Hollywood: Lights, Ink, Entertainment!

….

April 5th, 2010.

.

It's the first day of filming.

[Following] timeline covers approximately two weeks or a little over a day.

And Regal knew with the right planning and pre production, the film could be shot over 30-32 days.

So he did exactly that.

The script doesn't require many expensive and extensive locations, making it simple to scout and get permits.

Moreover, they are all indoor locations except for the few introductory shots of the main lead following strangers on streets.

- Four to five apartments for the burglary scenes.

- A Bar and a Café where one of the two main leads and his love interest meet multiple times.

- Nightclub for the heist and murder and a prison cell for interrogation scenes.

….

Coming to the present, the filming had been underway for over half an hour now.

And if Regal had to describe how the shoot location was - chaos.

Random people start strolling into the scene. Extras couldn't stick to their cues, the camera constantly lost focus, and the actors couldn't carry out the performances through numerous takes.

These things just didn't happen once.

They kept on recurring.

It was even more frustrating when Regal expected this to happen, and that's why he had started with simple crowd scenes.

No dialogues, just monologues to be added later in post-production.

Luckily, it slowly proved to be a wise decision as the inexperienced cast and crew began to find their rhythm.

Mistakes became fewer, movements smoother, and coordination improved.

Regal ticked off one scene after another.

…..

The day was almost coming to an end.

Regal had breezed through the easier scenes, and now it was time for the main scene, one that required more than just managing the crowd.

This was the moment when everything had to come together perfectly.

Behind the camera, he adjusted the settings, his gaze flicking toward Seren.

"You haven't seen your boyfriend act yet, have you?" He asked probingly.

Seren's expression shifted, brows knitting as she processed the question. There was a subtle sting in her response.

"No…" She answered, a defensive edge creeping into her voice.

She paused, wondering if her brother was simply teasing her or if he was trying to gauge her reaction as a director.

Either way, the question rubbed her the wrong way. "What's that supposed to mean? You have been working with him for weeks. Shouldn't you know? Or are you already second-guessing your casting choice?"

Regal's smirk widened, completely unaffected by her sharp tone. "Touchy, aren't we?"

Seren's glare deepened, but he didn't miss the subtle tension in her stance.

Beneath her snippy words and bravado, she was uneasy, her foot tapping an unconscious rhythm against the floor.

For Seren, agreeing to handle costume design for the 'film' was already a big leap. But with her brother as the director and her boyfriend as one of the lead actors, the stakes felt overwhelming, too much pressure to misstep.

"You are tapping." He noted casually, his voice tinged with amusement.

Her foot stopped instantly, and she crossed her arms, her glare sharp enough to cut glass. "Don't start psychoanalyzing me, Regal. Just stick to directing, and I will stick to costumes."

"Fine." Regal said with a shrug, stepping back. Then, as he turned away, he tossed it over his shoulder. "…You will see for yourself soon enough. Try not to let it throw you."

"Throw me?" She repeated with a scoff, but her voice wavered ever so slightly.

This was going to be interesting.

Regal offered her a knowing smirk but didn't say anything more, turning back toward the set and leaving her simmering in a mix of irritation and curiosity.

Buzz-!

His phone buzzed in his pocket.

Fishing it out, he noticed an email notification from someone named - Ludo.

Immediately a thought expectant washed over his face as he plugged in his headphones and tapped play on the attached file.

For a moment, Regal stood still, letting the music fill his ears intently, as he focused on the beat and rhythm it was setting.

After a few seconds, he removed one side of the headphones and murmured to himself. "...this will do to set the mood, but it can still be better."

Satisfied for now, he tucked the phone back into his pocket and returned his attention to filming.

The location of the shoot was an outdoor street.

The small crew moved around under the instructions of Darren, Regal's friend, who had secured his first acting gig when the system popped up a mission.

But this time around, Regal had turned to him for help again, not just managing the actors but even during the pre-production of bringing the crew and renting the equipment too.

Of course Regal paid him handsomely.

Coming back, true to experience, Darren managed the extras, ensuring they followed the cues down to the seconds while maintaining order amidst their curious controlled mayhem.

In a quieter corner of the set stood the main cast:

Keanu, Andrew, and Grace.

Grace had finished her scenes for the day, simple, silent shots that required her to walk through the frame while Andrew, playing Bill, followed at a distance.

Even though her part was done, she chose to stick around.

Regal had mentioned that the upcoming scene would be the final one for the day, it would include dialogue - a first so far.

