Love and Ambition

14 - Lights, Camera, Action!

The first filming day. 

After a hectic week of last minute planning, hours of location scouting, rehearsals, time planning—we made it in one piece to the start of production. 

"Impressive," Mr. Monray patted my shoulder when I turned in our film folder, packed with copies of our time schedule, costume, props, scenes, the script, equipment, etc. on a Sunday. "You keep impressing me, Brooke."

With a sleep-deprived brain, I could only muster a very soft chuckle. But I was filled with pride. 

"But it's quite a heavy topic you chose compared to your counterparts," he said, flipping through the folder. 

"Yes, I know, but—" I stopped myself, not wanting to say it. I want to win. "It's like a vent project, I suppose."

He nodded at this.

The short film is loosely based off of my relationship with Sean; twisting it to become a mystery:

" After running away to escape her abusive boyfriend, Harper is assumed dead. Skeptical, her best friend tries to find her, while also uncovering the secret truth behind the lover's dispute."

Main focus is on Jenn. The script is written where we scarcely need extras aside from myself, Jason, and our boom operator—Anna. The writing process turned my mind to mush trying to figure out how to tell a one-man story without boring the audience; nearly breaking my laptop in half with the lack of creative freedom.

Our first filming is set with an outdoor scene, by the trail leading up to the hut, as Jennifer's character—Sandra—looks for clues to where Harper was last seen. 

I sigh, looking at my watch. Two minutes behind schedule. Jenn paces back and forth, reading the script, and walking through the scene as I had directed her. 

Running footsteps and heavy breathing grows behind me. I turn around and see Jason, breathless when I hand him the camera.

"Sorry," he says, taking a breath, "psych professor wasn't too—y'know—psyched that I'm doing this."

I smile, "Well, we're behind schedule. We need to make up for lost time. Let's get to it." I start directing him the camera angles, reminding him of how they looked in the storyboard—rough storyboard with stick figures—rehearsing them after, and then action.

As the first scene comes to life, I struggle to stay grounded. I shouldn't be judging them now, but looking at some of the footage, my heart throbs of disappointment. Through my rush of excitement and high expectations, I just wish we had more time to plan the film correctly.

This is one scene out of twelve, I tell myself. 

I watch Jenn in our next scene, talking to an officer—lucky enough that Terence's group was willing to hand over an actor for this scene. Becca was reluctant.

Although this scene was planned with several full shots in hopes to shoot in the actual town's police station, we had to make do in the basement of the university building. The fluorescent lights already gave the office look, we just had to place a barrier and some desks by the corner of a room to make it look authentic. Then planning for close-ups, mainly.

As Jenn's line comes up, she stumbles over her words and then curses herself. I cut the camera.

"I need a break," she says, huffing as she walks to the end of the room. She leans against the wall while rubbing her temple.

I follow her. "Is everything okay? Are you hungover or something?"

She musters a snicker, her hair falling to cover her face as she looks at the ground. "No, no, just tired," she takes a breath, "and kind of nauseous."

Understandable, judging from the rough week we just had. I rub her arm. "Alright, get some air, take five, and we continue."

Jenn nods her head, smiling at me, then walking out. 

A nagging voice pierces my head as I watch her walk with heavy shoulders. A familiar walk with that clouded look on her face; reminding me of school nights studying or doing projects.

Stress takes her to a different place.

But this feels different than stress.

* * *

"Cut!" I yell, heaving out a breath as we've filmed the last scene for today. 

Jenn reviews the footage, declaring it good, giving a weak smile at Jason. 

"Just go sleep, we'll pack up here," I tell her.

She opens her mouth to object, but she sees the worried look on my face and nods. She disappears.

Once packed, we bring the equipment back to our corner of the film classroom, placing them in a neat pile. I turn around to thank Jason and Anna, but Anna has already left without a word. 

"Well," I start walking to Jason, we head out of the room. "It's still early in the afternoon, wanna do something?"

Jason shakes his head, "I've got some catching up to do."

"Oh," I hang my head as we walk. 

"I'll text you," he smiles at me, kissing the top of my head before heading to the direction of his room. I watch him walk to the end of the hallway. Before he disappears, he huffs as he picks up a call.

"Whoever this is, stop calling—" is all I hear before it turns muffled. 

Deciding it's none of my business, I head out of the building, bumping into a nice surprise of Becca's group filming in the parking lot. The crew's back is turned to me and I watch Becca act, then groan and complain to her camera man, then start the scene all over again.

In the middle of rolling, one of the crew turns around to light a cigarette. He sees me watching and I immediately realize he's not a crew member. I stay frozen in my place.

He walks towards me. With every step, the ground beneath me shakes. Even just looking straight into my eyes, I feel the slap sting my face.

My nails dig into my palms as I ball them into a fist—controlling the urge to break down on the ground. 

"Hey," Sean grins.

With his presence so close to me, he sends me spiraling down the rabbit hole of memories.