NOVEL NEXT Chapter 161: Effortless
The shooting resumed, and when Helen Herman returned to the corner, Stephen Somos was already gone. She knew that Stephen Somos wouldn't stay there the whole time, as he also had to plan another series with Universal Studios.
Thinking about the major film Stephen Somos was planning, Helen Herman realized she had made a mistake by being too eager. Such a massive production was still on paper, not yet at a stage where agents could intervene, especially since Matthew, whom she strongly supported, needed to focus entirely on filming "The Scorpion King".
She sighed, calming down after Matthew's reminder...
There would still be opportunities to push this matter forward, but it would be best not to disturb Matthew before this film was completed. If the film failed, all her efforts would be in vain.
After a morning of shooting, Matthew was clearly tired. After over three hours of continuous action scenes, even his stamina was challenged.
Despite his strong physique, he was only human.
Fortunately, there were no action scenes scheduled for the afternoon. The shooting plan was considerate of the actors' endurance, usually arranging action scenes in the morning and dialogue scenes in the afternoon to prevent exhaustion.
Excessive fatigue makes it difficult to concentrate, leading to frequent mistakes during shooting.
The lead actress, Kelly Hu, joined the shooting.
After makeup, her appearance captivated everyone on set, becoming the center of attention.
In male-dominated commercial entertainment films, female roles, especially lead actresses, are often there just for their looks. Cassandra's role, despite being closely tied to the plot and interacting with the lead actor and the antagonist, was seen by everyone, including Matthew and even the crew's assistants, as primarily decorative.
Matthew and Kelly Hu's first scene started with confrontation, typical for male and female leads.
"Ready!" an assistant director shouted, "All departments, prepare! We start shooting in three minutes."
With his call, Matthew, following the director's instructions, lay behind a curtain on the carpet, waiting for the shooting to begin.
"The Scorpion King..." an assistant director announced, "Scene two, take one, action!"
As soon as the call was made, Matthew pushed himself up, wobbling to stand from the carpet as if dazed from a high fall, shaking his head to clear it. As his vision focused, he drew his sword with vigor...
Unexpectedly, there was an issue with the sword's sheath hanging, obstructed by the belt, making it difficult for Matthew to draw the sword at first and nearly breaking the belt due to excessive force.
"Cut!" director Chuck Russell halted the shooting.
The costume designer promptly adjusted Matthew's belt and sheath. Such incidents were not uncommon and easily fixed, allowing the shooting to quickly resume.
This time, Matthew successfully drew his sword, vigilantly scanning his surroundings before noticing the maid by the pond, leading to the expected conflict.
Director Chuck Russell called cut again.
A makeup artist came to Kelly Hu, adjusting her hair to naturally drape over her shoulders...
Kelly Hu stood calmly as the makeup artist worked, knowing that without adjustments, her appearance wouldn't meet the film's requirements, risking the movie being rated R.
After about ten minutes, once Kelly Hu's hair was done, Matthew stood still, resuming his earlier posture as shooting restarted.
Kelly Hu, armed with a sharp short sword, assumed a highly skilled stance, aiming at Matthew.
She had undergone professional training, and her swordsmanship was convincing.
Matthew, focused on the scene, held his sword ready, appearing effortlessly prepared despite the lack of rehearsal, thanks to his mental preparation and practice, along with the film's lenient requirements.
After several films, particularly recent ones with significant roles, Matthew's natural talent, though not extraordinary, had improved with experience and practice.
In a drama focused on performance and character development, he might face harsh criticism, but in an entertainment film, he felt at ease.
"Are you planning to kill me?" Kelly Hu challenged, sword pointed at Matthew, "Or just stare at me?"
Matthew didn't respond; the wooden door behind them suddenly opened. He charged forward, diving into the pool to easily overpower Kelly Hu, pulling her down with him.
Despite both falling into the water, Matthew remained focused on the scene, devoid of any inappropriate thoughts, mindful of holding his breath to avoid swallowing water...
After releasing Kelly Hu underwater, following the director's cue, they emerged from the water simultaneously.
Kelly Hu, her hair disheveled by the water, stood boldly in the pool, accustomed to such scenes.
She noticed a red mark on herself and mentioned to Matthew, "You used too much force."
"Sorry," Matthew responded, not intending harm. Their past interactions had been pleasant, "I might have applied too much force."
He glanced at his leather wrist guard, indicating it caused the mark.
Their assistants approached, with Kelly Hu wrapping herself in a towel before stepping out of the pool. Nearly slipping, Matthew quickly assisted her, also exiting the pool.
"Thank you," Kelly Hu said, wrapped in the towel.
Matthew, handed a towel by Mira Wang, replied, "You're too polite."
They shared a smile, then looked towards director Chuck Russell, who gave a thumbs up, approving the take.
"That's it for today..." Matthew wiped his face, "Shooting is over."
With no more scenes for the lead actors, the makeup ruined by the scene wouldn't warrant a redo, sparing hours of preparation.
Now, they could simply clean up and call it a day.
Matthew, as the lead, had his own makeup room and dedicated makeup artist, as did Kelly Hu, whose career far exceeded his, having starred in notable works like "Growing Pains" and worked with stars such as Forest Whitaker, Mickey Rourke, Russell Crowe, and Ralph Fiennes.
Her role as the lead actress was well-deserved.
After shedding the heavy costume and sitting quietly at the makeup table, Matthew closed his eyes, waiting for the makeup artist to remove the wig, a meticulous process essential for seamless appearance on camera.
"Mira Wang approached, "I've packed your things in the backpack, your phone is in the second compartment."
She had mentioned being busy in the afternoon, and Matthew, not wanting to inconvenience her, gestured for her to go ahead, "Call me if you need anything."
As long as he was on set, Mira Wang's responsibilities were primarily to him, not the crew, though her salary was still paid by the production.
Matthew considered hiring a personal assistant, dependent on "The Scorpion King's" success. If the film did well, he would need help managing his affairs; if not, there would be no need.
After makeup removal and changing back into his clothes, Matthew prepared to leave. As he was about to leave the makeup room, someone knocked on the door.
"Come in," Matthew invited.
The door opened, revealing a slightly sleazy smile from Duff Billa, who inquired, "Heading out?"
"Yes," Matthew glanced at Duff Billa, asking, "Need something?"
Duff Billa, scratching his head with a smile, stepped closer, lowering his voice, "Got a minute, Matthew? There's something I'd like to discuss with you privately."
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