….

  April 5th, 2010.

  .

  It's the first day of filming.

  [Following] timeline covers approximately two weeks or a little over a day.

  And Regal knew with the right pnning and pre produ, the film could be shot over 30-32 days.

  So he did exactly that.

  The script doesn't require many expensive aensive locations, making it simple to scout a permits.

  Moreover, they are all indoor locations except for the few introductory shots of the main lead following strangers on streets.

  - Four to five apartments for the burgry ses.

  - A Bar and a Café where one of the two main leads and his love i meet multiple times.

  - Nightclub for the heist and murder and a prison cell for interrogation ses.

  ….

  ing to the present, the filming had been underway for over half an hour now.

  And if Regal had to describe how the shoot location was - chaos.

  Random people start strolling into the se. Extras couldn't stick to their cues, the camera stantly lost focus, and the actors couldn't carry out the performahrough numerous takes.

  These things just didn't happen once.

  They kept on recurring.

  It was even more frustrating when Regal expected this to happen, and that's why he had started with simple crowd ses.

  No dialogues, just monologues to be added ter in post-produ.

  Luckily, it slowly proved to be a wise decision as the inexperienced cast and crew began to find their rhythm.

  Mistakes became fewer, movements smoother, and coordination improved.

  Regal ticked off one se after another.

  …..

  The day was almost ing to an end.

  Regal had breezed through the easier ses, and now it was time for the main se, ohat required more than just managing the crowd.

  This was the moment whehing had to e together perfectly.

  Behind the camera, he adjusted the settings, his gaze flig toward Seren.

  "You haven't seen your boyfriend act yet, have you?" He asked probingly.

  Seren's expression shifted, brows knitting as she processed the question. There was a subtle sting in her response.

  "No…" She answered, a defensive edge creeping into her voice.

  She paused, w if her brother was simply teasing her or if he was trying to gauge her rea as a director.

  Either way, the question rubbed her the wrong way. "What's that supposed to mean? You have been w with him for weeks. Shouldn't you know? Or are you already sed-guessing your casting choice?"

  Regal's smirk widened, pletely ued by her sharp toouchy, aren't we?"

  Seren's gre deepened, but he didn't miss the subtle tension iance.

  Beh her snippy words and bravado, she was uneasy, her foot tapping an unscious rhythm against the floor.

  For Seren, agreeing to handle e design for the 'film' was already a big leap. But with her brother as the director and her boyfriend as one of the lead actors, the stakes felt overwhelming, too much pressure to misstep.

  "You are tapping." He noted casually, his voice tinged with amusement.

  Her foot stopped instantly, and she crossed her arms, her gre sharp enough to cut gss. "Don't start psyalyzing me, Regal. Just stick to direg, and I will stick to es."

  "Fine." Regal said with a shrug, stepping back. Then, as he turned away, he tossed it over his shoulder. "…You will see for yourself soon enough. Try not to let it throw you."

  "Throw me?" She repeated with a scoff, but her voice wavered ever so slightly.

  This was going to be iing.

  Regal offered her a knowing smirk but didn't say anything more, turning back toward the set and leaving her simmering in a mix of irritation and curiosity.

  Buzz-!

  His phone buzzed in his pocket.

  Fishing it out, he noticed an email notification from someone named - Ludo.

  Immediately a thought expet washed over his face as he plugged in his headphones and tapped py oached file.

  For a moment, Regal stood still, letting the music fill his ears ily, as he focused on the beat and rhythm it was setting.

  After a few seds, he removed one side of the headphones and murmured to himself. "...this will do to set the mood, but it still be better."

  Satisfied for now, he tucked the phone bato his pocket aurned his attention to filming.

  The location of the shoot was an outdoor street.

  The small crew moved around uhe instrus of Darren, Regal's friend, who had secured his first ag gig when the system popped up a mission.

  But this time around, Regal had turo him for help again, not just managing the actors but even during the pre-produ ing the crew aing the equipment too.

  Of course Regal paid him handsomely.

  ing back, true to experience, Darren mahe extras, ensuring they followed the cues down to the seds while maintaining order amidst their curious trolled mayhem.

  In a quieter er of the set stood the main cast:

  Keanu, Andrew, and Grace.

  Grace had finished her ses for the day, simple, silent shots that required her to walk through the frame while Andrew, pying Bill, followed at a distance.

  Even though her part was done, she chose to stick around.

  Regal had mentiohat the uping se would be the final one for the day, it would include dialogue - a first so far.

