บท 124: **Chapter 123: Familiar Face**
The next day, Richard arrived on the set of "Never Been Kissed." This film tells the story of an older woman who disguises herself as a high school student to find true love.
The protagonist, Josie (played by Drew Barrymore), is a copy editor at the Chicago Sun-Times.
During her high school years, she was an unpopular, overweight, and unattractive girl who was bullied by her classmates. Nearly thirty, she had never kissed or slept with a man.
One day, the head of the newspaper gets a wild idea and sends her undercover as a high school student to expose some dark secrets at the school.
With the help of her brother, Rob (played by David Arquette), she disguises herself as a young girl and returns to high school. There, she meets the handsome literature teacher Sam Coulson (played by Richard Brad).
Sam sees her as a talented student and helps her apply to college, and the two develop feelings for each other.
The newspaper boss learns about this and, in pursuit of higher circulation, exposes Josie's undercover status, criticizing the relationship between teacher and student and hinting at unethical practices.
When Richard first read the script, he didn't like this type of movie, but seeing the box office success of "Never Been Kissed" in Drew's portfolio, he reluctantly decided to audition.
The film was primarily shot in two locations: Chicago and Los Angeles. Richard, playing the teacher, had mostly school scenes filmed at a high school in Burbank, Los Angeles.
"Richard, we're here!"
The car stopped at the entrance of New England Middle School in Burbank.
Richard put away his script and got out of the car. He was dressed in a semi-worn shirt and black casual pants, holding a few books, looking like a simple, ordinary, yet handsome and elegant high school teacher.
"Hey, Richard, long time no see!"
As soon as he walked to the school set, he heard a familiar voice greeting him.
He looked up and saw a beautiful woman with coffee-colored skin standing in the hallway outside the classroom. She was tall, with a sunny and sweet smile, wearing a colorful T-shirt and blue denim shorts, showing off her slim, fit waist and long legs, looking very lively.
"Richard, it's Jessica, remember? We met at the airport."
The girl walked a few steps closer, her eyes sparkling, her smile even sweeter.
"Beautiful Miss Jessica Alba, of course, I remember. I just didn't expect to see you here."
Richard smiled.
"I'm also part of the cast, playing your student, Alice. Richard, you're our literature teacher, right? I saw your name on the cast list."
Jessica Alba smiled.
"Yes, Jessica, nice to see you. Can I have your contact information?"
"Of course."
They exchanged phone numbers.
"Jessica, I have to go meet the director. Let's chat later."
"Sure!"
Yes!
As Richard walked away, Jessica happily pumped her fist. Richard Brad, the youngest world boxing champion, Hollywood movie star, and a millionaire at just twenty, had built his success from scratch, becoming an idol for many young people.
Jessica admired him too, having followed his news since their last meeting.
When she first saw Richard, she worried he might be difficult to talk to because of his fame, but he turned out to be very approachable.
"Richard Brad!"
Jessica watched his back, blinking.
——
"Hello, Director Gosnell, Ms. Cohen, Mr. Johnson."
At the production office, Richard greeted everyone and began discussing the shooting schedule.
Most of the scenes focused on Drew, the female lead, and producer. Although Richard was the second male lead, his role had only about twenty scenes, even less than the fourth male lead in "The Talented Mr. Ripley."
Before he joined the crew, they had been filming for over a month in Chicago. After finishing the scenes there, they returned to Los Angeles, where shooting on campus was more convenient and cost-effective.
The crew planned to complete his scenes within two weeks.
"Richard, your scenes are concentrated, so please be prepared."
Director Gosnell said.
"Got it, I understand!"
Before filming, he had rehearsed several times at home, so there were no issues with lines or blocking.
"Hey, Richard, you look great."
Drew Barrymore, the film's female lead and producer, walked in. With her chubby cheeks, red hair casually draped over her shoulders, and dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, she looked like an ordinary girl.
"Good morning, Ms. Barrymore."
Richard extended his hand.
"No need to be so formal, call me Drew."
Drew looked him up and down, smiling with dimples. "Richard, you're interesting. When you're not dressed, you're fierce like a beast, but when you are, you're a gentle gentleman. After you became a boxing champion, we considered replacing you, but now there's no need."
"Drew, thank you for your trust. I'll do my best with this role."
"Great, looking forward to working with you!"
Drew smiled slightly.
With Drew present, the crew started rehearsing. Richard's first scene was in the classroom, where Josie attends literature class and meets the handsome literature teacher for the first time.
