It was a chill Wednesday afternoon when 24-year-old actor Noah Beck—fit, fresh off a campaign shoot, and scrolling through scripts on his couch—got a call that would flip his week upside down.

“Unknown Caller.”

Normally, he’d let it ring. But something about it made him swipe.

“Hello, this is Noah.”

“Noah! Justin Wu here. Director of the upcoming feature film Sidelined: The QB and Me. Hope I’m not catching you at a bad time?”

Noah sat up. “No, not at all. I’ve heard your name before—what’s up?”

“I’ll get right to it,” Justin said, his voice sharp but friendly. “We’re casting leads for Sidelined. It’s a coming-of-age sports romance—gritty, emotional, with a real heartbeat. Think Friday Night Lights with Gen Z energy. I want you as our lead: Dreyton Lahey, the star quarterback.”

Noah blinked. “Wait, you’re serious?”

“As a playbook on game day,” Justin laughed. “You’ve got the presence. You’re athletic, authentic on screen, and we need someone the audience will root for—even when he’s losing everything.”

Noah grinned. “Wow. That’s crazy. Who’s playing opposite me?”

“Siena Agudong,” Justin replied. “She’ll be playing Dallas Bryan, a driven dancer and cheerleader with her own arc—she’s not just a love interest, she’s a force. She’s 20, super talented, grounded, and the chemistry between you two could be insane.”

Noah stood up, now pacing. “Siena’s amazing. I’ve seen her stuff—she’s got real range.”

“We want the film to feel real, emotional, unforgettable,” Justin said. “There’s football, heartbreak, dancing, college pressure—everything. I’ll send the script tonight. If you’re in, we start reading next week.”