Hollywood:Starting out as an MV director

No matter how reluctant Dion was, he remained the cinematographer for this movie. But now, there was yet another person who could dictate his work: Ethan, the assistant director and cinematographer.

In the days that followed, the crew often saw Rob Marshall and Ethan talking and laughing together. Zeta-Jones and Richard would frequently join them, discussing how to frame shots and highlight the actors' charm.

The other leading actress, Renée, couldn't stand feeling excluded. During breaks, she confidently inserted herself into their conversations.

"Hey! Ethan. Hey! Rob. Hey! Richard!" Renée's every expression carried the allure of her character, both seductive and reserved, as if she hadn't stepped out of her role.

She greeted the three men but deliberately ignored Zeta-Jones, causing the latter to raise an eyebrow.

"What are you talking about? The next scene is my solo dance…" Renée's smile was dazzling, her lips curling dramatically upwards, giving her the appearance of an American porcelain doll.

"We were… discussing women," Rob shrugged, his expression playful.

"Women…" Renée turned slightly, lifting the shimmering hem of her skirt to reveal her pale, shapely legs. "Like this kind of woman?"

Ethan and Rob exchanged glances, while Richard couldn't help but whistle. "So sexy, Renée. I can't wait to see you dance."

"Really?" Renée beamed triumphantly, glancing at Zeta-Jones, who was now sporting a frosty expression, further brightening her mood.

"You better look forward to it. I've put in a lot of effort for this dance," Renée admitted. After finishing Bridget Jones's Diary last year, she had been dieting, working out, and rehearsing dance routines without a day's rest to achieve her sleek, toned physique.

"But what were you saying about women…" Having showcased herself, she returned to the topic, her voice and tone finally back to normal.

"We were talking about how to capture women on camera… Honestly, I didn't expect you to have such experience at your age, Ethan," Rob said, his expression incredulous after hearing Ethan share a wealth of insights.

Ethan had discussed how to use the camera to make women appear more beautiful and seductive, as well as how lighting could alter a woman's appearance and influence her aura.

After hearing this, Rob felt like he'd struck gold. Since his film revolved around women, Ethan's input was invaluable. This made him even more curious about Ethan's background.

"I used to shoot underground erotic photography for women," Ethan replied casually. That period of photographing adult-themed content for female models had now become an intriguing anecdote.

"Seriously?" Renée and Zeta-Jones were both stunned.

"Absolutely."

"No wonder…" Zeta-Jones murmured. She had seen footage Ethan had shot of her and found it incredibly sensual—an explosion of hormones. Watching it herself made her mouth dry, let alone what it would do to men.

The visuals undoubtedly aligned with Chicago's opulent and hedonistic theme.

Hearing this, Renée quickly chimed in, "Then you must film me well next… Make my legs, hands, and face look amazing!"

"Am I filming this one?" Ethan looked at Rob.

Rob hesitated but nodded after seeing Renée's eager expression. "Yes… It'll be you, Ethan. I'll have Dion cover the secondary camera."

"Understood."

Behind them, Dion scratched his head irritably. "It's always Ethan. Do I even need to be here anymore? Might as well hand the job over to him."

Renée's scene soon began filming. This segment featured her performing a solo monologue on stage, choreographed to highlight her narcissism through mirrors.

However, midway through the shoot, Ethan suddenly called out, "Stop… Director… This isn't right."

"What's wrong?" Rob frowned. To him, everything looked fine—the choreography was exactly as rehearsed.

Renée's dance was both powerful and elegant, set against a dark stage lined with symmetrical mirrors reflecting her every move.

But Ethan shook his head. "This scene doesn't match the beauty of the others."

Chicago had several iconic dance sequences: the group number in the women's prison, Renée's puppet-dance scene with Richard, and the courtroom routine blending reality and fantasy. These dances were visually stunning and left audiences in awe.

However, some sequences fell short, like this mirror dance. Ethan believed the issue lay in the cinematography and set design. The mirrors, a unique element, were underutilized, with no remarkable shots. Moreover, the mirrors were too neatly arranged, failing to create a focal point.

