Chapter 496: Into Character in a Second
"Alright, let’s shoot the next scene."
The shoot opened with a massive scene: General Angus Seymour, played by Shaun Owen, was leading an assault on a city with nearly a thousand extras.
Melody Monroe and the staff arrived at Solara Palace. When she saw the scene before her, her heart ached.
’I’m really worried the filming will damage these buildings.’
"Melody Monroe, Jenson Yates, get ready for the next scene."
Melody Monroe was off to the side, rehearsing the scene with Jenson Yates, when Director Walsh came over and gave them instructions. "Alright, Melody, you’ll run in from over here, pause right here, and watch your mother, the Queen, get killed right before your eyes. Then, Jenson, you’ll come over, and Melody, you’ll clamp your hands over his eyes. You need to let that suppressed grief just explode out of you, but it has to be a contained explosion."
Director Walsh had already seen what Melody Monroe could do, but he was still a little worried about Jenson Yates, who was a rookie.
’Melody Monroe isn’t professionally trained, yet she can capture a character so perfectly. It’s really incredible.’
’No wonder Director Wallace was willing to rewrite scenes for Melody Monroe before. A great actor is truly worth it.’
"Director, so in a moment, I walk to this spot, right?" Melody Monroe asked, running through her blocking a few times before confirming with Director Walsh again.
"That’s right. Look at the camera angle; it’s not going to be a direct, head-on shot."
"Okay, I understand." Melody Monroe nodded.
Director Walsh and Director Wallace had different working methods. Director Wallace didn’t like to give much direction; he relied entirely on the actors’ own interpretations. Only when he felt something was completely off would he step in to explain the scene.
Director Walsh, on the other hand, liked to lay out all the details of a scene clearly.
The actors just had to follow his lead, which made performing much easier.
Directors and actors need time to get in sync, but Director Walsh and Melody Monroe had already developed a good rapport during their very first scene together.
"Alright, all departments, stand by!"
The Princess of Solara came running, only to see an enemy soldier thrust a longsword into her mother’s heart!
She started to scream but choked it back. Tears instantly streamed down her face as the grief in her eyes drowned out every other emotion.
"Sister!" Javian ran over.
The Princess of Solara grabbed Javian and pulled him behind a wall. Javian tried to struggle, but his sister held him in a death grip.
"Cut!" Director Walsh watched them, nodding with a smile. "That emotional delivery was fantastic. Keep that up."
"Prepare for the next scene: ’Blood-Stained Surrender Letter.’"
Everyone quickly got ready. It was best to film such a large-scale scene in one go. Any delays would not only drive up costs but also significantly increase everyone’s workload.
Director Walsh kept a close eye on Melody’s part of the shoot, as it was his main point of focus. But seeing how things were going, he had nothing to worry about.
After they finished the "Blood-Stained Surrender Letter" scene today, Melody’s work for the day would be done.
He still needed to check on Shaun Owen. He was a rookie too, after all, so the director couldn’t help but worry.
Melody moved to another palace hall where the crew was already set up. She immediately saw a White Banner hanging from the rafters. There should have been a matching one, but the space beside it was empty.
𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
The other White Banner had been used by the Emperor of Solara to take his own life.
Playing the Princess of Solara was much harder than playing Willow Lynch. Melody slowly closed her eyes, visualizing the scene from the script. Everything around her seemed to become real. Through the power of suggestion, she fully immersed herself in the character of Solara.
"Melody."
Melody Monroe immediately opened her eyes, looking at Director Walsh.
"Just run through it once for me. Do it your way," Director Walsh said. He no longer wanted to interfere with Melody’s process.
Because he’d discovered that Melody could get into character in an instant.