Wrapping up the filming

Luc Besson left, convinced he had guessed right yet remained oblivious to many things.

As he departed, he turned to Lyman and asked when the film would be completed so that he could arrange schedules accordingly.

Lyman naturally replied that they could finish by the end of September. However, at the current pace of shooting, it might not take as long as expected.

In a photography studio on the outskirts of Paris, belonging to EuropaCorp.

Eva Green stood at the entrance to a gala event, clad in a splendid evening gown.

Inside, men and women danced with abandon, creating a lively scene bathed in lights and music.

This location marked the final few shots of "Effervescent". They were progressing faster than anticipated; it was only September 20th.

Of course, there were reasons for this swift pace. Firstly, the pre-production preparation had been thorough, with a well-structured plan for shooting. There had been no unexpected incidents to disrupt the shooting schedule. Secondly, once the actors got into their roles, retakes were noticeably reduced. Generally, a scene could be completed in one or two takes. Thirdly, Lyman had a detailed shot-by-shot script and knew what kind of final product he desired. There was hardly any superfluous footage being shot.

Jack Gyllenhaal, dressed in a suit, sat in a wheelchair being pushed by a servant.

He looked toward the entrance, where Eva stood, his face brimming with a smile...

To be honest, his role didn't involve much physical movement; it relied almost entirely on facial expressions to convey emotions and character feelings. It was quite challenging, and this was why Jack had taken on the role.

Unfortunately, this story was never going to have the most heartwarming ending in the eyes of the audience.

The subsequent scenes also depicted Jack's heartfelt wishes for Eva.

"I don't want you to miss possibilities. I just want you to have a fresh start."

"Your life is still full of boundless possibilities, a luxury. Thinking that I can bring you some possibilities brings me comfort."

"You only have one life; you should live it splendidly."

Indeed, he was a person half-paralyzed, and there were many things he couldn't provide.

The film aimed to explore themes of love's respect and humanity.

Love didn't necessarily require marriage, having children, or a complete life spent together. Love could also be a memory, a trace.

Love always arrived as an enigmatic proposition.

In the end, Eva smiled through her tears.

Through the lens, that touch of sorrow conveyed so much...

"Cut." Lyman chuckled lightly, "I announce "Effervescent" complete."

The crew members naturally rejoiced and enthusiastically began clearing the set.

Eva, however, seemed to remain lost in the emotions of her character, standing motionless.

Lyman walked over, affectionately patting her shoulder and asked, "What's wrong? Are you still feeling sad? We're done."

"I don't know, I just suddenly thought of something and couldn't control myself," she forced herself to say with renewed spirit.

Perhaps this scene was where she delved the deepest into her emotions throughout the entire film.

At that moment, she truly felt a sense of abandonment.

A bittersweet feeling she swallowed and masked under a facade of indifference.

Luckily, this was a movie.

"When do you think it will be released after the filming is done?" Eva asked again.

"It shouldn't take too long. I'm planning to release it sometime in November. That's around Thanksgiving, so there'll be a larger audience base and a broader demographic," Lyman explained, adding an explanation at the end.

In retrospect, Lyman had initially budgeted roughly ten million dollars for the "Effervescent" project. However, with the smooth shooting process and finishing ahead of schedule, they managed to save quite a bit. Even though shooting had wrapped at this point, they had spent just over eight million dollars.

Even when accounting for post-production voiceovers, music, editing, and distribution, it probably wouldn't exceed the budget.

Thinking about it, EuropaCorp really struck gold with him as a director. With his efficient style, they had truly lucked out.

Jack had grown more familiar with Lyman over these days. Despite being a second-generation figure in the industry with rich acting experience, he had mostly relied on his parents' accumulated connections and his agent WMA to get jobs. Combined with his low-key nature and reluctance to engage in self-promotion, his market appeal often didn't reach its full potential.

After this stint on set, apart from his agreed-upon remuneration, what Jack desired more was to maintain a good relationship with director Lyman. After all, as his manager, Mason Roberts, had put it, he was in a phase of career ascent, and Lyman was skilled at boosting others. If there wasn't a chance to form a connection, it would be regrettable. But if there was a chance and he missed it, that would be a true pity.

Therefore, while everyone was packing up and preparing to close up shop, when Lyman was alone, Jack quietly approached and said, "Director Lyman, I hope we'll have the chance to work together again."

Seeing his respectful demeanor, Lyman chuckled and said, "As long as you don't mind having fewer lines."

"How could I? In the future, if there's a role that fits, feel free to call me." Jack quickly responded. Of course, how sincere his words were remained uncertain.

However, Lyman was actually planning to establish a legitimate production company in North America. "Saw" would be the company's first project.

Although Jack's level of public attention had never been particularly high, he was recognized within the industry. He had a solid foundation in acting, his pay was reasonable compared to those driven by online popularity, and coupled with his professional attitude, he had been punctual throughout these days of shooting. He followed the crew's schedule closely. Lyman's impression of him was quite positive.

After pondering for a while, Lyman made a commitment, "Here's the deal. In the future, my films might not necessarily have a role suitable for you. However, if there's a project related to me, if I can have a say in casting, I'll keep an eye out for something that suits you. Whether you choose to act or not, of course, depends on your own willingness. You don't need to consider me too much."

"Thank you, Director." Jack's happiness was evident. He hadn't expected Lyman to be this accommodating.

But then again, if he could take a look at Heath Ledger's case, he would know that Lyman was someone who leaned towards being easy to get along with. Whoever treated him well, he treated them well in return. Whoever had shown him kindness, he wouldn't forget. Take Thomas, for instance. He had thought about nurturing him as a director, but Thomas wasn't interested, so the idea was dropped. Now, he was still working as a dedicated cameraman.

Then there was René, a long-standing friend. He had just appeared out of nowhere in the past, someone who had shown him utmost care. Even after he became successful, he had always wanted to take René along, support him to become a producer. Thinking about it, René didn't have an ounce of directorial talent, but in terms of writing a script, if given a good idea, he could definitely handle it on his own. It wouldn't be impossible for him to hold the reins with a strong idea...