146-150

*Chapter 146: Rachel McAdams*

“Good afternoon, Director Cassavetes!”

As he got into the car, Luca greeted the director of the film crew.

Nick Cassavetes, the director of The Notebook, was in his forties and a well-known Hollywood director. He had won the Palme d'Or in 1997 with She's So Lovely, helping Sean Penn secure the Best Actor award at Cannes. Cassavetes was a highly influential figure in the industry.

Wearing a baseball cap, he sat in the front row with his legs crossed, holding a progress sheet for the crew and scribbling notes.

Hearing Luca's greeting, Director Nick Cassavetes adjusted his glasses and looked at him. "Luca? You’ve arrived. Welcome to the crew!"

"Thank you, Director Cassavetes!"

Luca shook his hand.

The two had met during the audition.

Nick Cassavetes was a strong-willed director. After becoming the director of The Notebook, he took full control of the project, requiring his approval for every actor joining the crew.

Luca had performed well in his audition, catching Nick's attention and landing the supporting role.

“Luca, your scenes start shooting the day after tomorrow. You’ve got two days to acclimate to the crew. I hope your performance meets my expectations,” Director Cassavetes said, flipping through the director’s log with a steady tone.

“I understand!”

Luca nodded slightly. The director’s words added some pressure.

The crew had been filming in Charleston for over three months. It felt like a fast-moving train, and as a newcomer, Luca knew it wouldn’t be easy to keep up with the established rhythm of the production.

After meeting the director, Luca was introduced to screenwriter Zan Sadie, assistant director Alexander Bernard, director’s assistant John Capriche, as well as members of the cinematography, makeup, and costume teams.

Aside from the three lead actors, the car was filled with over ten key crew members.

In the back sat the three main actors: Ryan Gosling, lead actress Rachel McAdams, and supporting actress Heather Vawquist.

Seeing them, Luca could guess which scene they were filming today.

“Hey, Luca, come on over!”

Ryan Gosling called out, motioning toward the supporting actress. “This is Heather Vawquist.”

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Vawquist.”

After introducing Heather, Ryan turned to Rachel McAdams, using a formal tone. “Now, let me introduce you to the beautiful, kind, elegant, and noble—”

“Haha, Ryan, stop messing around.”

Rachel McAdams laughed with her head thrown back. She had a bright, infectious laugh.

“Ryan, no need for an introduction. Ms. McAdams and I are not strangers.”

Luca smiled slightly.

“You two know each other?”

Ryan glanced at both of them, feigning a jealous look.

Rachel blinked and then burst into laughter.

“Luca, have we met before?” Rachel asked.

“We haven’t, but we have a connection,” Luca said with a smile. “Think about it. In this film, I play your fiancé, and in Mean Girls, I played your boyfriend. Rachel, isn’t that quite the connection?”

“Luca, Rachel is my girlfriend!” Ryan said, wrapping his arm around Rachel’s shoulders, declaring his territory with mock seriousness.

“Haha, Ryan, you’re too uptight!”

Rachel playfully patted his shoulder, clearly enjoying their close relationship. It was evident the two were dating.

Luca smiled and said, “Ryan, you don’t need to worry. In The Notebook, you win Rachel, and in Mean Girls, Cady takes me away from her. So, it seems Rachel and I have a destined connection, but no real chance.”

“Hm!”

Ryan nodded. “Now that you put it that way, I feel better.”

“Haha, Ryan, when did you become so petty?”

Rachel teased.

“Oh, dear Rachel, I’m usually pretty relaxed, but when it comes to someone like Luca, I have to be cautious.”

“Why?”

“Ryan, how am I a bad guy?” Luca asked, pretending to be offended.

“First of all!” Ryan coughed, trying to look serious. “Luca here already has a girlfriend, yet he stole Justin’s girlfriend Britney, dated Gisele Bündchen, and rumors say his involvement caused trouble between Leonardo and Gisele. Rachel, doesn’t that make him a bad guy?”

“Is that true?” Rachel asked skeptically. “I heard Luca and Britney were only linked after she and Justin broke up.”

“Yes, Ryan is just talking nonsense,” Luca agreed.

