Chapter 86: Well Done

Matthew had prepared extensively for his role over the past few months, and Ronald Spears, the character handpicked by Helen Herman with consideration for his strengths and weaknesses, was a tough, iron-blooded soldier whose face was almost always set in a resolute expression, requiring little adjustment from the actor.

This could appropriately cover up any deficiencies in Matthew's acting skills.

Matthew stood beside the two main actors, Damian Lewis and Neil McDonald, quietly waiting for the shooting to begin.

He had been preparing for so long and was filled with anticipation for the filming.

"Band of Brothers, Episode Two, Scene Eleven, Take Five, action now!"

The moment the assistant director's voice rang out, Matthew immediately got into character. He had practiced this scene in front of a mirror no less than twenty times and knew it by heart.

Unlike his solo practice, the presence of other actors and cameras added a new dimension, but he was no newcomer and wouldn't make the rookie mistake of looking into the camera lens.

"Lieutenant Spears!" Damian Lewis looked at Matthew and asked, "How's it going on your side?"

Matthew shook his head slightly, "Not so good."

Damian Lewis continued, "How many men has D Company assembled?"

Matthew's face showed helplessness, "Not many, about twenty…"

"Cut!" The director, Richard Longclain, halted the filming, "That's not right!"

Hearing this, Matthew immediately broke character and quickly reviewed his performance to identify any errors.

After all, the director had called cut during his lines.

Director Richard Longclain stood up, waved his hand in front of the three actors in front of the camera and said, "It's not you guys; it's the set design."

He approached Matthew and Damian Lewis, glanced between them, and frowned in thought.

Matthew instinctively reached to touch his face but remembered the camouflage paint and instead adjusted his helmet.

"Redesign the set!" Richard Longclain announced as he stepped out from between Matthew and Damian Lewis. "I'm making adjustments to the set."

Originally, Matthew's character, Ronald Spears, was supposed to stand there, exchange a few words with Damian Lewis, and then leave for the German POWs, serving as an introduction to his character.

Richard Longclain clearly had his own ideas and, after a brief discussion with Tom Hanks, gained his support.

As for the actors' opinions, including that of Damian Lewis, they weren't well-known enough to make an impact.

Most of the time, actors couldn't even get a word in edgewise.

Soon, Richard Longclain finished his adjustments and returned to the actors.

He first looked at Matthew and said, "When we start shooting, don't stand here."

Matthew thought his part in the scene was being cut and felt a bit resistant but nodded and said, "Alright."

Richard Longclain turned to Damian Lewis and Neil McDonald and instructed, "Continue with the previous scene about Lieutenant Mihan and the commanding officer of E Company."

Damian Lewis and Neil McDonald had no objections.

"Matthew!" Richard Longclain turned back and pointed at Damian Lewis and Neil McDonald, "You come from the direction of the camp, and as their discussion is winding down, you walk over, keeping your lines the same."

He demonstrated the blocking himself and then said to Matthew, "When you leave, remember to ask them for a cigarette; you'll need to hand one to the Germans in the next scene."

"I understand," Matthew said.

His part wasn't reduced but rather slightly expanded from what was in the script.

"Good!" Richard Longclain returned to his director's chair and shouted, "Rehearse once."

Matthew, Damian Lewis, and Neil McDonald quickly familiarized themselves with the new layout, and then filming resumed.

This time, Matthew stood just off-camera near the camp, listening intently to the conversation between Damian Lewis and Neil McDonald.

"…if he goes missing, Dick," Neil McDonald said to Damian Lewis, "won't you be the highest-ranking officer in E Company?"

Hearing this, Matthew immediately walked over, approaching the two men just as Damian Lewis turned to greet him with a timely, "Hi, Lieutenant Spears."

Matthew joined them, shaking hands with Damian Lewis, "Hi, Dick."

Damian Lewis asked, "How many men has D Company assembled?"

"Not too many." Matthew's expression was almost blank, "About twenty."

"Are you the only officer?" Damian Lewis asked.

Matthew nodded slightly, "For now." He paused deliberately before adding, "Still waiting on orders."

From the start until now, his demeanor and movements were minimal, his expression as stoic as stone.

The film and literature Matthew had studied portrayed hard-bitten military men just like this.

He initiated the next line himself, "Got a cigarette?"

