Hollywood:Starting out as an MV director

Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Full Blast



Two days later, the MV shoot began. Everyone, including Yesan, gathered on set to watch the filming progress.

Ethan was the director, and Jimmy was the cameraman.

Jimmy had honed his skills through various film sets and was quite familiar with basic camera techniques due to his experience and learning.

That was sufficient. For the more complex shots, he just needed to follow Ethan's instructions.

At this point, the originally luxurious model room had been transformed. Broken second-hand luxury lights hung from the ceiling, a long table was placed in the center of the living room, and numerous second-hand paintings were hung on the walls.

However, the blue-tinted glass outside, resembling a post-rain sky, combined with limited lighting, made the entire environment look exceptionally dim. As a result, the true condition of the second-hand items was not visible on camera.

"Okay, is everyone ready?"

Ethan picked up the microphone. It was his first time as a director. Although directing was second nature to him, this was a memorable milestone in his new role.

"Camera is ready."

"Lighting team is ready."

"Props team is ready."

"Uh… I… I'm ready." Raymond was still in the outfit from the album cover, wearing a black leather jacket and a cross necklace.

He looked at the people on set, feeling inexplicably nervous.

Mainly because of Ethan, as he had seen how demanding and tough Ethan could be after the cover shoot.

But Ethan paid no attention to his thoughts and directly shouted into the microphone, "Let's start."

The crew immediately clapped the slate in front of the camera, and the first shot began.

But half an hour later…

"Move your butt out of the way! Don't dance! Are you imitating Donald Duck? I can't afford Disney's copyright fees! Raymond!"

"Jimmy! Lower the camera! This shot needs a low angle! Low angle! Are you filming in Lilliput?"

"Props team! Are you eating shit? I've said it three times! Don't let that stand appear there! This is the fourth time. If it happens again, get out!"

"FXXK! Jimmy, why are you zooming in so close? Are you filming a porno? Pull back!"

"Expressions! Raymond, don't look like a sleazy old man! You're rich, have women, and money! You need to stand tall!"

"What is the props team doing? Where's the chandelier? Did you think it wasn't needed? Did you have a brain freeze from last night's flight? FXXK YOU!"

"Tom, get that guy out of here! A grown man crying! Pay him off to disappear from my sight forever."

"Yesan, you're no good either! This is non-negotiable; the props must be bought again! I won't allow any flaws in this work!"

Ethan's voice echoed throughout the set. Everyone felt like they were walking on thin ice, scared to make even the slightest mistake. Even other film crews came by to observe for a while.

Everyone was terrified. Ethan's demeanor was like a ravenous demon. His eyes and posture were highly aggressive. Even if someone wanted to argue, they would lose in his gaze.

Moreover, anyone who tried to argue would first be stopped by Tom, whose muscular build and intimidating presence were comparable to a fighter.

But the crucial thing was that Ethan's every word was spot on. He had explained every detail to the crew before filming, but they were used to slacking off, and since Ethan wasn't famous, they tried to get away with it.

After scolding one person to tears and sending them away, the entire crew dared not neglect Ethan's instructions any longer. They all kept their heads down, afraid of being beaten by the muscular Tom.

Even Yesan and Raymond did not dare to provoke the situation because they had promised to let Ethan take charge.

And Ethan was strictly professional; he wouldn't hold previous mistakes against anyone unless they were habitual.

Thus, the crew worked with extraordinary efficiency, completing the indoor MV shoot in just one day and cleaning up everything by 8 PM, saving Yesan a significant amount of budget.

Ethan finally had some free time, sitting on the set's sofa, looking at the footage on the monitor and considering the shot transitions.

"Hey, have a hot dog." Jimmy came over and handed him a steaming hot dog.

Ethan took a bite and smiled, "Didn't scare you off, did I, Jimmy?"

Jimmy made an exaggerated expression, "It was terrifying, Ethan. You were like Satan possessed. I even considered pouring holy water on you."

"Hahaha, I was just a little…" Ethan began to explain but was interrupted by Jimmy's slap on the back.

He shrugged, "No need for that, Ethan. You know I've always got your back, just like in school! I know you just want this MV to look amazing. I should thank you for giving me this chance."

Jimmy sat beside Ethan, speaking with a complex tone, "I've been through many film crews, and I know how arrogant those directors and cameramen can be."

"Good buddy." Ethan shook his hand, and they bumped shoulders.

"But I have to be honest; I'm not very good with cameras…" Jimmy frowned. "For some reason, I'm more interested in setting up scenes. Maybe today's setup just felt cool? I don't know."

"Then you could lean towards being an art director," Ethan suggested. "Maybe in the future, if I get a chance to direct a film, you could come on board as the art director and help me manage everything."

"Wow, that's so cool. Art directors have so much control, props, costumes, and it's also the department with the most women. Ethan, you're speaking right to my heart." Jimmy whistled, excited.

Ethan shook his head helplessly. It was clear that Jimmy's motivation was the women.

But that's okay. The most frightening thing is a lack of motivation. Whether it's for money or women, everyone needs a driving force.

With that thought, Ethan opened his phone and sent a greeting text to Scarlett.

The next day, the MV shoot continued.

However, this time it was much simpler. They rented a garage, which was filled with a row of luxury cars, including a Porsche 911.

All you need to do is shoot a moving shot that includes all the vehicles, and then shoot a shot of Raymond sitting in the car and driving.

As for the shots of vehicles driving, it is very simple. Just set the camera in a fixed position and let them drive by.

However, although there were fewer scenes today and the crew members were more cooperative than before, they still filmed for a whole day.

Due to weather reasons, Ethan was never very satisfied with the vehicle materials.

After finally finishing the last shot, everyone looked at Ethan expectantly, hoping to hear that pleasant voice.

After Ethan finished reading all the materials with a frown on his face, he closed his eyes and thought for a while. Finally, he stood up, picked up the microphone and shouted, "No problem! Finished!"

In an instant, everyone started cheering.


Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.