Ryan scoffed. “Haven’t you heard of the ‘reconciliation phase’ that couples go through for six months after breaking up? Justin and Britney had a chance to get back together, but because of Luca, their love story was cut short.”

Luca shook his head. “You know the real reason Justin and Britney broke up, Ryan. Don’t enjoy smearing me too much.”

“Fine, fine. Maybe that breakup wasn’t your fault, but you can’t deny your kiss with Gisele. It was all over Star Magazine—photos of you two on a boat!”

Ryan held up a magazine from the seat.

The inner pages showed pictures of Luca and Gisele chatting on a boat, with a few photos that appeared to show them kissing, though it was a trick of the camera angle.

“Anyone with basic photography knowledge could see through that,” Luca said.

“I couldn’t!” Ryan said, shaking his head. “Rachel, now you know what kind of guy Luca is, right?”

“No, I don’t know,” Rachel said, shaking her head before breaking into a laugh. “But I do know what kind of guy you are.”

“Me?” Ryan looked confused. “What kind of guy am I?”

“A petty man. Haha!”

Rachel teased him, pinching his nose before snuggling up to him.

Both Ryan and Rachel were from London, Ontario, Canada, and now they were working on the same set, so it wasn’t surprising they ended up together. But for Luca, it meant he would have to witness their love every day for the next few weeks.

Luca sighed, lamenting how tough it was to be the supporting actor.

The minibus drove west from the town center for less than two kilometers before they entered an area of lush pines, palm trees, redwoods, and willows. The towering trees, with thick trunks and dense branches, looked like they could only be embraced by three or four people standing hand in hand.

Nestled under the shade of these trees were several elegant villas, each with wide porches supported by columns, exuding a noble atmosphere.

After about five or six minutes, the bus stopped in front of a white mansion. They had arrived at the set.

The key crew members got out of the car, and the on-site staff immediately got to work.

“Scene 18, Shot 10, Take 2. Action!”

With everything ready, the clapperboard snapped shut, and the assistant director shouted into the loudspeaker. The filming officially began.

Chapter 147: The Notebook

The movie The Notebook begins with the story of a notebook.

In a nursing home, an elderly man visits an elderly woman every day at the same time, opens a faded notebook, and tells her the story recorded inside.

The elderly man is the male lead in his later years, and the elderly woman is the female lead in her later years.

They are a married couple.

The diary records their love story, but the woman suffers from Alzheimer's disease. She has forgotten who the man is, as well as their past.

The man reads the diary to help her remember everything.

The two first met in the summer of 1940 when they were 17 or 18 years old.

The female lead, Allie, was the daughter of a wealthy businessman from California—beautiful, lively, and full of laughter. Her family was vacationing in Seabrook during the summer.

The male lead, Noah, was a simple carpenter in Seabrook.

At a carnival one evening, Noah was drawn to Allie's carefree laughter and fell in love with her at first sight, despite the differences in their social backgrounds—Allie from the upper class and Noah a poor boy.

Like many dramatic romances, their love faced opposition from Allie's family. At the same time, World War II broke out, and Noah enlisted.

Seven years later, Noah returned from the war, intending to find Allie and rekindle their love, only to discover that she was engaged to Ron Hammond.

Heartbroken, Noah rebuilt the old house in Seabrook, as he had promised Allie, and had an affair with a local widow, Martha.

Just before her wedding, Allie saw a picture of Noah and the house in the newspaper and gathered the courage to return to Seabrook, where they cleared up their misunderstandings and fell in love again.

The scene being filmed today is the one where, the morning after Noah and Allie spend the night together, Martha shows up.

"Scene 18, Take 10, Second Shot, First Attempt, Action!"

Knock, knock, knock~

As the scene begins, Heather Warquist, playing Martha, knocks on the door of the old house.

Martha, a widow whose husband died in the war, loves Noah, but Noah does not love her.

Upon hearing that Noah and Allie have reunited, she comes to see him, heartbroken.

Creak~

Ryan Gosling, playing Noah, opens the door with a complicated expression—joy from reuniting with his love, and guilt toward Martha. He leans against the doorframe, silent.

"It's her, isn't it?"

Martha breaks the silence, her eyes brimming with tears. She had once seen Noah as her hope, but now that hope is gone.

Noah nods slightly, his gaze dropping as he bites his tongue.

