Chapter 13: Action!
After Lucas' characterization of his role, when Lucas looked in the small mirror from the table, he felt his characterization of "Marshall Dylan" was similar to the character "Rodrick Heffley" from the "Diaries of a Wimpy Kid".
Despite the rebellious sense he felt from his own movements, it was relatively toned down quite a bit.
Although the showcase of the "Bad Boy" archetype can be fun, it can also be quite one-dimensional. So, Lucas only added the sense of rebellion or the bad boy feeling, but it was actually just to mask the true Dylan—the character that thirsts for friendship or a happy family. His family was a broken family, to the point that he was kicked out of the house by his own mother just because of her boyfriend.
So, Lucas exhibited awkward movements, although he concealed them with a bad-boy persona. It wasn't mere pretense; Dylan genuinely had reasons to be rebellious.
Being well-acquainted with portraying a bad boy from his past roles, Lucas drew inspiration from films like "The Godfather," "Scarface," and "Once Upon a Time in America." In his previous life, Lucas often took on the role of a villain, and while he didn't reach the level of top actors with sophisticated methods, his portrayal of a bad guy was commendable. It was more simplified and closer to a real-life thug or gangster.
Lucas embraced simplicity in acting after watching "Once Upon a Time in America." Unlike films like "The Godfather," where bad guys were romanticized, "Once Upon a Time in America" depicted them more realistically—straight-up evil without the complex moral code of characters like Vito Corleone. As Lucas contemplated and characterized "Marshall Dylan," the crew interrupted, urging him to prepare as his scene was about to begin.
Lucas nodded, assuming the role of "Marshall Dylan" after exhaling his nervousness.
"I hope the director and writers will appreciate my interpretation of Dylan's character..." Lucas thought as he closed his eyes.
The crew prepared, the director called for action, and the camera was set as Lucas rang the doorbell.
In character as Dylan, Lucas discreetly glanced through the transparent glass near the door, spotting Julie (or Claire) approaching.
Julie, in the role of Claire, projected a maternal aura, ready to protect her child at any moment. Lucas noticed Sarah, playing Haley, hastily descending the stairs, but Claire outpaced her.
Claire, holding a fabric that cleverly concealed her stomach, opened the door and greeted "Marshall Dylan." She seemed visibly surprised by Lucas' portrayal, immediately sensing he brought bad news. From Claire's perspective, it was evident that Haley needed to steer clear of this man, but expressing it directly wasn't an option—that's what Phil was there for.
Claire put on a facade of niceness, shaking Dylan's hand and greeting him, "Hello, you must be Dylan."
Dylan nodded and casually replied, "Yup, that's me. Dylan." His tone was lazy, yet respectful. His eyes carried a hint of intimidation, but his relaxed brows naturally dispelled any sense of threat from the seemingly "bad-looking guy."
Lucas's portrayal differed from the audition, catching the attention of director Jason and the writers. They chose to continue filming, eager to see if Lucas could elevate his character beyond the audition.
Claire introduced herself while shaking Dylan's hand, stating, "I'm Haley's mother." As Haley, who was behind Claire, grabbed Dylan's forearm, she urged, "Hey, come on, let's go," leading him upstairs.
Claire attempted to halt Dylan and Haley, engaging Dylan in conversation and posing some questions. Haley, visibly embarrassed as the one who invited Dylan, felt the awkwardness keenly.
While Claire appeared to be discreetly checking Dylan's background, Phil entered the scene and approached Dylan.
There was a momentary pause as Phil glanced at Dylan, who exuded a laid-back demeanor yet emanated a "bad guy" vibe. Sensing this, Phil tried to appear more intimidating to Dylan, but his attempt at intimidation only made him seem ridiculous and amusing. He awkwardly stated, "Let me meet this playa."
Even Claire, standing near Phil, struggled to stifle her laughter, realizing she couldn't afford to break the scene.
The camera then focused on Phil facing Dylan, while Haley looked utterly embarrassed. She seemed like her parents had embarrassed her significantly, especially in front of her crush.
Despite Dylan's seemingly respectful response to Phil, the atmosphere was tense. Phil stared at Dylan and outwardly expressed positive sentiments, but his eyes told a different story, signaling to everyone in the room that Phil wasn't truly comfortable with Dylan.
Haley found herself even more embarrassed, especially as she could clearly interpret Phil's disapproval of Dylan.
Phil walked past Dylan on the stairs, staring at him and remarking, "You two keep it real, you know what I mean, son?"
Dylan, perplexed, looked at Phil and replied, "Uh... Not really..." His voice carried an awkward tone, and his eyes, genuinely confused, didn't hide Dylan's bewilderment. Despite the awkwardness, the scene turned out to be unexpectedly humorous. Even Sarah Hyland and Julie Bowen, who maintained serious expressions, struggled to contain their laughter, participating in an unintended "Try Not to Laugh Challenge." They couldn't afford to ruin the scene, but the comedic tension was undeniable.
Ty Burrell, although not initially inclined to laugh, couldn't help but feel a chuckle building up when he witnessed Dylan's genuine confusion. Lucas's performance was unexpectedly diverting, considering Lucas performance right now wasn't in the topic of discussion among the crew.
Despite his composed exterior, Ty Burrell, being an experienced actor, understood the humorous side of filming on set, especially when unexpected moments occurred.
Both Sarah and Julie maintained their professionalism, and Lucas's performance, although amusing, didn't push them to uncontrollable laughter.
Ty Burrell, momentarily sidetracked by Lucas's unanticipated response as Dylan, quickly refocused on portraying Phil, recalling the script.
As Phil attempted to exert intimidation on Dylan, he inadvertently strained his back while leaning on the stairs balustrade, relying too heavily on it. Phil sudden painful posture surprised Haley and Claire, but Dylan, still perplexed by Phil's earlier question, instinctively caught Phil, preventing him from falling, in a princess carry.
When the camera captured this unexpected scene, the director and writers found it surprisingly perfect. Phil, now in Dylan's grasp, gazed at him with incredulous eyes, a mix of astonishment and clear embarrassment evident on Ty Burrell's face.
Claire and Haley observed Dylan instinctively holding Phil in the princess carry, their expressions shifting from concern to curiosity. They watched as Dylan carefully carried Phil up to the sofa, creating an unintentionally amusing yet oddly captivating moment for the scene.
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