Chapter 124: That’s New

As Mark reviewed the shot, Niall landed softly on the cushion below.

Quite instantaneously, he had flipped right back to his usually reserved expression, several of the extras clearly impressed.

It was one thing to have heard that an actor was great at what they did.

It was another to see it in action.

That said, it wasn’t as if the scene itself had been over.

It was just that said scene, from a technical filmmaking standpoint, couldn’t be seamlessly continued as is.

Usually, that meant that the crew would pivot to film another scene and circle back to it later.

However, in the case of the set of [A Maddened Wonderland], everything had been so thoroughly mapped out to a tee, they didn’t need to wait around circling back to anything, for the most part.

Nodding in satisfaction to himself, Mark then spoke into his megaphone;

"That was a great start. Let’s keep it up."

Then he gestured to Niall and the other actors required to act in the other half of the scene to get into position.

Having decided to check off all CGI-focused scenes from the list first, the cinematographers and technicians were already moving towards the next rig as well.

One that had been placed in the midst of the semi-circular arc of The Volume’s LED plastered walls.

Naturally, that meant Niall was moving alongside them, as were two of the film’s supporting actors--Darcy and Marlene--both of whom happened to be twin sisters and were set to play the role of the White Queen and the Red Queen respectively.

They were both in their get-ups for their respective characters... as was the small entourage of extras behind them whom were set to act as their respective attendants.

Soon they stood before a two towering props of green and a green, deflatable prop that Alistair was set to fall into.

Above them, Niall had been hooked up to the harness of the rig that would allow him to lightly hop across said towers continuously, then slowly lower, yet simulate his rapid fall to the ground below as was required for the scene.

At the same time, the technicians operating The Volume had it lit-up, the vistas of the breathtaking blue sky and clouds occupying all of its screens.

Checking that everything was indeed as it should be, Mark soon gave a thumbs-up to everyone briefly then spoke through his megaphone;

"Let’s try and get in one take."

Then,

"And... Action!"

-

{A Maddened Wonderland | 9th, March 2019 | Act 1 | Scene 1 | Take 1}

For several glorious seconds, Alistair simply fell.

Wind rippled through his coat as he twisted through the air, laughing with a thrilled yet reckless delight.

Then his fingers snapped, and a playing card appeared between them, its surface shimmering with a strange, kaleidoscopic energy.

Flicking the card downwards, it spun and rotated through the air, right in the direction of the falling building... only for it to suddenly expand in size once, then twice, then on and on.

Within seconds, the tiny playing card became a massive, shimmering platform that slid underneath the falling tavern.

As the building landed upon it with a tremendous ’whoom!’, the enormous card bent under the impact... only for it to steady a moment after and begin hovering downwards alongside it.

Suddenly, the screaming occupants from afar went silent, heads already poking out the window as he theatrically raised his hat in their direction even as he himself rapidly plummeted.

Yet, with another flick of his wrist, a card appeared from underneath his sleeves and into his palms.

Casually, Alistair tossed it and it slipped underneath its foot.

Stepping onto the card lightly, the second appeared just ahead of him and he stepped onto it as well.

Then another card appeared and he did the same.

Soon, he was skipping through the sky, cards materializing beneath his boots with every stride as he forged a path of his own through the clouds.

His coat fluttered behind him with every skip, and his top hat remained miraculously perched upon his head as a certain energy danced around his fingers like several tiny sparks of colored fireworks.

"Doodle di-di, doodle di-dum" Alistair whistled a cheerful little tune as he went, his eyes sparkling with delight and his form absolutely whimsical as he occasionally and stylishly spun through the air from time to time.

Then something honked in succession.

Alistair had barely landed onto the next card with a flip as he looked up to see a flock of birds made entirely from cloud and iridescent colors hurtling towards him.

"Oh," he remarked with acceptance.

Immediately after, they both collided.

Alistair’s card path suddenly vanished and he was back again to plummeting rapidly.

"I’m fine!" Alistair declared to no one in particular as he pinwheeled through a cloud.

