Chapter 788: The Heroine!

In the cozy studio designed to look like a charming residential house, Martin sat in front of the grand piano. His ten fingers danced across the black and white keys, producing a cheerful melody that filled the room with a lively, rhythmic energy.

Saoirse Ronan, dressed elegantly in a flowing gown, stepped into the music, her movements perfectly synchronized with the beat as she danced gracefully across the floor.

The crew was running a test shoot. Saoirse turned towards the piano and began her line, but before she could finish, director Damien Chazelle called out, "Cut!"

"That's not quite it, Saoirse," Damien said, his tone thoughtful yet firm. "You're too sweet. Remember what we discussed during the script reading. The heroine isn't just lost in love with the hero; she's a modern woman with dreams and independent ideas."

Saoirse placed her hands on the piano for support and nodded, "I understand."

Damien then turned his attention to Martin. Although Martin was the project's executive producer and financier, the set was Damien's domain. "The tune and rhythm need to be more retro, like something from the golden age of jazz," Damien instructed.

Martin nodded and played a passage, attempting to capture the essence Damien described. But it wasn't quite right.

Damien motioned to Sebastian, the on-set music consultant. "Sebastian, can you demonstrate?"

Sebastian took Martin's place at the piano, closed his eyes for a moment to gather his emotions, and then let his fingers fly over the keys. The same jazz tune from the 1960s came alive, but with a depth and authenticity that was palpable.

Martin tried again, channeling the feeling Sebastian had conveyed. But it still didn't hit the mark.

Damien sighed and leaned in close to Martin. "The live performance isn't quite working. How about we change our approach?"

Martin, aware of his limitations despite months of practice, understood. "Alright," he agreed. "Let's shoot the scene with me playing, but use Sebastian's recording for the actual music."

He added, "Has the crew sorted things out with Sebastian about this?"

Ensuring Sebastian would be compensated for the additional work was crucial. The assistant director had a quick word with Sebastian, and with an agreement in place, they changed the shooting method.

With this new approach, Martin focused solely on the performance – his fingering, his posture – without worrying about the music itself. Saoirse continued to dance, but something was still off.

After four or five takes, it was Saoirse who called for a halt each time. Frustration etched on her face, Damien pulled her aside. "Look, I don't care about your relationship with Martin. What I care about is your performance. Your eyes and expressions when you look at him are all wrong!"

Saoirse took a deep breath, ready to try again, determined to embody the character as Damien envisioned. The crew prepared for another take, hoping this time everything would fall into place.

"You're acting like a pure admirer, not a woman with independent thoughts," Damien emphasized, his frustration palpable.

Saoirse nodded, realizing she had let her personal emotions seep into her performance. "I'll adjust as soon as possible," she promised.

Damien returned to his seat behind the director's monitor. Suddenly, he slapped his face hard and muttered to himself, "You can do it! You can do it! You can definitely do it..."

This was only the second feature film he had directed, and the pressure was far greater than his first experience. He needed everything to be perfect.

They resumed shooting. After three more takes, Damien finally found Saoirse Ronan's performance satisfactory. "Cut! That's a wrap for this scene!" he shouted, relief evident in his voice.

Martin stood up from the piano and stretched his wrist. Saoirse approached, looking somewhat downcast. "Teacher..." she whispered, seeking reassurance.

Martin offered a warm smile. "You've adjusted your state well. Keep it up," he encouraged.

Saoirse's spirits lifted. She clenched her fists in determination. "I will!"

Despite the challenges, she showed remarkable talent, far surpassing other actresses. With some adjustments, she gradually embodied the heroine's character. After wrapping up the morning piano scene, the crew moved to a new set, an intimate jazz bar interior.

Before the cameras rolled, Damien pulled Saoirse aside. "This scene is crucial. It's one of the three key moments where the heroine meets the hero. Your character must be proactive, teasing the hero despite having a boyfriend."

Saoirse nodded, absorbing the director's instructions. "I get it. My character sends enough signals to make the hero fall for her."

"Exactly," Damien said, pointing at her for emphasis.

Saoirse returned to her seat next to Martin on set. "Don't feel pressured," Martin advised. "Just follow the director's guidance and your understanding of the role."

"Yeah!" Saoirse nodded enthusiastically. "I see the heroine as a bit of a tease, like Emma Watson."

Martin's curiosity was piqued. "How's your old rival doing these days?"

Saoirse's eyes twinkled with amusement. "She avoids me now. But I've heard from some folks in the British entertainment industry that Rowling isn't too happy with her lately."

Martin did a quick mental calculation. He figured that eventually, Emma Watson's star might wane, while Saoirse's would continue to rise.

As the crew prepared the set, Saoirse and Martin focused on getting into character. The script supervisor clapped the board in front of the camera, signaling the start of the scene. The room fell silent, and the magic of filmmaking resumed, everyone hoping this take would capture the essence of their vision.

