Stardom Reset: From Washed-Up Actor To Global Superstar

Continuity editing serves as a key element of film-making.

One that employs a system of cutting and splicing scenes from different locations to create a seamless, logical flow of time and space, thereby ensuring narrative consistency and ’invisible’ transitions between shots.

This was why, instead of continuing on in Puzzlewood where the opening scene had been shot, the crew had moved to the grounds of Hever Castle, Kent.

Here, they would be shooting the rest of the first act.

As for the other scenes they had shot in other locations, such as the betrayal scene within the interiors of another castle in England... that would be spliced into accordance at the middle of the second act.

For the most part though, the first act of [The Promised Queen] hadn’t been as explosive as the later acts.

Rather, it had served as an introduction for all the key players in the story, their relationships with one another and equally, their interactions.

Following up after the opening scene which had been shot a few days back, the Royal Progress arrived safely without complications at Lancelot Castle and had been welcomed in.

Equally, Mordred’s character had finally being introduced to the audience.

Yet, even at this point, nothing in the script had implied that the duke was a traitor, or was inclined towards any treachery of sorts.

What it had done however, just as Niall had commented on the day of the script-reading session, was highlight Mordred’s act of overcompensation as unwavering loyalty to his King.

That, coupled with the previous conversation between Uther and Amlawdd in the opening scene would further serve to drive home that outlook, further amplifying the stakes when the betrayal scene eventually happened.

Following up from that though, was another important scene. One that touched on the furtive glances the princess had been giving the young duke in the opening scene.

The princess was to be betrothed to Duke Pendragon.

The news itself had come as a shock to both the young duke himself who wasn’t too enamored by the decision but was bound by duty to accept it, and a heartbroken Julien whom had always known a day like this would come.

This reveal early on in the story, was what had drove the pseudo love triangle between all three figures.

However, with Julien’s persona vastly undergoing a revamp, instead of being openly bitter about the decision to his Vice-Captain, he had instead accepted that Igraine was never meant to be his.

To help with coming to terms with his decision, he had chosen to distance himself from the princess whenever he could... a shift that hadn’t gone unnoticed by her.

So, in the last scene of the first act, a confrontation scene had happened between the princess and her personal knight, one that in the original script, had Julien confessing to loving her but equally admitting that he knew he couldn’t have her.

However, in the re-written scene, Ivelia had chosen to lean more into Julien’s unwavering duty to the crown, a by-product of Niall’s input.

As a result, instead of setting a precedence of Julien simply being the losing male lead, he became something more.

A man with an unwavering sense of duty, bigger than whatever he himself was internally battling with.

Currently making last minute checks to their equipment in preparation for said scene, Niall sat at the ready, his back well rested against a tree with a parchment and a plummet (a lead-tin stylus) in his hands.

Before him was an expansive lake, one that was situated behind the castle grounds.

And upon hearing the order from the director, the young actor immediately flipped into character.

{The Promised Queen | 27th June 2015 | Act 1 | Scene 8 | Take 1}

Sketching out the scenery before him as the evening sun lingered just enough on the horizon to paint it a shade of orange, Julien raised the parchment up.

Comparing his canvas of black and white against the scenery before him, he nodded quietly in approval to himself and then proceeded to continue.

But that was when he paused, something flickering into his field of view.

Leaning forwards slowly, he squinted his eyes... only to catch something white bobbing in the water.

Recognition flickered across his features, a genuine terror washing over his usually stoic demeanor.

Tossing his parchments and plummet, his boots equally flung asides, Julien dove into the lake in one swift motion!

In four strokes, he was upon the lifeless body of Igraine, his heart viciously pounding in his chest.

Wrapping his arm under her shoulders, he quickly dragged her body to the shore, hoisted her up and rolled her body over onto the wet grass, the panic having never left his features.

Leaning over, his head resting on her chest, Julien proceeded to check for any life signs.

But that was when the ’dead’ princess decided the prank was enough.

”My, hero~” she wrapped her hands around his head with a soft, amused chuckle.

To that, Julien’s head jerked upwards, disbelief evident on his features!

Unfortunately, he tripped over the edge of the lake and fell, right back in with a resounding splosh.

Emerging with an alarming amount of spits, sneezes and coughs, Julien’s expression was furious!

Furious yet tempered.

Igraine on the other hand, was laughing her lungs out, evidently amused by the plethora of expressions her knight could actually display.

It was also the main reason she had done it. Solely to mess with his unassailable stoicism.

And perhaps, also get him to ease on whatever seemed to be bothering him.

”You should’ve seen your face, Julien! My word!” she spasmed with an energetic laughter that shook her body.

Hoisting himself out of the water in one smooth motion, his irritation not in the least bit placated, Julien ignored the princess as he swung his arms to flick the water from his body

”Oh, come on Jules. Don’t tell me you’re actually mad?” Igraine followed him with an amused expression.

