"Richard, come here," Coppola called out, beckoning Richard to join him. They played the last scene, but something didn't feel quite right.
"Something is missing, isn't it?" Coppola's voice cut through the quiet on set, probing Richard's thoughts.
Richard nodded in agreement, a frown etching his face. "Yes, something is missing, something like an edge, but what?" His mind raced, searching for the missing piece. He can feel the problem with his acting, but can't understand what he is missing.
"Francis, can you give me some time?" Richard finally spoke up, his voice tinged with determination.
Coppola's concern was evident as he replied, "Richard, you know this scene has been shot for the last two weeks. If we can't finish it today, we will fall behind schedule."
"I know, just give me some time, Francis," Richard's voice held a hint of urgency as he pleaded for a moment to collect his thoughts.
Coppola sighed in resignation, realizing the gravity of the situation. "Fine, 20 minutes break, everyone," he announced, signaling a temporary pause in the hectic filming schedule.
It was clear that the smooth shooting had hit a snag, and this seemingly easy scene had become unexpectedly difficult to capture. As the saying goes, when misfortune strikes, it strikes hard.
It seemed every misfortune had chosen this moment to plague the set. From prop shortages to small accidents, camera breakdowns, and even actors struggling to get into the right state of mind, everything that could go wrong did.
The most devastating blow came when the young actress playing the ghost fell ill, forcing her to drop out of the film and causing further delays as a replacement was sought.
As the chaos unfolded around him, Richard found himself hitting a creative wall. His performance suffered under the pressure, mirroring the underlying tension on set. The frustration of not being able to deliver his best work weighed heavily on him.
Feeling frustrated, Richard retreated to another room and sat in the corner, unable to shake off his disappointment. The previous shot had been promising, good enough to potentially make it into the final cut, but it was incomplete, lacking a crucial element that Richard couldn't quite put his finger on, leaving him feeling stuck and frustrated.
As he sat in the corner, lost in thought, he didn't notice someone sitting beside him. "It's okay to be sad," a gentle voice broke through his reverie.
Richard looked up to see Drew Barrymore, who joined the project after the original actress dropped out.
Drew had been the first choice for the role, but she had been busy with another film. Later when the role was open again she took it as the film she was working on was cancelled midway due to unspecified reasons.
“What?” he murmured, caught off guard.
“I said it’s okay to be sad,” Drew repeated, playfully nudging his shoulder with her own. “Everyone has days where they just hit a wall, you know?”
“Thanks, Drew, but I still can’t figure it out. It’s not the acting I’m worried about; it’s the character. It just doesn’t match perfectly with what I envisioned.” Richard sighed, opening the floodgates of his thoughts.
“I keep thinking about how to make it work, but I just can’t. It feels like some thin glass is separating me from the character.”
As he spoke, Drew couldn’t help but laugh, her reaction catching him off guard. His frustration melted for a moment as he stared at her, bewildered before he inevitably joined her laughter, the sound echoing off the sterile walls.
“What’s so funny?” Richard pretended to pout, fighting a smile.
“It’s you! This is the first time I’ve seen you look so… clueless. You have this air of confidence, guiding everyone, and to see you like this is just hilarious,” she managed between fits of giggles.
If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
“Ha ha ha, very funny,” Richard replied sarcastically, though a joking smirk broke through.
“I’m serious,” Drew responded, her cheeks still pink from laughter. “Everyone makes mistakes, you know? My mom always said kids’ job is to make mistakes so they can learn from them.”
Richard raised an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly. “You really admire your mom, don’t you?”
“I love her,” Drew sighed, but her expression dimmed. “I just wish my parents wouldn’t fight so much. It’s been tough lately.”
“Hey, don’t worry about that. They’re probably just getting through something together. As long as feelings are involved, things will work out,” he consoled, wrapping an arm around her shoulders in a comforting gesture.
"That's right feelings are important" declared Drew while standing in a happy mood again.
Richard’s heart raced; the emotions he had been struggling to convey suddenly resonated in a new way.