  This uping se featured Keanu, who pyed Cobb, and Andrew.

  Spotting them, Regal made his way over.

  Keanu greeted him with a fident smile, exuding an effortless charisma that matched his character's polished, suave demeanor. His tailored suit only enhahe look, making him appear every bit the part.

  Andrew, in trast, was dressed casually, flipping through the script with quiet focus.

  It was the first time he had been handed a physical script that day, despite being involved in several key ses earlier. Those had all been silent, with his as captured from a distan wide shots.

  Regal gnced betweewo actors, breaking the silence. "So, how is it going? Are you guys ready?"

  Keanu was quick to respond.

  "I am ready." He said, sounding easy yet assured.

  There was no sign of nerves, even though this se will also be his first 'dialogue-heavy' close-up.

  Regal gave an approving nod and shifted his attention to Andrew.

  "...I am ready too." Feeling the gaze, Andrew for once looked up from the script and nodded.

  His expression was calm, though distant - not out of disi but pure focus.

  It was evident that Andrew had deliberately tuned out the surrounding noise, immersing himself in the role with singur determination.

  Regal didn't mind.

  He had witnessed Andrew's intense focus during auditions and table reads, and over time, he had e to respect the dedication Andrew poured into everything he did, not just ag, but anythi his mind to.

  As a directal had made it a priority to adapt to Andrew's process, ensuring he had the spad time he o deliver his best.

  ===

  [Name:] Andrew Gleeson

  [Traits:] petitive, Passionate, Self scious

  [Ag Grade:] B

  ===

  "Good." Regal nodded back. "I will prepare the shot and call you guys in."

  With that, he turned and headed back towards the crew, quistrus as he moved.

  The few minutes were a blur of activity, with equipment adjustments, final checks, and everyoling into their roles.

  "Everythi, Darren?" Regal called out, his gaze nding on his friend, who was in the middle of expining the se to a group of extras actors.

  Darren gnced up, fshing a fident grin and a thumbs-up. "I have got it covered."

  Regal smirked, deg to trust Darren for now.

  Satisfied, he gave o once-over to the setup before turning back toward his rig.

  Since Regal was handling the camera himself, the director's chair sat vat.

  It didn't bother him as much as he thought it would - this was where he felt most in trol, hands-on, and fully tent with every minute of work.

  The camera he rented for this project, a Sony eAlta F35, and oher - whibined are the most expensive piece of equipment o, more costly than what he aying his main cast.

  That was exactly why he couldn't afford to hire a professional ematographer, despite Darren's persistent objes - of course, it was also because he is fident his [Advanced] skill he upgraded retly will be enough.

  It is just that his workload will be a little hectic.

  By the time the final adjustments were made and the camera erfectly positiohe crew began to settle.

  Regal leaned over his rig, taking a sharp breath as his eyes locked onto the monitor.

  One final check. The frame erfect.

  He walked back to the camera.

  "Alright, you ready, boys?" His tone carried a teasing lilt, but his sharp gaze sed the crew with an iy that left no room for hesitation.

  To the team, it was an odd yet endearing quirk, Regal, not much older than some of them, casually calling everyone 'boys' throughout the day.

  Still, they couldn't deny his authority.

  His fidend clear dire ensured everything ran smoothly.

  As the routine demanded, each department sigheir readiness, oer the other, in a synized rhythm.

  Finally, it was his turn.

  "Camera's ready!" He shouted.

  "Crowd in positions! So the music!"(Darren)

  "Okay, Quiet o!"(Regal)

  Si was an outdoor location, there was no need for artificial lighting, but the setup was no less intricate.

  This was it.

  A crucial se.

  As the set fell silent, a wave of emotions washed al.

  Excitement, pride, and a hint of disbelief collided within him.

  Years of te nights, setbacks, and stubborermination had led him here.

  His film. His vision.

  It was ironic, really.

  After a day of filming, he realized it at this crucial moment.

  Unfolding right before his eyes.

  It was a simple se on paper - Bill, the main lead, trailing a mysterious stranger named Cobb, drawn to him by an undeniable curiosity.

  The tension simmered as Bill edged closer.

  Cobb noticed.

  And the tables turned.

  That was all.

  ====

  Se 22: Bill's and Cobb's First frontatioras: 6 people walking the streets (no dialogue) and 1 with a long shot (no dialogue).

  Bill: Two lines of dialogue.

  Cobb: One line.

  ====

  .

  …..

  [To be tinued…]

  ★─────??★??─────★

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