411-415

*Chapter 411: It's Really Not Easy Being a Jerk*

"Luca, tell me, why did you say that?"

"Felicia, I was just guessing. Do you really need to take it so seriously?"

Luca sighed as they walked down the corridor.

"You're just guessing? If it's just a guess, why can't you guess something better? You keep saying you care about her, that you love her. So why would you curse her like that?" Felicia asked, her face dark with anger.

"This isn’t a curse. It’s a reasonable deduction based on facts. I love Britney, and I wish she could live in a fairytale. But as a superstar, do you think the media would let her live a good life?"

Luca continued, "Look at Michael Jackson. No matter how big he was, in the eyes of journalists, he was just another news story. Britney is younger than Michael, more flamboyant, with more material for the media. As long as she's in the entertainment industry, the media will squeeze every bit of value out of her. Whether she’s in a relationship or breaking up, getting married or divorced, they'll keep at it until she no longer has any news value."

"And then there's Britney's personal problems. She’s put most of her intelligence into her singing and performing career. She's not very good at handling relationships or family matters. Do you really think someone like her can find a man she loves deeply and live happily ever after with him?"

Felicia clenched her fists, tempted to hit him, but she knew Luca was right about Britney. Britney was born for the stage. On stage, she was dazzling, charming. But offstage, she was worse than the average person.

She was willful, stubborn, proud, and lazy, with a lot of issues.

Someone like her might be able to live a normal life, but not now.

If the person beside Britney wasn’t Luca, but some other man, what would happen? Would they get married? And after that? How long would a superstar couple last?

Definitely not long.

Maybe the current situation—Luca and Britney being something more than friends but not officially a couple—was the best for Britney.

But wait! She couldn’t think like that!

Felicia suddenly shook her head. This was all part of this jerk’s tricks. If she thought that way, she’d fall into his trap.

She looked down at the floor.

"Felicia, what are you looking for?" Luca asked curiously.

"A rock," she replied.

"A rock? Why?"

"I want to hit you with it. Is that okay?" Felicia gritted her teeth.

"Uh, why hit me? Even if I’m wrong, you can argue with me. No need for violence!"

"I won’t feel better until I hit you!"

Felicia waved her fist. "Luca, I get what you're saying. You just don’t want to take responsibility, do you?"

"Responsibility? For what?"

"Why do you think? You’ve known Britney for almost three years. You’ve taken three of her best years. Yet, you still don’t have the guts to admit she’s your girlfriend. Do you think that's fair to Britney?"

"But we—"

"Don’t give me that 'we’re just friends' excuse. That’s just your way of dodging responsibility," Felicia said, displeased.

Luca shrugged. "So what do you think I should do, Felicia?"

"Marry her. Marry Britney. She’s a superstar, she’s amazing, and she loves you so much. What, is she not good enough for you, you jerk?"

Luca smirked. "Felicia, have you ever noticed the stars near the sun? They shine too, but the sun’s light is so strong that it completely overshadows them."

"Britney is like the sun. Marrying her would mean what? It means all my past efforts would go to waste. From then on, the media would only ever refer to me as 'Britney’s husband.'

"I’d be hounded by the media, my private life eroded bit by bit, until I couldn’t breathe freely anymore.

"Besides, you’re right. I am a jerk. If we got married, I don’t know how long I’d last. I don’t know if I could continue to love her the way I do now. In the end, it would be a disaster."

Luca spread his hands, having thought this through carefully.

One reason was that he wasn’t ready to get married so early. Another was that he didn’t have the courage to be with a woman he couldn’t control. He didn’t want a failed marriage or a broken family.

"Hmph, so it’s really just because you’re selfish. You don’t love Britney enough to make any sacrifices for her," Felicia said bluntly.

"You’re right. I don’t want to sacrifice myself because there’s no need.

"I might not shine as brightly as Britney, but I’m still a star in my own right. That’s exactly why Britney loves me."

"You say I won’t marry her because I don’t love her enough, but that’s not true. I love her, and she loves me. I love her brilliance, and she loves who I am right now.

"If I made the sacrifice, becoming the perfect 'Mr. Britney' you imagine, I’d become someone she wouldn’t love.

"So what’s the point of that sacrifice?"