“Wait,” he exclaimed, jumping up as he took an exhilarating breath, “Feelings! That’s it! Drew, you’re a genius!”
“What… what did I do?” she asked, slightly taken aback by his excitement.
“It solved! The problem is solved! I finally found the missing piece of the puzzle!” Richard couldn’t contain his joy. His earlier frustrations evaporated, replaced by a renewed vigor.
Drew, caught up in his infectious enthusiasm, clapped her hands in delight.
"Let's go and finish this scene once and for all," Richard declared, determination shining in his eyes.
"Yes, let's go," Drew echoed, mirroring his enthusiasm.
{A/N: Seriously imaging the entire conversation between two 8 year olds, will really weird you out. }
As they returned to the set, they found that the 20-minute break was over, and everyone was preparing to resume filming. It was a coincidence that they had solved the problem just in time to get back to work.
For the last time, the shot was taken again,
Cole remembering Cowre's advice, hardening his face with determination, slowly came out of the couch and walked slowly step by step towards the red sheet covering the silhouette.
He stopped in front of it and slowly reached out his hand toward the red sheet. His hand paused in front of the sheet for a moment before he pulled the sheet.
The same girl was revealed, and they locked eyes - one expression blank, the other a mix of terror and determination. An unsettling silence filled the air, heavy with tension.
"I'm feeling better now," the ghost girl said, breaking the silence.
"Ca...can I help you with something?" Cole asked hesitantly.
"Cut!" Coppola shouted, ending the scene.
As Director Coppola surveyed the set, his expression turned serious, just as it had before. But then, a sudden smile spread across his face, and he clapped his hands together. "Excellent! This scene is a wrap!" he announced, and the tension on set dissipated.
Everyone, including Richard, let out a collective sigh of relief, followed by a burst of applause.
The scene, which had been a challenging one, had finally been completed without any major issues, and the cast and crew were visibly relieved.
The film was back on track, and on February 10th, the final shooting took place.
Due to Coppola finishing Al Pacino's shot first, Richards's last shot will be the last shot of the film.
The scene is about the Cole confessing to his mother about his gift.
As they sat in the car, Cole suddenly spoke up, "Grandma comes to visit me sometimes."
Lynn's expression turned unreadable, and her voice was tightly controlled as she replied, "Cole, that's very wrong. Grandma's gone. You know that." Cole's response was simple: "I know."
A moment of silence followed before Cole continued, his voice filled with conviction. "She wanted me to tell you... she saw you dance."
Lynn's eyes locked onto Cole's, and she interrupted him, her voice trembling. "Cole, please stop."
But Cole pressed on, his words spilling out in a rush. "She said when you were little, you and her had a fight right before your dance recital. You thought she didn't come to see you dance. She did."
Lynn's eyes welled up with tears as Cole continued, his voice softening. "She hid in the back so you wouldn't see... she said you were like an angel."
Lynn's hands flew to her mouth, and she began to sob. Cole's voice cracked as he spoke the final words: "She said, you came to her where they buried her... and asked her a question... her reply was 'always' " Lynn's tears flowed freely as Cole whispered, "What did you ask?"
Lynn's voice was barely audible as she replied, "Do I make her proud?" Cole moved closer, and Lynn cradled him in her arms, holding him tight.
The scene ended with a sense of closure, and Director Coppola's voice rang out, "Cut! And perfect!"
Jodie, who played Lynn, laughed through her tears, turning to Ric and saying, "Look what you did to me!"
Richard joked, "Oh pretty lady, I'm so sorry. How can I rectify this mistake?"
Jodie smiled, "How about lunch tomorrow?"
Richard grinned, "Deal."
Throughout the filming process, Jodie and Ric developed a strong bond, which was evident in their on-screen chemistry. Their unique connection brought a special charm to their scenes together, and their camaraderie was palpable even in the most intense moments.
With the set packed up, Director Coppola rushed into post-production, aiming for a June release if all went smoothly.