The new production team was ready to start filming. In addition to the opening day prayer for a smooth shoot, there would be a meet-and-greet for all the actors. It was the first time Cierra would meet the other two main male actors.
The male lead was Trevon, a seasoned actor who had won multiple acting awards. He wasn't very old, around Basil's age. It was said that he had started as a child star and had nearly twenty years of acting experience, so Cierra was very respectful towards him, seeing him as another uncle-like figure.
The other actor, playing her childhood friend, was Keon, a second-generation rich kid from Malaysia who had invested in the production. He had just joined a modeling agency not long ago. Previously, Basil had mentioned using another newcomer, which turned out to be him. Calling him a newcomer wasn't an exaggeration, as hardly anyone knew about him or Cierra before their debuts.
Maybe it was because they shared common ground or perhaps their ages were similar, but Keonparticularly liked chatting with Cierra on set. Like now, he was again in a corner of the set rehearsing lines with Cierra. Keon's scenes were mostly in the later parts, and there were hardly any for him at the beginning of the shoot.
"Cierra, I heard you're the top disciple of a national treasure master. Can you help me with this scene? How should I portray Felipe's feelings when he realizes Rihanna doesn't love him but still insists on agreeing to marry him?"
In the drama, Cierra's character was Rihanna, while Keon played her childhood friend, Felipe.
"Let me see!" Cierra was easygoing and followed a philosophy of treating others twice as well if they were good to her. This earned her many friendships on set and made her transmigrated life seem much more interesting.
They were almost head-to-head studying the script when Basil, who was directing a scene, turned his head and happened to see them. His eyes darkened, and his face suddenly fell.
"Cut!"
At this moment, they were filming a scene with Trevon and Lettie. When they were suddenly cut, neither of them knew what move or action they had done wrong to make the director unhappy.
Trevon, being a friend of Basil in the entertainment industry, walked directly to Basil and the assistant director and asked, "Is there something wrong with the filming?"
"No, I'm just a bit tired. Sorry, let's all take a break," Basil said, rubbing his brow, feeling a bit irritable.
Trevon, worried, patted his shoulder and asked, "You're not feeling unwell, are you? I've told you before, you need to change your workaholic ways, or you'll have health problems sooner or later."
He knew very well that he and Basil were cut from the same cloth, but ever since he once had a high fever due to back pain on set, was rushed to the emergency room, and diagnosed with kidney stones caused by the busy filming schedule that left no time to drink water, resulting in kidney swelling and inflammation, he had started to cherish his body more and reduced his acting commitments. If it weren't for Basil's sake, he wouldn't have taken this project, given his rule of accepting only two acting jobs a year, which wouldn't have fit into his schedule.
"I know, don't worry, it's fine." Basil irritably ran his fingers through his bangs. At this moment, Lettie also came over.
"Basil, are you okay?" The concern in Lettie's bright eyes was genuine, but it did nothing to calm the agitation in Basil's heart.
"I'm fine, just need a break." He gently brushed off Lettie's hand and his gaze involuntarily drifted to the corner of the set where two people were whispering.
Lettie said nothing but secretly followed Basil's gaze, seeing Keon say something to Cierra that made her smile.
The gloom in Basil's eyes deepened, and Lettie's expression grew more somber.
"I'm going to take a break." Basil handed the baton to the assistant director with a few instructions, then walked in the opposite direction of Cierra and Keon, running into Darnell, who had come to visit the set.
"Basil, aren't you filming? Where are you going?" Darnell called out to the hurried Basil.
Basil lowered his head in silence, contemplating for a long time before finally looking up and saying to Darnell, "Darnell, do me a favor."
"What favor?" Darnell sensed something odd in Basil's tone.
"Go tell Keon that it's forbidden to date anyone in the crew, including actors, during filming. If he breaks the rule, I don't care if he's funding the production or if he's the king of the world, I'll kick him out immediately." Basil snorted, his tone menacing.
"So scary! Why so fierce?" Darnell joked, patting his chest. He turned to look at the set and suddenly seemed to understand. Lowering his voice, he said, "They're just two young people getting along a bit better. Why be so strict? Be careful not to be seen as an old-fashioned fossil. Or are you just hitting menopause early?"
"Screw your menopause!"
Darnell shrugged innocently, "I'm serious. Who else but you has been celibate since birth? Haven't you heard that abstinence ages you faster? No wonder you're hitting menopause early."
Darnell's eyes squinted with laughter, like a cunning old fox, while Basil found Darnell's smile particularly annoying, as if nothing could escape his eyes.
