[Chapter 156: Filming]
The crew was reshooting, and this time, Joaquin delivered a solid performance on the first take.
"See? Sometimes you have to be a bit tough on the actors," Sofia remarked proudly.
Link chimed in, "The movie just started shooting. It's understandable that everyone hasn't fully stepped into their roles yet. We shouldn't rush the process. Being patient with the actors will help them get into character, making their performances shine and enhancing the film -- that's a good thing. If we're too hard on them, it can lead to poor communication, and that can complicate future shoots."
"But isn't that a hassle? There are so many characters in this movie, and the story is way more complex than The Blair Witch Project. Explaining everything individually could really eat up our time. Who knows, we might not finish even in six months," she replied.
"It's alright; they are rookie actors, and we are rookie directors. We'll take our time and treat it as practice to build experience. Not every actor is like Joaquin, bringing a lot of ideas to the table. A lot of them will just follow what the director says or keep their feelings bottled up while acting. Compared to those two situations, I prefer working with someone like Joaquin," Link explained thoughtfully.
Sofia smiled, gazing at his profile. "Do you know what I love most about you?"
"What's that?" he asked, curious.
"It's your personality. You're gentle and composed, with a balanced mindset. You're never hurried or anxious. When I'm with you, I feel calm and at peace, as if there's nothing that could possibly challenge us. That feeling is amazing."
Sofia subtly took his hand, looking at him with eyes that almost melted him.
Link chuckled softly, tousling her hair as the crew continued filming.
...
Inside the bathroom, the faucet began to drip. Tod stood at the mirror shaving, and he accidentally nicked his neck, leaving a small cut.
He picked up small scissors to trim his nose hair, but the water from the faucet flowed closer to him, threatening to splash on his feet.
Danger was lurking.
As Tod was trimming, he plugged the radio into the outlet. The water dripped down to his feet.
The crew decided to shoot this sequence in reverse, known as reverse filming, where the camera runs backward for the shot, creating a magical effect when played normally, as water would appear to flow back into the faucet.
The aim of this dramatic moment was to build suspense, making audiences wonder how the Grim Reaper would claim Tod, whether it matched their expectations.
During performances, actors needed to embrace a lightheartedness to create the unexpected.
But Joaquin seemed a bit lost in this sequence, his movements lacking fluidity.
Link had no choice but to call for a stop, pulling Joaquin aside to explain how he should think about the scene and how to execute it. He demonstrated the full set of actions to Joaquin himself.
After watching the demonstration, Joaquin returned to the camera, and this time, it went smoothly. They wrapped the entire sequence in just two takes.
...
"Cut! That's a wrap!"
"15-minute break, then we'll shoot the scene where Tod gets strangled. Tod, get ready. Props, make sure everything is checked, and lighting and makeup are set. Let's aim to finish before midnight," Link called out through the megaphone.
"Understood, director!"
Over fifty crew members responded from various corners of the set.
...
"Being a director isn't easy," Ben Affleck mused as he lounged on the set sofa, cradling a cup of coffee.
"Why do you say that?" Joaquin glanced over from his makeup chair.
"Being a director isn't just about directing; it's also about acting, guiding performances, and managing the crew. The bigger the crew, the more management needed. It's tough to keep up with that kind of pace," Ben observed as he watched Link engaging with various departments, checking on their prep.
He was meticulously involved, the busiest person on the set.
"Not necessarily; every director has a different style, and the workload varies. Link is a multifaceted director who takes on more responsibility. Plus, he's quite diligent, which means he ends up doing more. However, directors like that are rare; most just delegate work without lifting a finger themselves."
"That kind of director is problematic; they wouldn't understand how other roles function or how to evaluate others' performances. I want to be a director like Link, someone who knows everything, single-handedly managing the entire crew -- even capable of directing a film alone. That's impressive," Ben stated.
"Doing it like Link would wear you out," Joaquin smirked.
"I don't mind working hard if it means making a good film," Ben shrugged off the comment.
...
"Ben, what brings you here today?" Link approached, seeing Joaquin getting his makeup done alongside Ben Affleck.
...
Ben was cast as Billy, the male supporting role of the film, which initially was meant for Matt LeBlanc.
Matt had to film Friends and didn't have time. So, the crew reconsidered casting Ben. At first, Link was skeptical about whether Ben could pull off the role.
The character needed to be tall, innocent, and not too bright -- a somewhat bumbling fool.
Though Ben seemed a little awkward, he certainly wasn't stupid.
During the fourth audition, Link gave him half a day to try and play an idiot.
Ben was willing to take on the challenge. After leaving Guess Pictures, he ran to a barber, asking for a goofy hairstyle, even getting a bit of his eyebrows shaved off for good measure, practicing his silly grin that seemed ready to drool at any moment.
Standing out on the street, a few people mistook him for a fool.
His performance had gone well.
That led to Ben landing the role.
...
"Hey, I just came over to get a feel for the shooting, hoping to get into character early on, so I won't drag anyone down," Ben said with a goofy grin.
Link found his new appearance a bit jarring; he remembered Ben Affleck as the handsome officer from Pearl Harbor or the wealthy Bruce Wayne in Batman v Superman.
Now, he appeared quite foolish.
"It's quite an eyesore," Link thought to himself.
"Ben, Billy's character is meant to be simple and innocent, not genuinely silly. Make sure you find the right balance when you portray him," Link advised.
"I understand; I have a neighbor just like that, and I've been practicing his speech patterns. I'm confident I can nail the role," Ben replied with a chuckle.
Link nodded, satisfied.
...
Once Joaquin finished with his makeup, the crew continued shooting.
As Tod collected clothes drying along the fishing line by the bathtub, the faucet dripped water to his feet.
Without shoes, Tod slipped and fell into the bathtub, the fishing line wrapping tightly around his neck. He struggled but the tub was slick with soap, making it impossible to stand.
Desperate, he reached for the small scissors on the sink but was endlessly out of reach.
His face turned red, shifted to a dark hue, eyes bulging before succumbing to the fishing line.
This scene presented a significant challenge, physically demanding dramatic effort. Joaquin had attempted the take three times without meeting the mark.
...
Link had no options left but to step in, demonstrating to Joaquin how to encapsulate Tod's struggle.
With Link's guidance, Joaquin went through the sequence over ten times before finally conveying Tod's demise convincingly.
By the end of it, Joaquin was utterly exhausted, as were the rest of the crew, while Link remained energized.
Ben realized that if he wanted to film like Link, he'd need to start hitting the gym; otherwise, he'd wind up completely worn out.
*****
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