Chapter 48: Second Round Begins
[Chapter 48: Second Round Begins]
[The movie production is complete, and the box office subsidy is currently being calculated...]
[Participant engagement is at 81.3%, with a movie completion quality of 86.6%]
[Rewards: 3.2 times box office subsidy; Directing Experience +20%; Directing Stamina +10%]
[Remaining trials in the novice period: 1]
Engagement had dropped nearly 14 percentage points compared to Buried, while completion quality had increased by 1 percentage point. The box office subsidy decreased by 0.8, the directing experience fell by 10 percentage points, while the directing stamina reward remained unchanged. A new line showed an additional remaining trial in the novice period.
Did this mean there was a limit on experience during the novice phase? Would the system change after this period?
Before he could think through it clearly, the system data flickered several times and disappeared from view, like spots left in one's vision after staring at the sun.
...
"Boss, the movie turned out great. Do we need to recast the male lead?" Lily stood in front of him, holding some documents.
"Yes! Monica and I don't look very compatible when playing a couple."
"Yeah, it's a bit mismatched. Monica's older than you, and her face has a more mature look. You two as a couple come off like estranged siblings; it throws off the vibe."
"Are you getting used to the new apartment? Are you having any trouble?"
"It's nice. The apartment is really close to Walmart, Macy's, and Metropolis Center, so shopping is super convenient." Lily's tone was much more relaxed than before.
Today, she wore a smart gray blazer over a white top that showcased her delicate collarbone, accented with a thin necklace. Compared to others, her figure might not have been the hottest, but her capable and intellectual temperament, coupled with the gentleness of a young mother was undeniably attractive.
"What are you looking at?"
"Stockings, ugh, your shoes look stunning, and they really go with your skirt."
"You rascal! I thought you were finally being serious, but clearly, you haven't changed one bit; your eyes are still wandering!"
Lily raised her foot, ready to kick him, but suddenly noticed someone coming down the hallway. Instantly serious, she passed him the folder, mumbling, "Please sign here, boss."
...
After completing the first round of filming, Link didn't take much of a break. He returned to the Mission Hills N23 villa in San Diego for the second round of shooting.
However, news began circulating in the media about the failure of his new film, stating that he was recasting the male lead. Industry insiders speculated that he didn't know how to direct.
In his previous shoot of Buried, it was just him and a small crew. Now, with a larger crew for his new film, many believed he couldn't manage it, leading to these issues.
Some media outlets commented that after Buried's massive success, he likely aimed for a high-profile production to prove his capabilities, but due to his limited skills, he faced failure and needed to reshoot.
Rumors even spread that Link invested several million dollars in the new project and that this failure could lead him to bankruptcy.
...
Following the rumors, Guess Pictures' CEO Michael Risen took over for Link during a media interview at the company, stating that the rumors were untrue. The filming had been successful and that Link's decision to recast the lead was merely to ensure a higher quality, more creative film for everyone.
Michael also pointed out that Link had previously stated this was an experimental movie. Friends with a chemistry background would know it's normal to change experimental reagents, and they hoped the media wouldn't spread false information.
Nonetheless, the media continued to buzz with speculation.
...
"Scene 1, Take 1, action!"
The second round of filming for Paranormal Activity began in the N23 villa in San Diego.
Because the lead character often filmed the actress with a camera, Link played the role of both director and cameraman, so his part in the movie was limited.
Most of the scenes featuring the actress alone didn't require reshooting. He only needed to capture scenes where the leads were sleeping or eating, as well as a few moments where the camera pointed at a mirror.
To ensure quality, Link decided to take extra time to revisit the script thoroughly, filming from an observer's point of view to see if it improved the film's quality.
During this second round, he focused solely on directing and not acting, making the job much easier.
In truth, he wasn't a big fan of acting; the fame that came with being a star could amplify his workload and introduce unnecessary complications.
...
"Cut! No, not good. Let's try again!"
Link didn't call out any names for poor performances but directed both actors to reflect and make their own adjustments.
In fact, it was Monica's performance that fell short. During the second round, she didn't bring the same energy as in the first version and couldn't connect with her role as the new lead's girlfriend -- her delivery fell flat.
This was something she brought up last night; she said there was a lack of freshness when repeating the same scenes, and, similarly, she found it hard to like Jeremy Northam as much as she liked Link.
Link advised her that if she wanted to be a professional, she needed to learn to adjust her mindset and not let difficulties deter her; she had to strive for her best, as it would benefit her growth.
To motivate her, Link not only demonstrated his additional 10% directing stamina in practice but also reassured her that it was fine not to perform as well as the first take, but she should still aim for excellence.
Her performance was crucial in supporting the male lead; if she was too weak, Jeremy Northam wouldn't be able to shine either.
Monica agreed, wrapping her arms around his neck and complimenting how much he had improved.
After persuading Monica, she put more effort into the second round, and the shooting went much more smoothly.
...
"Cut! Great!"
"Let's take a 30-minute break. You can rehearse your lines, and we'll resume in half an hour."
Link put down the camera and wiped his hands with a towel from the table.
While they were filming, two visitors arrived at the villa -- Quentin Tarantino and Steven Soderbergh. They followed Chris Barnes and stopped at the door to observe.
"Link, is this really a film set? A villa, a big bed, two actors? Are you sure you're making a serious movie?"
Quentin's way of speaking was just like the characters in his scripts -- never-ending.
"It's a serious film, an experimental one."
"Are you sure? I saw you filming Monica's feet, and I heard the male actor asking the female actor to do a strip tease. Is this really a serious production? Link, you've got talent, particularly in directing and screenwriting. You have immense potential, but I hope you take this job seriously and don't be too reckless, or you might end up on a road to nowhere."
"Not at all! You guys can come check it out during the test screening -- zero pornography."
"Alright, we'll just watch. You all continue; pretend we're not here."
Quentin crossed his arms and sat down.
...
Once Monica and Jeremy Northam prepared, Link hoisted the camera to continue filming.
"Scene 6, Take 3, action!"
"Why did you bring out the camera?"
In the bathroom, Monica was washing her face in a T-shirt and shorts, looking toward the camera.
"We could use this to shoot different things."
Jeremy held a handheld camera, pointing it at Monica, his movements reflected in the wall mirror.
"Careful, you're going to hit the showerhead!"
"We can film some other stuff, as I mentioned before."
"We can, but we shouldn't," Monica replied.
...
"Cut!"
Link called a break and stepped into the bathroom.
"Monica, you need to relax a bit more. You're a couple now, and this dialogue should be playful. You need to immerse yourself in the moment and feel how this joke would emotionally affect your character.
You performed well last time; try to recall how you did it back then."
"I got it; I'll adjust."
"Alright, we'll continue filming in three minutes."
*****
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