Chp 45 : Appetizer?

His film will begin shooting, and also he still used the old crews from his last short film.

The budget was about $800,000. Liam Neeson was paid $200,000 and the rest of the actors and casts cost $150,000 total of $350,000.

The rest of the budget will be used for filming and will take 3 to 4 weeks, ends in mid-February. The post-production will end in early March. His now aim is for the Cannes Film Festival in May.

Jerome Bixby also came to watch what this young director could do. He said he wanted to watch the process of the shooting of his last creation before he died.

"Okay guys, I announce that the shooting of <The Man From Earth> has begun....."

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"Cut! Liam, could you repeat scene 121, not your fault. It's mine."

Shooting has been running for weeks, and Al was having a little bottleneck while doing it.

Although the scene was only shot in one room, the lighting and camera position must be perfect so the audience won't be bored by seeing only a few angles of camera and eyesore colors.

In his previous life, this film had bad lighting, camera positioning, dull colors, and boring opening. Luckily this film carried by Jerome's script alone with a great narrative story and has become a legend in low budget films.

So the bad thing about that film was mostly because of the low budget and inexperienced director.

So Al wanted to change it, he used Jerome's completed script in his Mind Library. Now how will he project this script into something interesting is now what his challenge is.

"Everyone, 2-hour break. All of you did a great job and I hope you can back to your prime after eating some tacos but be careful of diarrhea. I don't want to see any caveman's waste." Al made a joke about this film and everyone laugh.

One thing for sure is that Al was never stingy with foods, he made sure they ate good and healthy food every day.

Then Al back to his trailer, carrying a box of videotapes and notes that Jessica gave him this morning.

They saw their director still working hard even on break. But everyone from the cast to crews was too hungry and tired to care about it.

They ate their lunch together and made small talk about this filming.

Sandra then decided to break the silence, "Can you imagine it! He's still 14 and when I saw the ads, I thought what he meant about the experimental film is like some film students project or something like that. But it turns out this is real filming, I know I only in college for 2 years but how he directs this film is more professionals than some of my friends in college."

Liam then said, "Sandy, you are seeing it too small scale. In my years of acting, I have never been so comfortable inset. I didn't even realize that I act so well, not after seeing some footage that Al gave me. Not like a tyrant, nor a kind-hearted director, he just let you flow into his tempos and acts as he wants like in scripts."

Willy then interjected, "Easy for you the actors, he's a hell you know!" Then he laughed with everyone from behind the screen crews.

"But I'm quite comfortable working with him, he's not the one who just angry for no reason or mad at small details, like some gossip I heard from the <Terminator>'s director, I heard the 6 crews are quitting because of him."

Tony Todd, this was his first debut in widescreen, he played as Dan the anthropologist said, "Yeah, I heard that too. Damn, those guys even said that he almost fighting with him. How could that German jocks stand him anyway."

Everyone then laughed again, Willy then continues, "Also he's not someone who just saying encouraging bullshits to make us feel good and motivated. He's realistic guys, he told us to set up the set and props. If our face shows some discomfort, he somehow knew it and then explain to us what his intention is, he encourages us with actions, not words."

Then suddenly they saw Al's assistant, Jessica approached them, "Excuse me guys, did you see Alphonse?"

Will stood up and said, "Yeah, he's back in the trailer and carrying some videotapes. What happened?"

"Nothing, it's his kind of habit when he was too immersed in filming, he won't care about anything other than films, that's why I brought him food or he will forget to eat, he is just like a kid who just got a new toy."

"Yeah, kinda forget he's still a kid." Willy sigh at the irony.

"So, can anyone bring him this? He's already too comfortable with me so he'll just ignore me sometimes, how about you Sandy? he seems close to you in the audition, maybe you can help me." She carried the tray and handed it over to her.

"Are you sure it's okay Jessie? He won't be mad right?" She took the tray from Jessica and asked with doubt.

"Of course he won't, especially from a beautiful woman. It's kind of like his kryptonite....ugh maybe I'm too long to spend time together with him, now I also quoting a comic book reference too." She sighed and rubbed her temple, Sandra with everyone else smiled at her.

Then Sandra went to his trailer, carrying a tray of food for him. Once in front of the trailer's door, Sandra knocked many times but there was no answer.

So she just opens the door and then she saw him watching videotapes, pressing rewind and forward and then pressing stop then play it again.

"Just put in the table Jessie, at least 40 minutes left until the shooting begins." He said while continuing what he was doing without checking out who it was.

"Oh, okay Mr. Al I will just put it in here." Sandra then put the tray on the table near him.

Al heard another feminine voice different from Jessie. A bit husky and sexier, so he knew who it was.

"Sandy?" He finally turned his head and saw her over.

"It is me, Mr. Al." Sandra rose her hand and fiddling her fingers.

