In the set, the actors rehearsed for only a short moment before they dove into shooting. The film was initially going to focus solely on Jennifer Lawrence, and the other actors wouldn't get as much screen time, even though they had prepared extensively for their roles. However, due to Lucas's suggestions to the director and writers a few months ago, the producers decided to change the original direction of the film. Now, it's been decided that other actors, especially Lucas, will also receive significant attention on screen.
After all, when comparing the star power of Jennifer and Lucas, it's undeniable that Lucas has the charisma to draw attention. His musical talent has been showcased in films like "127 Hours," "Inception," and "Like Crazy." The producers felt that having Lucas compose original songs for the "Hunger Games" project could earn the film a nomination in the "Best Original Song" category at award shows.
Lucas's musical prowess was further proven by his captivating performance of "Viva La Vida" at the Grammys, which won him fans not only in the USA but also in other parts of the world. This is why the management started taking him seriously. Receiving nominations from prestigious awards ceremonies alone was enough to convince the writers to consider his suggestions.
In Hickory, North Carolina, the shooting commenced in the abandoned village of Henry River Village. After filming a few early sequences, the cast and crew moved to a creaky, dilapidated house large enough to accommodate them all.
The actors held their scripts, even though some of them didn't have many lines to say, they still took their roles seriously. Jennifer was deep in her script because the project "Hunger Games" had undergone a complete overhaul since November 2010. The new script was distributed in early 20111, so she had to memorize and rehearse the new scenes with her co-stars.
Not only Jennifer but also the other actors found the sudden change quite unexpected and bothersome. However, they were given a month to prepare for it after being notified of the changes, which was still quite challenging for them to adapt to.
Lucas, who was responsible for the script changes, was currently discussing the new draft with director Gary and the writers.
"I agree, the original script was too focused on Katniss, and her luck and plot armor were ridiculous too," Director Gary said as he read the new script. "So, I think the revised script is much better than the original one."
"Well, when I read the original script, some parts felt forced, especially the romance between Katniss and Peeta," Lucas said, scratching the back of his head. He received the light praise from the director and writers modestly. To be honest, he wouldn't have spotted anything wrong with the script if he hadn't seen the "Hunger Games" movie in his previous life, but of course, he couldn't share that detail.
"Well, now that you've seen the revised script, what do you think about the romance between Peeta and Katniss?" Suzanne asked Lucas with a smile.
"I think it's good. It doesn't seem as forced as before," Lucas said, putting the script on the table. "I can see why Katniss chose Peeta over Gale, even though Gale had always loved her. She related to Peeta more, since they both were Hunger Games participants. And Katniss is a strong woman who doesn't need protection or dependence from a man. Gale, on the other hand, wanted her to be dependent on him and craved to protect her. There are more complex reasons I didn't mention, but that's the gist of it."
"That's exactly what we want to convey to the audience, Lucas," another writer, Billy, agreed with a nod.
"Right, did you manage to compose a song for this project, Lucas?" Suzanne asked.
Lucas smiled and retrieved a folded piece of paper from his pocket, placing it on the table. "You guys can read it."
Gary took the folded paper and unfolded it, revealing the title of the song: "Everybody Wants to Rule the World."
"That's quite a long title," Suzanne chuckled, then started reading the lyrics.
"Uh… I'm just not good at imagining how this would sound," Gary said as he read the lyrics and the written melody. "I'm not that great with music."
"I guess I could give you a brief performance," Lucas smiled, humming the melody before singing, "Everybody wants to rule the world."
"Wow…" Gary and the others were amazed.
"What do you think, Director Gary? Which scenes do you think this song would fit best in?" Lucas asked the impressed director.
Gary was astonished. He thought to himself, "I thought this kid's 'Inception' song was just a fluke, but it turns out he's really talented." After a moment, he responded, "Well, I have a few scenes in mind where this song would fit perfectly."
"Well, let's table that discussion for now. We need to focus on filming. We start in an hour. Prepare yourself, Lucas," Gary said, patting him on the shoulder.
