Chapter 113: Panoramic Direction

In the blink of an eye, the filming of "The Princess Diaries" has reached its fifth day.

Finally!

Anson is about to face his first scene.

However, it's not a solo scene. To be precise, Anson doesn't have any solo scenes in the entire movie. He truly lives up to being a qualified "vase," constantly carrying the responsibility of supporting the scene.

Today's scene is no exception. Not only is it not a solo scene, but it's also a group scene.

This scene is somewhat challenging because it requires coordination and direction, so Garry didn't rush into filming it. He waited until the crew was functioning smoothly before starting the shoot—

Mia, who still doesn't know her true identity and is just an ordinary, unnoticed high school student, is walking to school with her best friend, Lilly.

Garry needed a wide shot that showcases all the main and secondary characters in the school, with different students engaged in various activities, full of energy. This includes characters played by Mandy Moore, Sandra Oh, Anson, and others.

Of course, there's also Josh, the object of Mia's crush, played by Erik von Detten, who is also eighteen and making his big-screen debut. Josh is the boyfriend of Mandy's character, cheerleader captain Lana, and the two are passionately in love.

The difficulty of the wide shot lies in the direction.

The camera will follow a precise movement path to convey the director's vision, while the actors need to stay in character in their designated positions.

On one hand, they must perform their roles when the camera reaches their spot.

On the other hand, they must stay focused and continue their character's task even when they are in the background.

Finally, they will complete a coherent shot.

This is not easy; it requires acting, rehearsing, and coordination.

In Steven Spielberg's 2004 film "The Terminal," there's a similar wide shot:

The protagonist, Tom Hanks, stands in the middle of an airport plaza, lost and bewildered, while other passengers continue with their busy lives, moving around him, while he is forced to stay put.

This wide shot, which lasts only a few seconds in the movie, was meticulously planned by Steven using a model to set up every detail of the scene, down to the precise timing, number of people, speed, and direction of movement.

After three full days of rehearsal, a perfect shot was achieved. The movement of the crowds not only contributed to the composition but also created dynamic lines, showcasing the busyness of the airport while highlighting its vitality. The entire shot became a visual treat that delivered an impact.

This scene vividly demonstrates Steven Spielberg's skill in direction, making him undoubtedly a master of composition, direction, and storyboarding, which are integral parts of the art of filmmaking—and very important ones at that.

Later on, as superhero movies became more and more like theme parks, the lack of direction, composition, and editing caused the imagination in films to disappear. Everything became rigid and mechanical, turning these movies into platforms for selling merchandise.

Of course, Garry isn't Steven; he doesn't have Steven's creativity and control. However, he has his own ideas about film language, and he is particularly good at using the camera to capture the relationships between characters.

In fact, Garry still bears the marks of a television director. He focuses more on the script and the visual effects brought about by body language than on the language of the camera. Yet, this still makes him an excellent director of romantic comedies.

This scene at the high school entrance was something Gary discussed with the crew for a long time, followed by a full three-hour rehearsal and practice session yesterday afternoon.

Today, Gary is hoping for good weather in San Francisco.

He wants to capture the moment when the sun rises in the morning, portraying the real scene of middle school students going to school, full of youthful energy—

Of course, with a touch of cinematic drama.

This means the crew needs to work quickly because the window of time when the morning sunlight is at the right angle is very brief. If they miss it, the natural effect Gary is aiming for will be significantly compromised, potentially requiring changes to the filming plan, or even scrapping the existing plan altogether.

Due to these various factors coming together, Gary didn't start filming this scene immediately. Instead, he used the time yesterday to finish early and dedicated it to rehearsals.

Now, it's finally time for the real deal.

The entire crew is slightly nervous, even though the staff are proceeding in an orderly manner and are quite familiar with this kind of filming. But let's not forget, most of the student actors from the middle school are shooting a movie for the first time, with Sandra Oh, who plays the vice principal, being the only exception.

Gary hopes these young people will show the youthfulness and energy appropriate for their age, but the downside is their lack of experience.

Excitement? Definitely.

Nervousness? Also present.

Even though no one is speaking out loud, the air is filled with a faint, bustling murmur, and you can feel the rush of various emotions just by exchanging glances. It's like being back in middle school—

In that brief time when the school bell rings but the math teacher, who had announced a test, hasn't shown up yet. Everyone is both nervous and excited, making all sorts of guesses, but no one dares to break the tension by speaking out loud.

That's exactly what it feels like now.

Anson is no exception.

It's not the filming that's nerve-wracking, but the acting.

This is Michael's first appearance in the movie, and it's a wide shot surrounded by numerous students. He needs to leave a strong impression but without breaking the nerdy character he's supposed to portray. This is also the moment to test the preparation and research he's done over this period.

James Franco helped Anson a lot during the character preparation process and even rehearsed some scenes with him. Whether it's effective or not, now is the time to put it to the test.

Despite everything, the nerves are still there, mixed with anticipation and excitement. Coupled with the emotions from the other young people around him, the tension and pounding heartbeat quietly begin to spread.

Thump.

Thump.

A roaring sound rushes in and out of his eardrums, shrinking the world to almost press against his shoulders.

Then, the class monitor should shout, "Quiet"—

"We're ready!"

But it's not the class monitor; it's the clapperboard operator on set.

As the clapperboard comes in, all the noise and chatter instantly vanish, as if the scene has shifted to the final moment before the start of an Olympic 100-meter race.

Everything freezes in an instant.

The tension and excitement of all the young actors on set reach a peak, and the golden sunlight pouring down from the sky seems to boil over, as if standing at the entrance to a magical world.

Push the door, and it slowly opens.

"Action!"

Whoosh.

Anson exhales softly and calms down.

No more nerves, no more expectations, no more distractions—his focus is entirely on the task at hand. The sound of his heartbeat fades into the distance, and he enters a subtle state of concentration.

Rattle.

Rattle.

It's almost as if you can hear the film reel turning in the air.

The fourth take.