The Greatest Showman #1434 - Start Over

"Jesus-damn-God, what the hell is going on here?" Damien's voice rang out, his frustration palpable. He ranted, but he quickly realized that both Simmons and Renly were entirely absorbed in each other, ignoring him completely. This only fueled his annoyance: Isn't he the director? Why wasn't his tirade being acknowledged?

However, as time passed, Damien's frustration began to shift into something else.

The dynamic between Simmons and Renly was changing. It was subtle, an invisible undercurrent that couldn't be seen, touched, or fully described. Yet, every inch of Damien's skin felt the pressure of this quiet shift in energy.

Just moments ago, Simmons had been frazzled, his entire presence unsettled, as if the slightest movement could bring him to collapse. Renly, on the other hand, had been calm, collected, an aura of quiet authority surrounding him. But now, the roles seemed to reverse. Renly was suddenly vulnerable, a wave of confusion and uncertainty seeping through his expression. Meanwhile, Simmons, who had once been unsteady, now seemed focused, his presence expanding, gaining control.

It was an unspoken, almost imperceptible exchange — a fluid, seamless transition between dominance and submission. Like a row of carefully arranged dominoes, the chaos of before was now aligned, each part fitting into place in perfect harmony. The transformation was mesmerizing.

Damien couldn't help but be intrigued. This kind of chemistry — the way the actors' energy had shifted so naturally — was fascinating. It felt almost real, as if the lines between the performance and reality had blurred. The scenes from his own past, in rehearsal rooms long ago, flickered in his mind. His thoughts wandered back to the cutthroat lessons under his high school drama teacher, a reflection of the same harsh discipline he saw now.

"Damien?" A voice snapped him back to the present. He turned to find his assistant standing next to him, looking concerned. "They're ready. We can start shooting again."

Damien paused, startled by the question. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his pallor made him look like he'd just been pulled from water. What just happened?

"I'm fine," he muttered, almost more to himself. "I'm fine."

Taking a deep breath, he straightened up, shaking off the lingering fog in his mind. "Alright," he said, looking around. "Everyone, let's get ready. We're starting again."

His gaze settled once more on Renly and Simmons. His mind buzzed with questions. Should he give them more guidance? Would it help if he reminded them of the key emotional beats of the scene? Or maybe he should simply let them be?

With a burst of resolve, Damien moved back to his position behind the camera. "Everyone ready?" he called out to the crew. After receiving a chorus of affirmatives, he commanded, "Start shooting."

The scene resumed, and for Damien, it was as if they were starting from scratch.

The complexity of the scene they were attempting was immense, each beat of emotion, each transition in power, requiring perfect synchronization. Damien had conceived of many ways to approach the scene, but most of his ideas had proven too complicated. There were too many variables: the actors' performance rhythms, the camerawork, and the need for consistency across all actors.

Shooting from multiple angles had been considered, but that would require precision that Damien wasn't sure the team could deliver. The slap scene between Simmons and Renly, for example, had been a challenge even in one take. Changing angles five or six times, while maintaining intensity, seemed nearly impossible.

In the end, Damien had opted for a technique commonly used in American TV series — multiple cameras from different angles, all shooting at once. This method was meant to capture everything in one take and allow for easier editing. But Damien wasn't satisfied with a mechanical approach. He wanted artistry in this scene, something deeper than what a fixed camera setup could offer.

Instead, he went for something more dynamic: handheld cameras, operated by two skilled cameramen, who would move through the space alongside the actors. No tracking or fixed tripods. The shots would be fluid, capturing the tension and sparks between Simmons and Renly in real time. The challenge was immense: keeping the cameras from crossing paths, ensuring the lighting stayed consistent, and allowing the actors to stay in character without interruption.

This approach would require flawless coordination, not just from the actors, but from the entire crew. It had taken three full nights of rehearsal — a meticulous process to minimize errors in movement and timing, all to achieve the most authentic performance possible.

The previous attempt had been promising, but Simmons had faltered, ruining the flow. Damien's frustration had boiled over. But now, as they reset for another take, both Simmons and Renly were in perfect sync. There was no hesitation, no second-guessing. They were fully immersed in the scene.

Damien gave the final instruction. "Start counting."

"Five, six, seven..."

"Count to four, damn it! Look at me!"

Fletcher was relentless, like a demon pressing down on Andrew, step by step.

The tension in the air was palpable as they started over.