Felicia stared at him for a few moments. "People used to say how shameless jerks were, but I’ve come to realize that being a jerk is no easy task. You have to look good, have a great body, be good in bed, and have great talking skills."

"Heh, I wouldn’t dare claim that."

"Hmph. So, after all this, you still don’t want to give Britney an answer, do you?"

"Has Britney ever said she needed one?"

"She hasn’t because she loves you and doesn’t want to pressure you," Felicia said, thinking of something and waving her fist again. "Luca, do you know how much Britney loves you?

"I once suggested Britney tarnish your name in the newspapers, so you’d be forced out of Hollywood and come back to marry her.

"I also suggested she create rumors about Lima. I know how petty you are. If Lima were involved in scandals, would you still continue dating her?

"But Britney refused. She’s willing to wait for you to give her a promise. She’s waited almost three years. And what has she gotten? More and more rumors about you. Do you think she doesn’t know about your affairs?

"No, Britney just chooses not to care."

Felicia took a deep breath, exhausted. "Britney is so foolish. She’s done so much for you, but you’re still like this. You can’t give her any hope. Don’t you think you’re being cruel, Luca?"

Luca felt cruel too. But what could he do? He had tried to deal with things as gently as possible, but the relationships just kept getting more complicated.

Sometimes, he would wake up in the middle of the night, thinking about all the tangled relationships, and couldn’t help but sigh. Being a jerk was exhausting. A few times, he almost wanted to turn over a new leaf.

In the end, it was only his strong willpower that kept him going.

It really wasn’t easy.

"Hey, are you two fighting?"

Britney came off the stage, her face glowing with a sweet smile and fragrant sweat.

"We’re not fighting. Just talking about life and dreams."

Luca spread his hands.

"Haha, really? Felicia, if you weren’t already married, I’d think you were trying to steal my man."

Britney teased.

"Hah, you think everyone’s like you, treating a jerk like he’s a treasure?" Felicia grumbled.

"Haha, Luca’s no jerk!"

Britney wiped the sweat from her face and walked over.

"Britney!"

A tall, handsome guy came down from the stage, flashing a bright smile and striking a cool pose.

"Britney, thank you for this opportunity. Can I take you out to dinner to celebrate?"

Britney was taken aback for a moment. "No need, Kevin. I picked you because you’re right for the job. No need to thank me."

"No, really, I’m grateful. I’m your fan, and it’s an honor to work with you. Becoming your lead dancer is a dream come true!" Kevin said excitedly.

"Haha!"

Britney laughed and walked over to Luca.

Kevin squinted and looked at Luca. "Is this Mr. Kelly? Hello, I’m Kevin Federline, a dancer. Nice to meet you!"

"Kevin Federline?"

Luca frowned. Wasn’t this guy Britney’s second husband?

He didn’t expect to meet him again. What a strange coincidence.

"Nice to meet you."

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 412: Hot Springs, Skin Soft as Silk*

“Luca, don’t you like that guy named Kevin?”

“Why are you asking?”

“I saw you frown.”

“I think he’s a smart guy, knows how to seize opportunities.”

“Smart people are the most unruly. I’ll replace him as soon as we get back!”

In the moving car, Britney sat cross-legged in the front passenger seat, holding a glass of bright red pomegranate juice.

“There’s no need. He’s just a backup dancer.”

Luca shook his head as he steered.

He wasn’t worried about losing Kevin to another opportunity. If someone could be stolen that easily, then they were never truly his.

“I used to think he danced well, but he's too calculating, not grounded enough. Better to replace him,” Britney said, swinging her legs.

Luca nodded and glanced at her legs. “You’ve been dancing all day. Are your knees okay?”

“No problem!”

Britney smiled, tapping her knees. “They hurt a bit, can’t walk much. How about you carry me when we get out of the car?”

“Sure, as long as you don’t mind people thinking I kidnapped you. I could even carry you out in my arms.”

“Haha~ Didn't you already kidnap me? Felicia didn’t want me to leave with you earlier, but you took me anyway.”

“Felicia is a good assistant,” Luca chuckled.

“She is. What were you two talking about? Felicia seemed really worked up.”

Britney asked curiously.

“What would I have to talk to her about? Of course, we were talking about you.”

“What did you say about me?”

“We talked about where you’d be if we hadn’t met. What kind of life you’d be living.”

As Luca spoke, he was reminded of a song.

“Without you?”

