"Hello, Miss Diantha." Edward greeted Diantha who had just finished putting on makeup at the set.
After all, given Diantha's age, she needed some makeup to convincingly portray the stepmother in Dead Silence.
"Hello, Mr. Edward. I'm delighted to be part of your film," Diantha said with a smile. Her eyes flashing, looking at Edward in front of her curiously. The young man whose script had left her astonished.
"You're too kind, Miss Diantha. I've watched many of your works, and having such a talented actress like you in my film is truly an honor." Edward spoke with calm elegance—a quality ingrained in him as the youngest member of the Devon family, where he had been trained in etiquette from a young age.
When Edward chose to, he could charm anyone with his poise and grace.
However, Edward wasn't lying, either—he genuinely admired Diantha's work. As a celebrity with immense popularity, her Champion-level trainer status had granted her unparalleled fame in the Kalos region.
Even in the Hoenn region, Edward had seen numerous ads, movies, and TV series featuring Diantha.
"Mr. Edward, I'm curious—how did you come up with such an outstanding script for Dead Silence?" Diantha's eyes gleamed with curiosity.
Initially, Diantha hadn't originally thought about participating in a movie based on Hoenn region, but as luck would have it, she happened to be shooting a commercial in Hoenn and unexpectedly heard about the actors auditioning for Dead Silence. Intrigued, she decided to take a look at the audition.
As a result, after reading the script, she immediately agreed to join the cast.
Edward scratched his head. The crew was still setting up the scene, so he decided to use the time to chat with Diantha. Edward planned to shoot first the scene of the male protagonist meeting his stepmother, and then the subsequent scenes with his stepmother.
Since the scene was not ready yet, it's not a bad idea to talk to Diantha first.
"Actually, the inspiration came from some horror films I've seen. But I always felt they weren't quite scary enough." Edward spun his tale effortlessly.
After all, this world doesn't have those classic horror films of his previous life. Even if he claimed the idea came to him in a dream, no one would suspect otherwise.
After listening to this, Diantha nodded thoughtfully, her gaze turning slightly contemplative she looked at Edward.
As a renowned actress from the Kalos region, Diantha had a keen sense for scripts. She predicted this horror film could become a box office hit, propelling Edward into the spotlight as a rising director in the Pokémon League.
With that in mind, Diantha decided to strengthen her rapport with Edward. As an ambitious actress, she sought to star in more exceptional films.
After exchanging pleasantries and contact information with Edward, the set was almost ready for Diantha's first scene and Edward began to prepare for the shoot.
Edward settled into the director's chair, his eyes fixed on the world through the camera lens.
Unlike the world seen by the naked eye, the lens captured a uniquely stylized realm. The gloomy weather perfectly suited Edward's vision. After all, the whole film "Dead Silence" is basically shot in gloomy tones. The dim tones would heighten the oppressive atmosphere, aligning with the movie's chilling theme.
"Director, the weather team is ready," Deck whispered beside Edward. He nodded, understanding the message.
One of the perks of filming in the Pokémon world was the ability to control the weather. Rain, snow, sunshine—even sandstorms—were all options at their disposal.
"The current weather is perfect," Edward gestured. The camera began rolling, focusing on the protagonist Jamie. The shot then pulled back to reveal a hauntingly eerie mansion.
Edward watched intently.
The male lead's acting was impressive. Edward had walked him through the script earlier, emphasizing the protagonist's complex emotions—grieving his wife while returning to his hometown to uncover the legend of Mary Shaw.
The camera zoomed in as Jamie knocked on the door. From inside came soft, measured footsteps.
Edward raised an eyebrow. Diantha's choice for the footsteps was interesting, but he made no comment. The scene was progressing smoothly and didn't need a retake.
"Jamie! My deepest condolences for your wife's passing," Diantha said, opening the door with a surprised expression but with a sincere smile that radiated warmth and joy.
"Cut!" Edward called out, a hint of exasperation in his voice.
Diantha's performance was flawless, her expressions and demeanor perfectly capturing Ella's early attitude toward Jamie. The issue lay with Jamie himself.
Perhaps nervous about working with a star of Diantha's caliber, the actor playing Jamie was flushed and visibly flustered.
"Jamie, right now you don't look like a man uncertain about a stranger claiming to be his stepmother. You look like a shy boy with a crush," Edward quipped, suppressing a sigh looking at the actor whose face was flushed.
In the current take, it seemed like the male protagonist Jamie had romantic feelings for his stepmother Ella—definitely not the tone Edward wanted for the film.
"S-sorry, Director! I'll adjust right away!" The actor bowed his head in apology, took a deep breath, and slapped his cheeks to regain composure.
Seeing this, Edward let it slide, reminding him to stay focused on the film. They resumed shooting the scene.
Diantha quickly got back into character. The second take was even more compelling, with her expressions and subtle glances truly captivating. Edward clicked his tongue in admiration. With acting skills like hers, Diantha could easily have been an award-winning actress in his previous life.
In the Pokémon world, several prestigious film festivals existed, with the League Film Festival being the most esteemed and held annually by the League.
"...I suppose you could call me your stepmother," Diantha explained earnestly. This time, Jamie's performance improved significantly. His expression perfectly conveyed confusion and skepticism, no longer the awkward shyness from before.
"Cut!" Edward called again, though this time the issue was with the lighting. Jamie's face appeared overly bright, as if he'd been hit with a spotlight.
(End of Chapter)