Model to Holywood

"Cut! Rachel, your expression is too stiff. It doesn't look natural enough, let's go again!"

"Cut! Rachel, you're too nervous. Relax and let's try it again!"

"Cut!"

"Luca, I never want to do another kissing scene with you," Rachel said, touching her lips.

"You might be disappointed. We have five kissing scenes in this movie, and that was just the first one," Luca laughed.

"Oh, this is a nightmare," Rachel shook her head, glancing at him. "Why do you look so happy about it? I remember you said I was the last woman you'd ever want to kiss."

"Isn't it just work?" Luca shrugged, "For work, I have to smile through the pain."

"Haha!" Rachel threw her head back and laughed heartily.

"Rachel, the costumes are ready. You can change now," Rachel's assistant arrived with a set of clothes.

"Luca, I'm going to change now."

"Got it!" 

Rachel grabbed the clothes and headed into the dressing room.

Luca sat on set waiting for the actresses. 

In this film, the four main actresses had more than forty outfits each, with over ten different bags. They changed for almost every scene, and since there were more than ten scenes set in a restaurant, they each had to change outfits at least ten times. 

Luca, on the other hand, only had two scenes in the restaurant and had to change into just two outfits. Compared to the glamorous wardrobes of the female leads, his clothes were simple—shirts, long and short T-shirts, jeans, and a rugby shirt. He could change on set.

"Luca, are you and Rachel dating?"

Lindsay Lohan walked in, wearing a tight white T-shirt and jeans that accentuated her slim waist and generous chest. At seventeen, her C++ bust showed she was developing well, but her rebellious and capricious personality made her difficult to deal with.

She asked the odd question as soon as she arrived. Luca set down his cup, "Rachel and I are just friends, not dating."

"Really?" Lindsay sat across from him, propping her arms and chest on the table, leaning her face on her hands and staring at him. "But when you two kiss, it looks like you're really into it."

"You're imagining things."

"Don't try to lie to me." 

Lindsay smirked mischievously, like a kid who had just discovered a secret. She leaned in closer and whispered, "I saw it clearly. You both looked like you were enjoying it. Let me guess—you two were on set together for half a month playing a couple and had a lot of intimate scenes, right? You probably caught feelings, but since Rachel has a boyfriend and you have a girlfriend, you can't be open about it. So, you're just kissing as much as you can on set. Am I right?"

"…"

Luca wanted to knock her on the head, but they weren't that close. He shook his head and said, "Lindsay, it's not like that. Last time Rachel and I were in a movie together, I messed up, and the director made us reshoot the scene nineteen times."

"Nineteen times?" Lindsay was shocked.

"Yes, Nick Cassavetes was the director. He's strict, and my acting skills aren't great. The scene was a kiss, and Rachel and I had to redo it nineteen times. Our lips were practically bleeding."

"Wow, that's intense!" Lindsay exclaimed.

Luca gave a small smile, "It wasn't exciting. By the end, Rachel was joking that I was the last person she'd ever want to kiss. I felt the same way. But today, our first scene was another kiss, so we had to take it seriously."

"Kissing scenes can leave you traumatized?" Lindsay blinked. "We have a kissing scene too. Want to try it out?"

Luca shook his head, opening the script. "Lindsay, stop with the crazy ideas. Can you help me run lines instead?"

"You barely have any lines, but fine, whatever."

After Rachel finished changing and the set was ready, the crew continued filming the restaurant scene.

Gina, in front of Katie, deliberately ran her hand through Aaron's hair to show off their affection.

Katie had feelings for Aaron, and seeing this made her jealous.

"Scene 5, shot 1, take 1. Action!"

The camera rolled. Aaron and Gina sat at the table, chatting.

He was holding a bottle of red juice, the color bright like tomato sauce.

This was cranberry juice. It's made from cranberries, which grow in North America and contain vitamin C, flavonoids, antioxidants, and rich pectin. It's great for beauty, helps with constipation, and removes toxins and excess fat from the body.

It was an obvious product placement.

"Gina, why are you drinking that?" 

"This is cranberry juice. It'll burn fat in just 72 hours," Gina said, sipping the juice.

Just then, Lindsay entered as Katie. Katie liked Aaron, and Gina knew it, so she was flaunting her relationship.

"Sweetheart, your hair isn't styled right. Katie, tell Aaron that his hair would look sexier slicked back," Gina said, playing with Aaron's hair.

Katie glanced at Aaron, "Your hair would look sexier slicked back."

"Cut!" 

Director Mark paused the scene and reviewed the footage. He sighed in relief.

The previous kiss scene had taken five tries, making him doubt the actors' skills.

But in this scene, both actors performed well. It was light and natural.

"That's a wrap for this scene! On to the next!" the assistant director announced.

A first take? Luca raised an eyebrow. It had been a while since that happened.

On *The Notebook*, they never got a first take. Now, he was almost uncomfortable with the ease.

"How do you feel, Luca?" Rachel asked, smiling.

"A bit empty."

"Empty?"

"Yeah, after being tortured by the director on *The Notebook*, I got used to learning from each reshoot. Now that there's no torture, it feels strange."

"Haha! Maybe you need to see a therapist. You might have a masochistic streak," Rachel teased.

"No, I don't!" Luca protested firmly.

"They seem to get along well," Amanda whispered to Lindsay nearby.

"Yeah, I bet they're secretly hooking up," Lindsay smirked.

"No way. Rachel has a boyfriend, and Luca has a girlfriend," Amanda countered.

"So what? Luca's hot. How could Rachel not fall for him? Amanda, you're too naïve," Lindsay chuckled.

"Stop acting all grown-up. I'm a year older than you," Amanda said.

"So what?" Lindsay puffed out her chest.

"..."

Amanda couldn't argue and backed down.

"Scene 5, shot 2, take 1. Action!"

The next scene started quickly.

This scene was Katie's fantasy. After seeing Gina flaunting her relationship, she had held back her feelings, but in her mind, she turned into a wild beast, attacking Gina like animals fighting over a mate.

It was an action scene. Katie had to jump across the table and tackle Gina. It was a physically demanding and dangerous move. Lindsay, being a bit heavier, couldn't jump that high, so two stunt doubles were brought in.

"Rawr!" 

Lindsay's stunt double leaped over the table, tackling Rachel's stunt double.

The extras around them also acted like animals, baring their teeth and growling wildly.

Luca, playing a gorilla, bared his teeth, pounded his fists on the ground, and beat his chest like he was cheering on the two female gorillas. It was ridiculous.

"Luca's stealing the scene," Assistant Director Ian said.

"That's okay. This is a comedy, so having more funny moments isn't bad," Director Mark chuckled.

In group scenes, actors often try to steal the spotlight, but as long as it doesn't ruin the overall flow, it's fine. Since this was a comedy, Luca's over-the-top performance added to the humor, and it would've been a shame to cut it.

"Cut!" 

Director Mark reviewed the footage. "Katie's stunt double, you need to move faster. Gina's stunt double, don't get up. Stay down and let her tackle you. Got it? Extras, keep moving. Let's go again!"

"Scene 5, shot 2, take 2. Action!"

The second take went smoothly. After Katie's stunt double knocked Gina's double to the ground, Lindsay and Rachel stepped back into the scene.

Lindsay sat on top of Rachel, growling and tearing at her, while Rachel fought back. Luca, still acting as a gorilla, continued beating his chest and pounding the floor.

"Cut!"