Britney tilted her head and thought for a moment, then shook her head.

“I can’t imagine it. Without you, there’d be this huge empty space in my life—so boring and meaningless. I wouldn’t like that.”

“Not necessarily. Even without me, someone else could have filled that void. You might even be married by now, living a happy life.”

“No way. I have high standards. No ordinary man could catch my eye. Unless someone was as good as you, making me just as infatuated, I’d rather stay single forever.”

Britney said, swinging her legs.

Luca smiled. Britney had terrible luck with men, always falling for the wrong type.

That guy Kevin was married with two kids but still pursued Britney and managed to win her over. He used her to become a minor celebrity.

Her third boyfriend, her advertising agent, also took advantage of her. She lost a lot of money because of him.

And now—well, talking about this was awkward.

Luca shook his head and drove toward the Aire Luxury Spa and Wellness Center.

Aire, located in Long Island National Park, was beautifully designed with a ring of luxurious buildings surrounded by nature. It featured the finest hot springs in New York, a country club, golf courses, and Michelin-starred restaurants.

After dining at a Michelin three-star seafood restaurant, Luca and Britney headed to the hot springs.

Luca had booked a private hot spring room three days in advance.

The room, perched halfway up a hill, had vintage brick walls, dark-toned furniture, and a simple, elegant layout that exuded a noble and mysterious atmosphere. Large windows provided a view of the ocean and the breathtaking sunset.

“Ta-da! Darling, you can open your eyes now!”

At the door of the hot spring room, Luca set Britney down.

“Wow~”

Britney slowly opened her eyes. The floor was lined with a path of rose petals in five different colors, leading to hundreds of red roses arranged at the other end. In the center of the roses was a small, exquisite box.

“Beautiful, right?”

Luca wrapped his arm around her waist and led her down the path, the air filled with a rich floral scent.

“It’s beautiful. I didn’t know you could be so romantic. You never used to be like this,” Britney said with a smile.

“I wasn’t romantic before?”

“No, except for when we sang, danced, wrote songs, or stargazed together. Other than that, you weren’t romantic.”

“So, I was romantic more often than I thought,” Luca laughed softly.

“Darling, weren’t you busy filming? Didn’t this take up too much of your time?”

“As long as you’re happy, this is nothing.”

“Haha, you really don’t need to do all this. Just being with you makes me happy all the time. You’re the biggest surprise, nothing else compares.”

Britney snuggled closer and kissed him sweetly.

“So, was all this for nothing?”

“Of course not! Seeing this makes me really happy, so happy!” Britney tiptoed and gave him a passionate kiss.

“Darling, what’s in the box?” she asked, looking at the roses.

“A little gift.”

Luca opened the box, revealing a delicate platinum necklace. It was finely crafted, with a blue diamond pendant engraved with the words “Forever Love, Britney” on the silver frame.

He had commissioned the necklace six months ago, part of a custom order of several pieces, each unique. Even Kate and Lima had their own versions.

“It’s gorgeous, the most beautiful necklace I’ve ever seen!”

Britney looked elated, holding her face in excitement.

Luca’s smile twitched slightly—it seemed like an exaggeration. She wore nothing but real diamonds in her music videos, each piece a masterpiece. Buying her gifts was always a challenge.

“Darling, is this for me?”

Britney clutched her chest, her cheeks flushed, breathing lightly. Her reaction seemed genuine, not an act.

“Yes. Do you like it?”

“I love it, absolutely love it! Can you help me put it on?”

Britney removed her old necklace, looking at him with eager eyes.

“It would be my honor.”

Luca smiled, lifted her long hair, and fastened the necklace around her neck.

Her slender, fair neck, paired with the platinum necklace, looked even more beautiful.

“Thank you, darling!”

Britney touched her neck with a sweet smile and kissed him again. This kiss tasted even sweeter.

“Alright, let’s get in the hot spring!”

Britney said as she slipped off her dress.

With a click, Luca used the remote to close the doors and windows.

Soft lights filled the room, and a soothing piano melody began to play, creating a romantic atmosphere.

Hand in hand, the two stepped into the flower-petal-filled hot spring. Their fair skin was adorned with petals.

“Darling, let’s have a baby,” Britney whispered, holding his neck.

“Sure, is one enough?”

“Haha~ Of course not. At least four!”

