Chapter 33: Teaching Monica

[Chapter 33: Teaching Monica]

In the afternoon, Monica Bellucci arrived at Guess Pictures, standing in front of the film company's entrance. As she gazed at the 'Guess' sign, a hint of bewilderment crossed her mind. She wondered why the company was named 'Guess.'

...

"Welcome! Hello, who are you looking for?"

Lily, who was just hanging around the office, quickly approached when she spotted a woman walk in.

However, when she got a good look at the woman's face and figure, even Lily, who considered herself quite attractive, couldn't help but be momentarily stunned.

The woman possessed delicate features with a tall figure and a mature, curvy body, reminiscent of those voluptuous and graceful women depicted in Renaissance Italian paintings.

Without any makeup, she wore a simple women's tee, blue jeans, and had thick, curly long hair casually draped over her shoulders. She held a small handbag that made her look not only attractive but also very stylish and elegant.

"Hi, is Director Link in? I'm Monica Bellucci, and I had an appointment with him."

"Hello, Miss Bellucci! Please, follow me."

Lily politely gestured, leading Monica towards Link's office.

...

As Monica walked one step behind Lily, she took the opportunity to size up the woman.

Lily had a tall and slender build, and a graceful demeanor -- captivating and pleasing to the eye.

"Are you Director Link's assistant?" Monica asked.

"Yes, I'm currently his assistant. My name is Lily."

"Nice to meet you, Miss Lily!"

"Miss Bellucci, are you an actress?"

"Yes, I aspire to be a real actress."

"You can do it. You're beautiful."

"Thank you, you're lovely as well."

Lily arrived at Link's office and lightly knocked on the door.

"Come in!"

"Link, Miss Monica Bellucci is here."

...

Lily ushered Monica into Link's office and then quietly closed the door behind her. After closing it, she suddenly remembered that she was supposed to handle drinks for the guests.

She hesitated at the door, knocked again, and asked Link and Monica if they needed anything to drink.

"No need, there's a fridge here. Lily, the office is quiet this afternoon; you can head home early. Just be careful on your way."

"Alright, I'll see you later."

Lily waved goodbye as she stepped out, closing the office door behind her.

---

Inside the office, Link picked up a handheld camera and pressed the record button, placing it on the desk.

He aimed the camera at the center of the office.

"Monica, let's try some lines."

Link and Monica each held a copy of the script and began running through their lines in the office.

The story of Paranormal Activity was quite simple -- a young couple, Katie and Micah, moved into a large home in the suburbs. After a few days, they started to sense that something wasn't right in the house.

Strange noises often echoed at night, beyond their comprehension. To uncover the truth, the male lead, Micah, set up several cameras in the bedroom, hoping to capture evidence of ghostly activity on film. But as events unfolded, everything spiraled out of control.

The female lead, Katie, was possessed at night, frequently sleepwalking, ultimately leading to a tragic confrontation where she killed her husband, Micah.

This film wasn't overly graphic; it lacked gore and dismemberment. Its horror elements were instead derived from the strange sounds and eerie images captured on camera.

This pseudo-documentary filming style preserved the raw essence of live footage, making it easy for viewers to immerse themselves in the experience and elicit improper associations.

That's what made Paranormal Activity especially terrifying.

...

"Hey, what's wrong?"

During the audition, Link stood in the center of the office, holding a small camera aimed at Monica Bellucci.

In the scene of the script, the male lead filmed as he emerged from the house, capturing his girlfriend Katie returning home.

The two tried to simulate the scene as accurately as they could, mimicking the characters' actions and performing in a virtual scene without physical props.

"What is that?"

Monica Bellucci asked, reclining on the sofa as she looked up at the camera.

"Hey there, sweetheart!"

"That thing isn't..."

"Exactly!"

"I don't know what you think, but I'm sure whatever you believe is good. I think it's a professional camera -- what happened to the handheld one you used to have?"

...

"Hold on!"

Link set down the camera, saying, "Monica, play it a bit more naturally. Don't force it. Don't see yourself as just an actress but as my girlfriend. We're in love, and life is sweet. When talking, try to keep the performance subtle, as if you're filming a family video during Christmas or a birthday party. Remember, we're making a documentary-style film; authenticity and naturalness are crucial, while artistry comes second."

"I understand. I'll give it a shot."

Monica nodded, glancing at the script once more, nurturing her emotions before continuing to practice lines with Link.