Mia's script drew heavily from her own experiences and observations from the Hollywood set, infusing a mix of authenticity and that unmistakable Hollywood flair. The heroine, although portrayed as a dream-chasing girl, often exhibited a touch of the classic Hollywood diva attitude in various scenes.

It was understandable. Mia, a Hollywood actress herself, was naturally influenced by the people and events around her, making her script a reflection of her environment.

This blend of fresh love stories, upon closer examination, sometimes felt off-kilter.

Martin's character, on the other hand, was a down-and-out literary youth with a passion for reviving classical jazz. The script naturally allowed the two desperate souls to clash and ignite passionate sparks, reminiscent of a bygone era in Hollywood where extras would team up, seeking opportunities together.

The entire afternoon was spent shooting the jazz bar scenes. The atmosphere was electric, with several talented black musicians playing at an impressive level. During a break, Mene, who was to play the lead singer of the band, approached Martin for some musical advice.

After wrapping up for the day, Martin headed back to the rest area to gather his things. Saoirse followed him, maintaining a dignified demeanor in the presence of others. "The dance scene is coming up. Can we rehearse for a bit?" she asked.

Understanding her intentions, Martin replied, "Sure, go remove your makeup first. I'll wait for you."

"Meet me at the ice cream shop," Saoirse said, dashing out of the studio with a smile.

Martin returned to the makeup trailer to clean up and change. He exchanged a few words with Mene before heading to the ice cream shop. As he approached, he noticed Mia and Sebastian engaged in a heated argument under the parasol outside.

Their body language spoke volumes, though Martin couldn't hear their words from a distance. Sebastian's expression was tense as he refuted something Mia said. In response, Mia pointed at his chest, raised her voice, and then stormed off, tossing her bag aside.

Noticing Martin, Mia forced a smile. "Hello, Martin..."

"Go handle your business," Martin said, waving her off.

He glanced at Sebastian, who shrugged helplessly. Martin chose not to intervene, as long as their squabble didn't disrupt the crew's work.

Sebastian soon departed, leaving Martin alone under the parasol. He waited for less than five minutes before Saoirse arrived, slightly out of breath.

"Ready for our rehearsal?" she asked, her eyes bright with determination.

"Always," Martin replied with a grin. They walked inside the ice cream shop, ready to bring their next scene to life.

Saoirse ordered two cold drinks, then brought them over to the small round table where Martin was seated. They sat together, sipping their drinks and chatting, grateful for a break after a long day of filming.

Taking a bite of her ice cream, Saoirse mused, "The heroine I play reminds me a lot of Emma Watson. She's got this hidden, manipulative side."

She paused, thinking. "You're close with Mia. Why did she write the heroine this way?"

Martin set down his drink and pondered. "Mia might have unconsciously brought these traits into the character, or perhaps she sees them as normal in Hollywood. Pursuing the dream of stardom often means making compromises."

Saoirse nodded, reflecting on the character's journey. "I get the ending. But before the heroine and hero confirm their relationship, she behaves...well, kind of manipulative."

Martin gestured for her to continue.

"The heroine has a tall, rich, handsome boyfriend," Saoirse explained. "He takes her to a fancy restaurant to meet his brother. According to the script, this guy is a bit stiff and conservative. She finds him boring and abandons him on the spot to chase after the hero."

She coughed lightly, then added, "The hero is this artistic young man, deeply into art."

Martin understood where she was heading. "He's romantic, understands art, and exudes charm."

"Exactly," Saoirse said. "Doesn't the heroine come across as manipulative? She takes her boyfriend's good treatment for granted. She just thinks he's boring and unromantic, with nothing in common with her. Then along comes this artistic guy, and she's immediately drawn to him. She feels like she owes it to her youth to be with him."

Martin chuckled. "Your perspective aligns closely with Damien's. Haven't you noticed? He's deliberately shaping the heroine this way."

Saoirse looked puzzled. "Why? Youth, dreams, love... aren't those supposed to be the focus?"

"I can't speak for the screenwriter's intentions, but I know what the director aims for," Martin explained. "Nowadays, female characters in movies are all about being in control of their own lives. The heroine's actions reflect this autonomy."

Saoirse thought for a moment and then nodded. "It makes sense. The heroine seduces the hero, dumps her current boyfriend to be with him, uses a phone call with her mother to push the hero into making money so she can write in peace, asks him to quit his high-paying job to share her struggles, and then chooses to go to Paris to follow her dream..."

Martin smiled knowingly. "Exactly. Damien gives the heroine the appearance of controlling her destiny, but he subtly weaves in a few manipulative traits."

Saoirse leaned back, taking another bite of her ice cream, deep in thought. "I suppose understanding these layers makes the character more complex and interesting."

"That's the beauty of it," Martin said. "It's not just about the surface story but the underlying motivations that make the characters real and relatable."

They continued their discussion, diving deeper into the intricacies of their characters and the script, finding new dimensions to explore in their performances.