His top hat flew off, yet he immediately snatched it right back before it could go any further, his hands clutching onto it like it was a priceless artifact.

His coat flipped over his head, and he promptly corrected it!

One of his boots came loose and he looked visibly puzzled as he remarked while wiggling his sock-covered toes mid-fall;

"That’s new."

By now, the scenery had changed as he hurtled downwards and straight towards the gleaming white towers of the White Queen’s palace whilst continuously snapping his fingers but to no avail.

Far below, the new White Queen and Red Queen were taking their walk through the courtyard, accompanied by their respective attendants.

Both queens stopped beside a flower, the white-haired monarch bending down to pick a baby-pink lotus with a smile while the red-haired queen suddenly snapped her head up.

A second after, Alistair slammed into the courtyard, the perfectly trimmed hedges of flowers ruined as dust erupted into the air.

As their attendants screamed, the White Queen and Red Queen merely stared at the shoeless and boot-covered legs sticking out of the hedge, the former still leaning over and the latter holding her regal stance.

For a while, Alistair struggled to get himself out, his legs kicking as he tried to pull back while making a few incoherent sounds.

Then, after a fruitless endeavor, he followed up with a long silence... only for him to speak a moment after, his voice hopeful;

"Help. Anyone? Dying from hedge crashing isn’t exactly how I imagined going out."

"Wait a minute. That would be a rather wacky tale in its own right, and I do love wacky. But then I wouldn’t have grandkids to share it with." his tone cycled from curiosity, to fascination, and then concern.

Glancing over to one another, both queens gently waved their hands, sparks of unique energies emanating from their hands as Alistair was yanked out of the hedges and onto the ground.

As his hat hung crookedly from one hand, and he somehow held a playing card perfectly between his teeth, he spat it out a moment after and greeted with a wide grin upon seeing his saviors;

"Good morning, Your Majesties."

The red queen was the first to respond, her expression unfettered and her tone chilly;

"I see you’ve been up to no good again, Alistair?"

"Positively. Tavern tossing’s in season ’cause the bartenders are all getting greedy for the old oak’s sap." he replied whilst rising to his feet as he dusted his coat.

"Hmm. I see." she acknowledged, then casually warned a moment after.

"Well, I’ll let you off the hook since it’s my sister’s, but fall into my courtyard, and it’s off with your head."

"I wouldn’t dream of it... though I won’t promise it won’t happen, either. Tavern tossing’s a roulette, you see." Alistair replied honestly, placing a gentle palm to his chest as the Red Queen’s eyes narrowed.

As for the White Queen, she simply stared at him for a while before speaking;

"Alistair."

"Yes, Your Highness?" he responded with yet another theatrical bow.

"I won’t ask why you went to a tavern for tea, but I will ask you this," she continued with a guarded tone and then asked;

"Have you been using chaos magic again?"

Alistair considered the question for a moment, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. Then he replied;

"It’s not forbidden, is it?"

"No. But it’s extremely volatile and you know it..." she stated and then added, her tone one of concern;

"...even for a descendant of the Hatter family."

For a moment, Alistair’s smile faltered... only for it to vanish just as quickly as it came as he readjusted his hat on his head and declared;

"And that’s exactly why I’m going to master it."

"Cut!"

-

Reviewing the shot, his expression thoughtful, Mark then said;

"It’s a great take, but we might have to take the latter half again,"

"Marlene, try to be less frigid this time with Alistair. I want your emotions to convey a sense of detachment, not a cold air." the young director gave her some pointers to which the lady nodded.

"Darcey, Niall... keep your acts just as it was." Mark turned his attention to the duo, both of whom equally bobbed their heads in acknowledgement.

Suddenly pivoting on his feet into a half-turn, Mark then gestured to the porcelain-looking lady watching from the corner;

"Mary-Beth, warm up. After this, we’re filming your introductory scene with Niall."

Straightening up the moment she heard that, the lady in question began adjusting her fit and smoothening out a few ruffles as the director turned towards the actors and then declared to everyone;

"Alright. Let’s have another go at it."

Advance Chapters are available on Patreon!

/Caer07