Chapter 81: STILL FAMOUS ?
The tension on the set was palpable as Bille Woodruff’s voice boomed through the microphone. “Allen! For the last time, stick to the script! Don’t improvise! Read the lines as they’re written, for God’s sake!”
The director’s frustration was clear. His usually calm demeanor had been replaced by agitation, a product of the mounting challenges he faced. The biggest issue wasn’t the actors—it was the lack of a perfect song for the final scene of his Christmas romance movie.
It had been nine years since Bille last directed his own film, and the bitter memory of his previous failure still haunted him. His movie, The Match, had been a financial disaster, costing him $5 million to make but earning only $700,000. The loss had forced him to step away from independent directing and take on assisting roles for TV series just to stay afloat.