CHAPTER 15
@starzwatch: Sources on the set of An Irish Inheritance have revealed that both Afric and Spencer continue to ignore director Doug Strathan and intimacy coordinator Callie Nielson about love-scene guidelines – making the movie’s sexiest scenes sizzle like a barbeque during a thunderstorm.
“Cut!” Doug seemed to be yelling just outside Jess’s office, where she’d been working since early that morning.
She took a few minutes to view the finished video for Linford’s new social-media campaign.
The two-and-a-half-minute montage showcased parts of the castle and grounds, and was cleverly interspersed with soundbites from the cast, hotel staff and locals about the making of the movie.
Shaking her hair out of a ponytail, she pushed away from her desk, wondering if she should try to find herself somewhere else to work for the day.
She also needed to start planning Emily’s party.
She didn’t regret offering to organise it, but it had to happen while she was there, and she wasn’t quite sure where to start.
Maybe she should just ask all the staff to save the date and worry about the logistics later.
There was a knock on the door and Anthony came in. “How are you getting on?”
“With Hollywood just outside the door?” Jess grinned. “I think they’ve been shooting the same scene for the last hour.”
Anthony nodded. “I’ve a little more time on my hands recently, so I can confidently tell you that they’ve done eleven takes of that scene.”
“Everyone, take twenty!” Doug called.
Anthony raised an eyebrow. “They’ll all head out to the craft truck for drinks and snacks. I believe the coffee there is pretty good.”
Jess got to her feet. “I’ll join you.”
Jess stirred a spoon of sugar into the large latte she’d got at the craft truck and debated whether or not to have a delicious-looking, rice-crispy square.
None of the actors seemed to be snacking on anything.
Clearly, they were all a lot more disciplined than her.
Still, it’d be wrong to let rice-crispy squares go to waste.
She helped herself to the nearest one and took a large bite.
“Jess, stay right there!” Mel Winters gave an imperious wave a few minutes later.
“Hi, Mel.” She tried not to spray crumbs. “How’s it all going?”
“Usual stuff.” Mel took a sip from her coffee thermos. “Now, darling, I need the tiniest favour.”
“Of course.” Jess swallowed quickly. “Anything.”
“That’s what I told Afric.”
Jess made sure to keep smiling.
“So, the thing is, Afric has a silly hang-up about small spaces.” Mel rolled her eyes. “I don’t think she’s actually claustrophobic – just a bit dramatic.”
“Sure, okay.” It sounded like claustrophobia, but Jess knew better than to argue.
“Anyway, you’ve probably heard that we’ll be shooting a very short scene in one of the tunnels.”
“Right.” Jess was starting to feel a bit uneasy.
“Afric doesn’t want to do it,” Mel continued, “so we thought it might be helpful if you were to take her into one of the tunnels. It’s not yet decided which one we’ll be using but probably the one you used yourself.”
“The one I –”
“When you helped Chelsea Deneuve last year by being a decoy bride.”
Jess laughed nervously. “Well, that’s not really what happened.”
“Happened, schmappened!” Mel gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “What matters is that you can help Afric get past her little hang-up.”
Should she admit that she was pretty claustrophobic herself and the last thing she wanted was an adventure in a four-hundred-year-old tunnel? No, this was the first time she’d been asked for help – she couldn’t say no. She’d figure something out.
“Just tell me when it suits Afric and I’ll be happy to oblige.”
“Wonderful, darling. And no need to mention it to Doug. He has enough on his mind.” Mel’s voice hardened. “Part of my job is to find solutions to his little problems – and Afric is just another one of those.”
Briefly, Jess wondered what Afric had done to earn Mel’s disapproval. Maybe the rumours were true and there was a good reason why Spencer hadn’t wanted to work with her? Was she difficult on set? She hadn’t seen much evidence of that, but she hadn’t seen a lot of filming either.
Still, it wasn’t her job to worry about any of that. For the next few weeks, Blue Star Studios was the customer. And at Linford Castle, the customer was king. Or queen.
She gave her best professional smile. “I won’t say a word.”
“We’re gonna need to see some chemistry between you two or this movie is going to die on opening weekend.”
Tension seemed to be rolling off Doug Strathan as Jess watched him cut another scene in the Great Hall after lunch.
