After confirming the details for his new movie, Luca returned to the crew, busy with filming. The movie was nearing its end, with only a few final scenes to shoot.
"Luca, do you want to do a cameo?"
Director Annie approached him with the question.
In the final scene, the male and female leads are competing in a dance contest on stage, and there are a few entertainment agents in the audience, only appearing on screen for two seconds.
"No problem!"
Luca agreed. It was a simple scene where he just had to sit in the audience, watch the performance, and nod appreciatively when the camera panned to him—nothing too difficult.
"Cut!"
On May 8, the final scene wrapped, and Director Annie shouted into a megaphone,
"I declare that Step Up is officially a wrap!"
"Wow!"
"Awesome!"
"Finally, it's over!"
After two months of shooting, Step Up was finished. Despite the many ups and downs during production, the crew persevered, thanks to some divine luck.
The entire team cheered in celebration.
A few bottles of champagne were popped open, spraying across the set.
Some of the dancers broke into street dance routines, even pulling director Anne Fletcher into the fun.
The leads, Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan, embraced, laughing and chatting.
The two had met on set and, after spending time together, had fallen into a passionate romance.
"It's finally over!"
Billy, watching the lively crowd, sighed.
Luca glanced at him, a smirk forming on his lips. "Billy, how do you feel about this moment?"
"No big feelings."
Billy wiped the sweat and oil from his face, grabbing a beer and chugging it down.
"Really, nothing?"
Luca picked up a beer of his own and clinked it against Billy's.
"Okay, fine. Maybe a bit."
Billy looked toward Anne, who was surrounded by people, and sighed. "If I had stuck it out, I would have been the happiest person here today. But I gave up."
"Sounds like you've done some reflecting!"
Luca teased. "But Billy, don't be too hard on yourself. We all get it. You're a seasoned director with your own style and principles. If this movie clashed with that, no one blames you for stepping away."
"No, no. It was still my mistake. I always wanted to push myself, to become a legitimate film director. Step Up was a great opportunity, but I let it slip away. I gave up too easily."
Billy took another swig of beer and burped. "You were right when you said that opportunities change lives. I gave up on this one, so I guess I'm destined to be just an MV director for the rest of my life."
Luca shook his head. "Billy, opportunities don't come just once. I heard Universal is gearing up to shoot Honey 2. Isn't that your shot?"
Last year, Honey had been labeled a flop, but after several months, it made a surprising comeback in the DVD market, prompting Universal to greenlight a sequel.
As the director of the first film, Billy had a good chance.
Billy blinked his small eyes. What Luca said made sense—there was still hope.
"And if this movie does well, we'll keep making more in this genre. You can try again. So don't get discouraged; there will be plenty of opportunities."
"Really? That sounds great."
After the wrap, the crew threw a reception party at a hotel that night. Over a hundred people attended, drinking, chatting, and dancing in high spirits.
"Luca, when are you heading back to Brazil?"
By the floor-to-ceiling windows, Luca and Mr. Ross stood with wine glasses in hand, gazing out at the harbor, the night especially enchanting.
"Tomorrow!"
The crew of Infernal Affairs had been preparing for over two months, and the pre-production work was almost complete.
The filming was about to begin, and director Jose had been calling him nonstop, urging him to return.
"I wanted to introduce you to some of the crew members, but since you're short on time, we'll do it next time."
Mr. Ross said.
"Sounds good."
The crew Ross was referring to was for a Broadway stage play.
This time, Mr. Ross was collaborating with someone on a new production of Rabbit Hole.
Luca was cast as the second male lead, a young driver responsible for the death of the protagonist's child. The role didn't have many scenes, but stage plays were always challenging.
"Take the time to study the script and really get into the character. In a few months, we'll be performing live. If you mess it up, don't expect any special treatment just because you're a big star."
"I'll nail it!"
Luca raised his glass with a smile.
"Cheers!"
Mr. Ross, being older, didn't enjoy such lively events. After a few drinks, he left the party early.
"Hey, Luca!"
After Ross departed, Anne approached with her own glass.
No one was more excited at the party than she was.
Step Up was her first directorial effort, and now that it was successfully completed, she had set aside her usual tough exterior, mingling with everyone, thanking them for their help, and even apologizing to those she had scolded. She also bid farewell to those who were leaving soon.
"Anne, how does it feel to direct your first film?"
Luca asked with a light laugh.
"Not much."
Anne paused, glancing sideways at Billy, who was walking over. She then loudly said, "Before I became a director, I thought it was really hard. But after directing this movie, I realized it's pretty simple—anyone could have done it."
"Hmph!"
Billy, standing nearby, froze, his chubby face darkening.
"Did I say something wrong, Billy? The most important thing for a director is to direct the script. If you have a good script and still can't shoot it well, what kind of director are you?"
"..."
Billy's face turned red and white. He sighed softly and walked away.
Anne couldn't help but laugh after driving Billy away.
"Luca, thank you."
"Thank me?"
"Yes, thank you for always supporting me and giving me advice during the shoot."
Anne said sincerely.
During his time with the crew, Luca had been incredibly hardworking, like a model worker.
He not only handled the screenwriting but also took on roles as a producer, assistant director, choreographer, and even took care of logistics and funding.
Without his help, Anne wasn't sure she would have made it through.
"Anne, we're partners. It's what I should be doing."
Luca smiled lightly.
"Still, I want to thank you. It was a pleasure working with you."
"Same here!"
Luca raised his glass.
Ding!
The movie was wrapped, and the crew left Baltimore, returning to Los Angeles for post-production.
But that didn't concern Luca; his work was done, and now his focus shifted to Brazil.
The next afternoon, he boarded a flight to Rio de Janeiro.
"Hey, Luca!"
In the business class section, Ambrosio sat with her long legs crossed, wearing a Bohemian-style chiffon dress, her golden hair flowing loosely, exuding a sensual vibe.
Seeing him walk in, she waved lightly.
"Is this a surprise?"
Luca took off his hat, a bit surprised.
A few days ago, he had called Ambrosio, asking if she wanted to fly back together, but she had said she'd return a few days later. He didn't expect to see her today.
"Yes, how do you like it?"
Ambrosio looked at him with a flirtatious smile.
"It's a great surprise!"
Luca sat down across from her. "Jamie didn't come with you?"
Ambrosio's face darkened with annoyance. "He cheated again, so I came back early."
"Really? Well, that's good news!"
"Good news?! You're terrible!"
Ambrosio shot him a glance, her foot brushing against his leg.
The business class cabin was mostly empty, and no one noticed their little interaction.
Rumble
The plane took off, soaring over the Atlantic Ocean. The sky gradually darkened, and passengers started falling asleep.
Ambrosio got up and walked to the restroom.
Luca looked around, then got up to follow her.