Dunn recruited 42 people from the grassroots level as his personal team. However, two of them were completely incompetent, lazy, and have already been fired.
These people were not enough to film a high-end Hollywood movie, so Dunn took advantage of AA's "half-package" service. AA handled the recruitment of the temporary actors and crew members that the film crew lacked. For this, the crew had to pay an additional $2 million in compensation.
Sofia Coppola, relying on her connections, used AA's channels to join the crew of *My Big Fat Greek Wedding*. The reason was simple: she wanted to meet the most famous young director in Hollywood today, Dunn Walker.
Sofia comes from the top tier of Hollywood, the Coppola family, and began acting at a young age. However, her acting career was cut short by one film, *The Godfather Part III*.
At 26 years old, Sofia Coppola was determined to transition and take over her father's baton as a director! In fact, she wanted to make the switch three years ago but was unanimously opposed by her family. How could a young woman possibly make a good movie?
It wasn't until this year, when an 18-year-old's film *Titanic* was released and caused a worldwide sensation, that the Coppola family's views changed.
Times have changed.
Young people should be given opportunities!
Sofia Coppola finally had the chance to direct a film. However, she was cautious and humble, knowing that she lacked experience and control. So, through her father's connections, she joined Dunn's crew, wanting to observe firsthand how this young director managed his crew, hoping to apply it to her own work.
Upon arriving at the crew, Sofia indeed found that the entire *My Big Fat Greek Wedding* crew revered Dunn Walker, which both surprised and impressed her.
Sofia's job was as an assistant in the directing team. In other words, she was to take orders from the director, the assistant director, and the directing assistants, running errands for them.
But she was too famous. Apart from Dunn and Nicole, she was the most well-known person in the entire crew, so no one dared to order her around.
At this moment, Sofia Coppola was following beside the assistant director, Andy Thompson, quietly learning how he coordinated the actors and directed the dialogue.
Andy Thompson was an almost fifty-year-old man, kind to the point of being surprising. Sofia couldn't help but question, "Andy, they're just a few temporary actors. You should be more serious, or else you won't be able to control them!"
Sofia had been around her father from a young age, so she wasn't entirely ignorant about the directing profession.
Andy Thompson shook his head with a smile, "Sofia, the life of a temporary actor is tough. They have dreams, but no hope. If we use intimidation to control them, we may complete the filming, but stiff emotions can easily be carried into the scenes. Using a gentle approach to inspire and guide them often produces unexpected results."
Sofia Coppola was very surprised. This was something she had never heard from her father, "Andy, your way of working is truly admirable!"
Andy Thompson waved it off, laughing, "There's nothing to admire. Two months ago, I was just a temporary actor!"
"Wha... What?"
Sofia thought she had misheard and blinked a few times. "Andy, you must be joking."
Andy Thompson furrowed his brow and said seriously, "Sofia, I'm not joking. In fact, two months ago, we were all at the bottom of Hollywood. The boss personally recruited us into the company."
Sofia's expression froze, and she was stunned for a long time. She didn't believe Andy Thompson's words at all!
Even if Dunn Walker was a genius, it was impossible for him to be reckless with a film that had millions of dollars invested in it.
She then sought out the camerawoman, Alice Moore.
Sofia Coppola specialized in cinematography, so she could better appreciate Alice Moore's professional skills and proficient techniques. There were several times when Alice's suggestions for framing were highly praised by Dunn Walker.
This couldn't possibly be someone from the bottom, right?
Female cinematographers are rare, and one with Alice Moore's level of skill would never be buried.
"Alice, your work is fantastic! May I ask, what was your previous occupation?" Sofia chose her words carefully as she respected this excellent female cinematographer.
Alice Moore was puzzled by the question, "My previous occupation? A cinematographer, why?"
"Have you filmed movies before?"
"Yes."
"How many?"
"Dozens, probably?"
"You're exaggerating!" Sofia secretly rolled her eyes. She didn't believe it at all. But she smiled happily, thinking, "I knew it, such an excellent cinematographer must be a professional, not someone from the bottom."
"Nothing, I was just asking out of curiosity. Andy just mentioned that they all come from grassroots backgrounds, which I find hard to believe."
"Oh, it's that!" Alice Moore waved her hand in a self-deprecating manner. "Andy wasn't wrong; I really do come from a grassroots background."