This upcoming scene featured Keanu, who played Cobb, and Andrew.

Spotting them, Regal made his way over.

Keanu greeted him with a confident smile, exuding an effortless charisma that matched his character's polished, suave demeanor. His tailored suit only enhanced the look, making him appear every bit the part.

Andrew, in contrast, was dressed casually, flipping through the script with quiet focus.

It was the first time he had been handed a physical script that day, despite being involved in several key scenes earlier. Those had all been silent, with his actions captured from a distance in wide shots.

Regal glanced between the two actors, breaking the silence. "So, how is it going? Are you guys ready?"

Keanu was quick to respond.

"I am ready." He said, sounding easy yet assured.

There was no sign of nerves, even though this scene will also be his first 'dialogue-heavy' close-up.

Regal gave an approving nod and shifted his attention to Andrew.

"...I am ready too." Feeling the gaze, Andrew for once looked up from the script and nodded.

His expression was calm, though distant - not out of disinterest but pure focus.

It was evident that Andrew had deliberately tuned out the surrounding noise, immersing himself in the role with singular determination.

Regal didn't mind.

He had witnessed Andrew's intense focus during auditions and table reads, and over time, he had come to respect the dedication Andrew poured into everything he did, not just acting, but anything he set his mind to.

As a director, Regal had made it a priority to adapt to Andrew's process, ensuring he had the space and time he needed to deliver his best.

===

[Name:] Andrew Gleeson

[Traits:] Competitive, Passionate, Self Conscious

[Acting Grade:] B

===

"Good." Regal nodded back. "I will prepare the shot and call you guys in."

With that, he turned and headed back towards the crew, offering quick instructions as he moved.

The next few minutes were a blur of activity, with equipment adjustments, final checks, and everyone settling into their roles.

"Everything set, Darren?" Regal called out, his gaze landing on his friend, who was in the middle of explaining the scene to a group of extras actors.

Darren glanced up, flashing a confident grin and a thumbs-up. "I have got it covered."

Regal smirked, deciding to trust Darren for now.

Satisfied, he gave one last once-over to the setup before turning back toward his rig.

Since Regal was handling the camera himself, the director's chair sat vacant.

It didn't bother him as much as he thought it would - this was where he felt most in control, hands-on, and fully content with every minute of work.

The camera he rented for this project, a Sony CineAlta F35, and one other - which combined are the most expensive piece of equipment on set, more costly than what he was paying his main cast.

That was exactly why he couldn't afford to hire a professional cinematographer, despite Darren's persistent objections - of course, it was also because he is confident his [Advanced] skill he upgraded recently will be enough.

It is just that his workload will be a little hectic.

By the time the final adjustments were made and the camera was perfectly positioned, the crew began to settle.

Regal leaned over his rig, taking a sharp breath as his eyes locked onto the monitor.

One final check. The frame was perfect.

He walked back to the camera.

"Alright, you ready, boys?" His tone carried a teasing lilt, but his sharp gaze scanned the crew with an intensity that left no room for hesitation.

To the team, it was an odd yet endearing quirk, Regal, not much older than some of them, casually calling everyone 'boys' throughout the day.

Still, they couldn't deny his authority.

His confidence and clear direction ensured everything ran smoothly.

As the routine demanded, each department signaled their readiness, one after the other, in a synchronized rhythm.

Finally, it was his turn.

"Camera's ready!" He shouted.

"Crowd in positions! So the music!"(Darren)

"Okay, Quiet on Set!"(Regal)

Since it was an outdoor location, there was no need for artificial lighting, but the setup was no less intricate.

This was it.

A crucial scene.

As the set fell silent, a wave of emotions washed over Regal.

Excitement, pride, and a hint of disbelief collided within him.

Years of late nights, setbacks, and stubborn determination had led him here.

His film. His vision.

It was ironic, really.

After a day of filming, he realized it at this crucial moment.

Unfolding right before his eyes.

It was a simple scene on paper - Bill, the main lead, trailing a mysterious stranger named Cobb, drawn to him by an undeniable curiosity.

The tension simmered as Bill edged closer.

Cobb noticed.

And the tables turned.

That was all.

====

Scene 22: Bill's and Cobb's First Confrontation.

Extras: 6 people walking the streets (no dialogue) and 1 with a long shot (no dialogue).

Bill: Two lines of dialogue.

Cobb: One line.

====

.

…..

[To be continued…]

★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★

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