Ventures Fund, I think they are separated or something, so she is quite reclusive, she doesn't come out very often. But she used to be a really famous actress herself too! I really want her to become my mentor. Maybe she could help me get an audition...
Natalie wipes at the condensation on her glasses, as she ponders thoughtfully:
-I thought you said you hated that Eric Sunder CEO person, Annabel? Didn't he predict that very soon, AI will replace the need for actresses, they will just synthetically generate your voices and faces and bodies from digitalised computer archive imagery?
Annabel sighs,
-They can do it already. There are some really mean and sick individuals on this message board, I think it is called like
4kennel.org or something, they are always undressing actresses with nude digital effects, and they can even fake voices, video. But you would have to be really stupid to fall for it though. Like imagine receiving a random phone call, from a number you have never seen before, and just because the voice sounds like someone you know, you believe them and do everything they say. No-one would ever fall for that! (Annabel turns to you) Oh, it is cold out here (she rubs her bare arms in the chill air). Listen, you are... not all bad, to be around. You should come visit us at the Elbridge Colony some day, as a guest. I'll invite you in. You can see what it is like...
