Page 15 of The Location Shoot
“Good morning. I took a chance you’d join me and ordered you a pot of tea.”
“That was sweet. Thank you,” she replied, filling her teacup.
“Working on your books?” he asked, gesturing at her computer.
“Yes. I’m making a few final edits, and then I’ll give Jean copies of the sex and art volumes tomorrow for his feedback. Next, I’ll start taking notes for the nature volume. What about you? Are you looking forward to filming today?”
“More than ever. We’ve all felt so lost during the shoot, not understanding what the film is about or what Jean wants. Now we get it. Plus, the way he works is so unconventional. His filming changes without warning. Suddenly, you’re in the middle of a close-up you had no idea wascoming. Without any blocking or rehearsals, it’s all about feeling things out with the other actors. I thought I was a seasoned pro, but this is a totally new experience.”
“Those are usually the best kinds of experiences, don’t you think? Besides, you have all the tools you need. Just trust it and be open to the moment. Jean gave me a copy of the script last night, and I curled up in bed and read it. It’s good. Couldn’t put it down. It’s going to be a beautiful work of art.”
“Charlotte’s really been having a tough time. She’s such a professional, but she’s never worked in this kind of free-form way before. On set, Jean isn’t the most . . .”
“Complimentary? Supportive?” Ella said.
“Yeah,” Finn replied.
“That’s just his way. He hates acting, so he doesn’t quite know how to remark on it, other than to tell his actors to stop doing it.”
Finn laughed.
“I know he’s a huge fan of Charlotte’s work,” Ella said. “He sees something special in each of you. When he writes a new script, he’s considering the cast as he goes. The roles were developed with each of you in mind because of what you’ve achieved, but also because of what he sees inside you that maybe hasn’t had a chance to come out yet. His shoots are meant to be an expansive experience for the actors.”
Finn smiled. “It’s why I took the job. When my agent told me that Jean Mercier wanted me for a film, I signed on without even seeing a script. I’ve been stuck in the blockbuster world for too long. These days, there are so few filmmakers who are truly trying to create cinematic art. It was a chance I couldn’t pass up.”
“I hope you feel you’ve made the right choice.”
“I do. I already know this is something special. I do feel bad for Charlotte, though. She takes her work veryseriously. As you know, we’re married in the film, so we have most of our scenes together. I can tell that Jean’s . . .”
“Lack of manners?”
He laughed. “His manner of working is difficult for her. She keeps asking me if she’s doing a good job. She wants to impress him but feels adrift.”
“I’ll whisper a little something in his ear. Don’t worry, I won’t betray your confidence. I know he wants Charlotte to feel good.”
“That’s kind of you,” Finn replied. They sat quietly, staring longingly into each other’s eyes, the connection between them palpable. “I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable, but you’re extraordinarily beautiful. You have the most exquisite eyes, like the color of jade,” he said. Ella smiled and rested her hand in the middle of the table. Finn slowly extended his arm. He was just about to place his hand on hers when Michael burst into the room.
They both sunk back into their seats.
“Hey, guys. I didn’t miss breakfast, did I?” Michael asked, dropping down into a chair beside Finn.
“DREW, WRANGLE THE EXTRAS,”Jean hollered as Ella strolled onto set midday. Finn beamed at the sight of her.
Michael noticed and said, “She really is a knockout, huh?”
“Yeah,” Finn mumbled.
“Before the summer is over, I’ve got to have her,” Michael said.
“Haven’t you already slept with the makeup artist and two of the extras?” Finn asked.
“Yeah, it’s been a slow start,” Michael joked. “Ella’s special, though.”
“That she is,” Finn said wistfully.
Jean and Ella spoke for a moment, and then Ella hopped into his director’s chair. She pulled a pen and a small notepad out of her pocket. They began shooting a scene that revolved around Finn’s character making a toast to his father in honor of his birthday. Tensions were running high between the characters, with years of proverbial father-son conflict simmering barely beneath the surface. The biting toast was filled with backhanded compliments and eyes glaring instead of smiling. The other lead characters whispered amongst each other as the guests tried to maintain a facade of celebration amidst a family clearly on the verge of imploding. This pivotal scene was the first moment in the film in which this wealthy family’s veneer started to lose its luster, revealing its cracks. It was obvious to Finn they were absolutely nailing it. Ella stayed for two hours, taking notes and smiling at the performers between takes. Then she walked over to Jean, nodded discreetly in Charlotte’s direction, and whispered something. They hugged, and she waved goodbye to the others and left.
THEY HAD BEEN TALKING NONSTOPabout the film and their plans for the next day as they enjoyed their nightly cocktails. Then Michael said, “Ella, you seemed to be taking a lot of notes today. What did you think of what you saw? How are we doing?”
