The subtle twitches of Christine’s facial muscles, almost concealed, are convincing enough that it might actually be the alpha’s ego getting irritated. Reading the lines on paper is one thing, but having someone spit them at you with convincing venom is another entirely.
Haley plays the role with seething, open hatred.
NowthatI can work with.
And somehow, she knows exactly what to do with Lana’s vague notes. “More oomph, less pizzazz.” “Give it a little more love.” “Softer, but firmer.”
I’ll take a full-body burn over having to decode a director any day. This is where Haley really shines.
Lucky for me, I’ll have the benefit of Bella or Gabriel here to translate. Plus, as long as Haley can figure out what Lana wants, I can copy Haley.
After ten takes, Lana speaks those blessed words: “Moving on.”
The crew jumps into action, readying for the next shot. Now it’s time for the Texas switch. We block out the scene first, starting at our marks and talking through each movement. Haley and Christine say their lines flatly, saving the magic of performance for when the cameras are rolling.
I do one last practice run for the flip, then we all head to our marks.
Lana calls, “Three, two, one… Action!”
Haley gives Melinoë’s last taunt, while Electra resists the urge to chase her down, knowing it would be a violation of her heroic code.
Haley saunters toward me, and the camera follows her, guided by a camera operator, gliding carefully around to keep me out of frame while using a low bush to hide the mini trampoline. What small slivers of the tramp get through will be easily edited out in post.
Once Haley’s out of frame, I wait a heartbeat, then stride forward. I channel Haley’s mannerisms—Melinoë’s mannerisms—into my run, into how I hit the springboard, how I hold myself mid-air. I whip through the front flip, and my feet land perfectly on the boulder, settling my weight into a brief crouching pose before springing up and out-of-frame.
“Cut! Looking good. Let’s go back to marks. Melinoë, let’s try a little more snark. Electra, I want to feel that fury.”
As Lana rattles off a few more commands to the camera operator, I jog around the back of the boulder, taking my spot again. As soon as the stars are back in their spots, everyone else is already ready to go: cameras reset, sound rolling, clapboard already updated with the take number incremented up to two.
“Action!”
I can’t think too much about what I’m about to do or how I’m going to move. If I do that, it all goes to shit. So I clear my mind, watch Haley, and prepare for the energy she’s going to pitch to me. All I have to do is catch it and carry it through the rest of the shot.
And so I do. I lose myself in the rhythm. I become Melinoë, the Mad Shadow, daughter of Thanoseid and nemesis of Electra. Moving with the predatory confidence of a cat toying with a mouse, I channel the coarse, explosive energy of a soul driven by hate.
Springing into the air, I flip just to show off, landing with a sultry poise that dares Electra to chase me.
Without thinking, I flick a glance over my shoulder, sneering at slow, sad Electra, bound by her hero’s code, while I run wild and free. A quiet, cruel laugh whispers from me as I vault off the boulder and vanish into the dark night.
As I land, I cringe, but not from any pain. Fuck, I ruined the shot looking back toward the camera. That was probably a good one, too. Goddammit. Amateur mistake.
“Cut!”
I jog around the boulder, bracing for a sharp correction from Lana.
But instead, I see her pumping her fist. “Yes! Brilliant, Mylo! That’s perfect, that’s the shot. Bella, let’s get Haley up on that rock for some reference footage. Their profiles are so similar, I don’t think we’ll need much…”
Gobsmacked and relieved, I simply give Lana a nod of appreciation before slinking around behind the camera. The same PA from before offers me a bottle of water, and I take it with a murmured “Thanks.”
My nerves have just settled when a voice over my shoulder and a punch of salt winds them tight.
“An inspired performance.”
I keep my eyes on Haley carefully posing on the boulder, trying to match me angle-for-angle. She’s doing a great job, so she really was paying attention. If I turn to look at Christine, I’m not sure I’ll be able to control my face right now.
“What can I say? I’m getting into Melinoë’s head.”
“So you’re a method actor.”
