Hollywood Showbiz Lord

The E.T. started with keeping all the original crew intact, including the little devil named Drew Barrymore.

Richard always heard that working with kids in films is the most challenging task for any film crew. Dealing with child protection associations can be a headache, and managing the children themselves can be a nightmare. Richard is seeing it firsthand.

It's always difficult to control children. Kids are curious by nature, which can sometimes lead to problems. For example, Thomas Howell, who played Elliott's friend Tyler, accidentally broke a prop while touching it out of curiosity.

On the other hand, managing Drew Barrymore is a real headache. She is a little imp. She can pull out pranks like a magician pulling out cards. Despite her age of only seven, she approaches the shoot with the same seriousness as any other crew member. She displays remarkable talent as an actor and performs her work with the professionalism of a seasoned pro.

Sometimes, Richard even wonders if she has the soul of an adult like him.

Dealing with child actors can be challenging. They tend to break character, frequently forget their lines, get nervous, and make numerous mistakes. This significantly disrupts the schedule and adds pressure on the producer.

Richard is a well-behaved and gentle young actor who embodies the ideal child actor any producer would desire. He has a natural ability to manage children, always stepping in when needed. His presence on set is invaluable. He is intelligent, mature, and highly professional. He effortlessly connects with both the crew and the children, serving as a crucial link between them and ensuring a positive and enjoyable atmosphere.

However, it's not like he doesn't have any problems.

"No, Richard, that's not it. I need the innocence of a ten-year-old with a hint of maturity. Your performance is too grown-up. If we were making a film about a child prodigy, it would be perfect, but this is the role of a smart, innocent boy," Steven exclaimed. Then, without pausing, he added, "On stage, it might slide, but this is for the big screen. There will be close-ups, and if I can't convey the perfect emotion, it won't work."

"God!!! getting the right emotion is not as easy as I thought." Richard sighed.

"Because you are stupid." Drew quipped.

Richard responds, saying, "As if you're someone innocent."

With a feisty expression, she shot back, "What did you say?"

Richard quickly defused the tension, replying, "Nothing."

"Calm down, you two. You are doing fine, Ric. Just embrace the innocence of the character," Steve comforted.

"Yeah, I'll try," Richard sighed sadly.

Seeing him like this, Steven thought of giving him some time, so he called for a break.

"Everybody, take a 20-minute break," Steve announced.

"Don't worry, Richy, you'll get the hang of it in no time," Drew said, trying to lift Richard's spirits as he looked down. Richard flashed a smile at Drew's concerned face before ruffling her hair.

"Hey!!!"

It's been 40 days since the shooting started, and things have mostly gone smoothly. However, he's struggling in the scenes that need to portray an innocent boy.

He's been making progress in all other scenes, so much so that production even entered a fast pace. But he's finding it challenging to convey genuine innocence. This innocence needs to come from the heart, and that's where the issue lies. He feels like his heart is clouded, making it hard for him to fully embrace the character.

In the current scene, Richard has to interact with the alien being experimented on by scientists and convince it not to die. He was struggling to grasp the emotions needed for the scene.

"You've got to use your imagination, Richard," a voice beside him advised.

"How, Melissa?" Richard asked, wearing a helpless smile.

Melissa Mathison smiled back. "Imagine E.T. is someone very close to you, and relive the scene that is being shot like it is real life," she said before heading off to speak with someone else. She was the co-screenwriter of the script for E.T. and had personally edited the script according to Steven's requirements. They had become acquainted during this time.

Richard thought deeply about her words and finally found the rhythm he was looking for. After a 20-minute break, the crew once again took their position.

"Ready, Richard?" asked Steven for the last time. Richard nodded.

"Camera starting scene no.345, 12th take, and action," Steven ordered.

"Stay with me, E.T.," Elliott said in a low voice, struggling to breathe. "Please," tears welling in his eyes. "Stay," he implored, reaching out to the alien. "Together," gasping for breath, "I'll be right here."

The alien stopped moving.

"E.T., answer me, please," gasped Elliott.

As doctors and scientists tried to revive the alien, Elliott, on the verge of tears, couldn't believe E.T. was gone. He felt someone behind him and saw his mother. He burst into tears and hugged her.

"Cut!" Steven shouted.

As everyone looked at Steven, he announced, "Well done, Ric. It was excellent."

The scene ended, and everyone clapped. Richard was happy to have found a solution to his problem and advanced another step in his acting career.

After this scene, everything went smoothly, and finally, one day, "Cut, and that's a wrap!" Steven shouted, and everyone on set applauded. The shooting was completed, a week ahead of schedule, making everyone, especially the producer and Steven, even happier.

"At last, it's over," Richard sighed.

"Come on, Richard. You enjoyed it, didn't you?" Steven laughed.

"Yeah, I enjoyed it. But my body can't take it anymore," Richard admitted, smiling.

"When are you going to release the film?" Richard asked.

"If all goes well, September 2nd," Steven replied.

"It seems the Butterfly effect finally started to take place. The future changed a bit. The movie, which was supposed to be released in June, is delayed to September. I hope it doesn't affect the box office or the future," Richard thought, feeling worried.

As the film finished, the crew was officially disbanded. Everyone will go their separate ways, only to meet again at the premiere.

"Richard, call me, okay?" Drew said, with teary eyes.

During the film, she and Richard became close friends. They got along very well, often fighting or laughing, but spending most of their time together, creating a very close bond.

"Don't cry, little Drew. I will call you every week and write lots of letters," Richard assured Drew.

"Huff... I'm not little. You're tall for your age," Drew teased, pushing him.

"You promised, okay?" she said firmly, then ran to her mother before he could respond.

He smiled wryly, watching her in the distance, but then made a serious face.

"Since we have met like this, I'll help you. So you don't have the same fate you had in my previous life. I will make sure you do not make the same mistake again," he promised himself.