Hollywood King

"Focus!" Ian shouted for everyone to hear.

"This is the very last scene that we're gonna shoot. And y'all trying to mess this up? I mean, we did scenes that are way harder than this. Now, listen up everyone. I know y'all look forward for this to end,"

Everyone nodded in acceptance.

"So, let's do this! and now, about the scene… Although the family didn't take Kevin seriously, in the very last scene, they show how much they missed him. Even Buzz, who always said mean things… will say his part, you see the script? Right, Buzz?"

They have been screwing up the final scene for the seventh time. Even Kevin, who has been very enthusiastic about the entire project, seemed a bit unfocused, which Ian assumes was caused by tiredness.

Ian sighed loudly and took the mic, "Guys, we've been going on and off for weeks now. I know it's been hard, it's been exhausting, kind of fun, but I really need one hundred percent focus right now. The end should be just as good as the start!" He said while everyone nodded.

"You guys are very good actors. The best I've ever seen, remember, the focus is the key," Mason, who was silent, spoke up seeing how much Ian struggled.

This was the final scene where the mom comes home, after so many hours of thinking about Kevin, she was worried sick. After seeing her, Kevin asks where the others are, then all of them come through the door, revealing that they got home right on the day of Christmas.

It was clear in the movie that Kevin and his siblings never had a strong bond. As an example, in the very first scene when Kevin asks if anyone could help him to pack the suitcase, all they did was mock Kevin and joke about him because they all knew how immature he was and that his mom did everything for him.

Ian intended to show how things have changed ever since Kevin got lost, in the minds of his siblings.

Nevertheless, after all the work that they had been doing for weeks, he wanted pure perfection in the last scene.

"Quiet on the set"

"Camera - set"

"Roll sound"

"Roll camera"

The clapper showed - Final scene, Clip 35, take 3.

"Action!" Ian commanded.

The camera showed the house which has been decorated with Christmas decorations, even the tree had its lights on. Then, the camera moved to Kevin's face. He let out a sigh.

Camera-3 which was outside the set was on hold and started rolling when Ian gave the command. Kevin came outside the door, the snowfall was evidently showing its Christmas. He looked left and right, trying to see if his family was outside. Then, realizing no one was there, he lowered his gaze in defeat and went inside, closing the door after him. 

Then, a lorry came right in front of the camera and stopped, showing that his mom had come.

"Cut! That was great! The next will be all about you, Kevin. Your expressions must show the end of the movie. Take a fifteen-minute break till I check the tape." Ian said.

It's been four hours after that, the film was finally done. The last scene will be memorable since Ian wanted to take it just like the originals. Although he wanted to end all the inside scenes which needed the house at first, he kept the final scene to be taken in the house, which had just a small part showing the outside from the window.

He could've taken this scene before, so they would have paid the rent and gotten it over with. Because setting the cameras, and lighting on location was a time taking process, and taking scenes from out and in the house was no easy task.

But, he wanted all of them to feel the mere satisfaction of experiencing the great feeling of ending the movie. Just like Ian would feel when it's done.

The crew, actors and everyone was sitting in the house, in the living room getting ready to watch the final tape of the last scene.

"Alright, get ready y'all. Don't cry! Or we better get ready with the tissues" Ian joked and played the screen in front of him. Kevin was on display.

After the kid sighed and went inside, it showed a lorry stop in front of his house. Then the camera showed that Kevin was holding a photo frame of his family, in his parents' bedroom. It depicts how his feelings for the family changed from wanting them to disappear to missing them.

Mom came inside while shrugging her jacket off the snow. She shouted, "Kevin!"

"Kevin?!" She yelled again.

Kevin's eyes lit up while he quit the room and came down. The camera then focused on how mom sees Christmas socks have been hanging near the firewood, with the names of their family members.

A slight smile formed on her face.

Kevin hurriedly ran off the stairs, seeing mom, he stopped in his tracks.

"Merry Christmas, sweetheart," She said in a sweet voice.

His expressions remained unchanged, kind of mad yet happy inside.

"Oh Kevin, I'm so sorry." She said, her emotions changing suddenly.

They both smiled and ran off to hug each other. Everyone clapped because it was so heartwarming, even for the actors. The expressions were on point. Surprising Ian, of how good it was. Even better than the original. Then they started to shoot the rest of the final scene.

"Where's everybody else?" Kevin asked.

"Oh, baby, they couldn't come, they wanted to so much, bu-"

"I didn't fall asleep in the back," Buzz came in, shouting with the chaos of other voices of their siblings with him.

Kevin and mom gasped.

They all were shouting and saying things to one another. It was a family mess, which Kevin had missed a lot.

"Kevin, Kevin my boy, oh come here," Dad lifted and hugged him. "It's good to see you, ah! You're alright."

"Hey, Kevin! It's pretty cool that you didn't burn the place down," Bazz said after a while.

"Thanks, buzz"

[….] The movie ended with Kevin waving to the old man outside the window in the snow, who was now hugging his family one by one. Everyone had tears in their eyes but a huge smile plastered on their face.

Knowing it was the very last day of their shootings, it was emotional for all the actors and crew who now had a strong bond between them. Adam was hugging Hyde while crying. Kevin's mom was smiling with tears in her eyes. Everyone was so overwhelmed.

They all gathered that night and threw a party to make sure no one forgets the night. Various types of dance moves were brought up, the most hilarious was Adam's. Niko recorded some of them, thinking they might want it, plus it was just fun to watch it.

-

After the filming was done in Canada, they came back to Los Angeles. After completing the final scene, the entire film was done in the mind map of Ian.

Without wasting even a day more, from the very next day, Ian started to work on editing. To help in editing, he found the perfect editor from his very good friend, John.

He was working in the industry for 7 years, which is quite long because editing always updates itself with the current fashions in the industry. Steffen Hudson, who faces occasional updates, works hard in the industry to maintain his standard.

He was around 32 years old who is happily married and very humble but quite opinionated. He'd ask questions often, to make things clear for him.

Ian, who knew many things about editing, would explain how exactly he wanted the scenes to be. Niko who joined these two, sat silently for the most part, knowing Ian wanted to do things quickly and efficiently. Opinions and questions would take more time since Ian knew exactly what he was doing.

On the side, Ian made a director's cut with extra scenes. Niko and Ian kept talking about it, while Steffen questioned about it.

"Why would a director's cut be needed?"

"We can later release it, using DVD and home media. It'll help the studio to earn more." Ian said.

"But, it'll work only if the movie gets famous. Do you think it will?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm well aware. And I don't think, I know it will." Ian smirked.

Steffen had no questions afterward.

"How is it going?" Mason entered the studio and got seated in front of Niko.

"Pretty good, so far. It's a success, uncle." Ian said and smiled. It was no wonder, Ian was warming up for Mason. Even when the shootings took place, they spent nights talking about various things regarding work.

Then they just continued to work till late at night. Niko went home early saying he was tired, but Ian, Steffen, and Mason remained in the studio.

- - -

A/N; 
Click on the heart and leave a review if you're enjoying it so far! -tc.