Page 27 of The Location Shoot
“You too. Break a leg.”
THE VAN DROPPED ELLA AT THE SETjust before noon. On her way inside, she saw Willow walking to her trailer and stopped to say hello.
“How’s it going today?” Ella asked.
“Fine, I think. It’s always so hard to tell with him, although we all have a better handle on things now. I think it’s starting to come together.”
“That’s great,” Ella said. “It’s a process. Jean always films so much more than he needs. Don’t worry, he’ll find the moments that sparkle and string them together into a beautiful story.”
“I couldn’t believe it when my manager told me he wanted me for this film. It’s not exactly the kind of thing I’m typically offered—you know, I’m usually asked to be the half-naked girl running and screaming in a horror film, or the coked-out love interest of some interesting male character.” She paused. “I was really nervous when we started. I had awful anxiety each time I was called to set. I’ve had more panic attacks here than I’ve ever had before. The other actors are so much more experienced than I am. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to keep up and that they’d all wonder why I was even cast. I’m not exactly in the same league.”
Ella smiled warmly at her. “Jean sees something in you, even if you can’t see it yet. He’s never wrong about these things. You deserve to be here just as much as the others. Trust that. You certainly proved yourself yesterday. Don’t let anyone intimidate you, not even Jean.”
“Thank you. Everyone was so sweet and supportive yesterday. Albie really encouraged me. He took me seriously, you know?”
“That’s because he knows you’re talented. You have a natural gift. It’s clear to everyone.”
Willow blushed. “The shoot has been a lot more fun since you got here. Everyone loves having you around.”
“That’s sweet.”
“Finn can’t stop talking about you. I guess Jean read your book or something; the guys were all blabbing on and on about it. Charlotte’s dying to read it. She’s a big fan of yours. Finn was saying the nicest things, about how smart you are, how talented, how beautiful. He thinks you’re brilliant. It must be nice to have a guy see you that way.”
Ella smiled. “Where are you off to?”
“Charlotte and Finn are working on a scene. My character is out of frame, so I’m going to hang out in my trailerand prep for my next scene. Michael isn’t on camera either, but he stayed to watch. See you back at the inn tonight?”
“Sure. See you later.”
Ella strolled onto set while they were between takes. Finn noticed her immediately, smiled, and nodded his hello.
She smiled in return and waved hello to Charlotte, Michael, and Albie.
“Darling, I’m glad you’re here,” Jean said, dashing over to her. “We’re trying to capture a quiet, intimate moment in the middle of this colossal party, and you know how delicate that can be. Please, stay and watch.”
She nodded.
“Everyone in position,” Jean hollered. “Rolling . . . Action!”
Finn and Charlotte exchanged some brief dialogue, then he placed his hand gently on her cheek and they kissed.
“Cut,” Jean hollered.
Finn immediately looked over at Ella, a pained expression on his face as if to say he was sorry.
“Again,” Jean called. “Places, everyone. Rolling . . . Action!”
This time as Finn placed his hand on Charlotte’s face, he looked past her, directly at Ella, and then kissed her.
“Cut,” Jean called. “That was better. There was much more feeling. Again. Places.”
They shot another dozen takes. Each time, Finn looked at Ella as he touched Charlotte. After watching the scene fourteen times, Ella whispered to Jean, “I have to go.”
“Darling, stay longer.”
“Don’t worry. You’ve gotten what you’re after. It’s incredibly intimate. Hauntingly so.”
As Ella walked off set, she turned and noticed Finn watching her with a troubled look on his face. Michael looked like he was about to follow her outside, so shescurried away as Jean called, “Places, everyone. Rolling . . . Action!”
