Chapter 386 Planning Further Development
In no time, it was the official start of filming for "The Last Actor."
The actors arrived early, especially Seraphina. Though she had gained some popularity, this was her first time working with someone like Lyle, a Best Actor award winner. She knew how important this film was for the company, so she didn't dare slack off.
Margaret, the company president and screenwriter, was also on set to supervise. She walked over to Seraphina and greeted her, "Hey, Seraphina, how are you feeling?"
"Ms. Scott!" Seraphina had been rehearsing her lines. Hearing Margaret's voice, she turned around and nodded quickly, a bit embarrassed. "I've memorized all my lines and practiced a lot at home, but I'm still a little nervous."
Margaret patted her shoulder and reassured her, "Just relax. Do your best, like you always do with our endorsements. I believe in you."
Seraphina nodded firmly and smiled at Margaret. She was determined not to let the company down.
Once all the crew members were in place, the clapperboard snapped, and the filming began in earnest.
The first scene involved Seraphina's character confronting Lyle's character backstage at the theater, a crucial moment that set the stage for the film's climax. Lyle, being an experienced actor, handled the scene effortlessly. Seraphina, though less seasoned, put her heart into it, and their chemistry was decent.
"Cut, cut, cut!"
The director, observing from behind the camera, suddenly called for a halt during the confrontation scene.
He stood up and addressed Seraphina with a serious tone, "Seraphina, your tears can't come too quickly here. You need to show more restraint. The emotion isn't quite right. Let's do it again."
This was the third time the director had called for a retake.
Seraphina felt a bit discouraged. She had been under a lot of pressure since landing the lead role, and the repeated interruptions were making her increasingly uncertain.
"Okay."
Noticing Seraphina's distracted demeanor, Lyle smiled and suggested to the director, "Director, we've been at this for a while. How about we take a short break to reset our emotions?"
The director agreed, and the two actors headed to the break area. Lyle approached Seraphina with the script in hand.
"Feeling down?"
Seraphina glanced at Lyle, forced a smile, and shook her head.
Lyle showed her the highlighted parts of the script, "This part isn't that hard. The heroine is a calm, assertive country girl. Even when arguing with the hero, she wouldn't get too emotional. Have you ever fought with a boyfriend or ex-boyfriend?"
After a moment of silence, Seraphina nodded, "Yeah, I have."
"Alright, then picture me as your ex. We're arguing, you're upset but holding back tears, just wanting to clear things up. That's the vibe you need. If you can't cry, use some other trick to get there."
Lyle's gestures and explanations were meant to motivate her.
Seeing Lyle's effort, Seraphina's mood lifted, and she smiled and nodded.
"Thanks! I really appreciate it."
"What are you two chatting about?"
Margaret walked over, sat next to Lyle, and smiled at them.
Seraphina replied, "Mr. Pennington was helping me with my scene. I wasn't doing very well."
Lyle shook his head, "No, Seraphina is very hardworking. It was just a minor hiccup. We're partners, no need to thank me."
He then turned to Margaret and handed her the script, "Margaret, I have some thoughts about the hero's character..."
Soon, Margaret and Lyle were deep in discussion about the script, sharing many similar views.
Seraphina listened with interest but soon found her gaze drifting to Lyle.
Lyle was handsome, kind, and willing to help newcomers.
She realized she might be starting to like him.
But it was clear to everyone that Lyle liked Margaret. They had so much in common. Would he ever notice her?
This thought crossed Seraphina's mind, especially since Lyle had been focused on Margaret since she arrived, barely acknowledging her.
Feeling a pang of sadness, Seraphina's smile faded. She decided to leave and practice elsewhere.
In the afternoon, thanks to Lyle's guidance, Seraphina nailed their scene in one take. The rest of the day focused on Lyle's scenes, which he completed quickly due to his experience.
After wrapping up, Lyle waited for Margaret at the door. As they left the set, they were swarmed by reporters, cameras flashing in their faces.
Margaret shielded her eyes, and Lyle tried to protect her, while their assistants cleared a path.
Reporters began firing questions.
"Ms. Scott, what are your expectations for Starlight Entertainment's 'The Last Actor'?"
"Ms. Scott, we hear this film is being submitted to film festivals. What advantages do you think you have?"
Margaret skillfully deflected the questions with official responses, but then a bombshell question was asked.
"Ms. Scott, we heard you broke up with the CEO of the Fisher Group. What's next for you? Lyle is one of your artists, and you work closely together. Are you considering a relationship with Mr. Pennington?"
Margaret, who had been composed, frowned and pressed her lips together at this question.
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