"Brilliant!"

Off-camera, Luca, watching, silently praises Gosling's subtle movements, which feel natural and fitting for the moment.

"Can I meet her?" Martha asks, her eyes red. "I really want to meet her."

"I don't think that's a good idea, Martha."

Noah turns to face her directly.

"Is that Martha?"

Rachel McAdams, playing Allie, appears at the door, smiling warmly. "Hi, I'm Allie. I've heard a lot about you."

The two shake hands.

Rachel's performance is excellent. The role suits her perfectly—lively, optimistic, and full of laughter, much like her real personality. This is why she won the role over nine other strong actresses during the audition.

"Hey, Luca, you're here!"

As Luca watches the scene, John Capricci, the assistant director, approaches—a man in his 30s with brown hair, wearing a white shirt, looking scholarly.

"Hey, John, what’s up?"

Luca asks curiously.

"Take a look—here’s the shooting schedule for the crew. The day after tomorrow, we’ll be filming your scenes with Rachel. The first scene is where Ron Hammond and Allie meet at the military hospital, and then, in the afternoon, we'll film your date scene."

"John, can I make a copy of this?"

"This copy’s for you."

John pulls a schedule from his folder.

"Thanks!"

Luca takes the schedule. "John, is there anything I need to prepare in advance?"

"Yes, that's why I'm here. Let's sit and talk."

They sit on a bench under the shade of a pine tree.

"First, costumes. You have twelve scenes, and you’ll need twelve outfits. After your audition, the crew took your measurements, and your outfits have already been ordered. You’ll need to try them on before filming begins to avoid any issues that could delay the schedule."

"I understand."

"Second, your skills and character traits," John continues, looking at his notes. "Can you ride a horse? There’s a scene where you and Rachel ride horses along the beach. It’s just a walk, nothing too complicated."

"I can ride a bit."

In that scene, Luca and Rachel ride slowly along the beach, which won’t be too difficult.

"Do you smoke?" John asks, making a note on his clipboard.

"I don’t."

"You don’t smoke?" John looks puzzled. "In the film, Ron Hammond is a seasoned smoker. You’ll need to pick up the habit quickly."

"Don’t worry about that. I quit smoking, but I haven’t forgotten how."

In the screenwriting industry, very few people don’t smoke. Luca used to be a heavy smoker, but he quit.

"Really?"

John pulls out a Camel cigarette.

"Thanks!"

Luca takes it, lights up, and takes a deep drag. Cough, cough, cough~

"You sure you can smoke?" John asks, suspicious after hearing him cough.

"It’s been a while. I’m out of practice."

Luca takes another puff, inhales, and exhales through his nose.

John nods, reassured.

Luca takes another drag and blows out a perfect smoke ring.

"Nice, very cool!"

John is completely convinced and marks it off his list. "Can you drink red wine?"

"A little."

"Good. Can you dance?"

"I can samba, do ballroom, social dances, waltz, and some street dance moves."

"That’s enough. Social dancing is all you need."

John waves his hand. "What’s this…ballroom dancing?"

"Uh, it’s an Eastern group dance where a bunch of people dance together in a square."

"Wow, you’re talented," John compliments. "Last question—do you have any issues with kissing scenes?"

"Nope!"

He had already done kissing scenes with Britney and Jessica.

"Alright, that’s everything."

John shrugged and, as he was about to leave, winked and said, "One last piece of friendly advice: when you do the kissing scene with Rachel, be careful, or Ryan will give you trouble."

"Thanks for the warning. I know Ryan can be a bit possessive."

"Haha, yeah, he’s pretty possessive."

"What are you guys talking about?"

Just then, Ryan walked over, squinting slightly, sensing that they might have been talking about him.

"Ahem, Ryan, you two chat. I’ve got work to do!"

John quickly walked off with his folder.

"What were you guys talking about?" Ryan asked, clearly irritated.

Luca smiled slightly. "Nothing much. John was just reminding me not to eat garlic before my kissing scenes with Rachel."

"Hmph!"

Ryan’s face darkened, and he walked over to the director’s area, seemingly to discuss something.

Luca shook his head, chuckling. "What a possessive guy!"

Chapter 148: The Director's Wrath

"Scene 12, Shot 4, Take 1, Action!"

