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“Cameras?” Jordan continues his checklist, but I can’t help noticing Lana, the actress in this scene, setting up in front of the camera with a production assistant. And the look she throws my way screams that she’s noticing me, too. Once she sees I’m looking, her intentions become even more obvious.
“Shetotallyhas a thing for you, boss,” Isa mutters from right next to me before burying her face in a copy of the script for the scene that Jordan’s shooting.
I glance away, mostly because I don’t want to encourage Lana that there’s anything here for her, not with me. That’s definitely not a situation I’m getting myself involved in.
I shake my head at Isa. “Let’s just see if she can get this scene right. It’s pretty critical and Jordan can’t spend forever shooting it,” I whisper to Isa as Jordan is preparing his final checks.
The shoot starts as everyone hits their marks with the camera rolling. The lighting is remarkable, capturing a dark and gloomy feel of an alleyway even before any editing or color grading. The set design is also stunning, and the extras help make the entire scene feel alive. Jordan’s camera work is absolutely superb, as always. I look around and realize that every person on this stage are people I want to work at my studio. They truly are my dream team and it’s a powerful feeling.
Everyone is pulling their weight and then some, going above and beyond whenever it’s required. Everyone except for Lana.
Her role is a scorned woman who has just discovered her husband is cheating on her, shattering her heart and enraging her all at the same time. But her approach is more… well, it seems more like a teen soap opera and she’s awfully bubbly and bright. I can’t help but wonder if she’s trying to catch my attention. Which she’s doing, but it's not the right kind of attention.
“Oof, that isnotthe vibe,” Isa whispers, cleanly summing up my entire thought process. I never have a hard time speaking my mind, but sometimes having someone agree with you, especially someone as critical to me as Isa, can be settling. She's smart as a whip, and I've come to appreciate her judgement on things. Sure, she has the front row seat to my work and my thoughts, but she is a quick study.
“Cut!” Jordan yells, the production immediately halting in place.
He moves from his chair, shooting me an annoyed look. I can only nod. I know Jordan is going to handle the situation, because we both want the same things from this movie, and this is clearly not it.
Jordan takes a deep breath, visible from even over here several feet away, and walks over to Lana.
“Lana, can we have a chat? Everyone take five!”
He holds up one finger to Lana before walking over toward us.
“I think we’re going to be delayed on this one,” Isa mutters again and I can’t help the nod of my head in agreement. It’s certainly not looking good.
Jordan reaches us, scratching his head.
“I swear, she was so much better in auditions.” He looks around the stage, confused, as if he can find the answer somewhere. “Some days, I really didn’t think it would be this annoying to make movies back when we were in college.”
I stifle a chuckle, not wanting to offend Lana or her team that are lingering around the studio. But I wholeheartedly agree with Jordan. It did all seem a lot easier back then.
“We could just call up Gina, let make up and styling work their magic,” I suggest. This is a flashback scene and Gina is the real lead actress. Jordan had wanted to hire a younger woman who looked like her to do this scene, but…
“We’d have to digitally de-age her,” he said, rubbing his chin.
“The way I see it, it’s easier to do that than to teach your relatively new actress how to actually, you know,act.” My words are blunt, but my voice is low, so only we can hear the conversation. I see Jordan considering the idea, and I know that we’re on the same page about wanting to release the best version of this film.
Isa is already scrolling through her phone. “I’ll let Gina Cloissone’s team know, if that’s the decision.” She’s always one step ahead and I can’t stop appreciating that. In these situations, time moves fast.
Jordan hesitates for a couple of seconds, but eventually nods. “You’re right, you’re right,” he agrees, slowly walking back toward where Lana is standing. I can practically see the millions of thoughts racing through his brain right now.
Isa and I start walking out of the studio, leaving the production, and firing of Lana, in Jordan’s capable hands while Isa calls Gina’s team and gives them the quick rundown. Although this is a major setback with progress and timing, everything will be back on track soon enough.
“I would love to see one of the movies you and Jordan made in college. I still can’t picture you two as besties.”
“Why do you say that?” Jordan and I have been childhood friends with a bond that continued into college. We were inseparable, bound together by our love of life and eventually, film. He went the creative route, and I went the business route, knowing this studio was my future.
“You two are just so… different,” Isa says, almost reverently, like our differences are really a good thing. Another thing I appreciate about Isa: she never lets a question go unanswered. Many people would just brush off my challenge, but not Isa. Even if it’s rhetorical, she has an answer. It’s refreshing, really.
“Yes, well, it’s possible I changed over the years,” I say as we approach the next studio.
Isa smiles and nods warmly, but like she doesn’t quite believe me fully.
“By the way, some advertisers set a meeting for the upcoming romantic comedy we’re about to release.”
I can’t help the eye roll and the sigh. Isn’t dealing with advertisers the point of having a marketing team?
