Jeremy felt like his little heart was undergoing a severe test. They had been shooting a single scene for four whole days and still hadn't managed to complete it. They were stuck, going round in circles, and the entire crew was enduring an ordeal.
What made it even worse was that this scene involved Renly's crying scene and Sami's slapping scene. Both parts were challenging to shoot, and the actors' energy and stamina were continuously pushed to their limits. Jeremy couldn't help but wonder how it felt for Renly to cry for four days straight. Did his eyes swell up? Did he ever consider using eye drops?
It wasn't an exaggeration to say that these four days of shooting felt like hell, tormenting everyone's nerves.
For the first time in four days, Tony and Renly left the bus to review the playback. This lifted Jeremy's spirits high, as if he had already glimpsed the dawn of victory.
Truth be told, the scene they had just witnessed was absolutely magnificent. Jeremy almost wanted to give Renly a standing ovation. The young actor had displayed an incredible sense of performance, delivering emotions that were delicate, genuine, profound, and vivid. It was truly awe-inspiring. It was no wonder he had gained such recognition from industry professionals.
"Jeremy?" A low voice called to him. Jeremy turned and saw the hopeful and excited eyes of his colleagues. Their glances were jubilant and fervent, tinged with a hint of pleading. There was no need for many words; Jeremy understood the depth of their feelings.
In truth, Jeremy shared the same sentiment as his colleagues. They all hoped that these four days of torment would come to an end soon. The excellence of the scene they had just witnessed was indisputable, and they could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel in their work. However, as the production manager, Jeremy couldn't afford to be hasty. He subtly gestured for everyone to remain patient and composed, reminding them that Tony and Renly were still reviewing the playback.
However, this single gesture was more than enough. The faint smile in Jeremy's eyes, which he tried to conceal, slipped through. It was an exceedingly positive signal.
The young man who had just called Jeremy's name turned around, a joyful expression on his face. He raised his hands high, and his fellow crew members behind him celebrated with high-fives. The crisp sound of clapping hands resonated in the tranquil night, and Jeremy immediately turned and hushed them with an exaggerated, mockingly angry expression. Everyone obediently closed their mouths and looked eagerly at Tony and Renly as they watched the playback for the third time.
Sitting in the back row of the bus, Sami adjusted her breathing. Repeatedly shooting the same scene without knowing if her performance was right or wrong was disheartening. She couldn't figure out how to make adjustments in such repetitive conditions. But the scene they had just shot was different.
Sami could feel the strength in Renly's performance, a subtle force guiding her own acting. Her immersion and interpretation flowed smoothly, feeling as effortless as flowing water. Sami felt extremely satisfied with her performance, and this was probably the best she had done since the start of filming.
After the performance, Sami obediently sat in place, waiting for further instructions. However, her mind kept replaying Renly's eyes from earlier—the profound sadness and pain that seemed to penetrate deep into her bones, hammering away at her heart. It was a feeling that defied description, leaving her in awe of Renly's talent as one of the leading actors of their generation.
Indeed, there was a world of difference between observing and experiencing it firsthand.
When she snapped back to reality, Sami noticed that Tony and Renly hadn't reappeared yet. Nearly ten minutes had passed without a word from them. Sami's mood became uneasy, and she couldn't help but wonder if her performance had issues. Renly's acting had been outstanding, almost flawless in her eyes, but the fact that they hadn't heard anything since was unsettling. Did this mean that her own performance had been lacking?
With this thought, Sami bit her lower lip anxiously. She knew better than anyone how hard Renly had worked and suffered these past few days. His role had been more challenging, and he had insisted on not using eye drops to achieve genuine tears. Every shoot had been an ordeal. In addition to that, he had to guide her since this was her first time acting in a film. Everything was new to her, and during the shoot, they had encountered minor problems, but Renly had always patiently provided guidance.
Now, after finally capturing a perfect shot, if they had to reshoot because of her mistake... Sami's emotions were stretched taut, and she felt extremely anxious, as if sitting on pins and needles. Unable to hold back any longer, she left the bus and walked toward the direction of the monitor. She glanced at the still-engaged Renly and Tony but hesitated to interrupt. Instead, she stood there restlessly, staring at their backs.