Britney leaned against his chest.

Luca shivered slightly at the thought—four kids was a lot of pressure.

“Alright, four it is.”

Might as well give it a shot. After all, fortune favors the brave.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 413: Preparations Before Filming

After spending a day at the spa with Britney, Luca quickly got back to preparing for the movie.

To portray his role in The Prestige well, it wasn’t just about losing weight—he also needed to learn some magic tricks. At the very least, he had to appear like a real magician.

His approach was simple: whenever he had time, he would immerse himself in various magic performances on Broadway, watching magicians perform, talking with them, and researching everything about magic shows.

During this time, he even hired a professional magician to teach him the movements, attire, and some real magic tricks.

After more than a week at the theaters, he learned three basic tricks: a paper trick, the dove cage trick, and pulling a rabbit and dove out of a hat.

By the end of his training, he was even invited on stage to perform a hat trick, earning applause from the audience.

"Luca, how did you become so good at magic in just a few days?" Miranda asked curiously after they left the theater.

"Magic is just about misdirection. If you're quick and clever, it's not too hard to learn," Luca replied as they walked.

"Really? Can you teach me how to pull a rabbit out of a hat?" she asked.

"Easy," Luca said with a chuckle. "You just need a top hat with a hidden compartment. Before you go on stage, place the rabbit inside. Open it up in front of the audience, and voilà—hat trick complete."

"But you tossed the hat in the air earlier. How would you do that with a rabbit inside?" Lima joined in the conversation.

"Luca definitely has more than one hat," Kate said confidently.

"That's right," Luca explained. "Besides the one on my head, I had two more hidden in my clothes. When I tossed the hat, I secretly switched it."

"That's it? That simple?" Miranda seemed a bit disappointed.

Luca glanced at her chest, resisting the urge to joke about her "two little white rabbits."

"Kate, Lima, Luca was totally checking out my chest. Aren't you going to say something?" Miranda suddenly called out.

"Haha, we'll deal with him when we get home," Kate laughed.

"It's been a while since we gave him a good beating. We'll make sure to give him one before he leaves," Lima chimed in as they got into the car to head home.

"Scared yet?" Miranda waved her fist at him teasingly as she climbed into the backseat.

"Ah, women—none of them are easy to handle," Luca sighed as he got into the driver's seat.

With a honk, the car merged into traffic, becoming part of the city’s beautiful stream of lights.

By mid-August, the production team of The Prestige had completed preparations and was ready to start filming in the UK.

Luca called Scarlett Johansson to ask when she would be heading over.

After recommending her for the role, Scarlett had been busy preparing for her audition.

She was trying out for the lead female role of Olivia, a magician’s assistant who was also incredibly sexy and alluring—the kind of woman who could distract the audience on stage.

Clearly, Scarlett fit the bill.

Her acting was also great, and she had an Oscar nomination under her belt. In the end, she passed the audition smoothly, even more easily than Luca did.

"Scarlett, I've booked my flight for the 21st. When are you heading over?" Luca asked.

"I still have another movie to finish, so I'll come over later," Scarlett replied.

"Your scenes are in the middle of the film, so you can join us a bit later."

"But what if I miss you? Should I come to New York, or would you rather come to L.A.?" she teased with her sultry voice.

"Haha, aren't you afraid of the paparazzi? I don't want to have a duel with your boyfriend," Luca joked.

"Why do you keep bringing up my boyfriend, Luca? Does it bother you that I have one? How about I break up with him, and as long as you have time for me, I won’t see anyone else," she teased.

Luca hesitated. While the offer was tempting, he already had enough on his plate. Taking on more wasn’t an option.

"Scarlett, don’t tempt me into making mistakes—especially on set. You’ve probably heard about director Nolan. He’s very serious, even a bit old-fashioned. He takes his films extremely seriously. If we get too close on set, it might make future collaborations difficult."

Rumors about the two of them had already made the news. Nolan was surely aware of them, so Luca had to maintain a professional demeanor on set.

"Don’t worry, I’ll be careful. But I am your assistant and lover in the film. Isn’t it natural for us to be close?" Scarlett laughed lightly.

"Still, we need to be careful," Luca insisted.

In the movie, Olivia starts as Angier’s assistant and lover but is eventually used as a spy to steal the secrets of his rival, Borden. Their relationship in the film is complex.

