Exhausted by the Drowning Scene
Avery knew what Simon Vance was getting at. The director wasn't just offering to help her out; he was trying to find her a solid agency to repay the favor he owed her.
But she was about to let him down.
She met his gaze and smiled. "I've already signed with Stellar Media Group."
Simon's fingers tapped the rim of his teacup as the name registered. "Ah, that's right," he said, the pieces clicking into place. "Leo Foster came up under Dexter Reed. No wonder he was bugging me so much about getting you a role."
Avery just offered another small smile, letting the topic drop.
The director brought the cup to his lips, his eyes lingering on her face for a moment. He slowly lowered his gaze. "Looks like Stellar Media is about to make a big comeback," he said, his tone pointed. "If you ever run into any trouble, you know where to find me."
Talent like hers, he thought, was bound to shine no matter where it landed. You just couldn't stop it.
A year ago, Stellar Media had been riding high on a single star, one so big he'd had the other three major agencies scrambling. But then they'd set a trap for him, and the resulting scandal sent the agency into a nosedive. Now, a year later, Stellar had found its next big chance by signing Avery.
Simon wondered if she'd meet the same fate, but her rise was already happening much faster than the star from the drunk-driving incident. And it felt just as unstoppable.
Avery had no idea what was running through the director's mind. If she did, she'd probably die of shock. Everyone in the industry knew the rumors about what happened at Stellar a year ago, but no one had ever called it a setup.
The lunch was pleasant enough, but with filming scheduled for that afternoon, the group had to rush back to the set as soon as they'd finished eating.
Since Avery still needed makeup and her costume was damp, Simon decided to shoot the solo scenes with the second male lead and the child actor playing his younger self first. Avery's six scenes were all with those two actors in the same location, so the timing worked out.
Time was tight. The moment they got back, the makeup artist hurried Avery into a chair.
The character she was playing, Ning Niang, was a mistress, but not a simple one.
Her family had been wiped out, their assets seized, and her in-laws had divorced her on her husband's behalf.
Left with nothing, she barely managed to survive.
By a twist of fate, she discovered her nephew was still alive.
She spent a year searching for him, finally finding him living on the streets as a young beggar, the character played by the second male lead.
To give her nephew a future and get revenge for her family, she devised a bold plan.
She schemed her way into the life of her ex-husband's cousin, a powerful official, and when he was in danger, she threw herself in harm's way to save him, losing her sight in the process.
It was a steep price, but it earned her his sympathy, guaranteeing his protection for both her and her nephew.
The character was tragic, but her inner strength was immense. The makeup had to convey a fragile, helpless exterior while hinting at the calculating mind working underneath. The artist was skilled; after an hour, she'd managed to soften Avery's striking features into something more delicate.
As for capturing the character's fierce determination, the artist found she didn't have to do much. Avery's face was bright and beautiful, but her eyes held a natural coldness. Her long, almond-shaped eyes already had everything the character needed. A touch of eyeshadow, and she was done.
The woman was distant, not saying a single word the entire time. The moment she finished, she packed her kit and left.
Once her makeup was done, Avery waited for a crew member to bring her costume. She changed and headed to the set. Simon glanced over, gave a single nod of approval, and turned his attention back to the monitor.
About thirty minutes later, the other scenes were wrapped, and it was Avery's turn.
The first scene was with the child actor.
The boy was young, but he was a pro, delivering his lines clearly and perfectly.
The conversation between them was almost entirely about hatred.
Ning Niang was a woman driven by it, and as she raised her nephew, revenge was the only lesson she taught.
It was the reason the second male lead would grow up so determined to overthrow the government.
Avery's portrayal of a blind woman was chillingly convincing.
She captured the spirit of someone frail on the outside but fiercely resolute on the inside, her mind always churning, planning for the future.
Her performance was so precise that you'd never guess she was a newcomer.
Even the few actresses watching from the sidelines were stunned.
It was like she was born for this. As professionals, they knew better than anyone how hard it is to play a blind character convincingly, yet Avery made it look effortless.
They did a couple of extra takes, not because Avery's performance was lacking, but because Simon wanted to explore a few creative angles.
After finishing with the child actor, Avery's performance was even better opposite the second male lead.
This was because her character, Ning Niang, only existed in his memories.
Whenever he hit a wall, he'd return to the small courtyard where she used to live, just to find some peace.
Lost in his grief, he would sometimes imagine her standing right there beside him.
In those moments, he would cautiously try to get closer, confiding in her ghostly image.
That was the scene they were shooting together.
The first five scenes went smoothly.
But the last one, where Ning Niang drowns herself in a pond, completely wiped Avery out.
It was late fall, and the water was ice-cold.
She had to jump in twice before they finally got the shot.
The first time she hit the water, her survival instincts kicked in and she started flailing, not the look of resigned determination the director wanted.
For the second take, she took a long moment to brace herself, forcing down her body's panicked response. This time, she let herself sink like a stone.
The freezing cold was an instant, total numbness. She held her breath until her lungs burned. Only when the surface of the pond was perfectly still did several crew members, on standby for safety, pull her from the water.
The second she was out, a cold breeze sliced through her wet clothes, the chill shooting straight to her brain. She couldn't stop shivering. Thankfully, the crew was ready, immediately wrapping her in a thick blanket.
Shane was there in a second, carefully helping her up as the production coordinator led them to the lead actress's private dressing room.
"Do you need help?" Shane asked, his brow furrowed as he looked at her, soaked and shaking.
"No, I'm fine," Avery said, her voice trembling despite her words. "Go ask the coordinator if they can get me some hot tea."
That scene had been brutal. It felt like she'd actually gone to the brink of death and back.
Shane gave her a worried look, nodded, and went to find the coordinator.
The moment he was gone, Avery went straight into the bathroom. She didn't start to feel human again until the hot water hit her skin.