My Hollywood System

Chapter 195:

The set was all ready to start filming in Los Angeles. It was the first day, and the sunny LA was looking enthusiastic for how the day began. The whole crew was occupied with their work, some were busy handling the equipment, and others were busy making the cast look good.

The extras were here and there, observing, chatting and looking at everything that was happening around them. There were two three camera cranes and people on the crew were walking here and there doing their own thing.

The teams were doing their own thing. Sound managers were focused on the sound equipment and the lighting crew were already running here and there with boards holding in the air, to get a good view.

Will stood in front of Andrew, who was already in his costume, and had his make-up done neat and tidily; which in fact looked natural as his own face. He was wearing a leather jacket over a check t-shirt, and with glasses he looked as if he was the geek type of students in highschool.

“….As I was saying before, I want you to run, shouting ‘stop the bus!’. Like the run must look real, because it would be perfectly taken from the side mirror of the bus. Your facial expressions should show worry, hurry and everything that a kid would possess while trying to catch the bus which seemed to give no heed of your call,” Will said, earning a nod from Andrew who looked slightly tensed.

“The cameras would be placed there, there and at that corner,” Will mentioned pointing where the cameras were placed and was in position to start the shooting. “We would take a short and a long shot of you running, and after that we could get into our next scene from where the camera would be inside the bus.

“Okay.”

“We are going to do the scene in multiple shots, so you can relax,” Will said and hesitated a bit before trying to say the other words he wanted to tell Andrew. “Try not to seem too cool, just don’t act all chill, put up a nervous face I don’t mind,”

Will had once mentioned the same thing to Andrew because he wanted to avoid the ‘coolness’ that so many people had criticised about the Spiderman in Amazing Spiderman.

“Yeah, gotcha,” Andrew said. “It would be no problem, but if there’s anything, I know you’d say, also, the rehearsals went so good right? I remember my lessons so it would not be that hard to ‘not be cool’,” He joked with a low chuckle but his eyes showed how nervous he looked.

“Hey, don’t be tense, remember how we did it the first day? It’s inside you,” Will said, patting him on the shoulder and going to where his director seat was.

Andrew nodded seeing Will walk away and calmed himself down. He then walked towards Jeffery.

“Is it ready?” Andrew questioned which Jeffrey replied by a brief nod.

The location was a street, and there were already people who were strangers and completely out of the movie set walking in the sidewalk.

Thus, shootings began, and the first scene of Andrew running towards the bus, shouting on top of his lungs, just the words ‘STOP STOP! STOP THE BUS!’ over and over which was perfectly done in a single shot.

“Cut! It was a good shot, Andrew!” Will said after looking from the little monitor. The cameras were placed on different positions and Will had to make sure from all the positions, the shot was neat and clear.

***

“And here we are, the next scene would explain what Peter Parker exactly is in the real world. He is basically someone who gets bullied and this first scene is exactly something that perfectly shows it. All of the expressions should explain how Peter was shown as an outcast. The laughs and the mocking faces of the people at his own age was a perfect shot before, and now, MJ—Rachel, come forward repeating your dialogue, okay?” Will questioned while the girl, Rachel Linden who was chosen to play the role of MJ nodded.

“Flash, Jesse Dunlap is your name right?” Will asked from the guy who sat next to Rachel.

“Yes, sir,” Jesse replied, scratching behind his neck.

“So, I hope you know the role, it’s quite important in the beginning as you’re the MJ’s boyfriend and the bully of Peter, so, what I want you to do is, when the camera focuses onto you, you should have a smug smirk, with your arm over MJ’s shoulder, and then for like a a milli-second, look at your girlfriend, okay?” Will asked and Jesse nodded.

“Everyone! Are we clear? The reactions that I explained individually would be taken to the scene so do not miss anything, also, don’t wait till ‘your turn’ comes over, just be natural about a pathetic guy who runs to catch the bus. Let’s take a shot and discuss what and what could be improved, ready?” Will asked a bit louder while everyone shouted saying yeses.

“Do not forget any of the dialogues, okay, I’m walking down.”

“Quiet on set!” Will said and walked out from the bus.

***

The locations were changed from the previous set, and everyone was in front of a university. The university was taken while there were real students walking in and out of the university. It was named as the ‘Columbia University’s Science Department’ in the comics.

Somehow, Will’s team had to take off things that were uncontrollable for Will. The scene was where Norman Osborn and Harry Osborn were first introduced to the movie. The scene itself explains a lot considering what kind of an image a person who doesn’t have any idea about Peter Parker gets once watching the movie.

It goes from a guy with no friends and gets bullied to a guy who has a friend, and is smart.

“Cut! One more please, Quiet! Set….”

Since it was the very first time the scene was being taken, it had been more than four times they were trying, but all the four times it was a complete mess. Will felt as if the actors were not possessing what was needed for the scene.

“Cut!” Will said, grabbing everyone’s attention.

Since he was a bit far from the set, he stood up and walked towards them to ask what was actually wrong.

“What is wrong guys? The chemistry, I don’t see it. The dialogues are on point, and even the acting is fine if we take each role individually, but I don’t see the chemistry, the build up and in fact the scene feels empty, why were you looking like you were exaggerating, Damon?” Will questioned Damon who was playing the part of Norman.

The scene included how Harry would come out of the car, yelling at Pete, and then Norman coming out of the same car, giving Harry his school bag because he had left it in the car. This was the place where Peter Parker, who knew who Norman was from the beginning, met him for the first time.

“Let’s try one more time. Damon, I want a small smile—a very slight one to be in your face when Peter says that he did a paper out of your experiments. And at the same time, Raegen, a slight jealousy would look nice. It would be mainly because of the fact that your father looks at your friend in a way he never did to you. The chemistry that I’m talking about includes real emotions, and Andrew, you are doing good so far considering you already are into the role,” Will said with a frown which was in his face due to the rays of sun which clouded their faces during the afternoon.

“Yeah okay,” Damon said and walked back inside the car to start the shot again.

Will and everyone else went back to where they were to start from scratch. During the final cut, Will was aware that the scene would mainly focus on Norman and Peter, but nevertheless, he wanted to get the best out of every actor that shows their role in the set.

He knew that it could lead them to take their role seriously and it might even help in the process of the character growing in them.

“Quiet on set please!” Will said.

“Action!”

The clapperboard made a clap sound in front of the camera, while the filming of the scene started right away.

“Pete!” Harry said walking out of the car with a displeased look from the conversation that his father and he had.

“Hi, Harry,” Peter replied, turning to look at Harry.

“Hey, man. What’s up?” Harry questioned back.

“Harry, won’t you be needing this?” Norman walked out of the car, jogging a bit as he showed the bag which Harry left in the car.

“T hanks, dad. Um, Peter, may I introduce my father, Norman Osborn.” Harry said taking the bag and still he had his frown in his face. Peter was looking at Harry’s dad with a smile as well.

“I’ve heard so much about you,” Norman said with a smile, and Peter gave up so many expressions which yelled the emotions of him respecting the person in front of him. It was shown clearly because of how good Andrew’s acting skills were.

***

“I live with my aunt and uncle, they are proud,” Peter said while Will’s announcement to stop the shooting was heard.

“Cut! Let me check,” Will muttered quickly and took some minutes to check from the screen. He focused on both the cameras that were placed left and right to Peter and Harry. The expressions were better than before, but he noticed how Damon still looks not calm enough for the role.

“It’s lunch break!” Will said everyone to hear, while the people on set and the crew dismissed within minutes.

…

//DreamNote//

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