Chapter 292: Can You Fix This?
"Cut!!" Director Sarian’s roar echoed across the set of Angel’s Revenge. "Melissa, what in the world are you doing?!"
Melissa flinched and looked toward the director. "Director, what did I do?"
"Ugh!! She doesn’t even know what she’s doing wrong!" Director Sarian pinched the bridge of his nose. "Ida, take that girl and have her read her lines! Fifteen-minute break, everyone!"
Ida let out a shallow breath and immediately approached Melissa. "Miss Melissa?"
Melissa pursed her lips and followed Ida to the corner. Her makeup artists had already rushed over to retouch her look, but before they could touch her, Ida raised a hand and waved them away.
"Miss Ida, why is Director Sarian so angry?" Melissa frowned deeply. "I was delivering my lines perfectly."
Ida winced slightly. "Melissa, I know you’re saying your lines, but your character needs to be angry at the same time, holding yourself back. This is the catalyst of the series; your acting needs more... power."
"But I’m doing what I’m supposed to do."
"I know, but the director is a perfectionist," Ida said wryly, keeping her thoughts to herself. "How about practicing your lines with me?"
Reluctance flickered in Melissa’s eyes, but she nodded. The two of them sat facing each other. Ida read Cedrick’s line casually, then waited for Melissa’s response.
"Is this how I am to you?"
Ida’s breath hitched as she observed Melissa’s unexpressive face. She had no choice but to stop her midway.
"Melissa, wait—ahem!" She cleared her throat. "Your lines are supposed to be delivered with suppressed anger. Your character is the underdog who just found out that the man she admired was using her all along."
Ida paused. "Just internalize the emotions. Think about how it feels to discover that the person you devoted your life to has been using you all along."
"Okay." Melissa nodded, drew a deep breath, and closed her eyes momentarily.
Hope flickered in Ida’s chest as she watched Melissa open her eyes. She quickly repeated the previous lines, then Melissa started delivering hers.
Oh, god... Ida bit her inner lip in distress. Director Sarian will kill her.
If Melissa’s acting wasn’t cutting it for Ida, it would almost certainly fail for Director Sarian. Still, Ida tried her best to coach her, demonstrating how Melissa should look and act. Her character, after all, was pitiful and would endure many hardships.
She wasn’t the main female lead, but she was a main character in the story, playing a key role in numerous scenes. Hence, the role’s importance.
With Ida’s guidance, Melissa finally got through the scene after several takes. But in the next scene, she was needed again—and Director Sarian was just as livid.
"CUT!" Director Sarian grabbed the back of his neck. "Melissa, what is wrong with you?! Why are you looking at the camera?!"
"No, I wasn’t—"
"Ida!" he shouted, waving his hand while looking away. "Talk to that girl and straighten her up. I swear—"
"Yes, director!" Ida rushed to Melissa, guiding her to a corner to "fix" her.
Meanwhile, Director Sarian slumped into a folding chair, massaging his temples.
"Water?"
He peeked from one eye to see Lola sitting beside him, offering a bottle of water, which he took.
"Damn it," he grumbled. "I said I wouldn’t go easy on her, but she’s really not right for the role. I have to pass the first scene just because it would take us an entire day... or years for her to get it right."
His face twisted bitterly as he chugged the water, swallowing his growing frustration. This was why he disliked it when people pulled strings just to get a role. Agreeing to the executive was easy; the real challenge came during filming. Unlike when actors were picked through auditions, he could assess their potential firsthand.
Lola remained quiet, smiling faintly. "Director, I’m sure Ida will do a good job. Melissa improved just from fifteen minutes with her."
"Does she think Ida is an acting coach?" he scowled. "Ida couldn’t do anything else because of her. Damn it. It’s getting late, and we’re still here."
It was only afternoon, but he was trying to capture daytime scenes before moving to night shots. Director Sarian drained the bottle of water while Lola quietly observed his side.
Minutes later, Ida signaled they were ready.
"Ready!" Director Sarian called through a megaphone. "We’ll start on my cue—hey!"
He pointed at the makeup artists moving toward Melissa. "Don’t! She doesn’t need to look pretty! Her family’s dead! She needs to look dead too!"
The makeup artists recoiled and gave Melissa apologetic looks. Melissa sighed faintly, not dwelling on it.
Did he think I’m not getting annoyed too?Repeating a line over and over—how am I supposed to do well when he stops me after one word?
She glanced at the seat next to Director Sarian. Lola was sitting in the director’s chair, smiling at her.
I knew it! They’re doing this on purpose!
Melissa clenched her teeth and looked away, telling herself not to let Lola distract her. Another minute later, everyone was on standby.
"Standby!" A crew member held a clapperboard in front of the camera. "...and action!"
"They took everything from me..." Melissa hugged her knees, squeezed into the corner. Everyone watching held their breath—not because she was doing a stunning job, but because she finally managed to deliver a few lines without being interrupted.
At this point, everyone just wished she would push through so they could move on. But then...
"What’s going on?" one staff member whispered from the side. "Where are the tears?"
The rest of the crew pursed their lips or covered their mouths. Other artists, like Megan and Pixy, shook their heads. They hadn’t seen Melissa’s audition, but now they understood why she hadn’t gotten the role.
"She can’t cry," Simon scoffed, crossing his arms. He had come to check on the delay, just like the other artists who had gathered to observe.
Ida touched her head in distress. "I didn’t think crying would be a problem."
Meanwhile, Director Sarian slumped further in his seat, hand on his nape.
"Oh—oh no, god! I feel like I’m going to have a heart attack," he said dramatically. "This is going to be the death of me."
If he had other options, he would have thrown a huge fit and replaced Melissa from the start. But he had to work with her. He could already imagine the headaches ahead.
"Director," Lola finally tapped him. "Should I help?"
Director Sarian shot her a side-eye. "Taz, can you even fix this?"
"I’ll try." Lola grinned from ear to ear and jumped from her seat. As she approached Melissa, all eyes turned to the walking scarecrow.
Melissa frowned. "Lola, what now? I can manage with Ida. You don’t have to—"
SLAP!