Chapter 47 How Long Can She Hold Out
But as it turns out, indifference isn't armor in showbiz. It can become an invitation for others to push boundaries even further.
That evening, before removing her makeup and heading home, Jessica intended to meet with the director to discuss the next day's scenes.
The set's lights were mostly out by that time, casting a deepening darkness around the trailers. As Jessica approached the director's RV, she caught the sound of Deborah's voice from inside: "Joseph, I feel like I'm still a novice when it comes to acting. After carefully reviewing the scenes we shot over the past three days, I think my performance wasn't perfect. Is there a chance we could reshoot my scenes from these three days?"
Standing outside the RV, Jessica felt a chill run through her palms. Deborah's mere mention of "imperfection" and "reshooting" essentially meant that Jessica's efforts over the past three days might be nullified. After all, Deborah was the lead actress, and if the lead's performance wasn't satisfactory, it was a given that the supporting cast would have to reshoot as well.
Those scenes had already been wrapped up after three grueling days of shooting, draining all of Jessica's energy. The thought of a reshoot seemed daunting; it would be difficult for her to replicate her stellar performance with the same level of perfection.
The quality of her performance in the new footage would likely suffer.
Joseph's voice emanated from inside the RV: "Are you questioning my professional judgment? If I approve the footage from these past three days, it means it meets my standards. There's no need for a reshoot."
"But Joseph," Deborah's voice was soft and sweet, "I feel that my scenes didn't quite gel with Katrina's. For such crucial scenes, I'd really like to nail it perfectly."
"Ah, if you're insistent on it, I'll find some time later to shoot some additional cuts just for you," Joseph said. "Alright, it's been a long, hot day. We've been at this late. Go get some rest; don't linger around here."
Hearing that only her individual scenes might need additional shots, and with no intention of having Jessica reshoot her parts as well, Deborah struggled to maintain her smile.
Jessica didn't expect the director to disregard Deborah's preferences. True to his reputation as a top-tier director, Joseph was confident in his decisions.
With a sense of reassurance, Jessica decided not to wait around to encounter Deborah face-to-face, and she left the area.
Deborah, looking displeased, also exited the RV.
Inside, the assistant director stroked his chin and said to Joseph, "You know, this Deborah does have some powerful backing. Otherwise, with her acting skills, she wouldn't have landed the lead role. You might consider compromising just a bit to avoid awkwardness down the line."
Joseph scoffed with a cold laugh, "Their word-is-law attitude dominates the whole set. Are we even making a movie here? And don't be fooled by Jessica's seemingly modest and low-key demeanor; her connections with Pegasus Global Holdings are still a mystery. Not to mention her impressive acting, and she's a newcomer that producer Murdock values highly. Since everyone has their own powerful backing, let these female stars scheme against each other all they want—just keep it away from me."
Deborah was in her trailer; it remained parked next to Jessica's modest minivan.
Jessica was ready to leave, but hearing that Deborah had arrived, she decided to wait until Deborah drove off. Now aware that Deborah had it in for her, Jessica felt the need to be on guard.
But Deborah's trailer sat there stubbornly as if deliberately waiting out Jessica, not moving an inch.
Zoey, sitting beside Jessica, couldn't stand it any longer and suddenly told the driver, "Let's hit the road!"
The driver turned to Jessica, "Shall we go?"
Jessica said, "Wait a few more minutes."
Zoey showed clear frustration, "Jessica, she's obviously targeting you!"
"I know." Jessica glanced again at the RV outside, "She's been unable to hide her true colors just three days into filming. How much longer do you think she'll hold out?"
