The first few weeks of shooting were nothing short of remarkable. Every day, Ethan walked onto set feeling more confident than the last. The scenes were coming together faster than anyone had anticipated, and that was largely thanks to Luke and Eric. Their chemistry was electric, and their dedication to their roles made every shot feel effortless.
Luke had always been methodical, but in season two, he had elevated his performance to another level. Every line, every subtle movement was filled with depth, as if he had completely become his character. Eric, meanwhile, brought an unpredictability to his role that made every scene crackle with tension. Their on-screen rivalry had grown into something that neither Ethan nor Liam had fully expected—it was alive, dynamic, and driving the entire production forward.
It wasn't just the actors, though. The crew had settled into a rhythm, and thanks to Rick's efficient direction and Andy's precision with the camera work, they were wrapping up scenes ahead of schedule. Ethan had budgeted months for production, anticipating the usual setbacks—actor delays, technical glitches, script rewrites—but none of that had happened yet. Instead, everything was running like a well-oiled machine.
One afternoon, after they wrapped up another day of shooting a week ahead of the original schedule, Ethan found himself back in the production office, sitting across from Liam, who was going over the updated shooting schedule.
"I can't believe how fast we're moving," Ethan said, leaning back in his chair. "At this rate, we'll finish shooting before we even hit the halfway point of the timeline."
Liam smiled, shaking his head. "It's almost scary how smooth things are going. I keep waiting for something to go wrong."
"Yeah, me too," Ethan admitted. "But Luke and Eric are killing it, and the crew is on fire. I think we're just… prepared this time. It's like everyone's in sync."
Liam flipped through his notes, still grinning. "If we keep this up, we'll have extra time for post-production. Maybe we could even add some polish to the episodes before release—something to really push the quality up."
Ethan nodded, the possibilities unfolding in his mind. More time meant more room to refine the pacing, to perfect the scenes. They had always operated under tight constraints, but for once, it felt like they had some breathing room.
Just as Ethan was about to dive into more ideas, Rachel walked in, a bright smile on her face.
"I heard we wrapped ahead of schedule again," she said, sitting down next to them. "Word around the studio is that Breaking Point is the smoothest production running right now."
"That's what it feels like," Ethan said, feeling a sense of pride.
Rachel crossed her arms, clearly pleased. "It's not just the cast and crew. This whole project has momentum. People are noticing, and the New Blood is starting to get some real traction. Mr. Davis even mentioned the progress during a meeting this morning. I think we've got him leaning in our direction."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Really? Davis actually said something?"
Rachel nodded. "Yeah. He's not fully committing yet, but you can tell he's impressed. And with everything moving ahead of schedule, it's hard for him to argue with the results."
Liam smiled, tapping his pen against the table. "It feels like we're turning the tide here."
But before Ethan could fully relax, a thought crept into his mind. "What about Paulson?"
Rachel's smile faded slightly. "That's the thing. While we're making progress, Paulson is still lurking in the background. He's been quiet, but I've heard from a couple of people that he's looking for anything he can use against the project. Word is, he's reporting directly to George Sullivan."
Ethan's stomach tightened. George Sullivan was a heavyweight in the Old Guard, someone who had considerable sway over Mr. Davis. If Paulson was feeding him negative reports, it could undercut everything they were building.
"Paulson's looking for a way to take us down?" Liam asked, his voice suddenly tense.
Rachel nodded. "From what I've heard, yeah. He's trying to find any flaw—anything that he can use to claim this project is too risky or a waste of resources. The faster we move, the more he's going to dig. We need to be careful."
Ethan let out a slow breath, the weight of the situation sinking in. They were doing everything right, but that didn't mean they were in the clear. Paulson wasn't going to let them succeed without a fight.
"Do we know what Paulson's focusing on?" Ethan asked, leaning forward.
"Not exactly," Rachel said. "But I know he's been paying close attention to the budget and the shooting schedule. He's trying to find cracks. Even if we're ahead of schedule, if anything goes over budget or if there's a technical issue, he'll pounce on it."
Ethan exchanged a glance with Liam. They had to stay ahead, not just in terms of shooting but in everything else. Paulson was waiting for them to slip up, and if they did, he'd make sure that Sullivan knew about it.
"Alright," Ethan said, his voice firm. "We keep pushing forward. But we're not giving Paulson any ammunition. I want every department running like clockwork. No overages, no delays. If Paulson wants to find a flaw, he's going to have to look somewhere else."
Liam nodded, his expression serious. "We'll double-check everything. No room for error."
Rachel smiled again, though it was more subdued this time. "That's the right attitude. Just don't let Paulson distract you too much. We're in a good place, and as long as we stay focused, we'll be fine."
Ethan agreed, but the conversation had left him unsettled. He knew that Beacon was a political battlefield, but he hadn't realized just how far Paulson was willing to go to maintain the status quo. It wasn't just about making a great show anymore—it was about surviving the studio politics long enough to finish it.
The next few days passed in a blur of activity. The shooting continued to move at an incredible pace, with Rick and Andy leading the charge. Luke and Eric, in particular, were exceeding everyone's expectations. Their ability to hit their marks on the first or second take was a gift, and it allowed the production to flow smoothly without delays.
One afternoon, Ethan found himself watching the monitors as Luke and Eric filmed a pivotal scene. Luke's character was unraveling, caught between his loyalty and his desire for revenge. Eric's character, cold and calculating, was pushing him to the brink.
The performances were flawless. Every emotion was raw, every line delivered with precision. Ethan could feel the tension radiating off the screen.
"Cut!" Rick called, stepping in to check the playback. "Perfect. Let's move on."
The crew began setting up for the next shot, and Ethan took a moment to step back, his eyes scanning the set. Everything was running like a dream. But even as he felt the pride of their progress, he couldn't shake the feeling that Paulson was out there, waiting for them to stumble.
As he walked over to the production tent, Rachel intercepted him, her expression a mix of excitement and caution.
"Good news," she said. "I overheard some of the execs talking. They're impressed with how fast we're moving. Mr. Davis even mentioned the possibility of greenlighting another project once Breaking Point wraps."
"That's great," Ethan said, though the mention of Davis reminded him of the uncertainty that still hung over everything.
"But…" Rachel hesitated, her voice lowering. "Paulson's been in and out of the studio all day, poking around. He hasn't said much, but he's definitely looking for something. Just keep an eye out."
Ethan nodded, his mind racing. They couldn't afford any mistakes. Paulson was lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce on any slip-up.
"Thanks for the heads-up," Ethan said. "We'll stay vigilant."
As Rachel walked away, Ethan stood still for a moment, watching the crew work with precision. The New Blood might have momentum, but the Old Guard wasn't going down without a fight.
They were moving fast, but that just meant they had to stay sharp. One misstep, and the balance of power could shift.
For now, though, everything was in their favor. They just had to keep it that way.