Chapter 172: Natural
Andrew realized he had disrupted the scene and promptly apologized to Lucas. "I'm sorry, Lucas. I didn't quite grasp your improvisation and messed up."
Lucas simply nodded, replying, "It's quite alright."
However, as Lucas responded, Andrew could see that Lucas was still immersed in his role as Adam, his eyes betraying a clear sense of anxiety and concern. Andrew was left in awe of the young actor's unwavering commitment.
"Take two, scene 52, shot 3..." Director Jonathan briefly paused before exclaiming, "Action!"
The scene restarted with Adam entering Dr. Ross's office and sitting in the chair opposite Dr. Ross, who greeted Adam with a brief, "Hi." Then the scene unfolded as follows: "Wait, wait. Are we even speaking the same language right now?"
Adam's words caught Dr. Ross's attention, prompting a confused, "What?"
Adam pressed on, "I mean, were you speaking English just now?"
"Umm... Of course, I am. I'm speaking English," Dr. Ross said awkwardly, then pointed at the MRI display, adding, "To help you understand better, if you look here at your MRI, do you see this object resembling a cephalopod spreading down along your spinal column?"
Adam's eyes narrowed, his confusion evident. Yet, beneath his bewildered look, there was an unmistakable nervousness and apprehension about what the doctor might be implying. His nervousness manifested in his body language; he tapped constantly on the table and then stood up to face Dr. Ross, asking, "What are you trying to say, Doc?"
Dr. Ross seemed taken aback by Adam's abrupt reaction and softly stated, "It's a malignant tumor."
"Ma-Malignant Tumor?" Adam's voice faltered as he echoed the words.
"Yes," Dr. Ross confirmed, nodding solemnly.
Adam pointed at himself, his face a picture of disbelief, as if to say, "Me? Are you serious?"
Dr. Ross simply nodded in response.
"That doesn't make sense... I don't smoke. I don't drink. I recycle..." Adam's voice trembled with anxiety. "I'm practically a vegan! I've never even worn a leather jacket, and you're saying— you're saying that I have—" His voice trailed off as he made a series of animated gestures, then suddenly, he slumped back into the seat, cradling his forehead, his heartbeat pounding with anxiousness.
Meanwhile, the cast and crew, who were watching through the monitor, found Lucas's improvised lines about not wearing a leather jacket amusing. However, they were also deeply moved by Lucas's nuanced portrayal of Adam, who was visibly overwhelmed by nervousness, anxiety, and a flood of negative emotions, capturing their empathy and leaving them choked up.
Witnessing Lucas's incredible performance, Andrew, in the role of Dr. Ross, could almost physically feel Adam's anxiety. The lines he was supposed to deliver got stuck in his throat as he watched Adam slump into the seat.
Despite this, Andrew knew he had to continue with his lines, albeit hesitantly. "Well... your case, it's—it's actually quite fascinating. Your cancer is the result of an incredibly rare gene mutation on chromosome 17p in the p53 gene, which causes the growth of malignant cells in tissue around the nerves. In your case, it's grown along the nerves in your... lower spine." His delivery was marred by stumbles and stutters, as he noted Adam's anxiety skyrocketing—Adam biting his nails nervously, his eyes darting around impatiently as he listened.
"I..." Andrew found himself swallowing his next words, overwhelmed by Lucas's convincing portrayal of Adam. It was so effective that Andrew struggled to deliver his lines. If he didn't know any better, he would have felt compelled to say, "Im sorry," to Lucas for having to endure such a terrible illness as cancer...
Andrew wasn't the only one moved. The crew, especially Will, watched Lucas's portrayal of Adam with eyes that began to moisten. Will felt a personal connection to the performance, as he had experienced similar emotions when he first learned of his own diagnosis.
Like Lucas's portrayal of Adam, Will initially found the diagnosis unbelievable and wholly unacceptable—a cruel and harsh reality to come to terms with. Yet, in his performance, Lucas, as Adam, attempted to deflect and deny the gravity of his condition, using a selection of words that inadvertently led to humor. Even though it was clear that Lucas, embodying Adam, didn't intend to be humorous, his genuine confusion, denial, and the unwittingly funny remarks amidst such a serious situation struck a chord.
"Cut!" The director called an end to the scene. However, upon replaying the footage, it was apparent that Andrew disrupted the flow once again, breaking character the moment Lucas launched into his remarkable improvisation.
Jonathan, the director, was completely taken by Lucas's performance. He was so engrossed that he felt as if he were experiencing Adam's emotions firsthand, which is why he continued to observe Lucas's portrayal until the end of the scene. It was only then that he realized Andrew was not keeping up with Lucas's tempo and intensity...
Jonathan took Andrew aside for a talk, providing him with some guidance and feedback, while Lucas, still engulfed in the character of Adam, wiped away the slight tears from his eyes, exhaling a deep sigh that mirrored a sense of despair.
Lucas was deeply immersed in the conflicting emotions of remorse, denial, and the overwhelming negativity associated with the revelation of having cancer, feeling as though the world had suddenly turned gray. On the set, Will and Seth noticed Lucas's behavior and exchanged concerned looks.
They approached him, inquiring if he was alright. Lucas merely nodded, his demeanor betraying his true feelings. Breaking a moment of silence, he said, "I'll watch the replay and see if I did well."
"You don't need to worry about that—you nailed the scene," Seth reassured him with a smile as they walked over to the monitor. Joined by Will, Lucas watched the replay, scrutinizing his performance.
Watching himself on the screen, Lucas felt perhaps he had overdone it slightly. He contemplated how he might convey the same depth of emotion more subtly, yet retain the effectiveness of his portrayal. Additionally, he noted his natural dialogues, which were intended to express denial, had come off as unexpectedly humorous, fitting seamlessly into the comedy-drama genre of the film "50/50". This realization sparked a thought in Lucas: perhaps he could lean into this natural flow a bit more, enhancing the film's blend of humor and serious themes.
The scene would need to be reshot, as Andrew was burdened with guilt for messing up, especially since he recognized Lucas's performance in the scene as outstanding. He was concerned that Lucas might not be able to replicate such a powerful performance again.
At the same time, Andrew couldn't help but admire Lucas's natural talent as an actor, thinking that the young performer had the potential to become the next Daniel Day-Lewis.
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