When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 169: Behind the Scenes

Chapter 169: Behind the Scenes

Daniel leapt into the boat, landing hard beside Alex. The crew immediately lowered them into the churning waves below. The camera pulled back, showing the lifeboat speeding away from the doomed ship.

In the distance, the ship exploded in a massive fireball, the blast lighting up the sky. The force of the explosion sent waves crashing against the lifeboat, but they held on, watching as the flames consumed everything.

Daniel sat there, soaked and exhausted, his body aching from the fight. Alex reached for his hand, gripping it tightly. "We made it," she whispered, her voice raw with emotion.

He squeezed her hand back, his eyes never leaving the burning wreckage. "Yeah," he said, his voice hoarse. "But it’s not over yet."

The camera lingered on their faces, capturing the relief, the exhaustion, and the unspoken promise to keep fighting. The screen gradually faded to black, leaving behind the echo of their breaths and the roaring waves, a deliberate effect to leave the audience teetering on the edge of anticipation, craving the next Chapter of their story.

---

Marcos leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms as he turned toward Zinnia, who was seated beside him in front of the monitors. "So, Zinnia," he said, rubbing his temples, "what do you think of that last scene we shot earlier? The one with the explosion and all the action?"

Zinnia smiled as she recalled the behind-the-scenes moments of the action sequences and the explosions.

At that time, the set buzzed with energy as the crew prepared for the next shot. Victor adjusted his grip on the prop pipe, glancing at the director, Marcos, who was seated in front of the monitors.

"Okay, Victor, Daniel, remember the timing here," Marcos called out, his voice cutting through the chatter. "Victor, big swing, Daniel, dodge just enough to make it look close. Make it intense but safe. Zinnia, are we ready with the safety glass?"

Zinnia, being the assistant director, double-checked her clipboard. "Confirmed. The breakaway monitor is set, and the camera angles are good to go." She stepped forward, ensuring every detail was in place. "Daniel, don’t forget to lean back just a fraction more this time."

"Got it," Daniel replied, rolling his shoulders to loosen up.

"Alright, quiet on set!" Marcos shouted. "And... action!"

Victor’s hand shot out, grabbing the loose prop pipe. He swung it wide, the foam core disguised with metallic paint giving it a realistic gleam. Daniel barely dodged, ducking at the perfect moment as the pipe connected with the fake monitor. It shattered dramatically, the pre-installed safety glass bursting apart in a convincing spray.

"Cut!" Marcos called, a smile spreading across his face. "That’s the intensity I wanted! Victor, excellent follow-through. Camera three, make sure to capture the shards flying in slow motion during post."

The make-up team rushed in to touch up Victor’s sweat-streaked face and apply more fake blood to Daniel’s knuckles. Zinnia inspected the playback on the monitors, nodding approvingly at the framing.

"Victor, get ready for the knife sequence," she said, handing him the rubber prop knife. "This one’s going to need to sell the danger without breaking continuity."

The crew reset the set, carefully replacing the shattered monitor with another breakaway piece and marking Daniel’s sleeve for the upcoming tear-away effect.

"And action!"

Victor’s back hit the padded wall, his expression shifting to one of exhaustion. His hand found the rubber knife, hidden where the audience wouldn’t see. He lunged at Daniel, the blade catching the stage lights just right.

Daniel twisted away, the concealed seam in his sleeve splitting perfectly as the knife "cut" through. He retaliated with a choreographed strike, sending the knife skittering across the marked spot on the floor.

Victor slumped to the ground, breathing heavily, his expression showing just enough defiance.

"Cut! Beautiful!" Marcos said, clapping his hands together.

"Next up is the explosion scene," Zinnia announced, directing the crew to prepare the miniature model of the ship.

Marcos addressed the cast and crew, gesturing at the storyboard. "Here’s the plan. Daniel, your escape sequence will blend seamlessly into the CGI explosion. We’ll shoot you running to the deck, and once the lifeboat lowers, we’ll cut to the miniature’s explosion. Post-production will handle the merge."

The effects team set up a rig to create the illusion of waves splashing against the lifeboat. The cinematographer adjusted the cameras for the wide shot.

"Daniel, remember to look back as you jump into the boat," Zinnia reminded. "We need that last glance for emotional weight."

The scene resumed. Daniel bolted down the ship’s corridor, his boots pounding against the metal floor. The camera followed closely, capturing the tension in every movement. He leapt into the lifeboat beside Alex, landing with a rehearsed thud.

"Cut! Cue the explosion!"

The effects team detonated the miniature, sending a fireball erupting into the air. The blast was filmed in high definition for later enhancement, while a wind machine simulated the force of the explosion on set.

The crew erupted into applause as the scene wrapped. Marcos turned to Zinnia, grinning. "That’s a wrap for today. Brilliant work, everyone!"

Zinnia nodded, already making notes for the editing team. "Once we add the sound design and CGI, this is going to blow the audience away—literally."

---

In the present, Marcos, noticing Zinnia in a trance, asked her again, "So, Zinnia, what do you think of that last scene we shot earlier? The one with the explosion and all the action?"

Zinnia’s lips curved into a smile as she crossed her arms, still fixated on the playback screen. "Honestly? It was awesome," she said, her tone filled with genuine admiration. "The CGI effects they added for the ship blowing up were seamless. I mean, you can hardly tell it’s a miniature. And the action scenes between Daniel and Victor? They looked so real, like they were actually fighting for their lives. The team really outdid themselves this time."

Marcos chuckled, a glint of pride in his eyes. "Well, of course. We wouldn’t be the number one media company in this country if they didn’t do their jobs well," he replied, gesturing at the bustling crew behind them.