A three-wall set had been built in the middle of the room to improve sound quality, while some of the castle’s furniture had been moved into it so it resembled an elegant sitting room.
Now Spencer Torres stalked across the parquet floor and grabbed a bottle of water from a refreshment table off set, while Afric Brooks flashed Doug a mutinous look and wandered off in the opposite direction.
Jess watched, engrossed, as Doug followed Afric and began to talk quietly with her.
Afric glanced in Spencer’s direction and Doug touched her arm, as if trying to get her attention again.
Callie, meanwhile, had sat down in a corner off set, and was busy scribbling notes on the script.
Jess became aware of someone standing at her elbow and turned to see Lisa Greensmith beside her, arms tightly folded.
“It’s an utter shit-show,” Lisa muttered.
Probably better not to agree. “What is?”
Lisa rolled her eyes. “These two! How the fuck were they paired up again? And how am I supposed to sell a movie when they’re scratching each other’s eyes out?”
“Maybe it’s just professional differences?”
Lisa gave her a long look. “You’re a marketing manager, right? So I’m gonna assume that you get the importance of brand and image to sell a movie.”
“Sure.”
“So, Afric and Spencer might be able to turn on the charm for a damned press call, but Doug has very little to show for a full week’s shooting because there’s no spark between them.”
“Have Mel and Spencer worked a lot together in the past?” Jess asked casually.
“As far as I know, they haven’t worked together at all.” She glanced at Jess. “Why?”
“I kind of got the impression they know each other,” she fudged.
“Yeah, they do.” Lisa sighed. “I heard they were roommates when they were both starting out. I know for a fact that Mel wanted Spencer for this movie.”
It made sense, Jess thought, remembering the two of them in the orangery. They shared a shorthand that only happened between two people who knew each other well.
“I thought the director decides who gets to be in their movie, though?”
Lisa shrugged. “Yeah, and I heard he wanted Afric for the female lead. But Mel’s his wife, so …” She let the inference hang as Doug called the two leads back on set.
Doug cleared his throat. “Right, Afric, Spencer, try to remember in this scene that with all the animosity between you there’s a moment – and the viewers have to see it. So, from the top.”
A young woman ran onto the set with a clipboard. “First living room scene! Take five!”
There was a loud bang from somewhere behind the set.
“What was that?” Doug sounded exasperated.
Mel nodded to one of the ADs who immediately jogged to the back of the set. Moments later, she jogged around the other side and shook her head.
Doug sighed. “Can you get out of the shot, honey?”
“Sorry.” The woman skirted back around the cameras.
“Quiet on the set, please!” Doug ordered. “Rolling. And action!”
Jess found herself holding her breath as Afric and Spencer started to work through the scene, their lines and moves perfectly timed. But there was something missing. Afric seemed … distracted.
“Cut!” Doug shouted a few minutes later.
“Fuck it,” Spencer muttered loudly.
Jaw clenched, Doug strode onto the set and Jess could see him talking in a low voice with the two leads.
Jess turned to Lisa, who confirmed what she was thinking.
“Nope, they didn’t get it that time, either.”
Jess frowned. “What’s going on?”
“No idea.” Lisa sighed. “The last movie they made together did pretty well, but Spencer’s made a few flops, including one with Blue Star.
I heard his agent was pushing this. Technically, he’s a bigger star than Afric, so the studio needs a win with him.
And I need to sell these two as a possible real-life couple. ”
Jess shot her a sceptical look.
“You think it sounds crazy?” Lisa said. “There were rumours that Afric had got together with someone on their last movie. Everyone assumed it was Spencer.”
Jess returned her attention to the actors. If they couldn’t even pretend to have chemistry in front of the cameras, what were the chances that they had ever been an actual couple?
“Wouldn’t it have been obvious if they’d been together?”
Lisa shrugged. “I heard it was towards the end of the movie. After that, they both had separate projects starting. Afric did a British show for Netflix and Spencer’s been back in the States.”
“Right.” Jess frowned. “Do you think they broke up and now things are just awkward?”
“Maybe,” Lisa mused.
“Doug seems pretty patient.” Jess studied him for a moment. “Have you worked on any of his movies before?”
“Nope. And I’m pretty sure that patience won’t stretch too far.” Lisa folded her arms. “Still, I guess he knew what he was getting into. He directed their last movie too.”