Chapter 223: Neighbor incident
"We need to keep our voices down. This is my friend's place. Last time I was here discussing filming matters, the neighbor across the hall complained about us three times in one night," Drake cautiously lowered his voice and lightened his steps as they walked upstairs. He continued, "I swear to God, we were practically whispering, but the lady across still thought we were too noisy..."
Before he could finish his sentence, a loud "bang" resounded from behind, causing everyone to turn around abruptly. Following behind them, the cameraman, John Guleserian, had slammed his camera rig into the glass door on the ground floor. Now he stood awkwardly wedged between the two doors, unable to move.
Drake turned pale, anxiously watching the glass door. He feared that the glass might shatter any second, which would be disastrous.
Renly, lagging half a step behind, stepped forward to open the door, allowing John to extricate himself. Renly then examined the glass door front and back, signaling "okay" to Drake with a hand gesture. The director's assistant, Bryan Stanis, quickly hurried over, holding a microphone pole under his right arm, a lighting panel under his left arm, and a recording microphone in his right hand. "Renly, you go in. I'll take care of this, I'll do it."
Renly looked at Bryan, who was sweating profusely, holding various equipment, and wearing glasses that were sliding down his nose. Renly couldn't help but chuckle, "I told you, one person can't handle this." He reached out and caught the falling microphone pole, saying, "You go in first."
Bryan looked at Renly's friendly smile and nodded in response, "Thanks, really, thanks. This was originally my job..." With those words, he entered the apartment building in front of him. Jennifer stood at the staircase waiting, holding an umbrella used for light gathering. She raised her voice and asked, "Give me that lighting panel too..."
"Shh!" Jennifer's voice was loud and clear, lacking any restraint. Drake, who had made his way to the second floor, immediately issued a hushing warning, provoking Jennifer to shrug playfully, sticking her tongue out at Renly and Bryan.
This afternoon, "Like Crazy" officially started shooting amid its seemingly mundane setting. They first completed two scenes at Santa Monica Community College, then filmed another scene at a café commonly frequented by college students. Although it was categorized as three scenes, altogether they lasted for less than five minutes of screen time. Filming progressed smoothly, taking less than four hours to complete.
Currently, they were located just a few blocks away from Santa Monica Community College. Many students resided in this area, and after leaving the bustling Venice Beach behind, a hint of Italian charm and a strong sense of daily life emerged. Borrowing a friend's apartment, Drake intended to use this setting as Anna's shared apartment in the movie, continuing to film the first date between Jacob and Anna.
In the story, Jacob and Anna met during afternoon tea, had dinner together, and then Jacob escorted Anna back to her apartment. Impulsively, Anna invited Jacob inside, and he briefly visited her bedroom before leaving. Although a gentlemanly gesture and a touch of reluctance marked their farewell, it was this act that truly propelled them into love.
"Who's making such a ruckus in the hallway!" A forceful reprimand suddenly echoed through the not-so-spacious space, charging through like a hurricane. In an instant, everyone froze like cicadas in the cold, their collective movements coming to a halt, muscles stiffening simultaneously in place. "Don't you know it's rest time? Disturbing others' rest is highly impolite!"
The members of the crew exchanged glances, simultaneously holding their breath. Drake anxiously looked at everyone, gesturing for them not to speak. They could argue if needed, but once the confrontation began, the war would commence, and there would be no end in sight. Filming might not be possible, and a peaceful night was out of the question.
The robust voice of a middle-aged woman echoed in the hallway with a clatter. Renly couldn't help but feel a sense of irony. She was scolding others for being too loud, yet at this very moment, wasn't she the cause of the disturbance? Moreover, it was already past five-thirty in the afternoon, and she was still taking her afternoon nap...
In his line of sight, Renly saw Jennifer making funny faces. She exaggeratedly rolled her eyes, stuck out her tongue, pulled at her eyelids, and even smacked her lips, silently imitating the woman's scolding mouth movements. The lack of ladylike composure in her expression amused John, Bryan, Renly, and the others who stood behind her. They all struggled to contain their laughter, despite the constraint of silence.
Finally, after nearly a minute, the other party ceased. "You all better be quiet!" Then came the sound of a slamming door, "bang!" reverberating throughout the hallway.
After listening carefully for a moment and confirming the absence of noise, Drake whispered, "Crisis averted."
Was this what they called averted crisis? Renly found it hard to laugh or cry.
