106 Nailing the scene

On the set, a blend of anticipation and apprehension filled the air as filming was set to resume, with Lucas already in character and ready to go.

When Felicity caught Lucas's gaze, as if questioning whether he had been dozing off, he simply chuckled, "No, I'm just deeply getting into my character."

Felicity gave Lucas a puzzled look as she made her final preparations, the moment before filming charged with energy.

"Alright, let's dive into filming!" Drake announced, noticing Lucas getting up from his seat where he'd been momentarily seated. He eyed Lucas, signaling to him, "Ready to start, Lucas?"

Lucas gave a nod, then moved to his mark.

With Drake, the cast, and crew all set, Lucas sensed their cautious stares, acutely aware of the meticulous vibe he brought to the set.

Lucas understood the crew's shifting perception of him, yet he was resolved to work seamlessly this time, aiming to minimize any disruption.

"Okay, are we all set?" Drake lingered a bit longer on Lucas before declaring energetically, "Action!"

The filming restarted, this attempt following several previous ones that Lucas felt didn't meet his standards.

But now, Lucas was hopeful to finally achieve the level of performance he could be satisfied with.

As Felicity, portraying Anna, unfolded the narrative about the evolution of publishing, from print to the digital realms like MySpace, Lucas, in the guise of Jacob, observed her closely. The camera focused on Jacob, documents in hand, his gaze locked on Anna.

The lens caught Jacob's nuanced expression, particularly his eyes, which sparkled with interest and a hint of curiosity, yet also betrayed a trace of fascination.

As the cameraman, cast members, and Drake observed the unfolding scene, they were struck by a notable shift in Lucas's performance. While the change wasn't dramatic, there was a clear evolution in his approach and execution. It wasn't about being better or worse in a conventional sense; rather, Lucas's portrayal now carried a new level of nuance and depth that impressed everyone.

After Anna finished her part, the professor offered his praise, then reminded everyone to submit their final assignments to Jacob.

The room buzzed with the sounds of students, played by the cast, shuffling papers and murmuring to each other as they handed their work to Jacob before exiting the classroom, leaving him alone with Anna.

"I don't need to give you mine because I've already done it," Anna informed Jacob, introducing an unexpected twist to their dialogue.

Jacob's response, "Well, I'm okay with that..." took everyone by surprise, clearly deviating from the script.

It was obvious that Lucas was improvising, steering the scene in a new direction.

Felicity, in character as Anna, found herself adapting to Lucas's spontaneous dialogue, keen to avoid another retake. With the scene already filmed eight times due to Lucas's perfectionism, Felicity was determined not to be the reason for yet another.

"Thank you..." Anna's gratitude was heartfelt, accompanied by a smile that lingered as she looked at Jacob.

However, Felicity, embodying Anna, felt a surge of surprise at the intensity of Lucas's, or rather Jacob's, gaze.

The camera captured a tender moment as Jacob's eyes, locked on Anna, softened, conveying a depth of warmth and affection with a mere glance.

"Uhm... If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way," Felicity, visibly moved by the intensity of the moment, ventured off-script.

"Alright," Jacob simply replied, his gaze following Anna as she left the classroom.

In that moment, the camera caught a glimpse of Jacob's eyes, filled with a subtle curiosity and longing, painting the picture of a young man falling in love at first sight. As the scene neared its end, Jacob's smile emerged, genuine and almost spontaneous.

The director, Drake, was so captivated by Lucas's performance that he momentarily forgot to call "Cut!" His astonishment was evident as he finally did, marking the end of the shoot.

Walking over to Lucas, Drake confessed, "Watching your performance just now... I can't quite describe it, but it reminded me of how I fell in love with my ex-wife."

Lucas, still deep in character, simply nodded.

Drake chuckled, appreciative of the moment, "This scene turned out wonderfully. Let's take a look at the playback."

Together, Lucas, Drake, and Felicity reviewed the footage from the various camera angles, each perspective offering a new insight into the scene's emotional depth.

As Drake and Felicity watched Lucas's performance, they were struck by how much he had elevated the scene. It far exceeded their expectations. They had already thought Lucas's earlier takes were exceptional, but this time, he truly captured the essence of a young man falling in love at first sight. Previously, his performance had hinted at nervousness and courage, but now, there was a subtle spark of love that hadn't been there before.

Drake now felt that the effort of filming nine takes was entirely justified. Meanwhile, Felicity, witnessing Lucas's marked improvement, couldn't help but feel a pang of inadequacy. Her own performance seemed lacking in comparison, and it weighed heavily on her.

However, embarrassment prevented her from voicing these concerns to Drake or asking for another take. She had noticed the crew and cast's growing impatience with Lucas's insistence on perfection, and she didn't dare add to the tension.

Later, as Lucas and Drake reviewed the footage, Drake complimented him, "I think your performance was already very good. Job well done, Lucas."

Lucas nodded, acknowledging the praise. "Yeah, I think I captured the essence pretty well."

"You really did," Drake agreed, though inwardly, he couldn't help but feel that Felicity's brief moment, meant to convey curiosity towards Jacob, had fallen short. Nonetheless, Lucas's performance had more than compensated for any shortcomings in the scene.

As they continued reviewing the scene, Jennifer joined in, gently taking the camera from Lucas's hands to get a closer look, particularly interested in Lucas's performance.

Watching closely, she noted the expressions, gestures, and dialogue that effortlessly kept Anna engaged. It was clear to her that Lucas, embodying Jacob, radiated a warmth, curiosity, and fascination that mirrored the beginnings of love.

Jennifer knew she should be pleased with Lucas's excellent portrayal, yet she found herself irked, her hearth fluttering in irritation.

"Why does he look at Felicity with such eagerness, as if he's dying to get to know her?" she thought, her brows knitting together in annoyance.

Lucas caught the slight furrow in Jennifer's brow and asked, "What do you think? Is there something missing in my performance?"

Jennifer seemed lost in thought and didn't respond until Lucas repeated his question. Snapping back to reality, she quickly reassured him, "No, no. Your performance is spot-on. I don't see anything amiss."

Lucas, puzzled, remarked, "I thought you noticed something off, given your frown."

"Haha, that's just how I look when I'm focusing," Jennifer fibbed, masking her true feelings. She was irked by Lucas's convincing display of affection towards another woman, yet she knew better than to voice such sentiments.