Three days later, the moment Dunn had been waiting for arrived—Queen Padmé Amidala, played by none other than Natalie Portman, finally showed up!
Along with her came 13-year-old Keira Knightley, who's playing the queen's handmaiden and body double. But compared to this not-quite-grown-up kid, Dunn's eyes were glued to his dream girl, Natalie.
Right now, three makeup artists are buzzing around Natalie, working on her elaborate queen getup.
Dunn's sitting nearby. For the first half hour, he keeps it professional, chatting about work stuff. But then it starts getting personal.
"How'd finals go?"
"Pretty smooth!"
"All A's?"
Natalie flashes a confident grin. "All A's!"
Dunn nods, impressed. "Hard to believe you juggle all this acting and still crush it at school."
Natalie shrugs, pouting a little. "What's so hard about it? When you're banned from dating and your only free time is spent studying in the library, all A's are basically a given."
Her mom, Shirley Hershlag, runs a tight ship, and teenage-rebel Natalie's been over it for a while now.
Dunn sighs, hesitating. "I actually called you a few times, but it was always Mrs. Hershlag who picked up."
Natalie's eyes light up, and she pouts harder. "I didn't even know!"
One of the makeup artists chimes in, "Miss Portman, please don't move—it'll mess up your look."
"Hmph!" Natalie huffs, clearly annoyed.
"Mrs. Hershlag's just looking out for you," Dunn says, but seeing her frown deepen, he switches gears with a smile. "Anyway, you're here now! So… how about after we wrap this afternoon, I take you out for dinner?"
Natalie's heart skips a beat. Dunn's vibe at the audition already gave her a hunch. Back at school, she'd whispered about it to her friends who'd been in love—they all said it was love at first sight.
Hearing his invite, she's dying to say yes, but her mood dips. "My mom doesn't let me go out with guys at night."
"Forget her for a sec—what do *you* want?"
"I'd love to!" she blurts out, then catches herself, biting her lip for some ladylike restraint. "I'm so bored—I feel like my mom treats me like a prisoner!"
Dunn chuckles. "I'll handle Mrs. Hershlag. I'll say I'm inviting you to talk about the movie—she won't say no to that."
Natalie smirks playfully. "Director perks, huh?"
Dunn cracks up. "You bet!"
The movie's big draws are the effects and action—acting's more of a side dish.
But Dunn doesn't want a film with zero standout characters, so he's pushing the actors harder than the original script demanded.
He knows acting solo against a green screen is way tougher than playing off another actor. It's all imagination—not just about skill, but how vivid your mental picture is.
Younger guys like Ben Affleck pick it up quick, but Liam Neeson? He's giving Dunn headaches left and right.
"Cut! Liam, how many times do I have to say it? Acting isn't reciting! Where's your face at?!" Dunn yells, stopping the shoot. He stares at Liam, delivering lines in front of the green screen, and can't help feeling exasperated.
Liam Neeson's a big deal in Hollywood. He even scored an Oscar nod for *Schindler's List* back in the day. So getting called out by a 20-year-old kid for bad acting? Yeah, he's ticked.
"Dunn, what's the problem? What'd I do wrong?"
"You're not wrong! But I need you to feel it more, okay?"
"Didn't you say Jedi are supposed to be cool and detached?"
"Detached doesn't mean heartless! Liam, do you get it? You see something in Anakin, but behind all the rumors, there's danger—murderous vibes. You've got hope *and* dread!"
Dunn's at a loss. How do you deal with a big-shot actor who's got status but no range?
Then George Lucas strolls over, eyeing the tense set and letting out a sigh.
Liam was his top pick for the lead, but who'd have thought he'd clash this hard with Dunn?
Is Dunn wrong?
Nope. It's his job as director to push for better performances.
But Liam? He's been acting the same way for decades. Spielberg never made him change—why should Dunn Walker's "crazy" demands be any different?
Lucas rubs his temples. "Dunn, this isn't a key scene. No need to go so hard, right?"
Dunn's dead serious. "George, how many close-up shots of real people do we even have? It's all CGI characters and wide-angle fight scenes. I need this movie to have soul—close-ups are what make it real."
Liam throws up his hands, looking smug and unbothered.
Lucas frowns. "Dunn, what you're asking… it doesn't fit Liam's style from the last few decades."
A polite way of saying Dunn's demands are beyond Liam's skill set.
Dunn's face hardens. "Fine—let's just cut this scene then!"
"No way!" Lucas snaps, all business now. "Dunn, this ties everything together—it sets up the 'balance' rumor and hints at Anakin's future. We can't lose it!"
Dunn shrugs. "I know. Ben Affleck can step in—have Obi-Wan hint at the rumor's uncertainty and Qui-Gon's dilemma from the side."
"Uh…" Lucas falters, thrown by Dunn's stubbornness.
Cutting the lead's scene? That's a face-off waiting to happen!
Even Liam's stunned. He didn't expect this young hotshot Dunn Walker to out-tough Spielberg *and* Lucas!
He'd planned to flex on the kid, but now Liam softens up fast, his tone mellowing. "Uh… Dunn, you're making sense. Let's try a few more takes, yeah?"
Dunn gives him a long look. "Can you pull it off?"
"Few more tries, it won't be awful," Liam says. He's been acting for decades—he's not *that* hopeless. Sci-fi action flicks just don't usually need this much effort.
"Alright, let's do it," Dunn says, waving a hand. No newbie vibes here—he's got the authority dialed up, even with a vet like Liam.
Lucas watches Dunn's slight smirk and feels a jolt. "Wait… is this kid playing me?"
He's blown away—by Dunn's talent, his guts, and his cunning.
Staring at Dunn Walker, one eye on the viewfinder from the director's chair, Lucas feels a spark bigger than when he first dreamed up *Star Wars*.
This guy might just shake up Hollywood!
Since Natalie Portman's still a minor, her agent and guardian, Shirley Hershlag, gets to hover on set.
By the time the afternoon shoot wraps, Dunn's nervous, his steps heavy. He's run through a dozen excuses in his head to win over this "stubborn" mom.
"Mrs. Hershlag, I'd like to take Nat to Chinatown for dinner…"
Before he finishes, Shirley's weathered face breaks into a smile. "Sure! Getting invited by Director Walker? I bet Nat'll be thrilled."
Dunn's thrown. That easy?
Shirley seems to catch his surprise, adding with a knowing look, "But Nat follows Judaism—we've got strict rules."
Veggie diet, frugality, purity before marriage…
Dunn grins. "She's still a minor—I get it."
This is California—anything with a girl under 18 is a crime!
Even with a million wild ideas, Dunn wouldn't dare risk it.
Besides, Natalie Portman's different in his eyes—not like the girls he's dated before. She's pure, young, a gem waiting to shine.
And Dunn's all in to help that gem glow brighter and bolder.
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