After chatting for a bit longer, Luca hung up and started packing his things.

It was nearly September, and The Prestige would be filmed mainly in London’s old city, as well as in northern England, in cities like Manchester and Liverpool.

With the fall and winter approaching, the island’s temperatures would drop, so Luca needed to pack extra clothes, snacks, and books.

On August 21st, he said goodbye to Kate and Lima and boarded a flight to the UK, accompanied only by Tony.

This was his second time filming in London, so he was familiar with the city.

After landing, he didn’t need the crew to pick him up. He simply hailed a cab and headed straight to the old city’s filming location. The hotel where the cast and crew were staying was nearby.

"Luca, welcome to London!" Director Nolan greeted him at the hotel entrance.

"Thanks! How’s everything coming along with the production?" Luca asked with a smile as they walked inside.

"Everything’s mostly ready, but we’ll need your help fine-tuning a few things. For example, your accent—it’s good, but there are still a few pronunciation details to work on.

"And then there’s the costume etiquette. You’re playing Angier, a nobleman, so you’ll be wearing several formal outfits. You need to not only wear them properly but also embody the demeanor of a nobleman."

"I understand!" Luca nodded.

Luca soon met producer Emma Thomas, screenwriter Jonathan Nolan, cinematographer Wally Pfister, production designer Nathan Crowley, and costume designer Joan Bergin.

He also met co-stars Christian Bale and Michael Caine, both of whom were frequent collaborators with Nolan in his Batman films.

Also present were Piper Perabo, who played Angier’s wife, Rebecca Hall, who played Borden’s wife, and actors Andy Serkis and David Bowie. The majority of the cast and crew were British, with Americans being the minority, and Brazilians almost nonexistent.

After settling in at the hotel, Luca prepared for the next steps.

The crew didn’t start filming immediately but instead focused on final preparations. One of the most important aspects was mastering the magic tricks. Aside from the two main characters, the magic performances were key highlights in the film.

To ensure they could perform the tricks convincingly, Nolan had hired several professional magicians to train them.

Nolan himself was constantly studying magic books, often consulting the magicians with various questions.

Luca, having already learned some magic, found the process relatively easy.

In addition to magic training, he also had to refine his British accent, learn the proper way to wear British aristocratic attire, and practice the necessary formal etiquette.

The daily schedule was quite packed.

After a busy week, the film officially began shooting in early September.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 414: Tying Techniques*

At the beginning of September, London gradually cooled down, but the weather started to improve, with more than ten consecutive days without rain.

On one of these nice days, the production crew of The Prestige began filming in the Wapping district of Old London.

Most of the buildings in Wapping were constructed in the mid to late 19th century, featuring the distinctive style of Victorian classical architecture.

In The Prestige, the story is set in the late 19th century.

The architecture in Wapping fit perfectly with the descriptions in the script.

Today's filming location was in an old theater, where one of the movie's twenty-plus magic performances would take place. These magic performances are what connect the storyline throughout the entire film.

At the start, the two main characters, Angier and Borden, are just beginning their careers as magicians. After a few stage performances, they gradually become famous magicians and top magic performers.

The story interweaves with many mysteries and setups, all of which happen outside the stage.

So, the film's structure has two main parts: inside the theater and outside the theater.

The scenes inside the theater account for a significant portion, about one-third of the movie.

Filming these scenes was highly complex, taking about a month, with most of that time dedicated to preparation, such as set design, rehearsals, script readings, and blocking.

Luca had previously seen news saying that director Nolan shot The Prestige in just 25 days, but in reality, all the preparation work took over a year.

At noon, in the 'Orpheum' theater, the crew was ready, and the first magic performance began.

In the audience sat five to six hundred extras.

Luca, playing Angier, and Bale, playing Borden, were also seated in the audience for now, as their characters were there to assist the magician on stage.

Luca wore a small round hat, a dark brown coat, a red bow tie, and gray casual trousers, sitting among the crowd, watching the performance on stage with great interest like an ordinary spectator.

The magician performing on stage was Michael Caine, playing Cutter, and Piper Perabo, playing the magician's assistant Julia.

Julia was also Angier's lover.

The magic trick being performed today was an underwater escape. After a bit of showmanship on stage, the magician would invite two audience members to tie Julia’s hands and feet with rope, suspend her, and then lower her into a glass water tank.

