The Second Female Lead Causes Trouble
Just as the makeup artist was debating whether to redo Avery's makeup, the executive director walked in.
He burst through the door and yelled, "Are you ready yet? If you are, get into costume. The next scene is about to start."
He then zeroed in on Avery. "Have you memorized your lines? Don't mess this up. You're a spy posing as a dancer. You need to have the charm, but also the vigilance and composure of a spy."
Halfway through his spiel, he finally got a good look at her.
He stared, his mouth hanging open at her ridiculously radiant face, and the words died on his tongue. He froze for a second before stammering, "This... isn't this makeup a little too eye-catching?"
This role had scenes with both the second and third female leads. With a face that beautiful, wouldn't the other two be completely overshadowed? How could they give their best performances?
The makeup artist wanted to cry. She'd been thinking the exact same thing, this was way too much for a featured extra. But she swore she hadn't done anything crazy. All she'd done was tone down the actress's naturally cool expression, and somehow, this was the result.
"Forget it, just leave it. Go change, quick. Your big scene is coming up," the executive director said, glancing at his watch. Time was tight. The on-site producer was already buzzing them on the walkie-talkie; they had to get this scene shot before lunch.
Avery didn't have another second to study her reflection. She rushed to change into her costume and followed the executive director out of the makeup room.
The scene opened with Avery as just another backup dancer for Maya Laurent, the film's third female lead. In the story, Maya was a singer at The Paramount Club and the lover of the club's boss. She carried a mother-of-pearl fan that secretly held evidence of her lover colluding with the Japanese.
Avery's job was to dance behind Maya, find a way to snatch the fan, and pass it to the second female lead.
But right after the handoff, the club boss would get suspicious.
That's when Avery's character had to create a diversion, luring the security guards away to buy the other woman time to escape.
In the end, Avery's character would be shot and killed by the boss in a dark alley.
She had a grand total of four lines, two to Maya, two to the other actress.
Since getting the script yesterday, Avery had run the scene in her head countless times. All she had to worry about now was her blocking, the lighting, and the camera angles.
Maya Laurent was already standing center stage. When she saw Avery walk over, her eyes widened in amazement. She knew it. This girl had something special. Just a change in makeup, and she gave off a completely different vibe. An actor this versatile was born for the job.
*I need to get on her good side,* Maya thought. *Who knows, one day I might be the one asking her for a leg up.*
Avery walked onto the set, found her starting position, and gave Maya a slight, knowing smile before her eyes immediately started scanning the room.
It was definitely a big scene. Over twenty extras were already in place.
The set, a glamorous 1930s Shanghai dance hall, was filled with soft, intoxicating light.
Under crystal chandeliers, the air was thick with perfume, and flickering shadows created a dreamy, decadent backdrop.
All the camera crews were ready, just waiting for the director to give the word.
Avery looked around and saw not only the actress she had scenes with, but also the first and second male leads.
The second male lead was playing the club boss, the one who would eventually kill her.
She recognized the first male lead and the second female lead from TV but couldn't place their names.
The guy playing the boss, though, was a total unknown to her.
He was tall, at least six-three, she guessed, with a solid build. Dressed in a crisp, black trench coat, he looked every bit the part of a deep, scheming, and ruthless tycoon just by standing there. It was probably his height, that natural intimidation factor.
Besides the actors, Avery also spotted Caleb Sterling over by the monitors. He was sprawled in a director's chair, legs crossed, one foot swinging idly as he watched her with obvious interest.
She was a little surprised to see him, but not completely. She offered him a small smile from across the set, then looked away.
Seeing her acknowledge him, the smile in Caleb's eyes deepened. He didn't get up, though. Instead, he just pulled out his phone and started playing a game. He wasn't planning on heading back to Westlake City today anyway. He could talk to her after she wrapped.
With all the actors in position, the director picked up his walkie-talkie to have the lighting tech make a final adjustment. He was just about to call action when the second female lead started making trouble.
She was claiming her makeup was ruined and needed a touch-up, and she was currently hashing it out with the executive director. Their voices weren't exactly quiet, and on a set this prepped for filming, everyone could hear every word.
Maya rolled her eyes and sidled up to Avery. "A touch-up? Please," she whispered, her voice dripping with disdain. "She's just scared you'll outshine her. Her patience for this girl was clearly wearing thin.
Avery glanced toward the director, who was trying his best to ignore them. "Let's just wait. He hasn't said anything yet."
A last-minute delay like this was throwing off the director's rhythm. He wasn't yelling, but his brow was deeply furrowed in irritation.
"She is such a drama queen," Maya muttered. "No wonder she couldn't hack it on a real series and had to come to our little film crew to act like a big shot."
Avery just glanced toward the actress and didn't respond. If she wanted to cause a scene, that was her business. Avery was just a featured extra; she'd probably never see this woman again after today. As long as it didn't involve her, she was fine.
Finally, the director lost his patience and told the actress to go get her makeup fixed, and to do it fast.
Everyone waited another twenty minutes before she finally emerged from the makeup room. Her face looked exactly the same. Avery couldn't see a single change.
Maya let out a contemptuous little smile and moved back to her spot in front of the old-fashioned microphone.
The scene officially began. A slow, hazy melody drifted through the dance hall.
Avery and the other extras stood perfectly still, just part of the background.
It wasn't until the camera pushed in that she raised her fluffy dance fan and began to move with a flourish.
The executive director had given her some pointers on the choreography, but the dancing wasn't the point.
The point was what happened when the music stopped.
As she was exiting the stage, she was supposed to bump into Maya, giving her the chance to snatch the fan as it fell.
The moment the camera found her for a close-up, the director gave a subtle cue. Avery's expression shifted in an instant. Her captivating eyes, once playful, now held a steely calm. She found her light, and under the cover of her own large fan, she gave Maya a gentle nudge with her elbow.
Maya went down on cue, and the mother-of-pearl fan in her hand clattered to the floor. Avery immediately crouched, using her own prop to shield the fallen fan from view.
"Maya, I'm so sorry," she said. It was her first line, delivered in a perfectly coy, flustered voice. She flashed a timid look, then helped Maya to her feet. "Let me help you to the lounge."
After finishing her lines, she fell silent, her gaze dropping almost imperceptibly to the fan on the ground.
In front of the monitor, the director nodded, deeply satisfied. "Not bad. This girl's got incredible control. You can see the tension right there in her eyes, but she's hiding it with that calm."
This extra really knew how to work a camera. Her presence was fantastic. Even sharing a frame with the third female lead, she wasn't overshadowed in the slightest. And that was with the camera's focus on Maya. To hold her own like that... her talent was something special.
As the director sighed with admiration, Caleb casually interjected from the chair next to him. "She used to be a doctor. Had to be calm under pressure every single day."
The director looked over, surprised. "Mr. Sterling, you know her?"
Caleb lowered his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I wouldn't say I *know* her. Let's just say we've had a couple of... cosmic connections."