On May 6th, on the outskirts of Los Angeles, one European-style mansion stood out among several. Nearby, a few trucks bearing the lion logo were parked, while Neill Blomkamp directed the crew as they unloaded equipment.
Today was the first day of filming for the movie Blue Is the Warmest Colour. After months of preparation, everything was set for production to begin.
In truth, filming conditions had been ready for quite some time. At Eric's instruction, shooting could have commenced two weeks ago. However, since he was aiming to direct, he wanted to find a reliable assistant who was not only well-versed in the field but also an efficient executor. This way, he could delegate numerous responsibilities.
A suitable candidate was found a week ago. MGM selected Andrea Arnold, a British director, to assist Eric. Despite being British, Andrea had received her directing education in the United States, originally working as a presenter before becoming a director. Over her ten-year career, which began in 1998 with the short film Milk, she had recently completed her second short film, Dog.
After the interview, Andrea impressed Eric with her grounded and reliable professionalism. She was an efficient worker with a solid foundation and an understanding of art, yet she was not aggressive about imposing her own ideas. This restraint proved crucial and won her the role of assistant director, ahead of Patty Jenkins.
Now, Andrea was talking to the mansion's owners, explaining key guidelines, with confidentiality being the most important. Luckily, unlike Transformers, this shoot was not in the middle of the city. The crew only needed to deal with a few families, who had all signed non-disclosure agreements.
"Eric, Elizabeth wanted me to thank you for recommending her for the role in A Quiet Place," said the approaching Olsen twins.
"No problem. She was perfect for the role, so I picked her. The audition was just a formality," Eric replied.
"By the way, is little Elizabeth registered with the actors' guild?"
"Yes, she has been registered since she was seven, but her roles were mainly small parts on TV. A Quiet Place is her first major film," they explained.
"Too bad she's already registered. I was hoping to save some money on child labor," Eric joked.
The cheerful Mary nudged him:
"You're funny! Why do you always have such strange ideas?"
"Actually, you don't know, but little Elizabeth really wanted to audition for Spy Kids, but she didn't make it. The casting director said something that upset her deeply. Ashley and I couldn't help her get the big roles."
"So, now I'm her hero and idol?"
Mary nodded:
"Exactly. When she got the audition call, our whole family was over the moon. Ashley and I had a long talk about it with our parents."
"Did you discuss how to thank me?"
"Yes, we decided that the best way would be to make you Elizabeth's godfather!"
"Poof!"
Eric spit water onto the monitor:
"The screen, wipe the screen fast!"
Seeing Mary's playful expression, Eric realized she was teasing him. Ridiculous! I'm 22, and Elizabeth is 14—just an eight-year difference! Her dad is more likely to be my godfather than I am hers.
"Get lost! Go practice your lines in the corner!"
Eric waved his hand as if shooing a fly, but Mary clung to him, leaning in close and whispering:
"What's so wrong about being a godfather? Imagine how sweet it would be to have a little girl calling you daddy!"
Eric shivered, but before he could reply, Mary dragged Ashley away.
"Mary, how can you say things like that? It's too much!" Ashley scolded her sister.
"What? I was just joking. Did you see his face? He was speechless! Ha-ha-ha," Mary laughed.
"You just want to flirt with him."
"With Eric? No way, he's not my type! You know I prefer muscular guys, and he doesn't even have noticeable biceps."
Meanwhile, Eric was still mulling over Mary's words.
"Damn, they really know how to have fun in this Western world!"
"Hey, what are you talking about? I think I heard something juicy," came Judy's voice from behind him. Like a shark sensing blood, the producer had quietly approached.
"Nothing special."
"No, I definitely heard the word 'daddy'!"
Judy leaned in close to Eric and whispered, emphasizing the last word.
Eric shivered again and pointed to the house:
"Get inside and set up the props!"
"What, is daddy angry?" Judy teased.
Eric gave her a stern look:
"Don't use that tone."
"Oh, does daddy want to punish me?"
With her innocent expression, Eric couldn't help but picture a succubus. She definitely had the face for it.
"Damn, what's wrong with these women?"
"Does daddy want to do that?" Judy teased further.
"Enough, or you'll take my place, and I'll leave!"
"Hee-hee-hee..."
Judy sauntered away, laughing. With any other girl, her laughter would sound cheerful, but in her case, it sounded strange.
"Neill, report!" Eric said into his earpiece.
"Interior scenes are ready."
"Sharon, how are things on your end?"
"Makeup team is done."
"Kelf, how's the camera setup?"
"Equipment is set up and configured; we're ready to roll!"
"Luna, how's the lighting?"
"All lights are perfectly arranged."
"Chavez, sound check?"
"Everything's good, director."
Andrea approached and nodded:
"All details checked, no issues."
Eric stood up. No megaphone was needed for the indoor scenes.
"Blue Is the Warmest Colour," Scene 45, action!
As the clapperboard snapped shut, the film's first take sprang to life. The scene itself was straightforward: Mary's character, Emma, invited Ashley's character, Adèle, over to her house. Emma lived in a harmonious family where her parents accepted her orientation, welcoming Adèle warmly and sharing a meal together.