At 10 a.m. on Wednesday, the crew officially started filming Luca's scenes.

Luca plays Ron Hammond, the third male lead in the film, a wealthy young man who enlists in the army after World War II breaks out. He meets the female lead, Ellie, in a field hospital where she works as a nurse.

He boldly confesses his love and pursues her.

Their first scene takes place in the field hospital.

In a spacious ward, more than twenty beds are lined up, occupied by ten or so soldiers with severe injuries. Some have lost limbs, others have head wounds.

The lighting in the ward is very dim, creating an oppressive and sorrowful atmosphere.

In the corner of the room, a patient is fully wrapped in plaster, with a bandage wrapped around his head. His face is covered in scars, looking like a mummy.

This complex makeup was a challenge. To make it look realistic, Luca worked with the makeup and prop artists all day yesterday.

This morning, he got up early at six to apply the makeup, rehearse with Rachel, and listen to the director's guidance. He's been busy all morning.

When filming began, Luca lay motionless on the bed. Although he wasn't in the shot yet, he still had to embody his character—a seriously injured man.

"Luca, get ready!"

The assistant director, John, called out as the camera panned smoothly to the right, following Rachel's steps.

Rachel approached the bed and glanced at the patient's log.

"Ron, I'm going to help you sit up now. Are you ready?"

Rachel bent down, holding his shoulders, and asked.

Luca kept his eyes closed and remained unresponsive.

"Alright!"

Rachel gritted her teeth and forcefully lifted his upper body.

Luca subtly helped with the effort; otherwise, it would be tough for someone as petite as Rachel to lift him.

"Good, just like that. Now, I need to lift this leg over here."

Rachel lifted his plastered legs and placed them on a stool, preparing to change his bandages.

"Miss, may I ask you a question?" Luca asked as he sat on the bed.

"Mmhmm," Rachel replied, holding a cup with a straw to help him drink water.

"I noticed you're not wearing a ring. I wanted to ask if you'd go out with me?" Luca slowly opened his half-closed eyes, looking at the woman in front of him. His face was injured and expressionless, but his eyes had a hint of intensity. This was a close-up shot.

Behind the monitor, Director Nick Cassavetes stroked his beard, watching the scene intently without saying a word.

"What?" Rachel looked puzzled.

"A date," Luca said slowly.

Rachel froze for a moment before standing up and tidying up the medicines on the table.

"Before you turn me down, I want you to know that I'm a great dancer, and I definitely don't have pure intentions towards you. Cough, cough," Luca coughed lightly.

A faint smile appeared on Rachel's lips. "Alright, Casanova, let me help you lie down. If you want to go on a date, you need to get better first, okay?"

Luca was gently laid back down.

"Cut!"

The fourth shot was completed. Director Nick frowned as he reviewed the footage carefully.

Everyone on set remained quiet, waiting for the director's instructions. No one moved because Nick was strict, and he never let a shot pass easily.

"Nervous, Luca?" Rachel blinked at him beside the bed.

Luca, still in his mummy-like costume, squinted his eyes and moved the corners of his mouth slightly.

"A little."

"Haha, don't worry, you did better than I expected."

"Oh? What kind of performance were you expecting?" Luca opened his eyes slightly, glancing sideways at her.

"I only knew you as a model before. You made quite a splash during Fashion Week," Rachel chuckled.

"So, you thought I was just a pretty face?"

"A pretty face?"

"Yes, like a vase on the table, filled with flowers—nice to look at but with no acting skills."

"Good-looking? Are you bragging?"

"Yes. Am I not good-looking?" Luca pointed at his plaster-covered body and scarred face.

"Haha, you look beautiful!"

Cough, cough 

As they joked, a cough came from the side. Luca looked left and right but saw no one.

He followed Rachel's gaze upwards and saw a shadowy figure reflected in the window above—Ryan Gosling, standing there like a ghost.

"What the heck, Ryan? What are you doing there?" Luca asked irritably.

"I'm just watching you guys act. Is that a problem?" Ryan replied casually.

"There's no kissing scene today. Do you really need to be here?" Luca said, exasperated.

"I told you, I'm just here to watch your acting. Not to supervise," Ryan explained.

