[Chapter 477: This Extra Job]
"Cut!"
On the set of Pirates of the Caribbean, another scene wrapped up, and Link glanced at the monitor. He felt good about it and gave the okay.
Boom!
Just as the crew stopped filming, an explosion echoed from the Black Pearl pirate ship.
"What happened? Is anyone hurt?"
Link immediately stood up, boarded a speedboat, and headed toward the Black Pearl.
"Link, it's nothing; a charge detonated a few seconds late," Chris Barnes shouted from the bow. "You know our explosives are loud but not that powerful. Even holding them won't cause injury."
Bob, Link's bodyguard, was the first to board and inspect the accident scene. After checking, he reported back that it was a typical on-set incident with no injuries.
"Who's in charge here?" Link asked.
"Uh, that's me!" Chris Barnes hesitantly raised his hand.
"Half your bonus deducted. Next mistake and you lose the entire year's bonus."
Chris cried out with a sorrowful face, "You can't do this! Maria's pregnant, and we really need the money at home."
"You made a mistake; you get punished. If you want to earn money, be more careful at work," Link said firmly and left the ship with his team.
Chris Barnes had made millions of dollars following the crew these past years, living in a villa and driving sports cars. Losing half a bonus every six months was just a minor consequence for him.
---
After disembarking, Link gathered several department heads for a meeting to address the frequent on-set accidents. Starting today, everyone must be more cautious. The crew was to establish a safety team led by assistant director, tasked with daily inspections to prevent accidents.
Teams making mistakes would face heavy penalties.
"Isn't this overkill, Link?" Executive producer Mike Statham approached after the meeting. "Accidents happen in productions, especially in fantasy films with many battle scenes. I've produced over ten fantasy films. Almost every film has seven or eight accidents -- sometimes fatalities, sometimes serious injuries. Financial losses are severe. For Pirates of the Caribbean, with 80% filmed, only three accidents have happened, the fewest in any crew I've worked with."
"You have a point," Link replied. "But I've directed eighteen movies and have extensive crew management experience. My previous productions, from the war epic Saving Private Ryan to the action-adventure The Rock, had almost no accidents. Frequent accidents here force me to be cautious to prevent worse disasters."
Mike's face fell, realizing that accidents spiked after he took over, implying that the increase was linked to his management.
He resolved to seriously review his work for possible flaws.
Link spoke briefly with the assistant director, stressing safety.
[T/N: BTW, Yu Feihong is the assistant director for all his movies, since The English Patient, if not specifically mentioned. She is learning ropes so that she can become future director in China.]
His extra efforts weren't due to doubts about Mike but because Blackwater had alerted him: assassins hired by a mercenary group were targeting him.
Blackwater advised Link to pause external work and rest in Los Angeles until the threats were neutralized, but he refused.
As a billionaire Hollywood mogul, Link knew enemies abounded. But fear and hiding at home deprived him of his freedom and joy. He wanted complete freedom -- to do whatever he pleased without fear.
With his status and resources, he deserved that, so he insisted on continuing filming.
...
"Scene 131, Take 1, roll camera, action!"
Filming resumed.
---
Because several large-scale battle scenes loomed, the crew needed to hire 300 extras. Hitmen John and Johnson arrived at the extras casting office.
"John, are we really going to be extras on set?" Johnson hesitated, yet excitement shimmered in his eyes. Missions before required rushing in with guns, taking out targets before they reacted.
Now, they were turning extras to get close to Link.
"You know why, Johnson," John whispered cautiously, glancing around. "Link's surrounded by professional bodyguards. No stranger can get close, let alone point a gun at him. We have to join as actors and find a chance to take him out."
"I get it, but I can't act. Cameras make me nervous," Johnson admitted.
"Don't worry. I checked extras' roles; we just blend as background. No lines, no close-ups, no pressure," John reassured him.
"Alright, I'll try."
They joined the line to meet the casting director.
...
Because Pirates of the Caribbean was a fantasy film, extras had to fit specific roles, such as pirates, royal navy, etc. Those with distinctive looks and some acting chops had priority.
"Wait, is that a dagger on your belt? Why bring a dagger?"
A casting crew member asked a Black man during his interview.
"Oh, it's a prop. Doesn't it look more pirate-like with a dagger?"
"No weapons allowed on set. Next!"
The crew waved him off and moved on.
John and Johnson exchanged looks, stepped back quietly, and went to their car to put their pistols away in cases. Then they rejoined the line.
Half an hour later, auditions ended.
