Chapter 424 - 420: The Long Take

Just then, a member of the film crew knocked on the dressing room door. "Lily Sterling, we’re ready to shoot."

"Okay, I’ll be right there."

Her makeup and styling had just been completed. Lily Sterling stood up from the vanity and looked at Jared Keaton. "Looks like I’ll be giving you more work from now on."

"Not at all. I’m just so happy you’re willing to trust me."

Jared Keaton’s heart was full. He felt he had just taken another step closer to Lily.

The first scene of the drama was an on-location shoot in a bustling, cluttered alleyway. The production team had paid to rent out the entire alley, all to capture the most authentic setting for the story.

Lily Sterling’s first scene in the drama was a single long take. It covered a series of everyday moments, starting from her waking up, then washing up and eating, and finally ending with her leaving for school and walking out of the alleyway.

This sequence documented the family’s normal morning routine. Heather Keaton, who played the older sister, and Jett Hughes, who played the father, were both in the same scene.

When Lily Sterling arrived on set, almost everyone was already there. The director was inside making final adjustments to the camera, and the extras playing the alley’s neighbors were all in position.

As she passed a shaded area just off the set, she saw George Lowe sitting there. The actress named Hope Miller seemed to have completely cozied up to the highly respected senior actor; she was even giving him a shoulder massage.

They were chatting and laughing about something.

"Hello, Teacher Lowe."

Lily Sterling greeted him out of courtesy.

George Lowe saw Lily and kept his cheerful smile. "Ah, Lily’s here. Don’t be nervous for the first scene!"

Lily Sterling nodded lightly but didn’t say much more, as she kept Heather’s warning in mind.

Stepping onto the set proper, Heather Keaton came up to greet Lily. "What took you so long?"

"What’s wrong?"

Heather Keaton whispered, "I forgot to tell you, Mr. Hughes doesn’t like his co-stars to arrive right on time. Especially since the first scene is a long take, everyone needs to block it out and find the rhythm beforehand. And since it’s your first time working with him, it’s natural that your chemistry might be a little off."

Hearing this, Lily Sterling quickly nodded. As long as it was a rule related to the craft of acting, she was willing to cooperate.

"Then let’s hurry. I see the director is still adjusting the main camera, so we should still have some time."

Heather Keaton didn’t say any more and pulled Lily Sterling into the house for the first scene.

Inside, the look on Jett Hughes’s face wasn’t pleasant when he saw Lily arrive. But in his heart, the show was more important than anything else. Time was already short, and he wouldn’t waste it being angry at Lily. He just said coolly, "First, take a look at the layout of this house. You need to know every room and every set piece by heart."

This was supposed to be their home, so doing this homework was essential.

In truth, Lily Sterling had already come to see it yesterday. She didn’t explain, however, and just treated it as a chance to refamiliarize herself, walking through the entire house again as Mr. Hughes instructed.

After that, Mr. Hughes guided Lily through the blocking and scene transitions: at what point to come out of her room, where they should deliver their lines to each other, and he also reminded Lily to pay attention to her character’s persona.

She wasn’t playing some goody-two-shoes, but a rebellious girl with a strong personality!

Seeing that Lily Sterling was very cooperative and had a great work ethic, the expression on Jett Hughes’s face slowly softened.

Soon, at the director’s command, filming officially began for the first sequence.

The camera moved smoothly. The director watched intently from behind the monitor. Because Jett Hughes and Heather Keaton were both very experienced actors, he subconsciously focused more of his attention on Lily Sterling.

The assistant director and other members of the main creative team behind him were also most concerned about the performance of this newcomer, Lily Sterling.

Most of them had their doubts. Lily Sterling had debuted in historical idol dramas, and this first scene was a one-shot long take that heavily tested one’s rhythm and chemistry. Everyone thought she would definitely need a few NGs to get it right.

It might even be necessary to cut the scene into pieces and then edit them together to look like a long take.

However, when the camera cut to Lily’s room, from the moment she pushed open the door and walked out, her rhythm was crisp, natural, and surprisingly precise.

It wasn’t just limited to her movements and blocking; her state of being when she delivered her lines was also excellent. Although her character was a rebellious girl, it wasn’t the kind of rebellion where she openly opposed her family at every turn.

Instead, it was a bone-deep indifference to everything, a listless state that gave her a subtle air of lifelessness.

"CUT!"

The take was over. After shouting "Cut," the director stood up and led the applause. "One take!"

"You were amazing, Lily! Was your rhythm always this good? I thought for sure we were going to bump into each other in that shot where we both enter the kitchen at the same time!" Heather Keaton exclaimed excitedly, draping an arm over Lily’s shoulders and praising her sincerely.

Lily Sterling smiled sheepishly. "It’s because I have experience."

"Oh?" Heather Keaton raised an eyebrow. "Have you filmed a scene like this before? Connie never told me!"

Lily Sterling shook her head and explained softly, "It’s because I grew up in an environment just like this. My family also had one parent and three kids squeezed into a seventy-square-meter house. Every morning was just like this scene. Even the layout of the house is incredibly similar to my old home. So, this scene is basically a re-enactment of what my mornings looked like from memory."

"Is that so?" Heather Keaton looked at her with new interest, but she felt a little puzzled.

’Lily’s family background is supposed to be quite impressive, though!’

Just then, Jett Hughes also walked over. Seeing him, Lily Sterling quickly apologized, "Mr. Hughes, I’m sorry about today. I’ll be sure to arrive early from now on."

Jett Hughes gave her a deep look. Then he heard Heather Keaton chuckling beside them. "So, what do you think, Mr. Hughes? Didn’t I tell you Lily is a real natural?"

"Mm," Jett Hughes grunted in agreement. He looked at Lily Sterling and said, "You acted well. Your rhythm is very good. Keep it up."

Being praised to her face by Mr. Hughes, Lily Sterling’s expression brightened. "Thank you, Mr. Hughes. I’ll do my best. If I do anything wrong, I hope you’ll give me plenty of guidance."

"Don’t worry, I definitely won’t go easy on you!"

With that, he turned and headed for the director. Heather Keaton looked at Lily and said in a low voice, "Don’t be scared. Mr. Hughes is just very serious when it comes to acting."

Lily Sterling nodded in understanding. She felt nothing but respect for Mr. Hughes, because she was the same way.

That evening, Lily Sterling had Jared Keaton gather the fans who hadn’t left yet in the hotel’s underground garage. She chatted with them, took photos, and signed autographs until it was almost one in the morning.

She took the elevator upstairs. As she was walking down the hallway to her room, she happened to pass room 2805 just as the door suddenly opened, and she saw Hope Miller walk out.

They came face to face, and surprise flashed across both of their faces at the same time.

Lily Sterling instinctively glanced at the room number on the wall. ’2805!’

’That’s right.’

’But this is Teacher Lowe’s room!’