"Damn it, Ryan, why are you there?!" A furious shout suddenly erupted in the room. Director Nick Cassavetes stormed over.

"Nick, what's wrong?" Ryan asked, puzzled.

"Dammit! I knew something was off with that shot. I watched it twice and then saw a shadow in the window! We're filming The Notebook, not Ghost! What the heck are you doing there?!" Nick yelled angrily.

Ryan looked embarrassed. "Nick, I was crouching. I shouldn't have been in the frame."

"Bullshit! The light in here is dim. Don't you know your eyes reflect light?" Nick shot back.

"Sorry, Director, I'll leave now," Ryan said, scratching his beard and awkwardly leaving the window.

"John!" Nick waved his hand and called to the assistant. "Get someone to keep an eye on Ryan. He’s not allowed near Rachel and Luca when they're filming."

"Got it, Director!" John chuckled and walked away.

Others on the set laughed quietly.

Sigh 

Rachel covered her face, looking defeated.

Luca smirked. This guy brought it upon himself. Rachel was pretty, but compared to the likes of Kate, Lima, and Brittany, there was still a gap.

"Rachel, Luca," Director Nick turned back to them after scolding the lead actor.

"Luca, you're seriously injured. Your voice should be more restrained, without much change in tone. Your eyes need to be dimmer. You're wounded; your eyes shouldn't be that bright, understand?"

"Understood."

"Rachel, when you bend down to help Luca up, your faces need to be closer. Damn it, did you see Ryan earlier and get worried? Remember, we're filming!"

"I'll pay attention, Director," Rachel said with a light smile.

"Alright, get ready to shoot the second scene!"

*Chapter 149: Grilling Fish by the Twilight Lake*

"Cut!"

In the afternoon, on the set of The Notebook, Director Nick stared at the monitor, frowning deeply.

This scene involved Lon Hammond confessing his love to the female lead, Allie.

On camera, Luca wore a green wool military uniform, tall and upright, with a handsome face. He certainly looked the part, but there was a problem with his performance.

"Luca, your smile is too exaggerated. Tone it down."

"Exaggerated?"

Luca was stunned. His character, Lon Hammond, was passionate, outgoing, and a smooth talker, someone skilled in social interactions.

Such a character, confessing his love to the woman he loves, should smile warmly. So, he had smiled with great enthusiasm, but in the director's eyes, it was over the top.

"Director, I understand. I'll keep that in mind."

"Okay! Take five, scene three, action!"

The clapperboard went down for the third time, and Luca began his performance again.

On the street, he leaned against a luxury car, looking at the street across from him.

Rachel and three other actresses walked out of the school arm in arm.

According to the original performance, Luca took off his military cap and stepped forward. "Hey, miss, I'm all better now. Will you go out with me?"

"Cut!"

Director Nick frowned.

In this take, Luca had toned down his smile, barely curling the corners of his mouth. It looked acceptable.

But the director was still unsatisfied, though he couldn't quite pinpoint why. He just felt Luca could do better. Some actors need to be pushed to their limits to ignite that brilliant spark.

Luca was one of those actors.

After shooting three scenes today, Nick found this young actor very intriguing. His understanding of the script, camera work, and actor blocking was impeccable. He even occasionally made surprisingly insightful suggestions, making him easy to work with.

But his acting was still too raw, lacking finesse.

"Luca, your performance is rough. Focus, and let's try again."

Director Nick said sternly.

Rough?

Luca scratched his head. The term was hard to grasp. Was the whole performance rough, or just one aspect?

Before he could figure it out, they started the third take. This time, he performed with more focus but was still cut by the director.

"Cut! Again!"

In the scorching sun, Luca, dressed in a thick military uniform, was drenched in sweat. After makeup wiped away the sweat, he continued performing.

"Cut! Your expression is stiff. Again!"

"Cut! No good, the emotion isn't right. Again!"

The scene was cut twelve times and still wasn't approved. Luca was starting to feel numb and at a loss.

"Director Cassavetes, can you tell me where I need to improve?"

He mustered the courage to approach the director.

Director Nick frowned and pointed to his chest. "Here!"

"The heart?"

"Yes, perform from the heart."

