Production Begins

"Have you heard? Irene Coppola's been taking time off lately to shoot a movie! And they're filming it right here at our school!"

"She's only a freshman, and she's already making a short film? That's so ambitious..."

"What short film? She's making a commercial movie with a budget in the tens of millions!"

As soon as the words "a budget in the tens of millions" were spoken, the classroom erupted in a buzz of discussion. It hadn't even been two months since the start of the school year, and one of their classmates was already directing a movie with a budget of tens of millions. The gap was hard to stomach. Before long, one envious remark after another filled the room.

"Director Coppola spoils his daughter way too much. Irene's never even directed a short film, and now she's going straight to a feature? Can she handle it...?"

"Maybe Coppola's directing it himself and just putting his daughter's name on it to build hype."

"Oh my god, having a famous director for a dad must be amazing!"

"Coppola just tossed her tens of millions to 'practice' with. That family sure is generous..."

Irene usually lived off campus and wasn't particularly close to her classmates. She only talked much with Hannie Charles and Vivian Taylor. So everyone crowded around the two of them, hoping to learn more.

"Did Irene tell you what kind of movie she's making before she left?"

"Does her crew need anyone? Could we intern there?"

"Is she really going as the director? She's not just going to do odd jobs, is she?"

"Irene's the director, the lead director of a commercial film!" Vivian Taylor couldn't help speaking up for her friend.

"Vivian, what kind of movie is it, then?"

"I'm not really sure... I heard her mention a few things on the phone last time, but I guess we'll find out when it comes out."

"Did she invite you to visit the set?"

"Of course!" Hannie Charles replied as naturally as if she and Irene had already made plans. "Irene said we could drop by anytime once filming started. If we want to intern, she'll definitely save us a spot."

Vivian tugged quietly at Hannie's skirt. Irene hadn't actually promised to save them internship positions.

But Hannie ignored her hint completely and carried on. "If you want to go, just let me know ahead of time!"

"Sure, sure! Tell me before you go. I want to see it too!"

"Me too! I want to go!"

Irene had no idea her classmates were eagerly discussing her. Even if she had known, she wouldn't have given it a second thought. At that moment, she was entirely focused on the auditions.

Sometimes there was a reason an actor wasn't famous. As she watched the actress in front of her gesticulate wildly, Irene kept her face neutral, though her mind was already full of complaints.

"All right, thank you for your performance. We'll let you know as soon as we can. Please send in the next person." Jack Harris cut the over-the-top performance short at just the right moment.

Irene had been unsure about whether to cast Reese Witherspoon, but now it seemed there was no one better suited for the role.

Once the actresses' auditions were over, Irene didn't hesitate. She turned to Shelly and said, "Let's go with Reese. Is she okay with dyeing her hair blonde?" Quite a few Hollywood actresses didn't seem keen on dyeing their hair.

No one objected. Reese's performance had clearly been better than the others', and they weren't making a bad movie. They needed someone with solid acting skills. Even if Reese's fee was a little higher, it was still within budget.

"I'll negotiate with her," Shelly promised.

They made do with a quick lunch, then began selecting male actors that afternoon.

Unlike the heroine, whose appearance Irene could picture clearly, she hadn't remembered the original male lead's face even after watching the film three times. This time, she couldn't make the same mistake. She had to pick someone handsome.

After auditioning several male actors, she finally spotted a familiar name: Ryan Gosling.

But honestly, she'd never understood his appeal, not even when he was at the height of his fame.

In the end, they chose a newcomer recommended by Jack, James Franco—the future "Green Goblin"—to play the heroine's ex-boyfriend.

Ryan Gosling was also kept on, landing a small role.

Since most of the young actors had little experience, their fees were low and didn't exceed the budget at all.

After two or three more meetings, they finalized the location rentals and set designs.

Irene revised the script to suit the practical constraints, then instructed the production staff and assistants to draw up a daily shooting schedule. She spelled out every detail, from the necessary camera setups to the actors' emotions and background changes, so the finished film wouldn't look amateurish.

These chores made her grateful countless times that everyone from the assistant director to the production crew and camera department were "Coppola people." She didn't have to spend extra time communicating with them; she only needed to give instructions. Otherwise, even one uncooperative person would have added a huge amount of overhead.

Even with the whole crew working in sync, the preparations drained all of Irene's energy, leaving her no time for classes. Inexperience inevitably led to a few minor mistakes, costing them quite a bit of time.

The planned mid-November start date was pushed back again and again. No one blamed her, but the pressure in her heart kept mounting.

