"How do I look in this outfit?"
On the spaceship cabin set, Charlize Theron walked up to Duke, holding a huge helmet in her arms. "I never thought I'd get to be part of Star Wars."
Duke looked at Charlize Theron, carefully examining her from head to toe. The tall, elegant South African beauty was wearing the iconic white armor — the unmistakable outfit of a Stormtrooper.
"Very nice," Duke said deliberately with admiration. "Having an Oscar-winning actress serve as a background character will add a lot of buzz to the film."
Originally, the actor who was supposed to cameo as the Stormtrooper in this scene was the current James Bond, Daniel Craig. However, due to scheduling conflicts with Star Wars: The Force Awakens, he had to withdraw from the project. Still, there were far too many famous actors eager to make a cameo in Star Wars, including Duke's replacement choice — Charlize Theron.
Although she was merely playing a background role behind the female lead Daisy Ridley and had to wear a Stormtrooper helmet the entire time without showing her face — Charlize Theron still took the job very seriously.
After joking with Duke for a few moments, she returned to her spot to complete the final touches of her makeup.
Meanwhile, Daisy Ridley, who had already filmed several scenes, was ready. After taking a deep breath, she followed Anna Prinz's guidance and sat down on a large interrogation chair in the center of the cabin set. A prop assistant immediately came forward to "tie" her down, matching the identity of a prisoner for the scene.
When the two IMAX cameras — "Death Star" and "Millennium Falcon" — were set up at forty-five-degree angles, Duke gave the order to the clapper loader to begin.
"Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Scene Eleven, Act Four…" The clapper loader held the slate before the main camera and shouted loudly, "Action!"
Duke withdrew his gaze from Charlize Theron and Daisy Ridley and fixed it on the image displayed on the director's monitor. Except for a few special cases, directors rarely watch the scene with their own eyes — because what the camera captures, combined with props and lighting, often differs from what the naked eye perceives.
Many times, a scene that looks excellent to the human eye ends up filled with flaws when captured by the camera.
The studio was completely silent. Only the loud "buzzing" sound of the massive IMAX cameras operating could be heard. Suspended from the boom arm, the recording device slowly descended over Daisy Ridley's head under the control of the sound department.
Most IMAX-filmed dialogues need to be dubbed later in post-production, but during shooting, the actors cannot afford to relax — every line must be memorized perfectly.
To help the relatively new Daisy Ridley improve, Duke insisted on recording live sound for every shoot, allowing the actors to see their weaknesses and reach the best possible performance as quickly as possible.
After several rounds of adjustment, Daisy Ridley's state was clearly much better now.
She lay on the large interrogation chair, her eyes darting around as if searching for a way to escape. Finally, her gaze fell on the only guard in the room — the Stormtrooper played by Charlize Theron.
Glancing at the Stormtrooper, Daisy Ridley closed her eyes slightly, as if sensing some mysterious presence. Then she slowly said, "You will walk over here, put down your weapon, unlock my handcuffs, open the cabin door, and then leave this place."
Charlize Theron didn't move but turned her head slightly, looking at Daisy Ridley with confusion.
Yes — though Charlize Theron wore the Stormtrooper helmet and her expression couldn't be seen, her powerful screen presence as a top Hollywood actress was unmistakable. Whether viewed through the camera lens or with the naked eye, it was easy to discern the Stormtrooper's hesitation and curiosity.
It had to be said — Charlize Theron was formidable. Even as a background Stormtrooper, she was stealing the spotlight.
People often said a good actor should know when to restrain themselves, but Duke knew that, like Tom Cruise and Leonardo DiCaprio, actors like Charlize Theron — who were long accustomed to being the lead and the center of attention — always carried an aura of dominance in their performances.
Actors of the caliber of Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Charlize Theron — even when appearing as the most inconspicuous background characters, without a single line or visible expression — naturally drew the audience's eyes.
Why are superstars called superstars? Their rarity isn't just a product of media hype — it also comes from extraordinary talent and ability.
Although Charlize Theron was unintentionally stealing the scene, Duke didn't call cut. He simply observed Daisy Ridley's performance with patience.
Duke knew that with just a small reminder, Charlize Theron would adjust herself immediately, and the issue would easily be resolved.