Damian Lewis shook his head, and Neil McDonald pulled out a pack from his pocket and handed it over. Matthew took it without another word and turned to leave.

Director Richard Long

clain's voice then came through, "Good! This take is a keeper!" He then shouted, "Moving on to the next set!"

The crew prepared to shift to a nearby set to film a scene with German POWs, and Matthew moved to the actors' resting area. Someone quickly brought him a thick blanket and handed him a hot coffee, though he would have preferred a cup of tea, even the cheapest blend, but as a character actor, he couldn't be too choosy.

Matthew wrapped himself in the blanket and took a sip of the hot coffee, feeling somewhat warmer.

It was now late January 2000, and though not as cold as December, the wind still had a chill.

The actors, portraying soldiers landing in France in June, obviously couldn't wear too much, and they wore light clothing during the shoot.

After finishing half his coffee, Matthew put the cup down just as a makeup artist came over to touch up his camouflage paint. Thankfully, the cold weather meant he wasn't sweating it off, and the adjustment was quick.

"It's really cold!" Michael Fassbender said as he entered the resting area, pulling up a chair next to Matthew and rubbing his hands together, "This British weather is lethal."

Matthew looked at him and asked, "Have you finished your scenes?"

"Not yet, but they don't need me for now," Michael Fassbender replied, picking up a cup of hot coffee. "Just came in to warm up."

He took a sip and then gave Matthew a thumbs-up, "You were great just now! You didn't seem like a newcomer at all."

"Really?" Matthew asked.

Michael Fassbender nodded earnestly, "Absolutely. Why would I need to flatter you?"

Matthew shook his head, "No need."

"I want to ask you…" Michael Fassbender's face was full of curiosity, "How long did you prepare for this role?"

"Let me think…" Matthew calculated, "About four or five months."

Michael Fassbender appeared surprised, "Several months for such a small role?" He slowly realized, "No wonder you performed the best during training and did well in the filming."

It was common for actors to prepare several months for a lead role, but preparing four to five months for a minor role was less usual.

"Matthew!"

An assistant director came in, "Your scene is up, get ready on set."

"I'm on my way."

Matthew greeted everyone and left the actors' rest area, stepping into the muddy paths lined with fake trees set up by the crew, which looked just like real ones, with artificial underbrush beneath.

For Hollywood movies nowadays, achieving this level of set detail was just the basics.

To Matthew, who had seen it all before, it was nothing unusual.

After the crew made final adjustments, filming started again. Matthew put on his helmet and stepped onto the set.

He had done enough research on his character to know that he didn't need to do much—just maintain the demeanor from the previous shot.

Hearing Director Richard Longclain shout "Action," Matthew, cigarette in mouth and Chicago Typewriter in hand, stepped onto the muddy path heading towards the German POWs.

As Scott Gurnreiss passed by, Matthew acted as if he saw no one, his gaze firm and forward.

He looked at the German POWs, took out the cigarettes he had gotten earlier, and offered, "Cigarette?"

A temporary actor playing a German soldier came over, and Matthew handed him the whole pack, "Here."

The temp distributed the cigarettes among the German soldiers, and Matthew scanned their faces, blowing a smoke ring...

"Good!"

The take was perfect on the first attempt, and Director Richard Longclain seemed very pleased, "Matthew Horner, well done!"

Hearing the director's praise, Matthew took off his helmet and revealed a bright smile.

After a brief pause, the shooting continued, focusing on close-up shots of Matthew firing his weapon, taking five takes before the director declared it finished.

Matthew took off his helmet, jumped down from a dirt mound, and prepared to remove his makeup.

His filming for the day was complete.

The scene about Ronald Spears executing German POWs was ambiguous, portrayed as a rumor among old soldiers.

In the second episode, Ronald Spears didn't have many scenes, but after filming a scene where he led troops to support E Company, Matthew completed all his scenes for this episode.

The crew had been shooting at Hatfield Aerodrome for a month, and even Matthew was exhausted. The crew gave a two-day break to actors who didn't have scenes to shoot.

Matthew initially planned to visit Brittany during the break, but after a call, he had to change his plans since Brittany's global tour had kicked off, leaving no time for a visit.

However, he wasn't lonely in England; he had acquaintances in the crew to hang out with.

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