The entire performance relied solely on the actor's charm, leaving a lukewarm impression.

Perhaps this was one reason Chicago didn't win the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. Despite its distinctive sets, it didn't make full use of them, favoring straightforward filming instead.

So, when Ethan took charge of the scene, he immediately pointed this out, even though the storyboard had already been approved.

As always, Ethan couldn't tolerate imperfection in his work.

"But this is the best choreography we've come up with," the set designer said, looking troubled. Mirror dances were notoriously difficult to choreograph, not to mention the challenges of avoiding reflections of the crew.

"Exactly. I think the mirror dance is fine as it is," Rob agreed with the designer.

Dion added, "Every scene in this movie was carefully planned and rehearsed… Ethan, you might not fully understand since you haven't worked on set design."

The rest of the crew turned their attention to Ethan, curious about his intentions.

Even Renée, sitting at the edge of the stage swinging her legs, watched him intently.

Dion was thrilled, thinking Ethan had finally overstepped. Set design was the heart of this film. Criticizing it was like challenging the entire crew.

Even more, the set designer had worked on the Chicago stage production itself, making Ethan's critique a direct challenge to a Broadway classic.

Dion smirked, eager to see how Ethan would handle the backlash. To his surprise, Ethan left the camera and walked onto the stage.

"What are you doing, Ethan?" Rob asked, mindful of the budget and time constraints.

Ethan didn't answer, instead starting to rearrange the mirrors according to his vision.

"Alright, seems he's stubborn," Dion said, feigning a smile.

Just then, the door opened, and a man in a crisp white shirt, black tie, and suit walked in briskly. It was the film's producer, Bert Hurley.

"Why has filming stopped? Rob, we only have this location until midnight! It's already 8 PM. If we don't finish, we'll have to pay for another day!" Bert's sharp words were accompanied by a scowl.

Before Rob could respond, Dion jumped in. "Mr. Hurley, it's nothing major. The assistant director thinks the mirror dance isn't good enough and wants to rearrange the mirrors."

"What nonsense!" Bert snapped. "Since when do we have an assistant director? Rob, explain yourself! Do you know how much this costs? And why does he have the authority to change pre-approved choreography? Is he Spielberg or Cameron to pull something like this?"

"Bert, calm down!" Rob quickly intervened.

Colleen, who had been observing nearby, hurried over to help. "Mr. Hurley, I think it's worth hearing the assistant director's idea before deciding."

"What?" Bert frowned, but before he could respond, another voice chimed in.

It was art director John Meyer. "Don't rush to judgment, Bert. Ethan has solved plenty of issues for us. I trust he's not wasting time."

Dion scowled, frustrated by the support Ethan was receiving. How could so many people side with him?

Meanwhile, Ethan continued adjusting the mirrors, undeterred by the commotion.

Bert sighed, looking around. "Alright, alright! Since you all vouch for him, tell me who he is. Ethan? Is that his name?"

"Yes, Ethan," Rob explained. "He was originally an assistant cinematographer, but I promoted him to assistant director because of his exceptional skills and ideas."

"Got it," Bert said, glancing at Dion before turning toward the stage. "Where is he now? Oh, is that him? The one arranging the mirrors?"

Following Bert's gaze, everyone looked at Ethan. At that moment, he jumped off the stage, locking eyes with Bert.

Dion eagerly awaited the fallout. Surely, Bert would berate Ethan and kick him off the set. But to his shock, Bert froze for a moment, then clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Ethan! It's you!"

"What?" The crew was baffled.

"Oh, my apologies! I forgot to tell you all!" Bert's angry demeanor melted into a wide grin as he approached Ethan, shaking his hand warmly. "This is Ethan Norton Li the same Ethan who just won MTV's Director of the Year award!"

"Ethan Norton Li?" everyone echoed in confusion.

"Yes!" Bert beamed. "His music videos are being hailed as classics across America. Everyone's talking about his work, even Cameron praised his creativity!"

....

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