Tyson passed the posters a few times on the way to filming. Mock ones, made by the marketing department, generally trying to get a ‘feel’ for the tone of the movie. Tyson spent about fifteen minutes staring at one of them. It had him, in his make up and costume, in a minor action pose. It was solid black except for his body. “Sonic Adventure” it read across the top of the poster.

“ALSO STARRING TYSON BRYCE AS BIG THE CAT” it read across the bottom.

It felt gratifying to see his name like that again. It made him feel like he had gotten it back, like he had made another name for himself. Tiger Beat called him Ty-Bry back in his sitcom days, and that was how he was known. Tyson. It sounded different, more dignified. More real.

“Big the Cat Scene 23 in Fifteen!” The voice came, snapping Tyson out of his daze. The name was there, but he still had to prove it.

He was in the middle of the soundstage now, muttering lines to himself. “Hey, Joe, I think the lighting is a bit soft near the rocks! Open the shades up a bit if you can!” He yelled to a nearby lighting technician, who opened them before giving him a smile and a thumbs up. Tyson thumbs upped back.

The director had personally thanked him the other day over drinks. Tyson wasn’t drunk yet, his body making it very hard to get that sloshed, but the director was visibly hammered. He ranted about working with the child stars they had to get for Sonic, Tails, Amy, and others, and how hard it was to keep them in line. The director kept on praising Tyson, even when it got a bit weird, for his kindness and professionalism, his scenes a “goddamn respite” from working with the others.

Speaking of the others, Chad, Sonic’s actor, was silently standing off to the side, staring daggers at Tyson. He still hadn’t forgiven him over the Butt Press incident. The details had circulated around the set, used to poke holes at him whenever his ego got overly big. Tyson had apologized, but Chad saw it as an ‘injustice’ and hadn’t forgiven him. Tyson didn’t really care, though.

Tyson slyly grinned and turned to Chad. “Hey man, I know you are still cross, but I have to say… I don’t think it’s a BIG deal!”

Everybody on set laughed while Chad hyperventilated.