However, with the advances in film technology and set designing, almost all the shots were shot in a studio located in Westside, Los Angeles.
When Natasha entered the crew, the filming was already in progress. Being a medium-budget commercial film from a new production house, there were no script meetings or such things present.
So the first time Natasha interacted with other stars in the crew was on the day of her shooting. Entering the studio, Natasha was escorted to the makeup trailer immediately by a set assistant.
Tony, who acted as both her bodyguard and assistant, came along with her. Natasha noticed that most of the crew members were black and only a few positions in the crew were filled with white people. This gave her an idea as to what kind of crew she was in.
Considering that she had the backing of the producer Cody Murphy and the director Kyle, no one made things difficult for her. Her makeup was done quickly and another representative of the crew brought over her costume for the play.
Natasha's shot was scheduled to be shot in the afternoon. Since she came early in the morning, her makeup and costume work were done within an hour or so. Natasha had ample time to get used to the atmosphere in the crew before she was required to shoot.
The first shot that featured her that was going to be filmed was a literary drama featuring her and a few extras. So, the shot was entirely focused on Natasha. This would be a huge test of her current acting skills.
So, Natasha didn't bother wasting time and started going through the script in her hand. Meanwhile, Tony went to mingle with the black workers on the set and get to know the lay of the land.
Around noon, Tony returned with some juicy information.
"The only person you need to be careful of in this crew is Jeffery Robinson," Tony whispered to Natasha as they ate their lunch. "He is an old man who has been in the circle for some time. According to what I heard, he has been flexing his muscles during shooting."
Natasha knew from her counterpart's memories that power struggles within the crew were very common things. Even though she had the support of the producer and the director, things were not simple when it comes to interpersonal relationships within the crew.
"What do you mean?" Natasha asked pausing her intake.
"He is the only known face in the movie. The hero Joey Adams is a newcomer. The heroine Amanda Piers is not that famous. That makes this old man Jeffery Robinson's voice higher than theirs."
"While Director Kyle is well respected in the crew and has the support of the producer, he is not famous. That leaves Jeffery Robinson as the only one with some fame in the crew. And this old man is not simple. In this crew, he is the biggest shark," Tony said looking around furtively.
"What should I need to be careful of?" Natasha asked narrowing her eyes.
"In the past few days, during dialogue scenes, this old man has been dominating the shots. He even stole the scene from Joey Adams and Amanda Piers. This has made the director a bit dissatisfied. But, he can't say anything because the shots have come out good. The old man knows his limits. But, be prepared to be pressured by him. He will embarrass you if possible," Tony said frowning a bit.
Natasha understood what Tony was telling. No matter how big an actor is, they must first serve the story. Unless they are veritable megastars who can carry the box office alone, they must follow the tone set by the story.
In this film, the absolute protagonist is Joey Adams. Jeffery Robinson who plays the corrupt officer Terrence Gills should not steal the scene from Joey Adams normally.
But, this old man has been stealing the scene from everyone until now. And it was likely that he will do that with Natasha as well. Such things are usually frowned upon.
However, being the only actor with some fame, Jeffery Robinson knows that he is indispensable for the movie. So, he was taking advantage of the fact and bullying others with his acting skills.
"I see," Natasha replied nodding her head. "I understand, no need to worry."
"You have the director and producer's support. But, if you become too embarrassed and need the help of the director to deal with Jeffery, then you will make them look bad," Tony reminded.
"Don't worry, as long as the old man doesn't do something outrageous, I can manage," Natasha replied confidently.
"I think the director also knows this. That is why most of your scenes for the next few days are not against that old man," Tony supplied with a small smile.
"So, they are letting me get accustomed to the shooting before pushing me into the ring huh?" Natasha chuckled.
"Perks of having a good relationship with the director and producer," Tony smirked.
"I will take all the help I get," Natasha said calmly.
She wasn't arrogant enough to think that she can match acting skills with an old drama bone like Jeffery Robinson. She was confident in her acting skills to play the role perfectly, but she wasn't delusional. So, Natasha didn't have any burden receiving such good intentions.
"Anything else?" Natasha asked.
"Nothing else that you need to keep an eye on. Amanda might be a little sore with you regarding the film's publicity going to be tilted towards you slightly, but she wouldn't make a fuss. Most of the crew are Cody Murphy's men. So, no issues on that front," Tony replied.
"My, my, Tony," Natasha chuckled. "Are you planning on a career change? You seem well-versed in this stuff. You can be my assistant in the future if you are this good."
"No, you need a female assistant," Tony replied shaking his head. "At most, I can only be a bodyguard or a manager."
"You know I am not averse to having you in that position, right?" Natasha asked looking at Tony seriously.
"Nat, I know you want me to step away from my old life. I understand it. And this stuff is also interesting. I initially wanted to help you out. So, I asked some friends of Doug about some details I need to pay attention to. That's why I can manage. But, I don't know if I want to do this for the rest of my life," Tony said frowning a bit.
Natasha remained silent hearing his words. She was a little touched that Tony went the extra mile to help her out. But, she knew that Tony was always like that. He always cared for her like a little sister. So, it wasn't that surprising to her.
"I understand," Natasha said patting Tony's hands. "Take this time to see if this life suits you. If not, no issues. I will always have your back no matter what you choose."
"Thank you, Nat," Tony smiled and shook his head. "Let's worry about that later. You need to get ready for your shot."
*****
In the following days, Natasha's shot went very smoothly. She nailed all the scenes that were filmed and very rarely did she go over five or six ngs. As for the ngs that happened, that was very common.
Apart from the state of the actors, there are a million things that can go wrong during a shot like lighting, camera angles, props, and whatnot. So, for a newcomer, she was doing really fine.
And today was the day when she would play against Jeffery Robinson for the first time. The scene was a confrontation between Daisy Hill and Terrence Gills. After learning about Terrence's involvement in a gang shootout, Daisy confronts him in his office. That was the scene that was set up for today's shooting.
Natasha knew full well that Jeffery Robinson would take this opportunity to dominate her in the play. She didn't want to be suppressed by him. She knew that this scene would set the tone of their interaction for the rest of the filming. So, she was doubly prepared for today's filming.
Natasha waited nearby after doing her makeup and donning her costume of a black short skirt that ended up at her thigh. She was wearing high heels and her makeup was done to look both sexy and tough.
When Jeffery Robinson came out after finishing his makeup, he made his way straight to Natasha and offered his hand in a gentlemanly way. Natasha shook his hand and smiled at him.
"I have heard a lot about you, Ms. Natasha Lyons," Jeffery said in a peculiar tone.
"I hope it's all good," Natasha smiled amicably and replied.
"No," Jeffery said bluntly causing Natasha to be taken aback slightly. "I heard that you were an arrogant girl who didn't know what was good for her. Frankly, seeing you, I think that assessment might be right. Anyways, we will see what you are made of in a few minutes."
Natasha narrowed her eyes hearing Jeffery speak. Even though she wasn't afraid of the old man, she didn't want to be in conflict with him either. But now, this old man was provoking intentionally before the shot.
"I hope so as well. We will also see if you are just a bully who relies on seniority or someone with substance soon," Natasha smiled sweetly and replied.
Jeffery Robinson's eyes narrowed. It was clear that he didn't expect Natasha to fire back. Her shot at his age made him feel a bit unpleasant.
*****
A/N: Check out my other stories and let me know your thoughts...
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