This scene was a group scene, involving over twenty young men and women, including Jessica Alba.
Entering the classroom, Jessica gave him a sweet smile before returning to her seat. Her character was part of a trio of school bullies who liked to pick on the ordinary-looking protagonist, Josie, with scattered scenes but no overall plot.
They rehearsed this scene three times before officially starting the shoot.
"Scene 232, take one, action!"
In the classroom, the clapperboard snapped in front of the camera.
"Good morning, everyone!"
Once the camera started rolling, Richard walked into the classroom with a red teacup and a black work bag.
"Good morning!"
The students replied lazily.
Richard placed his cup and bag on the desk and scanned the classroom, his eyes landing on the new student, Josie, in the front row.
"Hello, I don't think we've met. I'm Sam Coulson. Of course, the school doesn't allow you to call me Sam. You can call me Mr. Coulson."
Richard smiled lightly.
"I'm Josie, and I believe calling me that won't be an issue for the school."
Drew shrugged and smiled.
"Alright, welcome to Shakespeare's 'As You Like It' class. 'As You Like It' is one of Shakespeare's classic pastoral comedies."
Richard walked to the blackboard, wrote a few words, and turned to face the classroom.
"Does anyone know what a 'pastoral comedy' is?"
"I know, it's how they process milk."
A student raised their hand.
"No, Sarah, that's 'pasteurization,' but you're close."
Richard shook his head, smiling.
"Is it a parrot?"
"Okay, who else knows?"
Richard looked around the classroom, and Drew raised her hand.
"Pastoral means the story is set in the countryside, first appearing in Virgil's pastoral poems, derived from the Latin word for shepherding."
Drew spoke fluently.
Richard raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Are you sure you're only seventeen?"
"Yes, I'm seventeen, of course I'm seventeen."
Drew smiled.
Richard stared at her, thoughtful.
"Cut!"
Director Raja Gosnell called a pause, walked over, and gave some pointers to Drew and Richard.
After about ten minutes, the crew resumed filming.
——
At noon, it was time for lunch. Richard didn't make any special arrangements, grabbing a boxed lunch and sitting in the crew's small cafeteria, eating pizza, fried chicken, and drinking soda.
"Richard, you eat the boxed lunch too?"
Jessica approached with her meal.
"Yes, please sit!"
Richard gestured invitingly.
"Thank you!"
Jessica glanced around and sat across from him.
She was dressed in her character's costume: an orange-yellow jacket, a miniskirt, and her originally brown hair dyed in several colors, looking somewhat non-mainstream.
"Richard, you know, I'm a bit nervous sitting with you."
Jessica laughed while sipping her orange juice.
"Why? Are you afraid I'll hit you?"
Richard joked, raising his fist.
"Haha, no, you really look the part of a teacher, and I was always scared of teachers."
Jessica smiled.
"Really? Remember, I said we're friends. You can consider me a friend. By the way, are you eighteen?"
"Yes, just turned eighteen!"
"I'm twenty, so we should have no generation gap."
"Haha, but you don't look twenty. You're mature and stable, with a charm of an older man."
Jessica smiled.
"Thanks, sometimes I feel like an old guy. Hope you don't mind me being too old-fashioned."
Richard raised his drink.
"Of course not!"
Jessica clinked glasses with him.
"Jessica, can I ask you a personal question?"
"Sure, what is it?"
Jessica blinked.
"Did you get this role on your own or with your agent's help?"
"I got it myself. I'm still in school. My mom doesn't want me to start acting so early, so I snuck out to audition."
"Do you have an agent?"
"Yes, but it's a small agency with no resources."
Jessica shrugged.
"Have you considered switching to a better agency?"
The BAA Talent Agency branch was set up in an office building in West Hollywood, having recruited over ten people and established a basic framework.
Currently, the company had Richard as a star, Anthony as an experienced mentor, and Norman, a wealthy backer. Norman's father was the chairman of Knight Advertising, a top ten company in the advertising field with a market value of over a billion dollars. This made for an excellent brand.
Thus, BAA was no longer just a shell company and had the ability to attract star talent.
After hearing this, Jessica Alba said she would consider it. Her agent was a friend of her mother's, and her parents were very strict. Since she was not yet an adult, such matters needed to be discussed with her family.
Richard understood and invited her to visit the company.
Jessica agreed.
After finishing their meal, they returned to the set to continue filming.
(End of this chapter)
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