The scene's difficulty lay not in the actions, but in the emotions: Adèle needed to convey a subtle sense of envy and unease amid the happy atmosphere. Eric had chosen this particular scene to test the Olsen sisters' preparation. If the scene could be shot in fewer than five takes, the overall shooting schedule could be cut down to a month and a half.
Mary had already cut and dyed her hair blue, with makeup enhancing her sharper features, giving her an air of confidence and strength. Ashley, naturally more reserved, played Adèle without any makeup, her hairstyle accentuating a simple, girl-next-door look.
In the film, the Olsen sisters looked quite different from their real-life appearances. Especially Mary, who was nearly unrecognizable.
The lighting was set to a warm tone.
Click!
The door opened, and Mary led Ashley inside. The camera zoomed in. The actors playing the parents immediately stood up, their smiles welcoming but not overbearing.
The two actors were seasoned, though never having major roles or big breaks, and they were unwilling to leave the industry, so they frequently took on such roles.
"Welcome, Adèle, we're happy to have you here," said Emma's parents.
Mary turned to Ashley, making a sly face, as if to say, "See? I told you, my parents are kind."
Ashley looked surprised and uneasy, her smile slightly forced, hinting at inner tension.
"Great, let's do it again. Ashley, this time, be a bit more restrained."
Ashley gave a thumbs-up.
The Life of Adèle, Scene 45, Take 2, action!
This time, Ashley's smile vanished, and her cheek muscles subtly twitched.
"Perfect, Ashley. Now add a slight blink, as if you're a little uncomfortable. But still restrained."
"Got it, Director!" Ashley replied.
After the third take, Andrea and Eric watched the monitor closely.
"Eric," Andrea suggested. "How about adding some subtle foot movement for Ashley? When people are nervous, they subconsciously shift their feet."
Eric nodded.
"Great idea. Ashley, let's do another take!"
The simple shot was filmed five times, with Ashley adding something new each time, giving her character's unease a different nuance. Which take to use would have to be decided later.
"Ashley, excellent job. It's clear you've prepared well for the role," Eric complimented. He preferred to motivate his actors with praise rather than criticism, unlike some of his directing colleagues.
"Of course, with you as the director," Ashley smiled.
"Haha," Eric laughed. "As soon as I sit in this chair, everyone starts praising me. But maybe you're just afraid I'm not good enough, so you're trying your hardest."
The whole crew laughed.
"Hey, Director, if we keep laughing, I'm going to lose my sense of the scene," Mary joked.
"All right, everyone, back to work!"
The next scene was more emotional: all four of them, including Emma's parents, were drinking wine and chatting. The parents teased Emma, making her happy, and in a burst of emotion, she kissed Adèle.
The Life of Adèle, Scene 46, action!
The lighting shifted to a more vibrant mix of yellow and blue hues.
Emma's father took a sip of white wine and, with a smile, told a story about when his daughter first realized her orientation.
"You know, Adèle, she was shocked and a little scared. I still remember the look on her face."
"Afterward, she cut her hair short and started dyeing it often, as you can see now."
Ashley looked at Emma with envy; her character, Adèle, deeply wished for such an understanding family. She hadn't even dared to tell her own parents about her orientation.
Ashley smiled faintly, lowering her head shyly.
"Cut!" Eric said, standing up. "Adèle is very sensitive. She envies the atmosphere in Emma's family, but it makes her uncomfortable. Ashley, remember the storyboard. Adèle shouldn't be embarrassed; she should feel conflicted."
"Imagine you're meeting your boyfriend's parents for the first time. How would you react?"
Ashley nodded.
"Got it, Director!"
The Life of Adèle, Scene 46, action!
Ashley leaned back slightly, her pupils dilated, her smile replaced by uncertainty. She captured her character's conflict perfectly.
"Excellent! This take is a keeper!"
Some of the male crew members seemed disappointed. They would have liked to shoot a few more takes. Particularly noticeable was Judy, whose face instantly darkened.
Watching these jerks, Eric knew exactly what they were thinking. Men enjoy scenes like these. Honestly, did Eric take on this film purely for the sake of art? Of course, it was for the art! But then, his thoughts drifted elsewhere.
"Did they practice that kiss to make it look so natural? I bet they rehearsed it a bunch of times."
"Damn, what am I thinking?"
Art!
"Daddy?"
Get out of my head!
After a long day, the dinner scene was wrapped up, and the crew went off to rest.
Eric glanced at his phone and noticed several missed calls. He called back.
"Boss, the ratings for the fourth episode of The Walking Dead are out. 10.5 million viewers."
"What? Is that a drop? Why does it seem like the audience is shrinking?"
"Yes, last episode had 11.7 million. It's due to fewer action scenes."
"Got it. Still, it's a great result."
Rating fluctuations were normal. Not every episode could be packed with thrilling scenes—budgets had their limits. As long as they could keep over 10 million, the series was already a massive success.
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