"Just Al is ok, you are 6 years older than me." He made a gentlemen bow to her.

Sandra found his attitude is cute and decided to tease him, "Didn't someone tell you that telling women age is rude."

"Every time, but it's fun to bring it up when speaking to older women." He said cockily.

Sandra gave Al white eyes and approached him to see what he was doing. "What are you doing Al?"

"Analyze videotapes and notes from Mr. Coppola. I consulted him about filming and he gave me a note when he shoots Godfather." He waved the notes at Sandra's way.

"It is amazing, you befriend with so many famous people and even get a tutor from them."

He was happy hearing Sandra's praise then he said, "Now I think I understand it further. I need to use the contrast colors so the audience will feel amazed at the opening, interest them to see the film further and the rest of it can be carried out by good narrative talk of this film."

"You mean like rather than giving them a soup as an appetizer, you give them supplements to increase their appetite then serve the main dish." She suddenly said unique analogies.

He just stared at her with his mouth that could swallow an egg, then he smiled at her, "Dass ist korrekt Frau Bullock."

Sandra also smiled at him because he used German again on her.

"You are amazing you know that, 14 years old and you can do all of this, how did you do it anyway?

Well, he can't say he was a transmigrated person and he learned filming since a child in his past life, can he?

"I just love movies, its beautiful to see how to put this picture by picture, then tell them a story that we could never imagine, we can also try everything in the movie, it could also affect your feeling and emotions, give them a fantasy you could never achieve....."

And he saw Sandy was staring at him amazed at his passionate talks about films.

"Sorry, I blabber too much when talking about movies." He scratches his nose to hide his embarrassment.

"It's okay, men look amazing when they talk about something they passionate about."

"Unfortunately I'm not a man yet." He stood up and reach for the food she brought and ate it.

"If I already a man, I would have to ask you for dinner when we were in the audition." He said.

"Me? Why me? Sorry, I doubt you'll be interested in me, there are many beautiful women out there especially in Hollywood." She said nervously then brushed some of her hair behind her ear.

Al was amused at her gestures. He smiled while continuing to eat and staring intensely at her like a lion looking at his prey.

That made Sandra more nervous and finally, he laughed. Sandra realized that she has been teased again by this kid.

"Sorry sorry, I'm just teasing you, but seriously. If nobody said that you are beautiful, then no women in the world could be called that." She blushed after heard Al saying this. Luckily he diverted the topic.

"Anyway, it's almost shooting time. I also have finished my lunch. Let's go to the set." He opened the door to Sandra like gentlemen and they continued the shooting.

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The shooting continues and all of it went well. Finally, Al made a breakthrough in his directorship.

Robin also visited the sets to get a picture of her editing in the post-production stage.

The actors are also satisfied with their performance. They felt that their acting skill is increasing when they play in Al's film.

Well only for the behind the scene crew like Willy that they felt like they were like in Cocytus, a frozen version of hell but they are satisfied with it.

It's tiring and burning their brain calories, luckily Al paid their service at a high price, far above the standard of Hollywood's crews.

Behind the scene is one of the underpaid jobs in Hollywood, although their pay is at the standard of American wage earners, see how hard their jobs were sometimes not comparable to what they earned.

~~~~

"Now I announce that shooting of <The Man From Earth> is complete!!"

Everyone cheered and gave applause. Even Jerome shed a tear and hope he could see his last piece of works in widescreen before he died.

"So, is the school misses me since I left?"

"Yeah, I even saw your photos in the girls' bathroom."

"WTF!? How?"

"You are now a wet dream of all girls in our high school."

"That's weird."

"E.D. I need to speak with you."

They find a secluded place and Robin finally asked something that was bothering her.

"What happens between you and Ione?" She interrogated Al

He stared at her and decided to tell her the truth.

"She kinda confesses to me after the talent show." But he won't tell her about the kiss.

Robin was shocked and now felt angry at him. She hid it well but Al knew.

"But I rejected her, I don't want our friendship ruined, and also we have made up. We are agreed once again to become a best friend. She is also happy about this."

Robin finally relaxed her nerves that had been tense since weeks ago.

"I'm sorry E.D. for overreacting. She has been my best friend since we are kids and I don't want to see her sad."

Al then put his right arm around Robin's shoulder and they walked back to the sets.

Then Al said, "Don't worry, both of you are my best friend. That's why I will respect it and treasure our friendship."

Then he tried to shift the conversation again, "So Robbie, when are you going to confess to her?"

Then she suddenly jerked away from him, her face is pale, and stared at Al with disbelief.

"How.... how the fuc*king sh*it did you know?" She looked horrified.

"Please? You can't keep any secrets from me. I don't know why but I really know you very well you know."

Robin released a long sigh and decided to tell Al the truth.

To Be Continued...