The next day on set, I was met with a very apologetic Jamie.
"Troy, I'm very sorry for my behavior yesterday. I hope you can forgive me," Jamie pleaded, bending slightly at the front with his hands joined in a universal begging motion.
"Okay," I answered simply.
Jamie looked up in surprise. "Okay?"
I shrugged. "What else do you want me to do? Humiliate you? That's what kids do. One piece of advice from me, though: if you want to survive in the industry for long, either make sure not to offend anyone or become so powerful that people are fearful of offending you. Got that?"
Jamie nodded uncertainly, and I walked back to the set.
I didn't care that much about Jamie to even think excessively about his actions. Evan, whom I cared about like a brother at one point, was much higher on the totem pole compared to Jamie, whom I had just met a few days ago. I had ended my friendship with Evan because I truly felt betrayed by his actions. Jamie, on the other hand, was just some guy who shouted at me. Yes, it made me feel guilty at the moment, but I already had a plan to assuage my guilt somewhat. The only thing to see was if my plan would be successful or not. But that can wait.
Today, we were shooting the scene where Billy teaches Jamie's character some ballet, but they are caught by Billy's father. Billy dances in front of him, showing his great potential and changing his father's mind about ballet.
It was Stephen Daldry and Peter Darling's plan to get most of the dancing out of the way before we shot other dramatic scenes. The next scene planned was Billy's dance practice with his ballet teacher. Then, the only remaining major dance sequence would be the audition in London, which was to be shot last at the real Royal Ballet School.
"Okay, Troy," Stephen began his scene explanation, "the next one we'll begin right here from the moment your father walks in and sees you dancing with Michael in a tutu. Jamie will then slide down the tutu and look at you disappointedly. Gary, you'll be standing right here at this point. Got it?"
We both nodded in understanding.
"Troy, you'll dance all around Gary without going any further from him so that we can capture his expression as well as your dancing in one take. The most important thing is your expressions. As you begin dancing, you're a little angry at your dad, but you dance with a purpose, to prove yourself. As you dance more and more, your frown turns to a smile, which fades instantly when your dad walks out. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"Good. Peter, the rest is up to you. Explain all his moves and do a rehearsal scene before we begin shooting," Stephen commanded Peter before taking a few steps back.
"Alright," Peter took over, "Troy, you'll begin with a basic tap from this point," he said, tapping his right foot on a point in front of Gary, "and continue dancing like this."
Peter then performed the dance that I was supposed to do, obviously with more elegance and skill than me. I had seen and done the two-minute dance sequence so many times that even my muscles remembered exactly what had to be done and at what point in the music.
In the original movie, Billy danced much further away from his father, causing many cuts to show the real-time expressions of the father. This time, it wouldn't be the case. As Peter continued dancing, Gary also showed his professionalism and turned around with him, displaying the correct expressions of bewilderment on his face.
When Peter finished the sequence with a cool ballet pose, everyone in the vicinity clapped loudly, including me.
Ignoring the noise, Peter just smiled a little and said, "Now it's your turn. Remember to change your position every 10-15 seconds. The camera will be placed on wheels for this scene and will keep up with you. Just focus on your dance. Nothing else matters to you."
So, I got into position.
(Break)
Filming a dance movie like 'Dancer' was very different from a musical. Although The Sixth Sense wasn't exactly a musical with only one song, it did give me the experience of shooting one with live singing and all that jazz.
After a whole week, we had completed three of the major dance sequences and their practice sessions. Julie Walters, who played Billy's dance teacher was an absolute delight to work with. Although she had a little trouble learning all the dance sequences because of her age, she more than made up for it with the charisma she brought to the screen.
Right now, I was shooting for the most difficult scene of the movie.
"I thought he was gonna hit me or something," I said while sitting on Debbie's bed and fidgeting with a doll of hers.
"Don't be silly," Debbie said as she sat on the bed as well, "He's just under a lot of pressure. That's what Mom says. I think it's because he drinks too much."
"Does he drink too much, like?" I asked curiously.
The conversation went on for a couple minutes with Billy and Debbie talking about their parents, dancing, and sex. We had to redo a few dialogues sometimes because the actress playing Debbie was inexperienced and fumbled with her lines more than once.
