“How are things coming along?”

Ian asked as he walked inside the production office.

“Everyone is ready. It should be an easy shot.”

Ian frowned at Niko’s sentence. “Nothing is going to be easy, and nothing will be easy, Niko.”

Niko nodded.

“Got it, Ian.”

“How is the hotel bar coming along?” Ian asked again.

“Kind of stiff, but it’s preparing. Within a week, it’s going to be secured… Why did you insist on creating something like that?” Niko asked back.

Ian frowned.

When Robert Fischer first realises he’s in a dream toward the end of the movie, the bar that he’s in begins to shift and tilt at odd angles while he and the other bar patrons remain largely undisturbed.

To create the surreal effect, Ian felt that he needed to make sure that objects wouldn’t be sliding around the set, but that things like the liquid in a glass or a light fixture would tilt and sway realistically as if gravity had shifted.

To that end, an entire bar set was constructed on a platform that could tilt at 25 degrees in either direction from its centre point. Cameras were bolted to the set to maintain a consistent point of view as the room shifted.

Extras for the scene needed to be auditioned, with about a third of the candidates being unable to remain oriented while the floor below them shifted at various angles

“You’ll see, are the actors ready for the shoot today?”

“Yeah, they’re excited. For two weeks, we’ve done quite a lot, and making them act scene by scene without following the script seems to be going well. They lose track of the story, but their words, not mine, every scene feels fresh and complex.”

Ian nodded.

“It’s a complicated theory, I’ll talk with them. How is Real Estate doing?” Ian asked.

It has been around two-three weeks since Ian last held the conference to talk about the movie–which included Keanu who sat still and listened to all of their suggestions. And by the end of the discussion, Keanu agreed on things and said ‘no’ to several other suggestions, which were fair and adjustable.

“It’s going well. Still, the casting has been sort of a problem. Even RedBo didn’t have suitable actors who Keanu liked. It’s going to be tough, it seems…”

Ian nodded, “What about Keanu? The man who is in the script, and according to the story, is old enough… And apart from the childhood scenes, for which we can bring Adam… Keanu can do the part, can’t he?”

Niko’s eyes widened.

“You know what? I think you’re right. There’s no one other than Keanu who can relate to the story so much! This could even be a great opportunity for his career! Two birds with one stone! Wow!”

Niko said and turned back to run immediately. Ian knew where he was going—to talk to Raelynn.

‘These two will never get old!’ Ian thought to himself and chuckled.

Niko and Raelynn’s friendship had gotten so much better. For Raelynn, Niko was someone who she’d share everything with, and it was vice versa for Niko.

-

“Alright, everyone! Who’s ready to get this shot right!”

“Yes sir! Let’s go!” Edgar Williams, who played the part of Fischer said with the same loud voice Ian talked.

Edgar Williams was an A-listed actor. He had acted in multiple action-based movies, which made his fame hit high over the roof.

Everyone laughed at his enthusiasm.

“Okay,” Ian said and marched towards Leonardo and Edgar.

“So, in this scene. I want it to be hostile, and since Cobb is curious, it should be shown in the eyes. Let’s try once and see, shall we?”

Both the pair nodded. It was the first time that Cobb and Fischer met. The scene was about to be shot in the first-class cabin.

“Ready?”

… “And, action!”

The shot was of Eames squeezing up against his seat to let Fischer brush past. Then, Fischer moved to his seat, directly in front of Cobb. Eames tosses Cobb a passport–which Cobb flips open: Fischer’s. Cobb then pockets it.

As soon as Ian said, ‘action’ Danny Dunlap, who was given the part of Eames, got into the character.

He tried to squeeze up against his seat to let Edgar—who acted as Fischer go past him. But what happened was the complete opposite.

Suddenly he was brought back to his seat with a loud thud, and Edgar fell onto his lap.

“Fuck- You’re heavy!”

“Ahahaha!”

“Hahaha”

“Are you okay?” Ian asked in the end.

They all laughed and Edgar stood up immediately.

“Again, please!”

The cameras started to roll again.

“....Sound!”

“Set!”

“Action!”

