Section 38

Writer - Gabriel Shaytan

FX is a Rysher production in conjunction with Fireworks Entertainment Inc. and Winterset Productions Inc as well as Hallmark Entertainment.

Don’t own ‘em, aren’t bein’ paid.
 
 

    The set was a mass of confusion as people rushed every which way, resetting those things that needed resetting, reapplying makeup and going over what someone else had already checked.
    He'd just finished his fifth safety meeting, making sure everyone knew where they were meant to be, and more importantly where they needed to go.  If it didn't work this time, Angela would have to do it the other way, moving the animated characters slightly.  He really hoped it wouldn't come to that, making her redo work because of someone else's errors was one of the fastest ways to get her mad.
    Over the five months since their dinner party they'd come to several agreements.  It no longer mattered where they stopped for the night, making the choice by which seemed most appropriate… as long as they were together it really didn't matter.
    Work had gone on as normal, the changes in their relationship making no difference to how they meshed on the job… or perhaps it made them more aware of how easily they'd always gotten along while working… knowing what the other would need without them having to ask.

    Now though, Rollie looked across the huge set, the hundreds of people there.  The scene involved over two hundred people, from the leads to extras.  Shooting had gone well, most scenes being done in two or less takes and the odd one that had taken longer hadn't set them back too badly… but now, having to reset and check more than two hundred people, replace all the squibs and other effects… it took time, and they were running out.

    He sighed, looking down from his position in the booth high above.  He come up with a simple idea for making sure everyone was in the correct place, and now, covering the window was a clear map, covered with tiny markers, each an individual person.

    ' Thirty two a little to the left' he called into the speaker, then watched as the guy moved a pace to his left, into the correct position.

    ' We almost set to go again?' Steven asked.
    ' Just about Mr Spielberg' Rollie answered without looking up.
    ' I thought we'd agreed to first names Rollie' Steven pointed out.
    ' What?  Oh, sorry.  I wasn't really concentrating… we've got to make it work this time Steven' he replied.
    ' I've been down and had words with everyone, they know it's going to be this one or nothing.  We've got a good group here, it'll work'
    ' It sure will' Rollie answered, spotting another out of position and calling down the correction.
    ' See you down there'
    ' Right.  I'll check once more'

    Steven headed down to the floor while Rollie checked his position mask again, eyes taking in where everyone stood with the map of the effects in his head.
    ' Hold your marks people… we're set' he called, freezing everyone in place.  He turned then, and took the stairs two at a time, coming to stand at Steven's side, Angie a few metres away at the ambler.

    ' Ready' he said, somewhat breathlessly to the director.
    ' Ok' he answered, lifting the megaphone ' Roll camera'

    The Clapper/ Loader stepped forward with the clapperboard and called out ' Hulk battle Scene four hundred, take five'
    Steven waited a moment then called ' Roll background'

    People in the background began moving, working on menial and inconsequential actions.

    ' Action' he called.

    All hell broke loose.

    Though everyone had heard it, the thunderous roar still surprised them, sending heads searching for the origin of the sound, just as planned.  That was part of Angie's creation, the beast that roamed the ship, and its minions.  Reacting to something that isn't there, and making it look realistic was immensely difficult.

    The squibs gave those being "shot" a chance, and by keeping their eyes on various marks, made the illusion work.  He stepped over, watching the ambler as Angela's team's work ran meshed over the feed from the camera.

    He saw several spots where adjustments would need to be made, knew that it wouldn’t be the work of days or weeks, merely hours and looked up, watching the scene continue.

    And continue.

    Until all that was left was a group of five individuals, the rest of the set covered in bodies, or it would be when Angela added in the ones her team had been working on as well.
    As suddenly as it began, it stopped, with Steven's voice calling out above the din ' Cut… that's a wrap people'

    People began picking themselves up off the floor as Steven stepped across to where he stood, watching Angela finish up on the ambler.
    ' How'd that look Angela?' he asked.
    ' Take a look' she replied, pointing to the ambler and playing back the combined footage.
    ' We'll be changing camera angles but you've already shown me that that's no problem now you've got the whole scene done'
    ' Just a matter of changing the viewing perspective'
    ' Ok, we'll sit down over it tomorrow and have a look' he finished ' go home, get some sleep, it's been a long day'
 

    Rollie looked across at Angela as she closed down the ambler ' Didn't see too many mistakes that time'
    ' Yeah, just a few people standing halfway inside one of the creatures, or the guard robots… nothing drastic' she grinned ' Why can't people ever do what they're told?'
    ' Who knows… but if you don't want us in that basket we'd better do as Steven says and hit the road'
    ' Sounds good Rol… maybe you'll even get to sleep tonight, I know you haven't had any good nights lately'
    ' Maybe… if I'm unlucky'
    ' Well I for one want to get at least a few hours if I'm working tomorrow so I guess that means you will too'
    ' You're no fun at all'
    ' Right… no fun.  Let's go Rol'
 

    Steven watched from the booth as the two left together… like they did every night.  He'd known right from the first meeting that they were perfect for the job, just because they chose to work on B movies didn't mean they had less talent… in fact, he was beginning to suspect that it'd given them a great range of experience and their obvious mastery of their separate areas gave them an edge over the other companies.

    In no small part had Rollie's abilities to do that when under extreme pressure, to think clearly when they'd been held hostage, attributed to the fact that he knew now Rollie was what others, grudgingly perhaps, had said… he was a genius, well trained and unbelievably imaginative.

    Always at his side, Angela was less remarked about, thought of more as an assistant, but in her field was no less gifted than her partner.

    He smiled, looking forward to a peaceful night, honoured to be working with both of them… and yet they thought they were honoured to work with him!  Being recognised in the movie industry came of luck as much as hard work… well this time, Tyler FX would get the credit due.