"Does your mam have sex then?" I asked with a mix of amusement and genuine curiosity.
"No, she's unfulfilled. That's why she does the dancing," came her matter-of-fact reply.
"She does dancing instead of sex?" I asked incredulously. "Your family's weird, a bloody mental lot of them," I laughed at my own joke.
"No, they're not." Here she started stroking my hair and boy didn't that creep me out. I had to force every urge of mine to not shudder at the thought of doing any lewd stuff with an 11-year-old girl.
Keeping a suave grin pasted on my face, I hit her with the pillow that was lying on the bed. The pillows were stuffed full of loose feathers so that more than naturally possible ones came out and made our pillow fight more interesting as we hit each other.
For the next scene, I leaned over her and stared into her eyes with clear hesitation as she stroked my cheek with her finger.
"Cut!" Stephen's voice rang out on the set.
I straightened myself up when the director walked in and said, "Troy, I know this scene is awkward, but we have to do it. It's already the fifth retake. You hardly ever take anything more than three."
"Do we have to do this?" I complained, "Can't I just hug her? That's pretty intimate for 11-year-olds. I mean we haven't even begun puberty."
"Come on Troy. It's just a scene," Mum voiced from the sidelines, "You didn't have a problem when you read the script for the first time."
I glared at Mum and she just grinned evilly back at me. Yeah, I upset her over the weekend when I told her that British food is bland and American is much better. We had a whole debate over it that didn't reach anywhere. And now, she was having her revenge by making me uncomfortable.
Normally Mum is not exactly on the spot of my shoot, but because this scene is a little...sensitive in nature, both of the minors' guardians were present on the scene.
"I ask again," I turned to Stephen, ignoring Mum for now, "do we really have to do this?" I was asking this question repeatedly because the original Billy Elliot film didn't have any sort of kissing scene in it. Maybe they filmed an alternate version of it? Or maybe they cut it out in the post-production? Whatever the case may be, even if they cut the scene, I'll have to do it for now.
"Yes." Came the immediate reply.
I sighed, "Fine. Let's get this over with then." I firmed my resolve.
'Remember Troy, it's just a scene, and physically she's older than you so no one can call you a pedophile.' I reminded myself mentally as I closed my eyes for a moment to ready myself.
When I opened my eyes again, I saw that Nicola, who was playing Debbie wasn't faring any better than me. But it was different for her because she didn't have the knowledge of being an older person once.
"You okay?" I asked her hesitantly, not wanting to be presumptive in this situation.
She nodded with confidence that even I was not feeling. Her confidence was infectious because I smiled and turned to Stephen, "Okay, we're ready!"
I climbed over Nicola as soon as I heard action. She started stroking my cheek. I slowly lowered myself over her and soon our lips met briefly. Before it could go on any further, Nicola opened her mouth and let out a loud burp right in my face.
I backed away from her mouth quickly and started laughing while still leaning over her. Nicola had covered her face in embarrassment, but Stephen never said cut, so I remained in character and continued with my next line, "See, you're a nutter, you!"
"Debbie!" Came Julie Walters' voice recording and I instantly jumped away from Nicola, "It's time for Billy to go home! Come on, Billy. I'll drop you off at the corner."
I got up and walked away from the bed, "See ya Debbie!" I whispered and quickly tried to walk away while she was still hiding her face in embarrassment. She hadn't said even a single word after the burp.
"And Cut! Wonderful! What an innocent little mishap at the right moment! Perfect!" Stephen confidently announced on the set, "All credit goes to Troy for remaining in character and giving us this gold!"
From a director's POV it made sense because later on when Billy calls Debbie about missing the audition, she doesn't answer his call. After all, he 'hurt' her feelings when he rejected her romantic advance later on.
I just realized that makes this film sound so much worse when I put it like that.
I was broken out of my musing when the crew started clapping after hearing the director's praise for me. Suddenly, I had an epiphany. Did the whole crew just applaud my first kiss with an 11-year-old? We humans are a messed up lot, aren't we?
"Can we redo this take, Stephen?" Nicola asked in lingering embarrassment. "Please?"
