Focus. Joy. Shock. Anger. Stupor. Confusion. Exhilaration.
Mackie felt something was off.
In a short span, his emotions had swung wildly, shifting rapidly and unpredictably, becoming so rich and strange that they were hard to distinguish. This wasn't just a sharp ninety-degree turn; even a ballet pirouette didn't feel this intense.
Originally, the script that Mackie and Eric created emphasized the plot while downplaying the dialogue. The story's framework and narrative threads were the main focus. Even though they meticulously refined the dialogue, they couldn't make every word a gem, as the precision of the dialogue wasn't that crucial.
So, why was he dissatisfied with Anson?
Moreover, the adjustment to the emotional threads didn't change the overall framework and storyline of the scene. It merely filled the limited space with more details and layers, sparking a stronger chemical reaction that made the scene richer and more three-dimensional.
At this moment, thinking back, why did they insist on making this the first scene to be shot?
One reason was to break down barriers and help the two actors quickly develop chemistry.
Another was to lay the groundwork for the story, using the emotional seeds of the two characters to set the tone for the entire movie.
Now, Anson and Rachel had not only accomplished this but had far exceeded expectations. So, why was he angry with Anson?
Before the film started shooting, Mackie and Eric had a heart-to-heart:
In Hollywood, joint directors do exist, such as brother or sister directing teams, but they are not very common. There are many reasons for this, one crucial reason being too many differing opinions, leading the creative direction of the film into entirely different labyrinths.
Additionally, both of them were first-time directors, completely unfamiliar with the job and unable to foresee what might happen on set.
So, they agreed that they needed to remain patient and humble, not letting arrogance cloud their judgment. They not only had to listen to each other's opinions but also be open to listening to other professionals.
Actors are professionals.
So, this means...
Briefly interrupted, Mackie got caught in a swirl of his own thoughts, and his anger quietly subsided, as if it had never existed. He lifted his gaze again, looking at Anson and Rachel, who were smiling and exchanging glances with tacit understanding, and suddenly found peace—
Maybe this was the best outcome.
Mackie hesitated a bit. "Anson, did you like that scene we just did?"
Anson was stunned. He was clearly the one asking the director about the effectiveness of the shoot, so why was the director now turning the question back on him? Was this some kind of game?
But Anson didn't hesitate. "I liked it."
Decisive and straightforward, Anson didn't waver and gave a direct answer.
Although this was the first scene of "The Butterfly Effect," challenging right from the start, when you dig deeper, the scene wasn't as difficult as imagined. The only challenge was the chemistry between Anson and Rachel. Once that key was unlocked, the dialogue, emotions, and details seemed exceptionally simple, hardly requiring any effort.
The entire shoot just now flowed smoothly, the chemistry real and almost inseparable, even lingering after the shoot ended.
Of course, Anson hadn't reviewed the playback yet and had no way of knowing the final result—
It's like an exam. Sometimes, you feel confident when handing in the paper, but the results might surprise you.
But at least, his intuition was positive.
On that note, Anson responded crisply, with an assured tone and expression that caught attention.
Mackie's last bit of uncertainty dissipated along with it.
"Alright, then no problem."
Mackie's answer was so abrupt that it left everyone on set in disbelief.
Just moments ago, Mackie seemed furious, ready to lash out, so why the sudden 180-degree turn?
Was everything really fine?
Mackie took a deep breath. Deep down, he was still a bit unsure, but—
He respected the actors' professionalism, and the actors respected his. He also trusted Anson's judgment as a producer. This was the correct approach to collaboration.
At least so far, their collaboration with Anson had been smooth.
Now, he was trying to learn to relax and trust a little more.
"I liked it too," Mackie said.
After speaking, Mackie unconsciously let out a sigh of relief and realized—
He truly did like it.
Setting aside stubbornness and bias, this scene was indeed something to scream about.
See, admitting your mistakes and accepting that you shouldn't have gotten angry wasn't that hard after all.
Even so, Mackie felt a bit awkward, especially when he turned and saw Eric's ridiculous look with cotton stuffed in his nose.
Looking around, he saw that everyone's attention was on him. Mackie suddenly raised both hands high as if about to break into a dance move, startling the crew.
"Hey!"
"The first scene, a good start, a good omen."
"We actually did it in one take. This deserves applause."
Wait, what's going on now?
The crew exchanged puzzled looks, unsure whether to respond to Mackie. Then, someone started clapping.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
It was Heath.
Looking serious, standing tall, yet there was no enthusiasm or passion in his demeanor, like he was chanting a slogan.
"One take. A good start."
His rigid tone seemed out of place, like he was ordering:
"One, two, three, smile."
The crew exchanged glances again. Mackie was strange enough, and Heath even stranger, so what should they do?
At that moment, Anson stood up.
He made sure Rachel was securely wrapped in a bedsheet, then wrapped himself in one too, like an ancient Greek priest in a robe, nearly swallowed by the sheet, awkwardly standing up and waving with a perfect smile, as if stepping onto the Olympic podium—
And just like that, the humor hit.
The crew could no longer hold back, and one by one, they joined Heath, the atmosphere growing more boisterous with cheers and whistles, until thunderous applause filled the set.
Anson wasn't satisfied. He then gestured for Rachel to join him, treating the moment like a Broadway stage, where they solemnly took a bow.
Ha ha, ha ha ha.
The whole room burst into laughter, and the joyful atmosphere blazed to life.
No matter what, Mackie was right—
One take.
And it was a highly challenging scene, bringing a great start to the crew.
No one had expected such a beginning, no one had anticipated this process, and now it seemed that no one could predict the ending either.
But at least, "The Butterfly Effect" had started, and the concerns everyone had didn't materialize. Instead, the film launched in an unexpectedly smooth way.
Everything was, in a word, perfect.
So, what more could they ask for?
Oh, oh, oh.
Roar, roar, roar.
Amidst the cheers and uproar, Rachel finished her bow, looked up at Anson, and couldn't help but smile.