Page 7 of The Location Shoot
The actors, all dressed in formal wear, quickly dispersed. They spent a few minutes mingling before Jean yelled, “Places, everyone. Rolling . . . Action!”
Finn looked at Charlotte, utterly confused. They hadn’t done any blocking or rehearsals. He whispered to her, “You look over there, and . . .”
“Cut!” Jean hollered. “Finn, no talking.”
“I’m sorry. I . . .”
“No talking!” Jean repeated sternly.
Albie leaned over and whispered to the others, “This is how he works. You just have to go with it. If it helps, I never have a clue what’s going on either.”
Finn laughed.
“Starting again. Places, everyone,” Jean called. “Rolling . . . Action!”
They ran through the scene with great confusion until Jean yelled, “Cut!”
The actors milled about aimlessly, looking at one another for some sort of sign as to how things were going.
“Less acting, everyone. You are meant to be at a party, not on a bloody stage reciting a soliloquy. Don’t force it. Be natural, jovial. Starting again. Places!” Jean yelled.
Things continued in much the same manner until Jean wrapped filming for the day, instructing the lead actors to meet in the dining room back at the inn for dinner in one hour. They all shuffled out together, chatting about the shoot on the way to their trailers.
“I fear I was terrible,” Charlotte said.
“You weren’t, although I apologize if I was. This will take some getting used to,” Finn said.
“That was the worst day I can recall ever having on a set. I’ve never felt so lost. I had so wanted to impress Jean, and now . . .”
Albie chuckled and said, “You’ll all get used to how Jean does things, I promise. There were a couple of beautiful moments, but you were probably too stuck in your own heads to notice. That’s all he’s after, the moments. He’s teasing them out of us. Don’t worry, it’ll all work out in the end. He knows what he’s doing.”
“He seemed pissed off all day,” Michael remarked.
“Don’t expect that to change,” Albie replied with a laugh.
“I think it was my fault. I couldn’t calm my nerves,” Willow said softly. “I bet he regrets casting me. I haven’t worked in years. I’m sorry if . . .”
“Now, now, none of this rubbish. Toughen up, for Christ’s sake. You’re professionals. What you all need to understandis that Jean is intense when he’s working. He’s not one for coddling,” Albie explained. “He won’t hold your hand or pass out gold stars, but the films I’ve done with him have been the finest of my career. This was only the first day.”
“You really respect him,” Finn said.
“Wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. Being part of a Jean Mercier film is an honor. You just have to figure out how to put up with his eccentricities.”
They all laughed.
Albie continued, “You’ll get to know him better over dinner each night. He’s not so intimidating once he has a couple of whiskeys in him.”
THE ACTORS MEANDERED INTO THEdining room to find Jean sitting at a round table in the center of the room, with a semicircular booth and several chairs pulled up. Jean was sprawled out in the booth. The waiter came over and handed him a drink. “Here’s your bourbon neat, sir.”
“What’s everyone else having?” Jean asked as they all sat down.
“A white wine, please,” Charlotte said.
“Sparkling water,” Willow said.
“I’ll have what he’s having,” Albie said, gesturing at Jean’s glass.
“Same for me, please,” Finn replied.