However, Daisy Ridley as a newcomer needed a great deal of practical experience. Acting alongside an Oscar-winning actress and Hollywood megastar would undoubtedly be a valuable lesson.
In truth, Duke was deliberately using Charlize Theron to temper Daisy Ridley.
The heroine of Star Wars couldn't just be a pretty face. Daisy Ridley wasn't particularly beautiful either; to leave a lasting impression compared to the previous two heroines Princess Leia and Padmé Amidala — she had to put in significant effort.
Especially since Padmé Amidala, the highlight of the relatively recent Star Wars prequel trilogy, would inevitably become a point of comparison for both the media and the audience.
Countless thoughts flashed through Duke's mind as the filming on set continued.
Seeing that the stormtrooper played by Charlize Theron remained motionless, Daisy Ridley did not give up. She seemed to be summoning all the energy within her body, her voice trembling slightly, her teeth unconsciously clenched tight.
"You will walk over here, put down your gun, unlock my handcuffs, open the hatch, and then leave this place."
Daisy Ridley's face was tightly tensed, her voice squeezed out from between her teeth, clearly overexerting herself. But Duke did not call cut. He let her continue her performance and repeat the few lines of dialogue: "You will walk over here, put down your gun, unlock my handcuffs, open the hatch, and then leave this place."
That omnipresent yet elusive Force finally took effect. The stormtrooper played by Charlize Theron walked forward, unlocked Daisy Ridley's handcuffs, and pressed a nearby button. As the hatch lifted open, she turned and walked away without looking back.
"Cut!" Duke called out to stop the crew, then stood up, grabbed the megaphone, and said, "The camera work and lighting are good. Take fifteen minutes, then we'll reshoot this scene."
After speaking, he quickly walked onto the set. Daisy Ridley also left the interrogation chair and came to stand before him.
Duke nodded to Daisy Ridley, then looked toward Charlize Theron, who had just removed her helmet, and said, "Sally, you stole the scene just now. Keep it controlled."
Charlize Theron smiled slightly and said, "Got it."
Duke felt assured with Charlize—one reminder was enough for her to know exactly how to adjust on the next take.
"Daisy…"
He turned slightly, looking at the thoughtful Daisy Ridley, and said, "You were too tense just now, a bit overexerted."
"Mm…" Daisy Ridley nodded rapidly. "I'll pay attention."
Still not entirely at ease, Duke added, "Your character Rey, because of her past, deeply rejects the Force and the Jedi. Now she's trapped and has to save herself, forced to use the Force buried deep within her. This is her first time using the Force to control someone—you need to grasp her mental state properly."
Daisy Ridley promised, "I will."
After instructing Daisy Ridley, Duke sought out John Schwartzman. Because of the previous still photographer and the confidentiality-centered promotional strategy, Duke was particularly concerned about the on-site stills being shot. He deliberately looked over the photos taken just now—the acting was mediocre, and the stills weren't particularly impressive either.
Moreover, the shots focused too heavily on Daisy Ridley, almost completely ignoring Charlize Theron's stormtrooper.
"The best actors belong only to their roles in the film; the best stills belong only to the movie itself." Duke called over the assistant photographer in charge of the stills and said, "The best still photo is one that accurately conveys the core spirit and content of the movie—it's the best interpretation of the film."
Although this assistant photographer wasn't as skilled as the one Duke had fired earlier, his biggest advantage was obedience—he shot exactly what Duke told him to.
Therefore, Duke gave specific instructions: "All stills must have acting in them. Facial expressions and movements can't be too stiff or lifeless. The stills must highlight story conflict, character personality, and plot. Key moments and major confrontations must have stills. Important props must have stills, including close-ups."
Finally, Duke pointed toward Charlize Theron and Daisy Ridley, who were repositioning themselves, and said, "This scene must include both empty shots and wide shots. The stills must capture the relationship between the two characters and their interaction."
Simply put, the stills had to contain the drama—the actors' performance in the still photos must look identical to how they appeared through the cinematographer's and cameraman's lenses.
This was often quite difficult, because during shooting, the top priority was always maintaining the filming schedule. The still photographer's work was rarely a consideration for the director or crew. In fact, still photographers were often seen as "distractions" who had to shoot in the gaps. For a crucial scene like this, if good stills weren't captured, Duke would make the actors redo the entire sequence—directing it specifically for the still photographer!
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