Nick explained slowly, "Your portrayal of the character isn't refined enough, so your performance feels superficial. For example, when you smile, it's just the movement of muscles, not a change in emotion.

This kind of acting won't move the audience.

Look at Rachel's performance. Her smile comes from within. It's not just her smiling, but the character smiling."

Luca suddenly understood, feeling a mix of realization and astonishment.

Nick's eye was spot-on. During his performance, he had been largely imitating the original actor.

Previously, Director Billy hadn't noticed, but Nick spotted the problem immediately. As expected from a top director.

"Director, I get it."

Imitating the original could at best make one look like the original, like a mimicry show.

But if one acted based on their understanding of the script, the character would have endless possibilities.

"Take five, scene thirteen, action!"

Although Luca now understood his shortcomings, correcting them immediately was still challenging.

After three more takes, the sun had started to set, and the director announced a halt to filming.

According to the script, this scene happened under the bright midday sun. The director wanted to use this bright environment to contrast with the previous dimly lit hospital room—a metaphor of darkness versus light, war versus peace.

Insufficient light couldn't meet the director's requirements.

"Luca, reflect on the character during the break. You must put your heart into it. The effort you put into the character will reflect in your performance. I hope you understand this."

Director Nick, with a stern expression, walked past Luca, then turned back to remind him.

"I understand, Director!"

Luca took off his hat, sighing lightly. He had failed again. Being rejected felt terrible.

"Sigh, half a day wasted."

"Luca's acting skills are lacking. He can't meet the director's standards."

"Yeah, I heard Luca used to be a model. No wonder his acting is so poor!"

There was much chatter among the crew.

"Luca, don't listen to them."

Rachel walked over and said, "Director Nick has very high standards. When I first joined the crew, I went through the same thing, with scenes being reshot ten or twenty times. A few times, I almost broke down, but I gritted my teeth and made it through. You can do it too. Keep it up!"

"Yes, yes."

Ryan jumped out from behind, putting his arm around Rachel's shoulders. "When I first joined the crew, I got scolded at least three times a day—morning, noon, and night. I even got scolded in my dreams at midnight. It was a miserable time."

"Thanks for your encouragement. I feel much better now."

Luca smiled slightly.

"Luca, how about we go to the bar to relax?" Ryan suggested.

"Forget it, I'm too tired."

Today, he had worn a woolen military uniform and baked under the scorching sun for three to four hours, sweating profusely. On top of that, performing under the director's pressure left his entire body numb. He had no mood for the bar.

Back at the hotel, Luca took a cold shower and started practicing in front of the mirror—smiling, grinning, and smiling with joy.

Watching his reflection, he gradually gained some insights.

Before, when he acted, he simply imitated the original. If the original character smiled, he smiled. If the original actor pulled at the corners of his mouth, he did the same.

This performance seemed passable but had a major flaw—he didn't look like the original actor. His temperament was different. The same expression conveyed different meanings.

His demeanor was more aloof. If he curled his lips to smile, it resembled a sneer. If the original actor remained expressionless, it looked normal. But for him, it seemed cold. The same went for other expressions.

In a teen drama like Sweetheart Dance, such mimicry worked fine.

But in a literary film like The Notebook, it appeared rough. To an expert, it was mere rubbish.

"Lon Hammond gazed passionately at the girl approaching. His face involuntarily broke into a warm smile."

Facing the mirror, Luca began to break away from imitation, exploring his own style.

Meow, meow, meow.

The damn cat next door started yowling again and wouldn't stop.

Bang, bang.

"Can you make your cat quieter?" he shouted out the window.

"Fuck, the cat is sick. Can't you show some sympathy?" the neighbor shot back.

"..."

Luca sighed, plugged his ears with earphones, and continued practicing. Heaven will test those destined for greatness with hardships.

*Chapter 150: Will It Pass or Not?*

"Luca, there's a rumor going around the set about you. Want to hear it?"

In the hotel, at the breakfast table, Tony put down his fork and said.

"What rumor?"

Luca looked up at him. Since arriving in Charleston, this guy had worried about being mistaken for a weirdo, so he changed into a more conservative outfit. The red tracksuit he wore now was much easier on the eyes than his previous tight clothes.

"Um, the rumor is that your acting isn't good, and the director is not satisfied with you. They might replace you."

