Sample 1

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When Christian informed Jodie Foster that they could attend the sample viewing, the crew's wrap-up party had already concluded. The party had been deliberately scheduled for this day to allow everyone to unwind and head home early. Consequently, it was a straightforward and brief affair. Some impatient actors and crew members departed for Los Angeles amid the event.

However, as the director and assistant director, Christian and Richard remained, they also had the responsibility of escorting Jodie Foster for the sample viewing, particularly to discuss the possibility of additional investments.

Charlize, too, opted not to leave.

"I want to preview my performance in this movie," she explained.

Jodie Foster admired her commitment as an actress, even though Christian thought it made little sense for Charlize to do so. As a director, he understood that with the right post-production work, a talented actor's subpar performance could be salvaged, and a brilliant actor's work could be marred by editing – though it would be costly.

However, Christian kept his thoughts to himself, for as long as he saw the blonde girl engaged in conversation and laughter with Jodie Foster, he knew her focus wasn't on drinking.

Speaking of Jodie Foster, she resembled a lace edge.

Christian's mind began to wander...

'Stop it'

By this time, several of them were already inside an old RV, joined by Jodie Foster, her assistant, and cinematographer Addison Young. With six people crammed into the small RV, it felt a bit snug.

"Have you tidied up?" Christian teased Old Gun, slinging an arm around his shoulder.

"Of course" Old Gun retorted, glaring at Christian. But in front of the three women with them, he chose not to say anything and instead busied himself with the sample show alongside Addison.

"I haven't seen a sample yet. I wonder how it turned out," Old Gun mumbled.

Richard, an assistant director, primarily handled crew coordination and work planning. He didn't have much direct involvement in the filming process. However, he held high expectations and believed that many scenes had been executed well. Still, he couldn't be entirely objective, watching through the lens of anticipation.

"It should be really good" Addison Yang, who had been silent, suddenly chimed in, leaving Old Gun to think he was answering his question. When Old Gun looked up, he realized Addison was talking to himself.

Well, he's also emotionally invested, so his judgment isn't entirely objective.

Resigned, Old Gun shifted his gaze to Jodie Foster.

*****

Jodie looked at the sample playing in front of her with surprise. Despite being a raw cut, lacking dubbing, soundtrack, and without any editing, she, as a seasoned star, could immediately discern that the film showed great promise.

For starters, the opening scene of the two climbers' deaths was expertly executed. The fog-covered cliffs the climbers scaled at the outset exuded an eerie and mysterious ambiance. This visual language could only be accomplished by a skilled director and photographer.

When the male climber met his demise, the cinematography was even more compelling. The focus was on the female climber, still clinging to the cliff, as she watched her companion at the cliff's peak ignore her calls and then witnessed his body plummet. The corpse appeared small and gradually grew in size, falling directly in front of the viewer's eyes, creating a vivid and chilling image. The impact was intensified as the screen was filled with the terror and blood on the face of the dying climber, and Jodie involuntarily leaned back.

The scene was more fitting for 3D films, but it had its place in the 2D era as well. Jodie could name several movies that employed this technique. However, the visual impact she experienced was unlike anything she had seen before.

Christian and photographer Addison exchanged satisfied glances. Foster's reaction pleased them. The shot was their pride and joy, but it came at a price – the stuntman Brandon Fisher had been killed and had to stop hanging from the wire after filming.

Jodie Foster, engrossed in the screening, remained oblivious to this fact. She merely appreciated how well the camera had captured the scene.

However, her excitement was far from over.

As the male climber's corpse was enlarged to its maximum, the camera seamlessly transitioned to follow the falling corpse from the female climber's perspective. This use of opposing motion shots, though not entirely novel, demanded a vivid imagination to stitch together. The director's command over the camera was admirable, as the shots flowed smoothly and conveyed a powerful impact.

Suddenly, the corpse's face took up the entire screen, and the head shattered like a watermelon. The gruesome image filled the screen.

"Aaah"

Jodie Foster wasn't the one who screamed in fright; it was her assistant, Anna. Jodie Foster, on the other hand, considered her assistant too young and evaluated the three seamlessly connected opposing shots.

Viewed individually, each shot wasn't groundbreaking, but merging them required imagination. Moreover, the director displayed excellent camera control to achieve a seamless flow and convey a powerful impact.

Jodie Foster couldn't help but cast an admiring glance at Christian.

*****

Christian felt accomplished with these shots, but he wasn't overly proud. He knew he had borrowed many relative motion shots from future 3D blockbusters. The impact of these shots relied on the expertise of photographer Addison. Christian had added some creative touches.

The shots that truly filled Christian with pride were yet to come...

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