...

"Come on, give the camera a kiss."

"I'm not kissing the camera; I want to kiss you."

Monica stood on her toes to peck his cheek, "How much did you pay for this?"

"What are you doing?"

"Do you think this camera will capture the ghost in the house?"

"I think we're going to have a lot of fun."

Monica continued to read her lines, slightly more relaxed than before, yet still needing improvement in many areas.

Link held the camera while responding to her dialogue, acting the husband role effortlessly.

...

After rehearsing for about an hour, Link called for a break, putting down the small camera. He opened the recorder on the desk to review the previous shots.

This camera was the latest Canon LX-1 handheld, capable of lens interchangeability, with clarity and quality on par with professional models.

The only inconvenience was the absence of digital storage, requiring frequent tape changes.

"How did it go, Link?"

As he watched the footage, Monica stepped behind him, the scent of rose mixed with warmth wafting towards him.

"There are some issues."

Link stroked his chin as he viewed the video.

...

While there were aspects of Monica Bellucci's performance that needed refining, the main concern lay in the chemistry between him and Monica. Being of different ethnic backgrounds and an age gap of eight years made them less believable as a couple on screen.

To fix this, he could either replace himself or Monica.

After contemplating, he decided to step aside.

This decision wasn't about elevating Monica but about his future. Due to previous budget concerns and the fact that Buried featured only one actor, he took on the role himself. However, as a director, his primary goal for the future remains directing.

Moreover, since Paranormal Activity was a pseudo-documentary, using unfamiliar or non-professional actors would enhance the film's believability.

Monica had only been in Hollywood for six months, playing a minor role in a vampire film. Had it not been for her rise to fame from Malèna, she'd still be relatively unknown in the industry.

At this point, she was almost equivalent to a non-professional actor.

Link had left a strong impression in Buried, where his face was on screen for more than ninety minutes; many recognized him as an actor.

Using his familiar face in a pseudo-documentary could undermine its authenticity, making it hard to trick the audience.

...

"Is it my fault? Can I fix it?"

Monica asked nervously.

As she continued watching the footage, disappointment washed over her -- disappointment in herself.

She viewed herself as a professional actress with ample experience, capable of taking on any role. Yet, her performance fell short compared to Link's.

Link appeared incredibly natural in front of the camera, his dialogue and presence relaxed, just like in everyday life.

In contrast, her words and actions still held traces of performance, lacking adequate comfort.

The gap was obvious.

Upon hearing Link's "there's an issue," her heart raced with anxiety, fearing she might be replaced.

"It's not your fault, Monica; don't be nervous. You did well."

Link felt something warm and soft pressing against his left shoulder, matching his heartbeat, the floral scent enveloping him even stronger.

"So, what's the problem?"

"There's a bit of a mismatch in our chemistry."

Link briefly explained their lack of compatibility and how his familiar face wasn't ideal for a pseudo-documentary.

"Are we going to change male leads?"

"Not for now."

...

Link planned to first finish filming as the male lead alongside Monica.

Once they wrapped up, he would assess the system's ratings, experience points, and any box office incentives available.

If the incentives were too low, he would consider replacing the male lead.

The film had a modest budget of only twenty thousand, expected to be shot in a week, allowing three or four rounds in one month.

It was an excellent opportunity for practice that he didn't want to miss out on.

...

Link shared that they would aim to shoot a couple more times, acknowledging it might complicate things, but the quality of the movie was crucial.

The only challenge was that Monica might need to repeat her performance several times.

"I don't mind; I'm a new actress, and repeated performances can help me improve."

Monica was an ambitious actress; upon hearing about the repeated takes, she didn't see it as a hassle but rather a golden opportunity.

Link was not just a talented screenwriter and brilliant director but also an exceptional actor. Working under his guidance was an invaluable experience to seize.

"I hope you don't find it troublesome. If the filming is unsuccessful, I will give you additional pay."

"Link, I don't care about the pay; I just want a chance to perform."

"No need to think that way. Though the budget is low, actors' salaries remain fixed. You have two options: $10,000 to complete the entire film, including repeats, or $1,000 a day; you can choose whenever you feel ready."

"I'll take the $10,000."

Monica promptly made her decision.

"Looking forward to working together."

Link picked up the phone on the desk, instructing Danny DeVito to print a copy of the acting contract for Monica to sign.

Thus, she became the first actress to join the Paranormal Activity crew.

*****

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