Chapter 157: Olivia Is Outshining Her
Amelia quickly had her makeup touched up, the glaring red imprint of Olivia’s slap now concealed beneath layers of foundation, leaving no visible trace. Finished.
As shooting resumed, the entire sequence was reset and replayed from the beginning. Both Amelia and Olivia delivered flawless performances until the pivotal moment. When Olivia raised her hand for the slap, Amelia’s heart skipped a beat, a phantom pain lingering on her cheek. As Olivia’s palm arced through the air, Amelia, overwhelmed by fear, instinctively turned her head to avoid the blow. Olivia’s hand struck nothing but air.
“Cut!” Jos’s voice boomed across the set. “Amelia, what are you doing? Why did you dodge?” he barked, frustration seeping into his tone. Jos had anticipated that Chris might be the weak link in this scene. Never did he expect Amelia to be the problem. Though not an elite actress, Amelia’s acting skills were solid enough to avoid major mishaps. Yet her evasive move had completely disrupted the flow of the story.
For the first time, Jos shouted at Amelia. Her breath quickened under the weight of his anger. “Reset! We’re doing it again,” Jos ordered coldly. Biting her lip, Amelia returned to her mark. This was the first time her performance had derailed a take, and it was all because of Olivia!
The scene began again, but history repeated itself. “Amelia, what’s going on with you? After so many films, are you telling me you can’t act better than Olivia who’s barely got any experience?” Jos erupted after the third failed attempt.
Amelia herself couldn’t explain it. Every time Olivia raised her hand, an instinctive fear surged within her, compelling her body to flinch away from the slap. As Jos’s fury grew, Amelia’s expression darkened. All three failed takes had been her fault, while Olivia’s performance remained impeccable. Though Amelia was relatively new to the industry, her acting had always garnered praise, and mistakes were rare for her. Yet here she was, failing repeatedly in a single scene. Even the crew began whispering among themselves.
“I thought Amelia was supposed to be a good actress?” “She used to be solid, but why does she keep messing up whenever she’s with Olivia?”
Chapter 157: Olivia Is Outshining Her
“Honestly, Olivia’s outshining her.” As an actress who prided herself on her skills, Amelia had never faced such doubts. Listening to the murmurs around her, she struggled to maintain her composed facade.
“Mr. Jos, actually, there’s a reason I haven’t been able to get into character,” Amelia suddenly said, taking a deep breath. “What reason?” Jos asked impatiently. Amelia hesitated before glancing toward Olivia, her face conflicted, as though she’d debated saying this for a long time.
“Olivia’s interpretation… is different from the script.” Her words caused Jos and the others to pause. Olivia raised an eyebrow, glancing at Amelia. So, she’s shifting the blame now?
Amelia sighed, her expression tinged with reluctance. “When Penelope delivers that monologue, it’s supposed to be full of jealousy and resentment. But Olivia’s performance is too calm, making it really hard for me to connect with the scene.” The same lines, when delivered with different emotions, could drastically alter the tone of the scene.
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