Lucas nodded. The crew was already preparing, and the actors were getting their makeup done.
Lucas sat in front of the mirror, and the woman doing his makeup couldn't hide her admiration for him. Her name was Elena.
"Hi, Lucas." Elena greeted him.
"Hi." Lucas smiled.
"Don't you remember me? We've worked together before on your previous project!" Elena said.
Lucas tried to recall, and then he remembered a young woman who had been staring at him strangely during the filming of "Inception." Recognizing her, he chuckled, "You're the makeup artist from the 'Inception' makeup department, right?"
Elena smiled widely, "Right! You remember me!"
"Well, it's nice to work with you again," Lucas said, shaking her hand. He could feel her hand trembling a bit. "What's wrong?"
Elena blushed, "I'm just a bit starstruck." She usually didn't get this excited around other actors, not even Leonardo DiCaprio, but Lucas was different.
Elena had been following Lucas's career and was impressed by his work. She especially loved his songs; his album was on repeat when she worked out. And now, being his makeup artist was a dream come true for her.
"I really loved your song. I also fell in love with the song you performed at the Grammys… I'm curious, when are you going to release a studio version of that song?" Elena asked, still able to converse with her idol as she did his makeup.
"Well, I'll definitely do a studio version, but only when I'm not busy," Lucas said, looking at his reflection.
"So, after this project wraps up, you'll record the song?" Elena asked, visibly excited.
Lucas chuckled, "Maybe…"
Elena wanted to playfully respond, but she made a slight mistake in his makeup. She thought Lucas wouldn't notice it, but he said jokingly, "Well, let me just help you fix that." Lucas grabbed a brush and blended the makeup into his skin, then mixed some shades and adjusted the color.
Seeing this, Elena was surprised, "You know how to do makeup?"
Lucas chuckled, "Well, when I'm immersed in a role, I tend to pick up on their habits."
"Wow…" Elena was awestruck by Lucas.
Lucas just smiled. He couldn't tell her that he had inherited the skills from "Peeta Mellark," who had a talent for art that helped him with camouflage and survive the "Hunger Games."
Before they knew it, time flew by, and it was time for the next sequence.
"Alright, filming starts any minute now!" a crew member announced.
Lucas checked his reflection one last time, thanked Elena, and walked out of the tent.
As soon as he left, Elena felt her heart pounding. She sat in the chair where Lucas had been and couldn't help but smile.
---
As the shooting for "The Hunger Games" continued, Lucas's third film, "Like Crazy," was finally screened by Sony Pictures. The limited release began in New York and Los Angeles.
People flocked to watch it out of curiosity since the film had won the "Grand Jury" award at Sundance 2011.
Fans of Lucas also bought tickets to see the film, but they were in the minority. Most of the audience consisted of romance lovers or those who supported indie films.
Once the credits rolled, many viewers couldn't help but shed a tear over the couple's heart-wrenching story. The melodic and melancholic songs Jacob wrote for Anna only made things more emotional, especially since the two of them didn't end up together.
The songs were so good that they heightened the emotional impact of the film…
Audience members who watched the film "Like Crazy" couldn't stop raving about it to their friends and families. Some even took to social media.
One user tweeted, "Trust me, guys! Just listening to the songs in this indie film 'Like Crazy' is worth the ticket price alone. Don't think I'm lying! It's by Lucas Knight!"
More users tweeted about the film, which helped its box office numbers.
Curious moviegoers flocked to watch the film, and afterward, many wondered where Lucas was drawing such heartfelt and beautiful songs from.
"I don't know how his brain works, but if he really composed these songs, he definitely has a place in the music industry," a man said to his group of friends, who nodded in agreement.
Critics were also intrigued, and most of the reviews for the indie film "Like Crazy" were positive, with many praising Lucas Knight's performance. Some even tweeted that they felt like Lucas and Felicity Jones were really in love.
These kinds of conversations amused some people, and the dedicated Lucas fan club and website included Felicity Jones as one of the potential lovers for Lucas Knight.