Johnson got selected for a week-long contract, while John was rejected due to a bland appearance, no expression, not even anger -- not fit for acting.
Crew told him to find another job or starve as an actor.
...
"Johnson, I can't get in. The mission to kill Link is yours now," John said regretfully.
"No problem. But the crew bans weapons on set. Without a gun, this won't be easy."
"Don't worry. You work on set, learn their routines, and I'll find a way to sneak a gun in. With so many people here, there's got to be a way."
"Okay, deal."
...
Johnson was thrilled at becoming an actor. After five years as a soldier and seven as a gangster hitman, he never imagined acting with a top director like Link.
The novelty gave him insomnia the night before.
...
Next morning, Johnson grabbed a hot dog and hurried to report to set.
Extras spent the morning rehearsing under assistant director Gary Faber's loud commands from a van.
He ordered them forward, backward, to yell or look fierce.
Johnson found it boring, yawning constantly, drawing a sharp rebuke from Gary, who reminded them shots cost over $100,000 each. They needed to focus to gain experience for future roles.
Johnson snorted; he wasn't an actor and didn't care. But seeing others so dedicated, he forced himself to play the part.
After a long day, Johnson was exhausted, more than training with Delta Force.
Back at the hotel, he didn't even shower before crashing on the bed.
...
"Johnson, how's it? Have you seen Link?" John asked.
"Don't mention it. Spent all day rehearsing -- I don't even know where the set is, let alone see Link," Johnson sighed.
"No worries, we've got days left."
...
The next day, extras kept rehearsing, pacing, doing the same moves repeatedly.
Johnson gritted his teeth, disappointed. Before joining, he had a rosy image of acting -- being near stars, maybe dating a celebrity.
Reality was grueling, boring, worse than any job he'd done.
If not for the mission, he'd never waste time here.
...
On the third day, Johnson's expression dulled, his spirit numb.
Good news: John smuggled a pistol onto set. Now Johnson had a chance to finish the job if he got close to Link.
...
Day four split extras into two groups: one shooting, the other rehearsing. Johnson was stuck in the latter.
Unhappy, he argued with staff to get into the filming group.
They said the first group portrayed the Royal Navy, requiring neat looks, which he lacked.
Looking around, the group left behind was a mix of unusual appearances.
The staff encouraged him, saying pirate roles were more numerous. Good performers might even get close-ups and fame.
Johnson asked if he could meet Link, since he was a fan.
The staff nodded.
...
By day five, with only two days left on his contract, Johnson finally saw Link -- across 300 yards, separated by dozens of people.
Link wore a baseball cap, loose T-shirt, jeans, tall and striking. His presence commanded attention.
If Johnson had a sniper rifle, he was confident he could take Link out easily. Sadly, he only had a disguised single-barrel pistol.
Killing Link in front of hundreds and escaping was nearly impossible.
Johnson noticed two sharp-eyed, alert bodyguards near Link, their plain clothes hinting at real weapons.
Seeing this, he softened his approach, focusing on blending in.
...
The crew filmed the main actors onboard a ship. Johnson and other pirate extras stood nearby as background.
The work felt even more boring than rehearsals -- at least then they could roam.
When leading lady Catherine Zeta-Jones appeared on deck in an elegant British gown, Johnson and the extras' eyes lit up.
She was even more stunning in person.
"So beautiful!" Johnson whispered.
"Of course, she's the English Rose," said a long-haired extra, licking his lips.
"Heard she's Link's girlfriend. Lucky guy," said a trident-wielding extra, envious.
Johnson frowned at the thought.
Initially, killing Link was just business, no feeling involved.
But learning more about Link and his reputation, Johnson grew more convinced he deserved to die.
Link's billions funded a life of luxury -- mountaintop delicacies, dozens of mansions, endless luxury cars -- while ordinary people struggled.
His wealth was built on exploiting others.
He was detestable, he deserves death.
Plus, Link was a notorious womanizer; actresses often had to bend to him for roles, some even having his children. Nearly every beautiful actress in Hollywood had been victimized by him.
These thoughts fueled Johnson's hatred.
...
"Quiet down!"
The stage manager, holding a megaphone, shouted at the extras to get serious for important scenes.
Disobedient extras faced immediate removal.
After a few calls, the clapperboard snapped.
"Scene 147, Take 2, action!"
Johnson, holding a trident, stood on deck, watching the main actors. Occasionally, he shouted or laughed, or made fierce faces as directed.
Suddenly, he noticed Link had appeared behind camera three, less than 50 meters away.
Squinting, Johnson quietly gripped the small pistol at his belt.
*****
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