Wrapping up

The construction of a hospital ward had cost $15,000.

Renting an entire set of medical equipment, calculated at $900 per day, had taken seven days, totaling $6,300.

With 32 remaining crew members, including 3 actors, each incurring daily expenses of over $100, even during their days off...

Well, when Lyman and Clint Eastwood returned to the set, René finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Ever since he became a producer, his sensitivity to the film crew's budget had grown. Even though they hadn't exceeded the budget yet, he could feel a sense of urgency brewing within him.

With the film crew on hold for a week, he had nearly gone insane.

Not to mention the disrupted shooting schedule and the need to reschedule the actors' availability; everything, from eating and drinking to sleeping and using the bathroom, had been thrown into disarray.

But luckily, the film crew was back on track.

On February 3rd, the weather was perfect.

"Get ready, we're about to start shooting."

"Million Dollar Baby, Scene 65, Shot 2, Take 1, action."

This was a dedicated set for a single-patient ward, with two cameras placed at 45-degree angles on the left and right, focused on the hospital bed in front of them.

A slight smile of comfort appeared on Hilary Swank's face, her expression tinged with a touch of serenity. Coupled with her frail body and pale complexion, she naturally conveyed two different and complex emotional states. This was the result of her deep contemplation of her character's psychology during this period, and her portrayal was on point.

Clint cast a slightly pitiful glance at her, wrestling with his emotions.

This was Maggie's final request, to end her own life.

But the idea of killing his beloved protégé with his own hands was something Frankie couldn't bring himself to do. Even though he knew that lying in agony on the hospital bed for the rest of her life was not the best outcome, he couldn't make the decision to end her life, even though he knew that euthanasia might be the greatest mercy for her.

Seeing him hesitate, Maggie resolutely bit off her own tongue, an act akin to a fierce beast.

Blood gushed from her mouth in an instant, but she could no longer utter a sound.

"Cut, prepare for the next shot."

Lyman, who had been intently watching the director's monitor, immediately shouted.

At that moment, Hilary finally got up from the bed, took a bottle of mineral water handed to her by a crew member, and rinsed away the blood that had stained her mouth.

This scene was one of the most critical tear-jerking moments in the film. Given Lyman's high standards for the movie, the fact that it had not required retakes was truly remarkable.

The subsequent shots were much simpler. Frankie was still unable to overcome the emotional hurdle of taking his protégé's life, so he went to a church to confide in a priest. When he returned and saw Maggie lying there, looking even more lifeless, he finally made up his mind.

Three days later, the film crew began shooting the last sequence, signaling the impending end of the movie.

"Mo cuishle..."

"...means "my darling, my blood"."

Clint whispered softly, then produced a preloaded syringe of adrenaline.

The camera eventually settled on the peacefully sleeping "Maggie".

"Cut."

Lyman's voice echoed.

From the beginning of production to the end of filming, it had taken nearly two months.

It was even slower than the speed of the original production, but if you factored in the days lost in between and the dedication to real-life boxing on the set for a better effect, the difference in time wasn't all that significant.

Lyman clapped his hands to gather everyone's attention and said, "Tonight, Hilton Hotel."

"Oh, great!"

The crew members cheered with relief.

Lyman then pointed at the messy shooting site and said to everyone, "But before that, all of you need to work hard to clean up this place. Also, make arrangements with the Warner Bros. studio for the return of the rented equipment. I've already talked to them in advance about it."

"Don't worry, we'll take care of it," the production manager said with a smile.

Then, Lyman headed towards the art department.

The quality of the art direction directly affected the quality of a movie. Beneath every captivating performance, it was the work of the art department that brought together elements like lighting, cinematography, costumes, props, and set design, as well as the overall stylistic design, that made a film complete. The head of the art department had to understand the director's vision and work closely with them to turn that vision into reality within the constraints of the shooting conditions.

This role was integral throughout the entire filmmaking process.

Whether it was "Fury" or "Miscreant", it was George's team that took on this crucial responsibility. After years of collaboration, their synergy was well-established.

When the company was just starting, the production department had almost no staff, and Lyman had considered poaching the entire production team for his company.

Watching everyone busy at work, Lyman found George, who was tidying up the blueprints, and asked with a smile, "Did we have a pleasant cooperation this time?"

"Working with Director Lyman is quite easy," George sincerely replied. "There's not much need to overthink things."

"Are you interested in working at my company? I can offer you higher compensation than EuropaCorp."

"Well..." George hesitated for a moment.

Comparatively speaking, EuropaCorp was in a completely different league than Firefly Films in terms of company size and assets. However, George had started his career in the film industry at the age of 18 and had worked in countless film crews for over a decade. Setting aside everything else, his perspective was broader than most people's.

Having collaborated so many times, George knew very well that Director Lyman had both vision and the ability to turn it into reality. Backed by the vast Hollywood market, the potential of Lyman's company was tremendous. In contrast, EuropaCorp had a larger production department with numerous staff members.

George was not the only one in the art department, and besides, Luc Besson had his own preferred team, so George's position there was not particularly high.

Moreover, George was well aware of Firefly Films' situation. His company had not yet developed a mature art direction team, and if he were to join, he would likely become the most experienced member, offering him unlimited prospects in the future.

People, especially those with genuine technical expertise, inevitably felt dissatisfied with their current situation.

After weighing the pros and cons, George finally said, "M. Lyman, I agree to join."

"Excellent!" Lyman exclaimed with a big smile.

Sometimes in life, you had to take risks. If you didn't seize the opportunity, and Firefly Films gradually hired more staff, it would be too late to regret later on. Between extending a helping hand during a snowstorm and adding the finishing touch to a masterpiece, George had chosen to gamble on the former.