Within one minute, Julia had to free herself from the ropes and successfully escape.

In the first take, Julia escaped successfully.

In the second performance, Julia drowned in the tank.

These two scenes required a large number of extras and a big setup, and were expected to take three days to film.

"Who’s brave enough to come up here and tie up this beautiful lady?"

On stage, under a bright spotlight, the magician loudly asked.

"Me!"

"I’ll do it!"

Many men in the audience excitedly shouted.

Luca, being the main character in this scene, had a camera focused on him.

In the shot, he smirked, raised his right hand eagerly, and instantly portrayed the image of a young, innocent, and enthusiastic character.

This moment echoed a line from Borden’s diary: "Back then, we had just met, both of us were new magicians, fully devoted to magic, never wanting to harm anyone."

After raising his hand, he and Bale were selected to go up on stage together.

Luca, playing Angier, was lively and passionate about magic. He ran up to the stage ahead of Bale, and once in front of the audience, he placed his hands on his stomach and bowed.

This scene had been rehearsed three times. Initially, he thought he was supposed to place his hand on his chest like a Mongolian bow, but the etiquette coach said it didn’t matter where his hands were placed—the key was in the bow itself.

During the bow, keeping his arms straight looked awkward, and putting them in his pockets didn’t work either. Holding his chest while adjusting his hat wasn’t elegant enough. After several trials, placing his hands on his stomach looked the most natural.

The crew spent over an hour just on this small detail of the bow.

“Please tie her wrists tightly, and her ankles too!”

On stage, the magician handed over two ropes.

Each of them took a rope and stood beside ‘Julia.’

Bale tied her wrists while Luca squatted down to tie her ankles.

Before filming, they had both learned tying techniques from the magician.

Luca found this course particularly interesting and took it very seriously, even seeking extra tutoring and practicing for several days. He became quite skilled in tying ropes.

“Are you two sailors?” the magician asked.

“No!” Bale answered.

“Not at all!” Luca also replied, turning his head briefly before continuing to tie the ropes.

In magic performances, tying ropes required a certain technique. The knots couldn’t be too tight; otherwise, when submerged in water, the ropes would swell, and the performer wouldn’t be able to untie them, risking drowning.

Bale's character, Borden, wasn’t good at tying knots, and in the second performance, his mistake led to Julia’s death.

This tragic event caused Angier and Borden to become enemies.

The entire movie could also be described as “a tragedy caused by a rope.”

The two characters were once colleagues. After Borden’s mistake led to Angier’s lover’s death, they went their separate ways, each pursuing their careers.

Borden began performing the "bullet catch" trick in small theaters, while Angier, in disguise, sabotaged his act, successfully getting his revenge by having two of Borden’s fingers shot off.

Later, Angier performed the "birdcage" magic trick, and Borden disguised himself again to sabotage the act, ruining Angier’s reputation.

From then on, they continued competing in magic. One created new tricks, while the other found ways to copy or ruin them, engaging in a ruthless rivalry. What began as a harmless competition eventually led them both to lose their morals, with blood on their hands.

Simply put, this film is a workplace rivalry between two magicians.

However, under Nolan’s direction, the film was shot with a non-linear structure, turning it into a complex, mind-bending movie that requires three or four viewings to fully understand.

As the camera zoomed in, Luca kissed his "wife Julia" on her smooth thigh. Julia smiled slightly.

“OK!”

Once the ropes were tied, the magician signaled for Julia to be hoisted up.

Luca stood on stage, looking out at the audience and the performance, feeling as if he were part of a real magic show.

The crew had prepared for many days to ensure that this performance would go smoothly during filming.

Splash!

Piper Perabo, playing Julia, was submerged in the water, causing a splash.

This underwater scene was entirely real, without a stunt double. However, to prevent any accidents, the actress was pulled out when the curtains came down, the entire process taking less than ten seconds.

When the curtain rose again, Julia had successfully escaped the glass tank and stood on stage, bowing alongside the magician as applause and cheers filled the theater.

Luca clapped and cheered along.

“Cut!”

The main framework of the first scene took half a day to film. The remaining close-up shots and details that didn’t require extras would be filmed later.

“Luca, get ready; you have two close-up shots,”

Director Nolan called out from the director's area.

“Got it!”

Luca nodded, setting down his script.

