Behind The Spotlight Chapter 23
"Okay, cut—!"
Wyatt announced, standing up with a commanding tone.
"This scene is done. Let's prepare for the next scenario where the groom and bride will say their 'I do's' in front of the guests and the camera. Finish the preparations within ten minutes so we can stay on schedule."
The production team immediately moved into action, fixing makeup and adjusting anything that needed touch-ups before the cameras rolled again.
Lawrence sighed and chuckled lightly as the tension melted from his shoulders.
Axel, who was a tall man, also laughed with him. The two had already performed this scene three times, and each take added a new layer of absurdity. They still couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculousness of the fart scene. Thankfully, they perfected their acting on the third attempt after much trial and error.
As the lead actors in this project, Lawrence and Axel had formed a good relationship built on shared scenes and behind-the-camera laughter.
They could say they were friends now, not close friends who shared deep secrets, but friends you could laugh with on and off set. Furthermore, Axel and Lawrence had the same agent, which helped ease their relationship quickly.
It had been a month since filming began for The Accidental Wedding Crashers, and the production was gaining speed with increasing efficiency and momentum. In the first and second weeks, Wyatt and the cast were still finding their rhythm through occasional retakes. But now, it seemed like they were in the zone.
Wyatt had grown accustomed to the directorial role and could now lead the project with more confidence than before.
Being a small project, The Accidental Wedding Crashers didn't have a dedicated producer to manage the crew.
Reluctantly, Collin decided to take over the role. He knew it wasn't something he wanted to do long-term.
Checking every prop was manageable since the props they needed weren't complicated, mostly common wedding décor and church items.
The tougher jobs were:
--Overseeing the Budget.
Collin had to keep a tight leash on money to prevent financial disaster or unnecessary overspending. Every night, he had to check how much money was spent, every receipt, every invoice, every dollar counted. It was a very tiring use of brain cells and a guaranteed way to get a headache.
--Managing the Schedule.
Collin also had to ensure that filming stayed on track according to their planned schedule. A few days of delays could be managed with minor adjustments, but a month of delays would be disastrous for the budget. The earlier they finished, the better it would be for everyone. For now, filming was on a good schedule without any major hiccups. As long as nothing unexpected happened, like bad weather or cast injuries, they could wrap up in about two to three months. Another tiring job for Collin and definitely not what he signed up for.
--Supervising and Maintaining the Morale of the Team.
This might seem easy to outsiders, but talking to people was mentally exhausting, especially when you were juggling other responsibilities. Even though Collin's job as a talent agent involved networking and socializing, he admitted his mental energy had limits. He couldn't just power through with determination. He preferred brief conversations over long-winded small talk. Perhaps he still had to adjust to his job as an impromptu producer.
These were just some of the responsibilities Collin had to juggle on top of managing his actual clients.
Wyatt was still a new director and couldn't handle all this logistical madness. As an agent, Collin had to ensure Wyatt had a smooth experience with his debut film so that his confidence could grow naturally. If Collin failed to do this, Wyatt might lose interest in filmmaking before his talent even had the chance to shine. That would be a waste of his golden potential, something Collin would not allow to happen under his watch. He had to build his client's confidence step by step.
Because of this, Collin had to do his best as a non-permanent producer, even if he disliked every second of it. This position was tough, and he had no intention of doing it again once the film wrapped.
He knew his strengths very well. He was good at finding the right people for the right jobs. Heck, he could even discern someone's talent with just a glance. One second, and he'd know.
Being a producer might earn a lot of money, especially if the film succeeded, but it didn't align with Collin's strengths. At least, he believed so with absolute certainty.
He could do so much more with his gift, more than what most agents could even dream of.
"It might not be a surprise if I find the next Olympic Champion with this power," Collin thought to himself with a self-assured grin.
The production crew began moving and adjusting the cameras and lighting for the next scene with practiced coordination, despite being understaffed. They had hired 30 people, half of whom were interns and new to the industry, fresh faces hungry for experience. However, despite being interns, they had enough skill to do the job with minimal supervision.
Collin was the reason for this, and he felt a small sense of pride. He looked at the crew members, and in his vision, words floated above their heads in glowing letters that only he could see.
One of them was the cinematographer Collin had personally hired to work with Wyatt. This cinematographer had no experience in filmmaking, not even a short film. He had only done some music videos for local indie artists, but because Collin saw his talent, he entrusted him with the position without hesitation.
So far, the cinematographer (an intern) was doing his job well, adapting quickly to the set environment. His performance even eased Wyatt's responsibilities as a director by handling technical details with skill. At the very least, Wyatt didn't have to check the cameras every few minutes.
Indeed, the people Collin hired were right for their jobs, efficient, talented, and eager to prove themselves. This was proven further with each successful day of filming.
Collin grinned because almost every person he hired had yellow talent glowing brightly in his vision, meaning they were good at their jobs and had potential for even greater things.
His superpower might seem simple at first glance, but it was overpowered in the hands of a talent agent who knew how to use it. After all, the job of a talent agent was to find talented people they could make money off of, or rather, collaborate with for mutual success.
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[Author's Note: I intend to make this novel a serious mockumentary or parody of Showbiz. So if you see me making fun of Hollywood and celebrities or writing stupid names, that's just me being me and having fun with writing.]