Filming Considerations

Mark and Sullivan opted to only use one car for the occasion as the Creed trio headed for their destination.

The cameras were already set up and the crew was going back and forth to find their stations. All of them were shocked to find out that their director's set adjustments were already pre-planned, even the newcomers in their batch were surprised by the over-organization.

All the angles, lightings, camera motion, and equipment shifts are already well thought out that it seemed as if the director already knew what he was going for beforehand.

The crew was perfectly fitted with instructions on what they were to do and it creeped them out that someone really planned that far ahead.

The boss they knew was not this optimized in the filming as any other director should be. Even with extensive planning, a normal director has to make adjustments here and there for him to be fully immersed in filming and exhibit his style.

Filmmaking is a mixture of preparation and on-the-spot improvisation, so this full prep method felt a bit too constricting.

What most of them didn't take into consideration was that Mark and his planning team had an impressively detailed storyboard.

With that complete template of the finished product, all they had to do was deconstruct it and fit it with the on-site location. They were already well-versed in what was to happen that they challenge themselves and made somewhat of a script for every behind-the-scenes member.

Sure, there would likely be some changes when filming truly starts but the fact that they thought that far ahead in pre-production means that Alexander's cost reduction efforts have feasibility.

Young Alex was finally able to set foot on a film production set and tried to learn whatever he could.

For the first scenes to shoot, renting a filming studio is not yet needed as John Smith's esper adventures can be done in real environments.

As of now, they were on a random street in California. The boy was also briefed by his father on the process of renting this location.

It had to follow many schedules and rules that would make any producer or any industry-insider dread.

If a building is to be shown in a movie, one needs permission to avoid lawsuits from the owners.

If an address is to be specified in a film, one must make sure to contact relevant authorities at that address.

If a random background character is to be used in filming, it must be a paid actor, or else, a battle about why that scene is using someone's body figure is to be ensured.

If an animal is to be used as an actor, it must have proper guardians and be treated with utmost care. Making animals the hardest actors to work with along with children.

This brings up the topic that if a child is going to be an actor, the crew must ensure that he/she must be treated with proper care, appropriate education hours, and a supervisor from a child-centered organization that Alexander never bothered to remember.

There are also the hassles that every crew member must have the same work treatment as any other office worker. Filming must start and end as any business corporation would.

Although it was still changing and developing, these tight rules to follow are pretty much not that different from what Other Joe had read on the Internet.

There are also the various back and forths that agents and actors have to ensure their pay. It is also important to take into account the major guilds that a production member is a part of.

Basically, there would be a lot of things to look out for and a lot of things for Alexander to learn from.

"Alexander, you will need to prepare yourself. Rehearsals at home are not that close to the real things." Sullivan advised as he read on about business articles while his grandson is being fitted with make-up. "Having cameras and a lot of people looking at you could be quite disconcerting!"

"Grandpa, stop getting on my nerves." The boy complained as his grandfather's words were starting to sink in. His face was being powdered on with more specialized make-up that hopefully wouldn't leave any damage to his developing skin.

Although actors look glamorous, Alexander knew that it was only a facade that hid the damages of terrible cosmetics they accumulated. He was young and handsome, he didn't want to be a powder face growing up.

Maintenance was not yet popularized in this era, so he had to inform his father about the dangers of complacency that he should use on his actors.

Thinking about the dangers of cosmetics really helped calm his nerves while in the dressing room and when he went out of it, he was in the exterior look that he designed John Smith to be.

He wearing a black school uniform which is reminiscent of the original Kageyama. Japanese-type of school uniforms aren't really that mainstream in North America, so he rehashed them to be work clothes while on the job as a hired psychic.

After all, he still needed to have a signature look for when John is to be made as a toy.

His handsome face with the shaggy black hair made him quite the looker. Poor, plain-faced Shigeo couldn't even compare.

"Haha! Alex, you really are a Creed!" His grandfather nodded as he took in how his outfitted grandson closely resembled his glory days. "Too bad that you aren't as handsome as me."

The boy could only roll his eyes at Old Sullivan's occasional surge of narcissism.

"Dad! What did I tell you? If you kept pestering Alex here, then you'd better continue with your overseas travel." Fortunately, Mark was there to douse his father's over-excitement. "You look stunningly John Smith, Alexander! We are ready for you but you still have to condition yourself."

"I am your father at home but I am a director at work, so expect some scoldings from me whenever you fail!" Mark put on a stern face as he said so. Inwardly, however, he was feeling afraid as he might really be going to berate his son for the very first time.

What he didn't know was that Alexander was also fearful of experiencing his first scolding that he was trying to hypnotize himself into not committing NGs and mishaps!

Although it wasn't that apparent in Mark and Sullivan's very eyes, they still felt the subtle change in temperament that their little one was slowly exhibiting.