”This isn’t the first time I’ll be pranking you and it certainly won’t be the last,” she added cheerily, a notable pep in her step.

Picking up his boots, parchment and plummet, the knight in question schooled his expression into its usual calm and replied as he walked towards the tree;

”It’s cold out, Your Highness,”

”Please head back to your room. I shall escort you.” he grabbed his cloak from the tree and handed it over.

”Are you seriously going to continue being like this? To be just my knight and not the only friend I’ve ever truly had?” Igraine’s expression suddenly shifted as she shot him an annoyed glare.

”I suppose you’re not going to tell me why you’ve been so distant in recent memory either?” she asked, the hurt in her tone coming out a bit more than she’d intended.

In response, Julien remained quiet, his arm holding out the cloak.

Realizing that her so called ’friend’ wasn’t willing to answer her nonetheless, Igraine snatched the cloak with more force than was necessary.

”Fine!” she huffed and began to stomp away.

Hearing the soft crunch of footsteps behind her, she swiveled around and ordered;

”I can make it back on my own. Don’t escort me.”

Then she turned around and kept walking.

Once again, the familiar crunch of footsteps followed her.

This time, Igraine turned around, ready to warn the block of stone behind her, only for him to speak first;

”My feelings are irrelevant, Your Highness,”

”And so are yours, as far as my duty to the crown is concerned.”

”I am your personal knight,”

”Your safety is my only priority,”

”And I refuse to compromise on that.”

Hearing those words from him, knowing fully well how sound his logic was, Igraine paused, begrudgingly turned around and kept stomping off as Julien trailed behind her vigilantly.

”Cut!”

-

”And that’s a wrap for the day. Good job, everyone.” Ivelia declared and the entire crew looked visibly relieved.

They’d been shooting all day with only the necessary breaks in between so most on set were visibly tired and were simply looking forward to hitting the sack.

”Niall, Emily. Great deliveries on your part. Keep up the good work.” the director added as the soaked actor and actress made their way over.

As Niall moved forwards, he remained unaware of the subtle yet constant glances he was getting from most of the females on the set, some even gulping.

Reciprocating with individual nods of appreciation in response to Ivelia though, Emily then turned to face Niall, her expression slightly bashful;

”I wasn’t heavy, was I?”

Niall blinked in surprise and then replied honestly;

”Not at all,”

”Why do you ask?” he followed up with a curious question of his own.

”Well, David and I were in a scene couple days ago, and he mentioned I was,” she twirled her wet blonde hair with a finger, a pout forming on her lips.

”Did not!” David suddenly popped into the conversation to defend himself, clearly indignant.

Having shot a scene earlier before theirs, he had been hanging around to watch Niall’s and Emily’s.

In fact, he had even been waiting on both of them to round up their scenes in an effort to offer to drive them to their shared hotel, only for him to hear his co-lead slandering him.

”Did too!” Emily shot back.

”Are you kidding me?! I had to carry you over and over till we got the scene right! It was only natural I’d begin to think you were at some point!” David explained, evidently trying to defend himself.

”See! You’re saying it again!” Emily complained to which David argued;

”My goodness, Emily! There’s definitely a difference between thinking about something and outright saying it!”

”Thinking about it implies that’s what you said! The only difference is that you didn’t say it out loud but in your mind!” the actress countered.

For a while, both artists kept arguing, garnering the amusement of Ivelia and the rest of the crew, all of whom could really use the entertainment given it had been such a hectic day of filming.

At some point though, minutes after they’d argued to their heart’s content, both figures turned to face Niall and asked;

”Right, Niall?!”

It was unfortunate, though. The young man seemed to have vanished from his spot a while ago.

Yet, as if he’d known that they’d ask for his input at some given point, he’d left a note with Ivelia who simply came over and gave it to them whilst trying contain her laughter.

Simply, the note read;

Yes, you’re both right.

Upon seeing it, Emily and David looked to each other, blinked a few times, and then burst into laughter.

In any case, amidst their shenanigans, Niall had quickly changed into dry clothes.

Having stepped out of the makeshift changing room the crew had put together a few minutes later, he had been lucky to board an uber that had just dropped someone off near the castle grounds.

Within minutes, he was back at a 4-star hotel nearby, one that Silver-Crest Studios had rented out for the duration of their filming in Hever Castle, of which today was the last.

Walking into his room, Niall casually dropped his bag on the king-sized bed and proceeded to grab his laptop.

Having completed the second act of his novel, it was high time he began the third act.

Considering filming had been taking most of his time, it was only natural that his pace was getting slower.

Added to that, [The Token of Fate] wasn’t just a copy-paste of what he had previously written before his regression, but rather a genuine rewrite meant to elevate the book to new heights.

Hence, it only made perfect sense that Niall was taking his time with it.

That said, the young actor was quite certain that he’d be done with the in the coming months.

Afterall, he had a goal of having it published early next year.