"Oh!"

Luca smirked slightly and continued eating his breakfast.

"Luca, is everything okay?"

Tony hesitated before asking.

Luca shook his head. "Just do your job. Don't worry about the rest."

"Alright."

After breakfast, Luca arrived on set early.

Yesterday's scenes didn't pass, so the crew was still shooting in front of the Charleston Library.

This library was built in the mid-20th century and has an old-fashioned architectural style that perfectly fits the era depicted in the movie. So, it was chosen as the place where the female lead goes to college.

Inside the makeup tent, a few staff members who were chatting glanced over when he walked in. Among them were props, makeup, wardrobe, sound, and others, all gathered and whispering together.

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen!"

"Morning!"

Only the makeup artist lazily replied and began putting on his makeup.

"Luca, they were just talking about you," the makeup artist said casually.

"Oh?"

Luca slightly opened his eyes and looked at the mirror in front of him.

In the mirror, the makeup artist stood behind him, holding a can of hairspray in one hand and a comb in the other. She was working on his hair rather carelessly.

"They're saying it's too hot. Yesterday was a wasted day, and if you keep messing up today, they'll be working all day again. They’re already planning to apply for heat allowances."

The makeup artist continued while styling his hair.

"Yeah, Mike from the props team got heatstroke yesterday."

Another makeup artist flipping through a fashion magazine chimed in.

"How unfortunate. May God bless him!"

Luca crossed himself over his chest and closed his eyes again.

The makeup artist curled her lips. "Luca, they want me to ask if you'll nail the scene today. If not, we might have to prepare for a long shoot."

"I got it."

Luca replied calmly, closing his eyes to continue thinking about the scene.

No matter the country, a film crew is always filled with gossip.

Engaging with it only brings more trouble. The best way is to ignore it and focus on your work.

"Good morning, Miss McAdams!"

After a while, the makeup tent buzzed with greetings.

"Morning!"

Rachel waved and walked in.

"Hey, Luca, did you fall asleep?" Rachel asked, pressing on his shoulder with a smile.

"No, just a bit drowsy!" Luca opened his eyes and smiled lightly.

"Did you have trouble sleeping? Oh, Luca, don't tell me you were like Ryan, dreaming of the director scolding you?"

Rachel covered her mouth and laughed.

Luca shrugged. "Not really. The room next door was a bit noisy last night, and I think I heard a cat."

"Shut up!"

Rachel glared at him angrily, blushing. "You're lying. We're in 5028, and you're in 5022. There's a two-room gap between us. How could you have heard anything?"

Luca pressed his lips and said in surprise, "Rachel, a tourist moved in next door to me last night. She had a Persian cat. I heard the cat ate raw fish yesterday and had an upset stomach, making noise all night. I wasn't talking about your room. Why are you mad? Did your room also have a cat?"

"Shut up, Luca!"

Rachel shouted and grabbed a pair of scissors, ready to throw them at him.

"OK, OK! Miss McAdams, please don't be angry!"

Luca raised his hands.

"Ryan was right. You really are a troublemaker."

Rachel snorted, slamming the scissors down heavily.

Luca smiled slightly, noticing that his makeup was done. He put on his military cap and adjusted his collar.

"Rachel, I'm heading to the set. Are you going to wish me luck?"

"I don't want to."

Rachel shook her head. "My spot is in the shade. I won't get sunburned, so it doesn't matter if we shoot this scene dozens of times."

"Haha, alright then."

Luca shrugged and turned to leave.

"Hey, Luca, put some effort into it. I don't want to keep walking back and forth."

Rachel called out from behind.

"OK!"

Luca made a gesture and walked onto the set.

"Luca, are you ready?" Director Nick asked with a frown.

"Yes, Director!"

Luca nodded.

"Alright."

Director Nick gave him a look. "If you can't get it right this morning, we'll have to push your scenes back. We have other scenes to shoot this afternoon."

"I understand."

Luca pressed his lips.

"Go get ready. We'll start in ten minutes!"

The director shook his head and walked into the director's area.

Ten minutes later, the actors were in position, and everything was ready for filming.

"Scene 5, take 16. Action!"

