**Chapter 34: An Unexpected Situation**

"Oh."

"Oh!"

"Oh..."

David Schumann, with his wealth of experience, effortlessly brings depth to a simple scene. Through just the varying tones, colors, and volumes of his exclamations, he conveys the complex mix of emotions Ross is feeling at this moment. It's as if he's performing a triple high note right there on set.

For a moment, it's almost as if Mariah Carey herself is there.

A lively bustle ensues as a group of people floods into the scene.

In reality, it's only three people—Monica, Chandler, and Phoebe—but their presence makes the space feel several degrees more crowded and lively.

At least, from an auditory standpoint, the overlapping voices of the three characters amplify the scene's energy.

"Ross!"

"Didn't expect to run into you here."

"This is crazy, such a coincidence."

Their exaggerated expressions deliberately highlight the theatricality of the situation, with the comedic effect being obvious.

Ross leaps forward, arms wide, pulling Monica and Chandler into a tight embrace. "Oh, God, thank you both."

Chandler stumbles slightly, nearly suffocating from Ross's enthusiastic grip.

At this moment, an unexpected glitch occurs during filming—

According to the plan, Ross is supposed to step forward and hug Chandler, while Paul steps aside, allowing Anson to move from the café entrance to a spot inside, standing beside Alexandra.

In other words, Paul and Ross are supposed to swap positions.

This scene uses just three camera angles, positioned left, center, and right, so the actors' placements are relatively fixed to ensure the director can capture the visuals and performances from these established angles. However, if the positions are incorrect, or if the movement tracks are off, the scene could go wrong.

Of course, mistakes are inevitable.

This is a TV show, not a stage play, so errors aren't a big deal. The director can always stop filming, adjust, and reshoot—it's no big deal.

The key here is that today's shoot has been going exceptionally well, everything flowing smoothly without any deviations or errors—unbelievably seamless. The concern is that if this first mistake breaks the momentum, will it lead to a second, then a third? Could this be the beginning of a disaster?

In fact, some directors, actors, and crew members are somewhat superstitious, much like professional athletes with their own rituals. If the rhythm of filming is disrupted, it's as if the flow of water is interrupted, leading to fluctuations in energy and atmosphere, potentially derailing the entire shoot.

And so, the first glitch has appeared.

**The Origin of the Mishap**

The root cause of the situation was Anson's inexperience. When moving from the left to the right side, Anson and David Schumann hadn't discussed these specific details before shooting:

Who would move inward, and who would move outward?

To avoid colliding or brushing past each other, the two should have shifted positions, allowing for a seamless transition without anyone noticing.

However!

Anson hadn't considered this at all, while David and the other crew members assumed Anson knew the standard unwritten rule—

The right side.

The reasoning is simple: most people are right-handed, and it's natural to walk to the right. Even left-handed actors tend to follow this rule, ensuring they don't block each other's paths, allowing for a smooth performance.

From the start of the shoot until now, Anson had been flawless, showing no signs of being a rookie.

But...

In the end, the details revealed the truth.

When Paul moved from left to right and Ross moved from right to left, swapping positions, Anson's steps deviated slightly by half a step.

If this had been an open space, "half a step" wouldn't have mattered—it would be barely noticeable; but in this cramped, confined space, it made a big difference.

They were in the narrow passage behind the mustard-colored sofa, where two people side by side would completely fill the space. That "half step" became all too significant.

"Crap!"

David Klein, standing at the side, immediately noticed it—

Anson and David Schumann brushed shoulders.

Literally, their shoulders touched, causing a slight stumble.

This minor mishap disrupted both actors' rhythm, making them exchange a glance that broke the flow of the performance.

As an experienced producer, David Klein knew:

Mistakes and mishaps are inevitable. Not just in TV shows where scenes can be reshot, but even in live theater, mistakes happen. There's no need to panic or get angry; the show must go on, and the focus should remain on the subsequent performance.

Besides, the shoot had been going so smoothly today—it was about time for some hiccup.

David Klein's perspective was a bit different; he believed that an NG (No Good take) was bound to happen. It's impossible to shoot a whole day without one. 

So, whether it happens early or late doesn't make much of a difference; it might be better to get it over with early, relieving the pressure and allowing everyone to relax.

However...

David knew not everyone shared this view.

He could sense Marta's schadenfreude and the surprised reactions of the crew, as the atmosphere subtly shifted.

Director Michael Lembeck was likely about to call "Cut."

Indeed, that was the case.

Michael felt a twinge of regret, though his emotions remained steady. Having worked in Hollywood for over twenty years, NGs were nothing new to him.

Regretful? Maybe just a little, since the continuous, seamless flow of the scene had been interrupted by such a small mistake.

Yet, Michael was not one to hesitate; just as he was about to call out, he saw what unfolded before him, and the word "Cut" got stuck in his throat.

Time rewinds slightly—by 0.5 seconds.

In the scene—

Anson heard the door opening and the voices calling out behind him, signaling that it was time for him to move and switch positions.

The first half of the shoot had been simple and smooth. After entering the set, he had remained in one spot, ensuring he was facing Camera 3, forming an angle with Camera 2, and allowing Camera 1 to capture Ross and Elizabeth through his shoulder from an oblique angle.

Standing still was enough; there was no need to move.

The latter part should have gone just as smoothly.

But Anson's inexperience caused him to miss a crucial point: muscle stiffness.

Whether from nerves or excitement, lactic acid had been building up, making his muscles stiffer than he had realized. As he stood in one spot for too long, his body felt slightly numb, and when he moved, his attention faltered, leading him to walk straight ahead without adjusting his path.

In reality, Anson, David Schumann, and Alexandra were only about two to two-and-a-half steps apart.

As soon as Anson took the first step, he realized the impending danger, but there was no room to adjust. The two actors' shoulders had already brushed against each other.

Breathe in, tighten the core, and control.

Anson reacted quickly, managing to control his body and avoid a full-on collision. However, despite this, their shoulders still brushed, causing a slight shift in balance and footwork.

Crap!

What now?

In that split second, Anson's instincts kicked in, and he responded reflexively.