Sofia was confused, furrowing her delicate brows in displeasure. "Alice, I'm genuinely curious, not joking around!"
Alice was surprised and replied, "I'm not joking either. I really do come from a grassroots background."
"But didn't you say you've worked on several... dozens of films?" Sofia was getting angry, not understanding why Dunn Walker's crew was full of people like this who seemed dishonest.
"I have worked on dozens of films!" Alice Moore found Sofia's indignant, puffed-up expression amusing. "Alright, Sofia, you've misunderstood. The films I mentioned are not the same as what you were talking about."
"Huh?"
Sofia's frown deepened.
"I'm from the San Fernando Valley," Alice paused, realizing that this rich young lady might not understand, so she added, "It's the place where adult films are primarily produced."
Sofia Coppola felt her mind go blank, as if her entire worldview, outlook on life, and values had just collapsed.
Stars filled her eyes, and her mouth hung open wide enough to fit an apple inside.
After a long while, Sofia finally regained her senses, muttering, "But... but how could he know you? And even bring you to shoot a Hollywood film?"
"You mean the boss?" Alice shrugged, "That, I don't know. Maybe he saw one of my films. After all... my work does sell pretty well."
Sofia's face almost twisted, her once pale cheeks now showing a range of emotions.
...
"Yesterday, my brother saw you two kissing in the parking lot! Then my brother told my mom, my mom told me, and I told your mom, and then... the cat's out of the bag!"
Watching this small role deliver such an outstanding performance, Sofia Coppola was at a loss for words.
Dunn's three assistant directors had a modest background, with the most accomplished among them being David Knight, who had only audited courses at USC for two years. Yet, their ability to direct actors was indeed better than her father's assistant.
Even Nicole Kidman's performance had shifted from initial discomfort to complete ease.
Looking at her thoroughly transformed face, it was hard to believe that this was once the stunning wife of Tom Cruise. Under Dunn's constant criticism and guidance, Nicole Kidman was quietly evolving.
Sofia's eyes focused intensely on Dunn Walker, who was fully absorbed in directing, her expression complex.
"Cut!" Dunn shouted, "Great job, Nicole. I really appreciate your professional attitude. This take is done. Let's take a 20-minute break before we shoot the family meeting scene."
Nicole Kidman let out a sigh of relief. Although she had just been praised by Dunn, she was actually full of anger. She was exhausted and only persevered through her professionalism and sheer willpower.
"Sofia, I've never met such a stubborn director! Is your father... Mr. Coppola, like this too?" Nicole Kidman didn't want to deal with Dunn, so she went straight to Sofia to complain.
Sofia looked at Nicole's angry face, feeling a bit down. "Nicole, you misunderstood Dunn."
"Misunderstood?" Nicole sneered coldly. "Do you think I don't know what that guy is thinking? He comes to my room every night. Do you know what that means? He's trying to break me down, to make me give in!"
Sofia was taken aback, then quickly put on a serious face. "Nicole, you're wrong about that! In fact, Dunn comes to my room every night too, and he asks me for things, but so what? He's only nineteen, after all. Isn't that typical behavior for someone his age?"
"You..."
Nicole Kidman was shocked, never expecting Sofia to say something like that.
Sofia's tone became earnest, "Nicole, you're a very professional and good actress, I can see that. But I also ask you to trust Dunn's professionalism, okay? He might make certain... requests, but they are only related to personal matters and will never affect the movie's production. Do you understand?"
"But he's been torturing me! Constantly torturing me! Driving me crazy!"
Nicole Kidman grabbed her hair, looking almost mad.
Sofia's expression was serious. As an outsider, she could clearly see Dunn's intentions. "Nicole, I hope you don't view Dunn with malice. He... he has bad intentions, but he's not a bad person, do you understand? You say he's torturing you, but I can tell you with full responsibility, Nicole, that your performance during this time is the best I've ever seen from you!"
"What? Really?"
Nicole Kidman was stunned. She had only felt anger towards Dunn, comparing him to the powerful figures in the industry who constantly harassed her.
But after hearing Sofia's words, she suddenly realized that Dunn... might indeed be different. In private, he never mentioned the film, and on set, he never discussed personal matters.
If there was any overlap, it was only using influence, not threats.
"Maybe... it really was a misunderstanding..."
Nicole Kidman muttered to herself, a bit dazed.