Ian commanded.

This time, both actors were their full focus.

Edgar successfully brushed past the actor who was acting as Eames.

“Cut! Good job!” Ian said and smiled.

Edgar waved back.

-

“So, after this, it’s the dialogues, we’ll take it one by one. Don’t worry… And Leo, your focus shifts towards the camera very often. I can tell you where to look if it’d make it easier for you?” Ian asked.

“Yeah, no, sorry. The cameras are making me nervous, the lighting is just terrifying. Can I have a moment?” Leonardo asked and looked at Ian apologetically.

Ian nodded. “Let’s take five!”

As soon as Ian said, everyone was dismissed and Leonardo walked outside the little cabin.

Niko followed him as everyone watched the duo walk outside, but no one did anything. Being under pressure can be a little tough for an actor, especially when they feel that there are many eyes under them, calculating every movement, focusing on every little detail…. It can be a little too much.

But the difference between acting in front of directors was that everyone on set wanted what was best for the movie.

If an actor who got famous walked out in the street, the judgmental eyes would be the same. The difference would be how everyone would look out for flaws and try to capture them… Thinking exactly the opposite of what the directors would think.

Niko walked with Leonardo's hand in hand, and finally, they both sat on the little stairs that were somewhat far from the set.

“It’s alright…” Leo said when he realised that it was none other than Niko.

A smile formed on Niko’s face as he looked far in the distance. “I know it is alright.”

A silent moment passed between the two men.

“It’s terrifying. I thought it would be the same, and it’s already been weeks, and it’s just… Ah! Hard to explain-”

“Feel like you’re disappointing?”

Niko asked. Leonardo was silent again.

He didn’t know what to say because what the man was saying was true. He felt as if he was a disappointment not just to everyone around him, but also to himself. When he first agreed to act, it was due to two things; firstly, how he wanted to not let go of a career he could build as an actor—-especially when Ian, an A-listed director in the industry came asking him.

The second reason simply was his restaurant. The customers and the fame that he thought it could bring to the restaurant.

Nevertheless, there was no going back in his words or actions—nor he wanted to.

“Leo, Ian would never let you get on a screen if you’re bad. At times like these, if you can’t trust yourself, trust him… Can you?” he asked politely.

-

The shooting wrapped and Ian was at home, on his computer, analysing the shots they took.

In the end, he finalised the scenes that he thought they’d use.

The entire shot was perfect.

After Fischer walked past Eames, the rest of the little conversation flowed smoothly.

-

After the shots were taken, Ian took a break from all the chaos, conversations, and dramatic gestures that were ongoing in the set to take a look at what they perfectly shot.

He got into the characters to notice their actions and behaviours.

[...] On the screen, Cobb looks down at his hand: a TINY VIAL taped to the centre of his palm. He removes the cap. The seatbelt sign goes dark. Cobb unbuckles and stands.

“Excuse me?” Cobb asks.

Fischer looks up.

“Yes?” Fischer replies.

“I think this is yours…”

Cobb holds up the open passport, comparing the picture to Fischer. Fischer's hand goes to his pocket. Cobb hands Fischer the passport.

“Would you gentlemen care for a drink?” The flight attendant asked.

“Water,” Fischer replies.

“Same.”

Fischer gives Cobb a thin smile. Holds up his passport.

“Well, thank you,” Fischer replies.

“No problem. Look, I couldn't help noticing your name. You're not related to Maurice Fischer?”

Fischer takes a beat. But Cobb seems harmless.

“He was my father.” He replies.

“I'm very sorry for your loss. He was an inspiring figure.”

The Flight Attendant brings their drinks- Cobb takes them.

“Thanks.”

As he turns to Fischer he lowers his right hand ... a clear liquid drops into Fischer's water as Cobb hands it to him.

“To Maurice Fischer,” Cobb says.

(they drink) I'll leave you in peace. Fischer grants him a smile [...]

Ian smiled after looking at the shot.

“Perfect.”

He thought.

-

A/N; Vote. Read ahead in -Patreon.com/TC_L. And, join the discord server for... idk- Just join!