Betty seemed to sense Sami's mood. She moved slightly closer to Sami, standing shoulder to shoulder as a solid support. Sami raised her head, and the two exchanged a glance, but neither could muster a smile. They both turned their gaze back to Tony.
The discussion had ended.
Tony and Renly had finally finished their conversation, and the entire crew held their breath, full of anticipation yet apprehension, all eyes fixed on Tony, awaiting the director's judgment. But before Tony could speak, they saw Renly taking steps forward, not back onto the bus, but into the darkness ahead.
What's going on? What happened?
Panic spread among the crew, their gazes shifting rapidly, assessing the situation but unable to focus. Then they heard Tony's voice, "Take a half-hour break and then reshoot."
High expectations dropped like a freefall, crashing hard to the ground and shattering into pieces. Smiles froze on their faces, unable to dissipate, but disappointment crept into their eyes, sinking in slowly.
"Tony, are you saying we have to reshoot this scene?" Jeremy tightly clenched his hands, as if in prayer and determination, his eyes filled with urgency as he looked at Tony. Not this, please tell me it's not this.
But Jeremy was left disappointed. Tony didn't hesitate; he simply nodded decisively, turned away, and lit a cigarette. His furrowed brows carried a heavy burden of frustration and annoyance, his short-temper turning into deep-seated regret. He vigorously ruffled his hair, and a negative atmosphere surrounded him like a low-pressure system.
"Damn it!"
It wasn't Tony, but finally, someone couldn't contain themselves anymore and let their emotions out in a stream of curses. This angry outburst ignited a powder keg. The higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment. Four consecutive nights of working through dawn had drained everyone's patience. They had been trapped not only in a maze but also in a cage formed by this battered old bus!
"Damn it!" Profanities followed one after the other, mutterings and grumbling filling the air. Everyone turned away from Tony's location, retreating a considerable distance. Some vented their anger on other objects, and a thick cloud of resentment hung over the entire film crew like an impenetrable storm cloud.
Sami stood there, dumbfounded. Her tears gushed forth without warning. It had to be her fault, surely because of her. Renly's performance had been so brilliant; how could it have gone wrong? It had to be because of her.
Turning to look at the crew members who were cursing and showing fits of temper, Sami bit her lower lip tightly. Her eyes were filled with confusion and helplessness. She raised her hand, trying to regain her composure, but it was easier said than done. Tears flowed incessantly, and she felt powerless.
Beside her, Betty encircled Sami in her arms. She didn't say anything; instead, she offered warmth and comfort with her embrace. The faint sobs of "It's all my fault... What should I do?" could be heard.
Jeremy stood in place, his head hung low, his entire heart feeling shattered into pieces. He found it challenging to put into words the overwhelming sense of defeat he felt. However, as a production assistant, he couldn't wallow in his emotions, and he certainly couldn't let this negative atmosphere linger. It would be detrimental to the upcoming shoots.
Taking a deep breath, Jeremy lifted his head and saw his colleague standing nearby. "Intentional, they must be doing this intentionally! Tony and Renly are like this! They treat it as an art form, continuously going in circles here. But the problem is, we're just regular filmmakers. We're not Van Gogh; we don't need to cut off our ears to make a good movie!"
"Sean..." Jeremy had only managed to call out his name before Sean sternly interrupted, "I heard it all, I heard it just now. They said the scene was good, everything was good, but it felt like something was missing, so they have to think it over and redo it several times." The man named Sean paced back and forth, his expression twisted and menacing, like ants on a hot stove.
"That's not me saying it; they said it themselves! Good, everything was good! Everything was damn good, so why do they need to redo it! Goddamn nonsense!" He not only failed to hide his voice but also directed it, somewhat indirectly, toward Tony's location, shouting loudly. Other people around cast angry glances, their eyes filled with fury aimed at Tony. "What do you mean by "feeling like something is missing" without a clue? It's damn nonsense!"