“Luca, you performed really well on stage. I heard you’ve performed magic on Broadway before?” Nolan asked with a smile.

“Yes, I took half a month of lessons and learned a few simple tricks,”

Luca said, suddenly holding out his hand. In front of everyone, he showed his palm, quickly reaching behind Nolan’s head, and when he pulled his hand back, there was a silver coin between his fingers.

“Wow, you really can do magic!”

“That’s one of Borden’s signature moves.”

“Luca, can you teach me? I’ve always loved magic.”

The people around were amazed.

“Luca, I practiced that trick too, but my fingers are too stiff. After a month, I still couldn’t get it. How did you train your fingers?”

Nolan asked, holding the coin.

What could Luca say about dexterity?

"I play a lot of tennis and ping-pong, so my wrists and fingers are really flexible—I don’t need much practice.”

“Nice, that trick’s perfect for picking up girls,” Nolan said with a sly smile.

Luca chuckled. It really was a great trick for impressing someone, especially if you swapped the coin for a rose.

“Mr. Nolan, are you really that into magic?”

Emma Thomas asked as she walked over.

“Uh, of course not, I’m no player,” Nolan replied, his expression stiffening as he waved his hand, clearly aware his wife had overheard.

“Alright, everyone, take ten minutes, and then we’ll resume shooting!”

“Understood!”

The crew members responded loudly.

Luca smiled, heading back to the set to continue preparing.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 415: The Proper Way to Squeeze Luca

"Scene 3, Take 5, Action!"

The crew continued shooting the second underwater escape scene at the theater the next day.

There were many similarities between the two scenes, except for the actors’ outfits and some close-ups. Yesterday, they had already finished filming the necessary shots, leaving only the scene where "Julia" drowns in the water tank.

Today, Luca wasn’t wearing a hat. His hair was styled in a nobleman’s part, and he wore a long coat as he stood on the stage, watching Julia being hoisted up.

Splash~

Once again, she fell into the water. Because it was the second performance with different costumes, she had to fall into the tank twice.

As the curtain covered the tank, Michael Caine, playing the role of prop master Carter, stood holding a pocket watch in one hand and an axe in the other.

Suddenly, he rushed over, tearing down the curtain, revealing Julia drowning inside the tank. Luca hurriedly stepped forward, tapping the tank, his face filled with panic.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Michael Caine swung the axe hard against the tank's glass, but it was too thick, and after several hits, it still didn’t break.

Watching this scene, Luca recalled past reviews. Some people had pointed out that in the late 19th century, tempered glass hadn’t been invented yet, so how could the glass be unbreakable with an axe?

Moreover, Julia was submerged in the tank; why smash the glass when they could just open the tank lid directly? It would be faster.

Julia had been underwater for less than two minutes. After breaking the tank, they could easily save her with CPR or chest compressions.

At the time, these first-aid methods already existed, but no one on stage tried it. Angier just held Julia and cried.

When designing this scene, Luca also wanted to address these issues, but after thinking for a long time, he couldn’t come up with a solution. He brought the questions to director Nolan and screenwriter Nolan.

The screenwriter said he had read a biography of a magician who performed this trick when he was young, and an assistant had tragically drowned due to an accident during the performance.

He had also asked the magician why they hadn’t tried to save the assistant. The magician explained that under the circumstances, many things went wrong, leading to the failure to rescue.

Film performances and real life are different. In reality, many drowning victims can be saved with CPR, but many others cannot.

As long as there’s a one-in-a-million chance, the scene can be filmed this way.

Director Nolan also said this design was fine; the audience cared more about the plot moving forward than about how Julia died or why she wasn’t rescued because she was just a catalyst for conflict and didn’t leave a deep impression.

Luca understood—Julia was merely a plot device. Once she died, there was no need to dwell on it.

"Luca was distracted. This take needs to be reshot!"

From the director’s area, Nolan instructed the stage manager.

The stage manager nodded and made a note.

There was no audience for this scene today, so reshooting was easy.

Crash!

The glass tank broke, and water poured onto the stage. Luca made a diving motion.

"Cut!"

After this take, the crew took a ten-minute break. The prop and set designers began resetting the stage, and Piper Perabo, playing Julia, lay on the stage while a makeup artist touched up her look.

