Chapter 35

In just a few days, Ryan experienced a completely different feeling from the last shoot, and it could even be said to be completely different.

If the last shoot for "The Witch Blair" was very relaxed, it didn't feel like a real film crew at all.

But now, shooting "Saw" is like being part of a regular film crew, even though it's an independent film, it's different from the crews across the Pacific in the past life.

It's inevitable to encounter various problems, and it will probably take some time to fully adapt.

Despite facing some difficulties, Ryan remains confident.

As for the difficulties encountered, they are almost all left to Sophia to handle.

Compared to Ryan's confidence, Sophia Coppola looks tired, with many responsibilities such as coordinating the crew, renting props, and communicating with actors falling on her alone.

On such days, lasting at least a week, she couldn't help but regret why she applied for the job in the first place.

Fortunately, Ryan's shooting schedule isn't too long. In about half a month, the crew can finish shooting, and her father has a vast network in Hollywood, so many things aren't too difficult to handle.

As some scenes wrap up, the crew begins to move to shoot indoor scenes, naturally at the standalone apartment Ryan rented, perhaps as a murder scene.

"Alright, this is it."

An old Ford car slowly stopped, followed by several small trucks, all coincidentally stopping in front of an apartment building.

"Everyone, hurry up and get out of the car, start setting up the lights."

"Hurry up, don't waste lunchtime." Ryan got out of the old Ford car and yelled at the crew members who had just got out.

Looking at the eerie apartment in front of her, Sophia Coppola couldn't help but shiver, feeling somewhat creepy. Just thinking about the guy who once pulled her here to clean up the room alone made her curse silently.

However, she didn't say much, remained calm, and directed the crew members to unload equipment from the car.

Helen, frowning at the apartment in front of her, said, "Ryan, I really don't know how to describe you!"

"Renting a murder scene and even living here, it's really a crazy move."

Ryan didn't think there was anything wrong with it, looking very natural, and said, "Don't you think it's perfect for shooting a horror movie here?"

"Perhaps." Helen had to admit that Ryan had always been very talented in terms of publicity.

"But you'd better be careful. If the landlord finds out that you're shooting a horror movie here, it might even become a selling point and be widely publicized in the media."

Speaking of which, Helen glanced at him and said, "You might end up receiving a subpoena."

The standalone apartment in front of them was originally a murder scene, combined with rumors of more than one suicide and being cursed by a witch, it was already chilling.

If a horror movie were to be shot here, along with numerous media reports, it would definitely become a notorious murder house in Los Angeles or even North America. It wouldn't just affect the rental or sale price, even the prices of the surrounding apartments would plummet.

"It doesn't matter, I can just buy it."

Ryan didn't care about it at all. It was just spending money to buy an apartment. Moreover, "Saw" would be a horror series, and this place could be used as a shooting location in the future.

"That's a good idea."

Helen subconsciously stepped back a bit, as if wanting to stay away from the apartment in front of her. She had no intention of entering a murder scene.

Scarlett Johansson, who had just arrived, looked at the apartment in front of her incredulously and asked, "Did a murder really happen here?"

For Scarlett Johansson, who was not yet ten years old, a murder scene was quite curious.

Before Ryan could answer, Helen immediately gave Scarlett a stern look and said, "Don't tell Scarlett about these things."

After that, Helen pulled Scarlett into her arms and said softly, "Maybe I should suggest to Ryan to hire a private tutor for you right away."

According to Hollywood rules, the crew must hire a private tutor for underage actors to ensure sufficient study time.

However, Scarlett Johansson was still young, and the shooting time was not very long, just a few days, so there was no need to specially hire a private tutor.

Of course, Scarlett Johansson's mother's relationship with Helen was also an important factor.

Private tutor?

Scarlett Johansson couldn't help but change her expression, as if she had heard something scary, shaking her head repeatedly and saying, "Helen, you said I didn't need a private tutor."

It wasn't easy to get away from school, and she didn't want a private tutor to come over. That wasn't the life she wanted.

"I meant you didn't need one if you behaved."

Helen reached out and touched Scarlett Johansson's hair, continuing, "So, dear, you should understand what I mean."

"Okay, Helen." Scarlett Johansson grumbled, showing a hint of reluctance on her face.

Compared to curiosity, a private tutor seemed scarier.

Ryan ignored the two of them and instead called other crew members to enter the apartment.

The standalone apartment in front of them had always retained its original appearance. Although Ryan had lived here for a while, he hadn't changed anything. He wouldn't make too many changes for the upcoming shooting, trying to keep the murder scene as authentic as possible.

The reason for doing this was very simple, just for the publicity before the film was released.

Simply put, this apartment is the home of one of the main characters in the movie, Lawrence, where his wife Alison and young daughter live. So, the main layout of the apartment doesn't need much change.

As the equipment is unloaded one by one, Ryan lets the lighting crew start setting up, and shooting will start immediately after lunch.

As for lunch!

Sophia had already arranged for a clean and inexpensive fast food restaurant to deliver three meals a day, as well as supper and desserts in the evening.

While the lighting crew and set designers are preparing, Ryan goes to the study to calculate the next shooting plan and some matters after the film wraps up.

In fact, the shooting schedule for the crew isn't urgent. With the arrival of the North American summer box office season, a variety of commercial blockbusters are continuously released, from this year's North American box office champion "Forrest Gump" to the globally successful "The Lion King," as well as "True Lies," "Stone Age Paradise," "Speed," and so on.

It can be said that most of the top ten films in North American box office this year are from the summer season, and it's not an exaggeration to say that there's a concentration of big films.

So, even if "Saw" finishes shooting, it will take some time before it can be released.

With the investment cost of "Saw" and Ryan's fame, it's difficult to compete in the summer box office.

Moreover, the screens owned by North American theater companies have long been divided up by a variety of commercial blockbusters.

Even if it can be released at the end of the summer season, there won't be many screens available.

In fact, the best time for North American horror movies to be released is around Christmas, but unfortunately, there's still half a year until Christmas, and Ryan can't wait that long.

However, as a low-budget horror film, the target audience for "Saw" is mostly young people who crave thrills.

The main consumers during the summer box office season are young people, so if it can be released at the end of the summer box office season, it will be very beneficial for the box office of the film.

In the previous life, "Saw" was released at the end of October, and the schedule was just average.

If the period from the first Monday in September to the beginning of November is considered the autumn season, it's also a relatively quiet period for movie releases. Most of the films released during this time have limited budgets, with a large portion being thrillers and horror films.

According to Ryan's plan, "Saw" would be best released at the end of August. This way, it could avoid the fierce competition of the summer box office season and capture some of the summer box office wave. The film's main release time would be during the quiet autumn season when there are rarely any major releases.

However, his idea is good, but whether it can be implemented depends on negotiations with the distribution company.

Even if it's at the end of the summer box office season, it's not easy to squeeze in.