Francis watched his daughter grow quieter and quieter, but didn't step in rashly. This was a stage every Hollywood director had to go through. She already had it much easier than others thanks to her family advantages. He couldn't keep holding her hand forever.

No matter how long the preparations took, they would eventually end. On November 28, the day before Irene turned seventeen, Legally Blonde officially began filming.

For the first shot on the first day, she picked a relatively simple scene: the heroine, Elle Woods, talking with the supporting character Vivian in their dorm room. The set was enclosed and the cast was small, making it easier for a novice director to manage.

"Cut!"

Irene's voice was clear but not shrill. In the slightly noisy studio, it seemed to hit a mute button; everyone paused for a moment. They hadn't even been filming for ten minutes, and this was already the third time she'd called a halt.

Irene rose from behind the monitor and crossed the set to the center of the dorm room. The lighting technician and camera assistant instinctively stepped aside to make way for her.

Her brows furrowed slightly as she surveyed the scene: the single bed with its pink sheets, the desk piled with fashion magazines and law books, the clothes hanging in abundance from the rack...

Reese Witherspoon and the other actress watched her anxiously, unsure whether something was wrong with their performance or if there was another problem.

Irene didn't speak right away. She silently surveyed the set, her focused presence tightening the atmosphere in the studio in an instant.

Assistant director Jack Harris had been about to approach and ask what was wrong, but when he saw Irene's expression, he chose to wait in silence.

Suddenly, Irene's gaze stopped on one corner of the desk. She reached out and tapped the open, brick-thick Contracts textbook.

"Props," she said, her voice calm but firm. "This textbook is too new. It looks like it was just brought home from the bookstore. Elle's a law student. She needs to stay up all night poring over her books, so there should be notes in it and signs that she's been reading it. There should even be... here." She traced the edge of a page with her finger. "A little coffee stain, maybe, or a turned-down corner. I want to see proof that she's studying hard, not just a prop."

The props manager froze for a moment, then immediately understood. "Got it, Director! We'll take care of it!" He hurriedly waved an assistant over to find some aging supplies.

Irene's gaze shifted to Reese. "Reese," she said, softening her tone a little, "what was your motivation for walking from the door to the desk just now?"

Reese thought for a moment. "I wanted to put down my bag, then talk to Vivian."

"Your motivation isn't strong enough." Irene shook her head and demonstrated the movement herself, crisp and decisive. "You don't 'want' to put your bag down. You 'have' to put down that heavy burden right away, because you've just come back from a seminar that left you exhausted. Your shoulders ache, your steps are quick, and the moment you drop your bag, you feel almost relieved. Then you notice Vivian, and your pace slows as you switch from the academic world back to your social life. Do you see the layers?"

Reese's eyes lit up. She nodded at once. "I understand, Director! Exhaustion and urgency, then the transition."

"Good. Let's try it again." Irene turned to the lighting department. "Paul, soften the sidelight by the doorway. The shadows it's casting on her face are too harsh. I want her to look tired, not haggard. She's still the radiant Elle Woods."

"Got it, Director. Adjusting now!" the lighting technician replied immediately.

"Script supervisor, watch continuity and make sure it matches the previous shot."

"Makeup, touch up Reese's forehead. It was reflecting a little just now."

She spoke at an even pace, delivering one clear, precise instruction after another to each department involved.

The entire crew was like a finely tuned machine, efficiently springing back into action under the command of its suddenly highly skilled "operator."

No one doubted her because of her youth anymore. Standing there with a sharp gaze, demanding perfection in every detail and understanding the character's psychology so precisely, she made it clear to everyone who was in control of the set: Director Irene Coppola.

Jack Harris stood to the side, a faint smile on his face.

Many of the reminders and assistance he'd prepared seemed unnecessary now.

The youngest daughter of the Coppola family was clearly more prepared than her father had imagined—or even than she herself had thought.

"All right, everyone, places!" Irene returned behind the monitor, her voice calm again. "We'll start with Elle coming through the door. Action!"

This time, the world inside the frame seemed to come alive. The aged law book, the subtle exhaustion on Reese's face and the vivid energy that followed, the light tracing her features just right—everything came together naturally.

Irene stared intently at the monitor. Only when the take ended perfectly did she finally smile for the first time since filming began.

"Good! Nice job, everyone! Get ready for the next scene!"

The atmosphere on set relaxed in an instant. A quiet sigh of relief went around, followed by renewed, eager activity.

They knew this young director wouldn't let anything slide. But working with a director who knew exactly what she wanted made the job all the more satisfying.

Reese was a little surprised. This director looked even younger than she was, yet she had an excellent grasp of the details. This crew didn't seem nearly as unprofessional as Reese had initially feared.