Wu Mu was still thinking that it was just a bit of footage and would be quickly shot.
But if he really got stopped over and over again, when would it ever end?
Wang Xiaotian and the others, also watching, didn’t seem too surprised—after all, an internationally acclaimed director who has won so many awards, especially one who makes art films, wouldn’t fit the stereotype if he weren’t a bit quirky.
Wang Xiaotian was even taking a bit of schadenfreude in it, "Wu Mu, you’re going to suffer in a bit."
Lu Yao, on the other hand, was quietly comforting him, "Wu Mu, your acting was so good just now, it shouldn’t be ."
Well, that’s uncertain...
Even with Wu Mu’s perspective, he couldn’t see what was wrong with the actors’ performances; they seemed natural enough, yet the director kept stopping the scene as if to purposely torment them.
The male and female leads were clearly tortured by the process; after several takes, they both seemed a bit out of their mind.
"Okay, that’s a wrap."
This take finally passed, but Wu Mu couldn’t see what made it any better than the previous ones.
After a few more scenes, the leads in the film had finally reached their limit.
And then it was Wu Mu’s turn to enter the scene.
Sha Wei’er hurriedly arranged for Wu Mu to go on stage.
Wu Mu had shot quite a few dramas and had experience; he wasn’t likely to mess up the basics.
But... his worry happened.
Sitting on the cold stone bricks by the Seine River, after the clapperboard snapped, he reached for the piano strings as previously explained by Sha Wei’er.
Then he had barely lifted his hand.
Old man Matthew looked at him expressionlessly and called cut.
The second take, Wu Mu reached toward the guitar...
And was stopped again.
To be stopped on just the first action, and twice at that.
The most critical thing was that he still had no idea what the problem was.
Wu Mu, previously somewhat confident, now started to feel a touch of irritation in his heart.
The third take, at the same spot, he was cut off almost as soon as he reached out his hand.
Wu Mu couldn’t hold back anymore.
He stood up and asked Matthew, "What’s wrong with what I’m doing?"
After all, he was being paid, and it wasn’t like he couldn’t continue after just these few takes, but at least he should be told what the problem was.
What was the point of repeating the same thing over and over?
He wanted to understand what was wrong so he could correct it, but when Sha Wei’er and other crew members saw his gesture, they all felt a jump in their hearts.
They were done for; this man was going to anger their director.
They might not know their director’s style of shooting, but they certainly did. Matthew Albert always had the last say during filming and didn’t require anyone’s opinions or thoughts. He might not get angry with you for doing re-takes over and over, but if you dared to backtalk or ask too much, you would immediately infuriate him.
As expected, Sha Wei’er had already seen old man Matthew’s calm face suddenly turn cold.
He coldly stared at Wu Mu, "Re-shoot it."
Wu Mu, however, continued to seriously look at old man Matthew, asking, "What’s the issue with my performance?"
Old man Matthew stared coldly at him, this time without speaking.
The atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing.
Even those nearby, such as Wang Xiaotian and Lu Yao, couldn’t help but look at Wu Mu with worry.
And just as they were concerned, Matthew Albert, who was behind the monitor, suddenly stood up, walked over to Wu Mu in a few steps, snatched the guitar off Wu Mu’s body, and threw it aside, coldly fixing his gaze on him, "Leave; I do not need you here."
Damn it, was this being polite to someone he had favored?
Wu Mu took a deep breath. If this had been before, he definitely would have turned around and left without another word.
You think he’s after such a minor role, huh?
But if he walks away now, it would really look like he’s admitting defeat because he’s not as skilled.
If he had known this director’s style of shooting, he definitely wouldn’t have taken the role.
Wu Mu tried hard to suppress the annoyance in his heart and once again looked at Matthew Albert seriously, "Tell me what’s wrong. I feel like I can adjust."
Matthew Albert had a mocking expression on his face, "You still dare to ask what’s wrong, Emotions, do you know about emotions?"
He pointed at the film’s male lead, "You’re supposed to be his future, do you understand?"
Then he pointed at the female lead, "I need you to have feelings for her! What’s inside you, guilt? Redemption? I need love, you get it?"
Why don’t you just say it straight out!
Do you have to be so mysteriously silent?
Wu Mu really didn’t style of a big-time director not speaking plainly.
He took a deep breath and faced the scornful old man Matthew with a gaze, "Let me try again."
Old man Matthew gave him a cold glance and settled back behind the monitor.
They shot the scene again.
The male and female leads walked silently on the cobblestone path by the Seine River, while the wandering musician Wu Mu paid them no mind; he simply cradled the guitar, expressionless, head down, just looking at his guitar strings.
A passerby bent down to place ten euros in his guitar case; he glances at it, then lowers his head again, just looking at the strings.
Watching from the side, Lu Yao gasped, "Sister Qingyue, Teacher Wu Mu is doing so well here. Just that look earlier, it made my heart sink."
Lin Qingyue smiled with a faint sigh, "He’s playing himself."
This time Wu Mu wasn’t stopped with a "cut!" and he went through smoothly.
Old man Matthew stood up, came over to Wu Mu again, and nodded, "You did very well."
Wu Mu was speechless. What was this, a compliment from an international director?
He wasn’t the kind of person with a fragile psyche; this sort of thing didn’t affect him at all.
Wu Mu’s scene was complete, but the shoot wasn’t over yet.
He had to connect a segment of a body double playing the guitar.
Wu Mu watched as the body double specifically brought in was stopped over and over by Matthew’s "cut!", becoming numb.
This wasn’t going to work—if they continued , when would his brief scene be finished?
No, he had to think of something.
Wu Mu immediately opened the system panel.
Wu Mu again had nearly two thousand points of a large sum.
It was over five hundred before the night show. The event had added over twelve hundred and, followed by endorsements and exclusive interviews, another hundred or so points, plus some from today’s ongoing recording.
He specifically hadn’t used the points after the show, thinking that if there weren’t any special needs, he would save up for a Golden Treasure Box. Content originally comes from novel⸺fire.net
Now it seemed like time to use them.
Following his previous plan, Wu Mu left five hundred as a base and spent thirteen hundred points to buy thirteen white Treasure Boxes.
After mentally commanding, the Treasure Boxes on the system panel slowly opened.
[Congratulations on gaining attribute points, Guitar +1 reward.]X7
[Congratulations on gaining attribute points, Piano +1 reward.]x2
[Congratulations on gaining the song—〈Courage〉.]
[Congratulations on gaining the song—"D Major Canon".]
[Congratulations on obtaining an item—Performance Card (Ten Million).]X2
All white again, no gold.
Wu Mu wasn’t surprised; he had only obtained a gold Skill the last time, and he couldn’t be so lucky as to get a second one so soon.
He checked each of the system’s rewards one by one.
First was the guitar attribute, this was the first time this item appeared, but unlike the Piano that recycles points and the initial Singing, this item was genuinely useful.
And it was exactly what he needed right now, evidently, the system had detected his needs and provided accordingly.