Chapter 286 - A Reckless Interview 1

Due to the completion of the filming of "Kill Bill," most of the crew members who had no further tasks took their usual vacations. Those who didn't want a break could apply to work on other film sets to earn money. After all, the company had several more films in production, so finding suitable work wasn't a concern.

Amid the curious and gossiping looks of the remaining employees at the company, Laila walked into the editing room, unruffled, to begin the process of editing the footage.

Every frame of this footage had been shot according to her requirements. Before entering the editing room, she had watched it countless times, including the scenes she had cut. Each frame had its place in her mind, and now her task was to seamlessly connect those captivating shots to create a story that would astonish countless people.

One shouldn't underestimate the art of editing. Sometimes, a slight difference in the order or pace of shots could lead to entirely different outcomes. That's why the role of an editor was crucial, and it was one reason why influential investors and producers didn't easily entrust this job to others.

Fortunately, Laila wore multiple hats, allowing her to edit the film as the director herself, ensuring it wouldn't suffer the fate of being butchered like some other films by directors who were left out of the editing process.

In this movie, she used numerous close-up shots to capture the action sequences, even more than she allocated to the film's lead, Theron. To maximize the appeal of the violent aesthetics, she employed unique lighting and color tone effects, aiming to extract the maximum beauty from each scene.

The movie consumed more than 450 gallons of fake blood, making it saturated with blood, violence, and slaughter. However, violence and gore weren't the focal points; what Laila aimed for was how to make the film aesthetically pleasing, and how to ensure it remained unforgettable in the audience's memory. She wanted this film to surpass the original and become the ultimate classic of violent aesthetics.

Furthermore, it wasn't just the editing that would make this film unforgettable; its soundtrack played a significant role. Every piece of music in the movie was the original soundtrack collected by director Quentin, which meant he had incorporated music from various films into this one. The diverse and contrasting music styles ultimately gave the film a fascinating sublimation.

One of Laila's favorites was the recurring whistling throughout the movie. It came from the soundtrack of the 1968 film "Twisted Nerve," composed by Bernard Herrmann, a renowned composer of thriller movie soundtracks who had worked closely with the famous master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock.

Laila had collected these tracks long before shooting began, and she had been waiting to incorporate them into her film once the editing was complete.

When she entered editing mode, it was nearly indistinguishable from her meditative state. Even if there was a commotion outside, she remained oblivious, fully engrossed in her work.

She may have been undisturbed, but the company's PR department was drowning in a sea of reporters due to the rumors that had surfaced. Faced with numerous questions, they were at a loss.

Questions like whether it was a love triangle and whether Faiza was using her film to compete with Laila's had no clear answers. The PR staff was driven to the brink of madness by the reporters. They also wanted to gossip, but did they have the courage to bring these questions to their boss? They were also cautious not to say anything reckless, as reporters had a way of twisting words.

Laila's side wasn't the only one in chaos; the crew of "The 13th Warrior" was experiencing a commotion of their own. Their filming wasn't completed yet, and the influx of reporters was severely disrupting their progress. They had no choice but to adopt Laila's favored approach: closed-set filming.

While the filming couldn't be disturbed, the PR efforts regarding the new rumors were much more active than Laila's side. However, they were also clever in that they never provided a straightforward answer to the reporters. Their responses were vague and left room for interpretation, regardless of how the questions were framed.

Such seasoned individuals were the kind of reporters detested the most. But since the public was so interested in this matter, even if they dug up stories from cunning foxes, tigers, or extraterrestrials, they had to give it a try!

In truth, Laila was the one the reporters most wanted to interview, but she was not an easy person to cooperate with. To interview her, one needed not only the skill but also a bit of luck. However, what intrigued reporters the most was that even if they could obtain just a snippet of information from her, it would greatly benefit them in their own media.

Take, for example, the young man who had been lucky enough to ask Laila a few questions outside the club. Those few questions had already enabled him to buy a new car and earn a promotion at his job. With such precedents, reporters, especially the young ones, were willing to go to great lengths for opportunities.

When Laila left work that evening, she encountered one such reporter who seemed to have no regard for his own life. If it weren't for her driver's quick reflexes, who hit the brakes just in time, the reporter might have met his Maker.

"Director Moran, may I ask for your opinion on the recent highly publicized love triangle?" The reporter, seizing the moment, rushed to Laila's car window. But his trembling voice revealed that he had just had a near-death experience.

Laila, rubbing her head where she had bumped it due to the sudden brake, looked at the reporter somewhat speechlessly. Did he have to be so dedicated? She wanted to live, didn't she?

Nevertheless, as she looked at his somewhat naive and youthful face, she couldn't help but be reminded of her past self, willing to sacrifice everything for her ideals.

"I can answer your question, but you must promise me that you won't do something like this again, alright? Even if you think the driver is excellent and will likely stop the car before hitting you, have you considered what would happen if there were a problem with the car? What if another car came speeding from behind?" Laila lectured with a mixture of concern and annoyance.

The young reporter, likely new to the field, blushed with embarrassment upon hearing her words. He also didn't want to act recklessly, but if he didn't quickly secure valuable news, he might be pushed out of the company. At the same time, he felt touched. A big shot like her was actually concerned about a paparazzi like him. It was a world apart from the people he usually dealt with.

"I promise, Director Moran. I'm sorry for my impulsive behavior," he sincerely apologized, bowing his head.