Luca needed to deliver an emotional outburst in the next scene, so he sat quietly in a chair, preparing himself.

"Luca, Ms. Theron just called. Do you want to call her back?"

Tony approached with a phone in hand.

Luca shook his head, worried that talking on the phone would ruin his emotional buildup, so he just sent a text, planning to call her later.

After sending the message, he resumed sitting quietly.

"Mr. Kelly, are you ready?"

The stage manager came over to check.

"I'm good."

Luca and the rest of the crew took their places on stage.

"Scene 3, Take 14, Action!"

As filming resumed, Julia lay on the stage, and Luca rushed over, kneeling beside her.

"No! No!"

"Julia! Julia!"

He shook the girl’s shoulders, shouting in agony. His face turned pale, veins bulged on his forehead, and his eyes slowly reddened.

He patted Julia’s cheeks, but there was no response.

"No!!"

With a guttural cry, he buried his face in Julia’s chest.

"Cut!"

Director Nolan rubbed his forehead and reflected on the performance. "Luca, you need to dial it back. Angier is a composed character. How would he react to Julia's death? Would he scream, or would he first suppress his emotions before gradually letting them out? Think it over carefully."

Luca wiped his eyes and nodded.

After a ten-minute break, they started filming the scene again.

Luca, full of tension, returned to the stage.

"No, no, Julia? Julia!"

He knelt on one knee, shaking Julia’s shoulders with both hands.

Under the stage lights, there was a theatrical feeling, reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet.

He stroked the girl’s cheeks, his face turning pale, tears welling up in his eyes. He glanced around helplessly, breathing heavily, his lips trembling slightly. He caressed her face again and leaned down to kiss her.

"Cut!"

"Luca, this is better, but your performance is still a bit rough. I need it to be more refined. That’ll make it more powerful," Nolan said, stepping onto the stage and kneeling beside him.

"Alright, I need five more minutes."

"No problem!"

Five minutes later, the scene started again.

"Julia? Julia!"

Luca’s hands trembled as he touched the girl’s cheeks, then quickly pulled them back. His lower lip trembled, and he covered his mouth, letting out a series of breathy gasps.

"This guy!"

Behind the monitor, Nolan crossed his arms, focusing on Luca’s performance.

As he watched, Nolan noticed Luca's performance improving, layer by layer.

From the initial roughness, his acting became more nuanced, deeper, and more emotionally impactful.

And the more he acted, the more absorbed he became. You could tell by the details, like how at first, he gently touched the girl’s cheeks, afraid of hurting her.

But by now, his fingers had grown rigid, rubbing her cheeks so hard they turned red. This was the uncontrolled state of deep immersion, which was exactly what they wanted.

Watching this, Nolan recalled something Woody Allen had said.

Allen had mentioned that Luca was a unique actor. "He’s like a sesame seed," Allen had said. "The more you squeeze him, the more you get out of him. But if you don’t apply pressure, he’ll slack off."

So, with Luca, you couldn’t go easy on him. Sometimes, you needed to turn off the camera and make him act over and over until he’s done it a dozen times before starting the real take. That’s how you get the best out of him.

"Do I really need to treat Luca like that?"

"Isn’t that a bit too cruel?"

Nolan scratched his chin, staring at the monitor.

"Cut!"

After the scene ended, Nolan called for a pause.

"Alright, let’s move on to the next scene," the assistant director said.

"Wait, one more time!" Nolan interjected.

"Huh?"

The assistant director was puzzled. After two films with Nolan, he knew that whenever Nolan said "cut," it meant the take was good and they didn’t need to reshoot.

But why reshoot after saying "cut"? Had Nolan changed his approach?

"Mr. Kelly, take ten more minutes, then we’ll do it again."

"Alright."

Luca nodded, apologized to the actress, and walked to the corner.

He hugged his knees and continued to build up his emotions. At that moment, he was like an empty jar, and no one knew what he was filling it with.

"…"

From a distance, Nolan scratched his chin, feeling a bit guilty. The previous take was fine and could’ve been accepted.

But remembering Allen's advice, he steeled himself and decided to push for a few more takes.

Taking this opportunity, he was curious to see how far he could push Luca and what kind of performance would emerge from fully squeezing him.

So cruel or not, it was for Luca’s own good.

"Time’s up. Let’s prepare for the third take!"

"OK!"

(End of Chapter)