"Aren't you glad that this is over with, Nicola?" Stephen asked. "Believe me, this whole scene looked very good."
"People won't tease you for the rest of your days for burping in the boy's face who was my first kiss," Nicola argued and I felt even much worse about the take.
Stephen took Nicola and her mother aside and talked with them for a few minutes. After that, it was clear that we were using that take. There was nothing I or anyone else could do about it.
(Break)
June turned into July and with it came the end of shooting for 'Dancer' which would hopefully soon be renamed into [Billy Elliot]. We shot some scenes in London and I enjoyed the whole process a lot.
The best part was getting to participate in a few of the advanced ballet lessons at the Royal Ballet School (RBS). And damn, the teachers were strict. Peter was more of a freestyle guy with a love for tap that he loved to mash into most of his dances.
At the RBS, you could not mix another form of dance at any cost. It had to be strictly ballet. I learned it the hard way when the strict teacher who was carrying a cane rapped my calves whenever I made a mistake.
Soon that too came to an end as we were done with the shooting.
"I propose a toast!" Stephen raised his glass high, "To all our cast and crew for making these last couple of months so wonderful and the shooting process so easy!"
"Cheers!" A chorus rang out through the crowd as people enjoyed the free booze.
"Troy!"
I turned towards the voice to find Jamie Bell standing there in front of me with a smile on his face. I smiled back.
After the initial squabble, we had eventually bonded during the shooting process. At the time when he shouted at me, he was angry because his family could desperately use some of the funds that a lead role would guarantee.
I couldn't get him a lead role, but I could offer them some monetary relief. Not by giving them money outright, no, they were too proud to accept that. I did something better; I asked Dad to give his Mom a job. And he did.
Jamie's Mom Eileen was now a production assistant on the Harry Potter set. Even if I'm not cast as Harry, she has a steady job for the next decade or so if everything goes well, thus giving Jamie some financial stability in his life. No child should feel pressured to earn money for their family at this tender age.
"Jamie," I did a little mock-bow in front of him, "How may I help you?"
Jamie looked at me weirdly, "You're not drunk, are you?"
"Dude, I'm 10," I deadpanned, "If I drink right now, I'll die of liver failure or something."
Jamie gave me a dubious look, "Really?"
I nodded emphatically before lying through my teeth, "Yes, my friend Evan told me that his cousin Jimmy died of the same reason."
A horrified expression crossed Jamie's face as if he'd drunk some... Oh! This is gold!
"You didn't drink anything bad, did you, Jamie?" I asked slyly.
"No, no, I absolutely didn't," he shook his head frantically.
"Good," I smiled at him, "Did you want to talk about something specific or just hang out?"
"Yeah, I was thinking," he hesitated, "You got Mom a job on the set of Harry Potter, do you think you can get me a part in the film as well? I just love the books. It's okay if you can't..."
I raised my hand to stop his rambling midway. I knew people my age would come to me when they got to know about Harry Potter, but this was the first time this had actually happened to me. Any other person, I'd have rebuffed indirectly, without being too harsh. But this was Jamie. He was an excellent actor and in the last few weeks, we had gotten very close. Much closer than I was to Nicola or anyone else on the set.
"I don't have any power over the casting process," I told him clearly, "But I can recommend you to the director if you want? I don't even know which roles have been cast already."
"Yes! Thank you so much, Troy! Though, I won't blame you if I don't get the part."
I nodded at him, "Yeah, just make sure you get the role of either Ron, Draco, or Neville. Any other part would be just a background role with hardly any dialogues."
"Not Harry?" Jamie asked curiously before eyeing me up and down, "Or are you playing that one?"
"It's not final yet," I shook my head, "But, they won't give you the part of Harry because you're too tall to play him. They want a short boy because of his relatives' treatment of him."
That was true. Jamie, being a 13-year-old, was too old to play an emaciated 11-year-old boy. He could easily play Draco or even Ron because they were from normal families. And if I remember correctly, Tom Felton, who played Draco, was older than Emma Watson by two years, and they still cast him. So casting Jamie in a significant role was not completely out of the question.
It helped that he was on the shorter side when it came to 13-year-olds. Probably why he was cast as Billy at his age.
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