Chapter 115 | Best shots

It was Monday. Finally, yes.

The team prepared the set, and there were already actors present; in fact, the entire crew was current when Ian walked in.

"Good morning, everyone! I can feel the energy from miles away!" Ian said and took a seat in the director's chair.

His coffee was in his hand, and everyone was doing different-different things on their own.

Niko was with the camera crew and talking with the camera-lighting handling guy.

Mason was talking with some actors on the set. The make-up artists were highly busy, with a beauty blending the faces of actors and actresses to suit the lighting.

"Ian, good morning!" Mason shouted from the other end of the set.

"So, how long would it take, guys?!" Ian asked Mason.

"More or less—an hour, I'd say. Ryan over here was practically waiting for you!" Niko said because it was true. Besides Niko, Ryan was already dressed up in a plain t-shirt, knowing that they would shoot his scene today or tomorrow, but he was there on the first day because it was the first day. And since Ian Renner was exceptional, he wanted to be there on the first day.

"How is it going?" Ian asked and walked in between the two gentlemen discussing something related to the movie.

"Ian, where were you?!" Ryan chuckled at his own words.

"Not far away," Ian said while shaking his head. The excellent mood between Ryan and Niko was pretty noticeable, considering how smiley they were.

"The thing is, Ian…." Niko said. "We have the same question with the movie title, Crazy, Stupid, Love?" He asked.

"And again, you're asking the same thing, Niko."

"I agree with Niko. It's way too cheesy to exist. How did you even come up with it?" Ryan questioned.

Ian had a smile plastered on his face, listening to their questions about the movie title. It reminded him of what had happened while the movie director from his previous world had tried to come up with a movie title.

Some say that the filmmakers offered a free iPad on-set to whoever created a title for the movie. And in the previous world, Steve Carell said that he hated the film's title, stating that he couldn't imagine a group of college guys saying, "Five tickets to Crazy, Stupid, Love. please." Also, one of the working titles Carell preferred was "The Wingman," which he felt was a boring title but more accurately described the film's plot.

The entire thing seemed weirdly nostalgic to Ian.

"What would be the fun if I revealed everything right now? Heh? And I know the movie title is weird, but trust me, it fits the story perfectly. Good to see you here, Ryan, even after knowing that we wouldn't shoot your scene today," Ian said with his lips curling up.

"Ahaha… I'm unwanted. Is that what you are saying, director?"

They joked a bit more until they arrived for them to shoot.

[...]

The location was a bar. Although the original bar was totally out of the theme, as Ian had imagined, they had changed almost everything.

"...Just like that, the focus from the shoes to their pairs of shoes and slippers is the shot. And first, you both. Next, you both. Next, you two and finally, Steve and Charlotte. Are we ready? The motions should be like what I mentioned. Okay?!" Ian asked them as they nodded in return.

They placed the cameras almost everywhere. Niko felt perfect.

".....Finally, Action!"

CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE

DIRECTOR: IAN RENNER

SCENE: 001 TAKE: 001 ROLL: 001

CAMERA: NIKO

DATE: 22nd of April, 2019.

The clapperboard made a 'clap' sound while the shots started. It was simply the shots of the leg works. Ian wanted them to feel it, so he made the environment for it.

They heard soft music. The legs started doing their job. The ladies with heels started nudging the men who wore shoes. Some heels went in between the legs, and some got closer to men's legs.

"Cut! No, no, no! That was pretty aggressive!"

Everyone laughed at that. "Lady, is that how you seductively try to get on his pants? I mean, at least make it believable, slow. Take it slow, you kicked the man, and I'm glad it was something like a dance. Or else, you'd have made a hole despite the leather in his shoe, considering that heel is sharper than Niko's house knife—I didn't see, he told me once."

The people were already laughing. "I-I'm sorry," the girl said through laughs.

"Okay… One more! Are we ready?" He asked, looking at everyone.

[...] The scene where Cal first hears about his divorce was recorded. It was a funny scene to the audience but was not for Cal. Considering Steve was an outstanding actor, Ian had hoped with his acting in this specific opening scene.

"Okay, and then you'll pull up your reading glasses… Go on saying you shouldn't have eaten, abracadabra, and then finally, your facial features should be on point, Charlotte. Like at the moment, Sir. Carell would have the most expressionless face ever, but you…are internally struggling, and we should show it. Are we clear?" Ian asked while both of them nodded.

Before Ian returned, they called by his name.

"Yeah?"

"Please call me Steve," Steve said with a smile, which Ian returned.

"Camera roll… Wait, it's dark, her face. Lighting, Niko!" Ian looked at Niko.

"Can you touch her face up in the right a bit?" Niko asked a make-up artist, who quickly got into the job. "Zid….Zid, to the left. No, hold it a little higher! Perfect. How about now, Ian?" Niko asked.

"Okay… Roll camera... Action!"

How Cal wore white sneakers to a five-star hotel showed Cal hadn't given a shit about the date. But then, the scene officially started after the camera rose up and up.

Cal pulled out his reading glasses and looked at the menu. In front of him, Tracy seemed highly dull.

"Cut! No, Charlotte. Frustration… I want to see it in you; your hands would go like this. But, on the inside, 'ah fuck this man, what the hell am I doing here? It is not supposed to go like this?! I can't even understand that I'm looking at a dessert menu when I should talk about what is happening between us!' should be your thoughts. And Steve, don't look at her. Not like that at least, be severely interested in the desert, one more time!" Ian said while walking back to his director's chair.

"Okay… Let's do this!" Charlotte exited herself up and got into her role.

".....Action!"

The scene started and went by smoothly.

"Well, I'm full. You were right, hon. I shouldn't have eaten all that bread. Want to share a dessert?"

Tracy was lost in thought, gazing at the menu.

"You okay, babe? You seem out of it." And then Cal looked interested and worried about her, yet his eyes were still focused on the dessert.

Men are easy to understand, they said. Does that mean they have no filter? Or do they not think much? Tracy's thoughts were on a battle.

"Yeah, I'm just thinking about what I want," Tracy replied.

"Me too. Okay, let's say it at the same time. One. Two. Three…"

"I want a divorce." "Crème brûlée."

Both of them had different answers. Finally, a third voice chirped into their count, "Cut!" It was Ian.

"Nailed it… It was such an excellent shot! But take a break, and we'd have to move a little for the next one!" Ian said and let everyone else take a break.

Hence, the shootings began.

The long day ended with Ian successfully taking some of the best shots necessary for the movie.

He knew they were the best, considering how good the acting was.

The rest of the technical side was for later. He intended to finish the movie's filming as quickly as possible, considering the film's potential and the actors.

If he wasted time on every little thing, he'd be inwardly wasting the precious time of others, too.

Therefore, he got the perfect shots in quick takes, considering the entire main casts were well-known actors and actresses except for one.

"For the first day, I must admit that everyone nailed it. Sir, Steve Carell, I'm sorry to call you Sir again, but your acting was so well dedicated. I didn't think you'd step up to roll out of the vehicle yourself, and you did so great as a huge risk as it was. And I'm very excited about the long journey. Cheers!" Ian said while everyone applauded for a great start.

They dismissed everyone in less than an hour, and Ian went home with his notebook and phone—which were his most important things.

By the time he reached the house, he was dead tired. But he was also looking forward to another great day—t.o.m.o.r.r.o.w.

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