The group continued to move forward cautiously, appearing less like a film crew and more like a group of thieves planning a move during broad daylight.
After Renly entered the apartment, Drake quietly closed the door behind him. When he turned around, he saw Renly standing behind him. Without doubting, he said, "Go in. The room on the right is yours. We've already set it up according to the characters' personalities and preferences. It took us nearly three weeks. Quite a laborious task."
"I just wanted to remind you that even the noise from earlier got complaints. So, what are we going to do about tonight's scenes?" Renly's reminder left Drake perplexed. "Nearly four pages of dialogue. How are we going to handle it?"
Drake had deliberately designed the budding romance between Jacob and Anna. Their first interaction occurred at the café, both appearing somewhat awkward, just sharing some trivial and lighthearted jokes. The second interaction took place during a stroll near Santa Monica Community College, involving discussions about family and future career plans, allowing them to get to know each other better and gradually become familiar. The third interaction skipped the dinner phase and moved into Anna's bedroom. There, they truly conversed about their interests and hobbies, igniting sparks little by little.
Although constrained by space limitations, Drake couldn't provide more room for the development of their romance. To depict their journey into love within ten minutes was already a stretch. Nevertheless, he managed to provide ample setup, allowing the two characters to gradually build a connection. This was why this afternoon's filming had been smooth. The actors started from awkward unfamiliarity and gradually grew closer and more comfortable.
In Drake's conception, the evening dialogue was somewhat reminiscent of "Before Sunrise". Through Anna and Jacob's discussion of certain matters, it wasn't merely about interests, but also topics that reflected their worldviews, values, and beliefs. Subjects like refugees, environmental protection, philosophy, and lifestyle were explored. Through dialogue, they'd learn about each other, gradually drawing closer.
However, this scene was about to face a serious challenge. If they chatted, they couldn't whisper in each other's ears. But if they raised their voices even slightly, the neighbors would complain, and it could potentially escalate into a dispute.
Only now did Drake realize the gravity of the situation. It wasn't just about lines; the crew members had to be considered as well.
"Like Crazy" was a very small production with only seven people currently. Charlie Bewley didn't join, but Jennifer Lawrence came along to observe and quickly get a sense of filming. Besides the three actors, there was the director, cinematographer, director's assistant, and lighting technician. They didn't even have a makeup artist; the assistant director, Bryan, was multitasking.
Even with these circumstances, seven people crowded into a small apartment, and even the slightest noise would be amplified. Moreover, they were here to work.
This was the trouble with an independent production. "Like Crazy" had a budget of only $250,000, not even a tenth of "Buried". Therefore, "Buried" could rent a studio and immerse themselves in filming undisturbed. But "Like Crazy" had to rely on the help of friends.
This apartment was probably the best choice.
Drake couldn't help rubbing his temples. At this moment, Jennifer noticed the seriousness on their faces and walked over. "What's wrong? Is there a problem?"
"This scene tonight has a full four pages of dialogue. If we want to avoid disturbing the neighbors, it's an impossible task," Drake summarized the situation in one sentence. Jennifer opened her mouth in surprise, then quickly composed herself. This problem wasn't easy to solve.
"Drake, do you remember what you and your ex-wife talked about on your first date?" Renly suddenly asked.
Drake's attention wasn't on this topic at the moment; he waved his hand dismissively. "What's the point of talking about that now? Regardless of what we talked about, the main issue is that we'll be making noise, right?"
"No," Renly shook her head. "What I mean is, even in a script like '"Before Sunrise", even between two people who have developed an affection for each other, they might not remember every topic clearly. Because we are immersed in our own emotions and excitement. I might remember... uh, her smile, maybe even her sweater or her shy cheeks when she mentioned poetry. But I might not remember the exact content of the poetry. Isn't that right?"
In fact, during the budding stages of romance, the focus isn't on the content of the conversation, but rather on the connection and resonance established through that conversation. Just like many people on dates, to please the other person or fit in, they pretend to like things they dislike. For instance, a girl might pretend to be enthusiastic about basketball, and a guy might pretend he doesn't mind eating salads every day.
Drake hadn't immediately grasped the point, but Jennifer's eyes lit up. "Are you suggesting..."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Shallowman
Shallowman Man, Renly is starring in less and less expensive movies. What his next role will be, a German plumber with a heavy British accent in a San Fernando production? What do you think, dudes and dudies.
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