Normally, directors hope the shoot can go smoothly, with as few NGs (retakes) as possible. Especially the very first scene—if it can be done in a single take, it's considered a good omen for the rest of the production. That's why most directors choose a relatively simple scene to begin with, to lower the chances of messing up.
But in Silence, there weren't many scenes that didn't test the actors' skills, so Laila simply didn't bother to pick and choose. She started right from the beginning.
"You two remember this: you're the only survivors who escaped from a sinking ship. You've just been washed ashore by the waves. When you open your eyes, the first thing you see is each other. You're wary, hostile—there's tension between your eyes. I want to see that psychological standoff. Got it?"
"Got it," Roy responded immediately.
Leslie Cheung nodded as well.
The two had already internalized the script thoroughly. For them, Laila's instructions were more of a cue than a direction.
And Laila trusted their acting abilities. One was an Oscar-winning actor, the other an Eastern megastar. If even they couldn't grasp the emotional depth she had poured into the script, she truly didn't know who else possibly could.
"All right, take your positions!" Laila waved her hand and called out, "Action!"
If someone had been watching her closely, they might have noticed something subtly different about her today. She was still entirely focused on the film, just as always—but her eyes sparkled a little more brightly, and even her voice carried an unusual energy.
No one knew just how much this film meant to her. No one knew how thrilled she was at that very moment. This was the first true film of her career—an original, entirely her own. What kind of fruit would this seed she'd planted eventually bear? She was already brimming with anticipation.
While she threw herself into shooting, the outside world once again erupted into a frenzy over the island.
The reason? Something even Laila hadn't anticipated—one of the crew members had posted pictures of the island's beautiful scenery on Facebook, showing off the paradise they were staying in. But sharp-eyed users quickly noticed that the scenery looked very familiar.
After a series of deep-dive investigations, internet sleuths finally uncovered the truth: the location was none other than the iconic island used in Pirates of the Caribbean.
Back when that film had taken the world by storm, people hadn't just fallen in love with Captain Jack—they were equally enchanted by the pristine beaches and crystal-clear ocean. Sadly, it was soon revealed that the island was privately owned and closed to the public. All fans could do was stare longingly at movie stills.
But now, the photos posted by someone traveling with Laila clearly showed that very same island. Could Laila's new movie also be about the sea? Or the beach?
No one guessed it might be set in a rainforest, because almost no one even knew the island had a rainforest. Pirates of the Caribbean had left such a strong impression that the moment people saw the island, their minds jumped straight to beaches and waves, leaving no room for any other possibilities.
"If she's making another Pirates of the Caribbean, I wouldn't mind! Imagine creating another character as legendary as Captain Jack!"
"Honestly, this is looking more and more like a cash grab. She didn't even bother picking a new location—how lazy is that? Does she even care about making good movies anymore?"
"Laila's won too many awards. All that praise has gone to her head. I'm not sure her future films will ever live up to her past work."
"If you don't want to watch, then get lost! Laila's the best and I'll support her forever!"
Voices clashed across the internet—some in support, some once again throwing dirt on her name, as usual.
The person who'd posted the pictures hadn't expected to stir up such a storm. In a panic, they went to Laila to apologize. If he lost this job over such a thing, he'd regret it for the rest of his life. His friends had been beyond envious when they learned he was working under Laila—he couldn't afford to screw it up.
After hearing his explanation and apology, Laila flipped through a few of the online comments, then broke into a laugh.
"I thought it was something serious. But actually, you didn't do anything wrong. You did something right."
"...Huh?"
The young VFX artist was completely confused. Things were blowing up online—and the boss was saying he did something right? What on earth had he done right?
Laila patted him on the shoulder with a smile. "Don't worry, post whatever you want—as long as it doesn't reveal anything about the new film's plot or production details. Everything else, go ahead. Show off the scenery, share your joy—let more people enjoy it with you."
Still a bit dazed as he walked out of her office, the VFX artist wasn't sure he had fully understood her. He felt like she had said something important—but he couldn't quite grasp what it was. In the end, he just decided Laila must be a kind and generous boss, someone who didn't want to punish him for a simple mistake.
To that, he could only tearfully exclaim:
Boss, I'll follow you forever!
But to avoid any future trouble, he made up his mind—no matter what, he wouldn't post anything about the set again. He'd help Laila guard the production's secrets with his life!
Little did Laila know she'd ended up with such a pure-hearted employee. She had been counting on him to stir up more online buzz and build anticipation for the film—but now, the guy had gone completely radio silent.
Though a bit helpless about it, she couldn't very well force a VFX artist to handle marketing strategy. Fortunately, if there was one thing Laila never lacked, it was people who could stir up hype. With Facebook backing her, starting a buzz was as easy as snapping her fingers.
Soon enough, "leaks" and rumors began flooding social media. Some claimed to be crew members spilling secrets, others said they were island staff. All of them offered "insider info"—a few blurry photos of people on set, or cryptic one-liners hinting at the plot.
In short, while Laila was busy shooting on the island, the promotional buzz back in the U.S. was only growing louder. Every new post had people speculating: "Is this a clue?" "Could that be the villain?" "Is it about the ocean again?" But the more they thought about it, the more they realized—they still had no idea what the movie was really about.
Even the film's title, Silence, gave nothing away.
And that was exactly what Laila wanted. This was how you tease an audience—give them just enough to feel like they know something, when in fact, they're only seeing what you want them to see. As for the real secrets? Unless Laila gave permission, no one dared to leak a word.
Please! This was Laila they were working for. Who had the guts to risk her wrath by pulling any underhanded stunts?