Chapter 203 - 202
The debate was whether Owen Jennings could truly portray the male lead Kevin Aldrich’s wild, flamboyant, and cynical nature. But naturally, the one facing the most scrutiny was Joanna Kennedy.
Setting aside the question of whether her celebrity status was an issue for a role in a film by Director Archer, her public image alone made it hard for people to believe her in the role.
The original novel didn’t describe the female lead’s appearance in great detail, but reading the book as a whole, it’s clear that Laura Spencer is meant to be plainly pretty.
Joanna Kennedy was so stunningly beautiful and vivacious. How could she possibly look like a poor girl from a small town? The online comments were blunt.
[Seriously, why cast Joanna Kennedy as the lead? If Laura Spencer looked like her, it would be completely natural for Kevin Aldrich to fall for her. Why would he be too afraid to admit it?]
[I agree, it’s such a bad fit for the character. Director Archer really dropped the ball on casting this time. Don’t tell me he got strong-armed by the investors.]
[OMG, Director Archer, I’ve just got to say—you can’t just cast someone because they’re pretty. You have to see if they actually fit the character!]
There were many comments like this. Joanna’s Fans tried to argue back for a while but found they had no comeback. After all, her beauty was an undeniable fact.
Many fans of her rivals also started sneakily spreading rumors that Joanna Kennedy had paid her way onto the cast, bribed Conor Archer, and was using veteran actors to prop her up. There were so many of these comments that it was clear someone had hired an army of paid posters.
"Stay off the internet for a while and just focus on your acting," Walter Young said, making a point to call and instruct Joanna Kennedy.
Joanna Kennedy closed the comments section. "Was it Zachary Carter’s team that hired the paid posters?"
"He doesn’t have the resources for that right now," Walter Young said. "Zachary Carter’s team is worried sick about losing endorsements and having their variety show contracts terminated. They wouldn’t dare court disaster again."
"Then who was it?" Joanna Kennedy asked, puzzled.
Walter Young replied, "It’s not just one. The teams for several of the top young starlets have all chipped in to hire paid posters."
In the entertainment industry, you get bullied if you aren’t famous. But being famous is its own cardinal sin—it turns you into a public target. People will take a shot at you whenever they can, regardless of whether you have a history with them. They call it "suppression"—stopping a rival before they can blow up.
Joanna Kennedy’s popularity was already skyrocketing, and now she was starring in a film by a major director. If this movie became a hit, she would be catapulted into the A-list of young actresses.
The number of actors and stars is always growing, but there are only so many resources to go around. One less competitor is always a good thing.
Joanna Kennedy understood this principle. She took a deep breath. "Okay. I get it. Thanks, Walter."
The crew of a major director’s production was highly professional, so the online gossip didn’t affect them. The day after the opening ceremony, the cast and crew began shooting.
A high school classroom set.
"Cut!" Director Archer yelled, his brow furrowed. "Kevin Aldrich, I told you to play an arrogant, unrestrained scion of an official! What’s with this bright and sunny act?!"
Once filming started, he addressed everyone by their character’s name to help the actors stay immersed.
"We’ve done this self-introduction three times now. You’re either completely stone-faced or beaming like you’re the happiest guy on earth!" Director Archer said, not mincing words.
Owen Jennings was speechless. ’So I can’t smile, but I can’t not smile, either.’
This was the first scene: the male lead has just transferred to a new school and is introducing himself onstage. Owen Jennings naturally had that handsome, sunny-boy look. When he smiled, he radiated vibrant energy, but no matter what he did, the director felt it was wrong.
"Go to the side and think it over. Find the right feel for it," Director Archer ordered.
He was normally humorous and witty and could take a joke, but once filming started, he became dead serious and wouldn’t give an inch to anyone.
Owen Jennings had no choice but to step outside with his script to try and find the right feel for the character. After studying it for a long while, he still didn’t think he’d done anything wrong, and his brow furrowed deeply.
Director Archer, growing impatient, pointed at Joanna Kennedy. "You! Go teach him!"
Joanna Kennedy: "...?"
"If we don’t finish this scene, no one is eating!" Conor Archer barked at Joanna Kennedy.
Joanna Kennedy was speechless. ’Wait, what does this have to do with me??’
’He’s a major director. A major director. I’ll tolerate it.’
Joanna Kennedy walked over, her tone cold. "Are you going to get this or not?"
"You should never ask a man if he can ’get it done.’" Owen Jennings wasn’t the least bit worried, and was even in the mood to joke around. "By the way, did you hear? We’re shooting on location tomorrow. I heard they rented a mansion from some rich guy in Marinus."
"Not interested," Joanna Kennedy said, glancing at the time on her phone. "Lunch is in half an hour. Get a move on."
Owen Jennings: "......"
He let out a mournful sigh, lamenting that lunch was more important than him. But one cold glare from Joanna Kennedy made him shut up and obediently go back to finding his motivation.
Owen Jennings was handsome, with a wholesome air about him. He had the sunny disposition of an enthusiastic college student.
He really was still college-aged. Joanna Kennedy sighed, her expression softening. After a moment’s thought, she spoke up. "Try to really immerse yourself in the character’s background and social status before you perform."
’She wasn’t sure if her advice was right, but this was always her method. She would first immerse herself in the environment her character grew up in. Only then could she better understand and shape the character, rather than just giving a superficial performance.’
Owen Jennings clearly hadn’t expected her to say anything. He froze for a second before a cheeky grin spread across his face. "Laura, you’re so nice to me~"
Joanna Kennedy was speechless. ’Laura? What the hell? It sure rolls off his tongue.’
Joanna Kennedy had absolutely no patience for this and turned to walk away. She didn’t see the complex emotion that flashed in Owen Jennings’s eyes as she left.
’He was starting to regret his promise to Charles Jennings.’
Five minutes later, the cameras rolled again. Dressed in trendy streetwear, Kevin Aldrich walked through the door, a stark contrast to the students in their school uniforms. He introduced himself with a smile, his voice cheerful and bold, but his eyes couldn’t hide his disdain.
He looked down on every single student in front of him.
As the mayor’s son, he had been showered with glory since birth. He was only exiled to this place by his family because he’d caused some major trouble. In his mind, it was no different from being sent to a reform camp for a reality show.
If he wanted to go back, he had to put on a convincing show of being reformed. So he made himself appear good-natured and friendly with his classmates, but in his heart, he still despised them.
’This character,’ Owen Jennings thought, ’was a lot like his cousin—completely two-faced.’
This time, the scene went smoothly. No one yelled "Cut."
Lunch was boxed meals provided by the production: three dishes, a soup, and a portion of rice. The standard was quite high, and Joanna Kennedy thought it tasted much better than the food on her last set.
The afternoon was dedicated mainly to Joanna Kennedy’s scenes. Her makeup alone took over twenty minutes.
Joanna Kennedy’s skin was too fair, smooth, and radiant. With her naturally rosy lips and pearly white teeth, she stuck out like a sore thumb among the student extras.
’What kind of high school student looks that bright and full of life?’
A sallow foundation was smoothed evenly over her face, and her natural lip color was muted. The image of a wan but pretty high school girl began to emerge.
Joanna Kennedy slipped into character quickly. In one scene opposite Leah Shaw, who played her mother, her mother tried to persuade her to drop out of school and just go find work in the south.
Although the female lead was timid, she was also resilient and stubbornly refused. In the scene, she gets pushed.
In a scene like this, actors are supposed to control their strength. But a ruthless glint appeared in Leah Shaw’s eyes, and she didn’t hold back at all. Joanna Kennedy’s lower back slammed into a table, and she grimaced in pain.