In front of the library, Luca, wearing a military cap and a green woolen military uniform, leaned against a black convertible. Sunlight poured down from the sky, shining brightly on him.

"Hahaha~"

Across the street, four girls, including Rachel and three female extras, walked slowly. They played the female lead, Allie's classmates. Each was dressed fashionably and looked stunning.

"Look at that guy!"

"Wow~ he's so handsome!"

"What is he doing here?"

"Allie, he's staring at you!"

The four girls noticed the handsome guy on the roadside and started discussing him excitedly.

Luca stared at the girl in the center, his dark eyes burning with intensity, a faint smile on his lips.

"Hi, Miss!"

Luca took off his hat and smiled softly. "I'm fully recovered."

As he spoke, he straightened his chest, lifting his chin slightly. His bright eyes, confident smile, and sharp aura made his whole demeanor lively.

"Hmm?"

Behind the monitor, Director Nick stroked his chin, frowning slightly.

"Director Nick?" Assistant John noticed the director's expression and grew nervous. Luca's performance was different from what the director had instructed, with an extra action.

Director Nick didn't say anything and continued watching the performance on the monitor.

"Will you go out with me?"

Luca stood tall, his warm smile tinged with confidence and poise, making him look even more charming.

The shot was completed.

But the director didn't yell "cut."

The crew fell into a brief silence.

Luca felt a bit tense. This time, he had abandoned the original setup and acted based on his own understanding. It was a test, an adventure. What would the result be?

"Cut!"

After half a minute, Director Nick finally called out.

"Luca, come here!"

Director Nick waved his hand.

Luca walked to the director's area.

"Director, did it work?"

"Can you tell me why you acted that way?"

Nick folded his arms and frowned, his expression unreadable.

Luca thought for a moment. "Ron Hammond is the heir of a prominent Southern family. He’s wealthy, successful, and good-looking. This time, he drives a luxury car and wears a neat military uniform to woo a girl. Naturally, he's confident. Confidence is also a kind of charm."

"What about the chest-puffing action?"

Nick pointed at the monitor.

"Ron Hammond said he was fully recovered. This action is to show his physical fitness. It's like animals showing off their strength and dominance during mating. It's an instinctive reaction."

After speaking, the director rubbed his chin without saying anything.

Luca felt tense again. Rumor has it some directors don't like actors with their own ideas. He wasn't sure if Nick was one of those directors.

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

Many people watched the director, who would decide if they would rest or keep working.

Some people watched Luca, some shook their heads, and some curled their lips.

"I bet this take won't pass!"

"You don't need to say it. The director never passes a take on the first try."

"Luca's acting just isn't good enough!"

There was a soft discussion in the makeup tent.

"This take is good."

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from the loudspeaker.

"It passed?!"

Everyone looked toward the director's area. Yesterday, they shot more than ten takes and none passed. Now it passed on the first try? Was Luca's performance that brilliant?

Whew~

In the director's area, Luca let out a breath. His palms were already sweaty.

"Director Nick, it passed on the first take?"

Assistant John asked in confusion.

"One take?"

Nick stroked his beard. "Then shoot another."

"..."

Everyone turned to look at John. Damn, do you think shooting outside in this heat is fun? This guy talks too much.

"Ahem, Director Nick, we've already shot this scene 16 times. It's not a one-take."

John quickly added.

"Then shoot one more."

At the director's request, the crew worked a little longer.

A little after noon, the scene finally ended, and the crew began to pack up and prepare for the next shoot.

"Luca, we're filming in front of the attic this afternoon. Are you coming to watch?"

Rachel asked as she was leaving.

"Are you acting with Joan Allen? That will definitely be exciting. I'd love to see it," Luca said with a slight smile.

"Luca!"

Director Nick called out to Luca again, "Your performance today was passable, but there's still a lot of room for improvement. The next scene is a group scene, and you're one of the main characters. I hope you can stand out more."

"I understand, Director!"

Luca nodded. He had just relaxed a bit, but now his nerves were on edge again. The next scene was Ron Raymond's proposal, taking place at a grand party with hundreds of extras.

Among them were Rachel, the famous host Ryan, Joan Allen, who had been nominated twice for the Best Actress Oscar, and several other veteran actors.

Each of them was highly experienced, so standing out among them would not be easy.