Audrey was equally perplexed. She had executed her performance commendably, so why had Elena abruptly paused?
Elena gazed at Audrey disdainfully and declared, "Director, I believe Audrey's portrayal is flawed."
Flawed? In what way?
Audrey couldn't fathom it. "Could you clarify what I did incorrectly?"
Elena ignored Audrey and continued addressing the assistant director. "As a haughty princess of the royal lineage, Martha has the privilege to exude pride. Her ambitions suggest that she should conceal her sharp edges in the initial stages rather than immediately opposing the female lead."
The assistant director inquired, "So what is your suggestion?"
At this juncture, Elena directed her gaze at Audrey. "What I mean is that, in the initial stages, Martha should be an unparalleled white lotus, using her pitiable demeanor to deceive those around her, rather than displaying exuberance from the outset."
Audrey's mouth twitched.
Elena's character arc followed a pattern commonly found in romance scripts, beginning with a feeble character in the early stages and evolving into a darker persona later on. This plot development was a well-worn trope in countless Mary Sue narratives, and audiences could often predict the story's trajectory simply by reading the introduction.
In essence, it was a familiar tale.
Despite its title, "Goddess" was a tragic drama. The name might suggest divine qualities, but the narrative primarily revolved around the protagonist's struggle with reality and her spiritual awakening. It held significant depth. Even the supporting character, Martha, possessed unique attributes.
Audrey wasn't fond of the acting approach Elena advocated. She had agreed to take on the role of Martha with Daniel because she recognized that Martha was unlike conventional supporting characters. Martha maintained her distinct personality throughout and didn't become entangled in frivolous love affairs.
Elena persisted, "A supporting actress who pretends to be pitiful is essentially wicked. The stark contrast between the early and later stages reflects an actress's skills, doesn't it?"
Audrey had long sensed Elena's dissatisfaction with her.
If she failed to grasp that Elena was criticizing her for playing a white lotus character in real life, she would indeed be dense.
Acknowledging Elena's protagonist aura and her potential to deal a decisive blow, Audrey refrained from acting rashly. Instead, she said, "Elena is correct, but I believe that as a princess, Martha is inherently noble. She's naturally proud and doesn't need to rely on feigned weakness and sympathy to garner others' pity and assistance."
Initially, Audrey had hoped to avoid a direct confrontation with Elena. However, driven by her protective instinct toward her role, she couldn't help but voice her opinion.
This disparity in interpretation of their respective roles by the female lead and the second female lead stirred considerable excitement and curiosity among the onlookers.
As expected, Elena was quickly angered. 'You're nothing more than a minor actress with no notable reputation, while I've been in the entertainment industry for over a decade, starting as a child star. Do you genuinely believe you possess greater acting expertise than me?"
Audrey's true identity remained concealed, and she had concealed her connection to the Lance family, as her plan with Linda had failed. Everyone assumed she was a fledgling in the entertainment industry with no significant background.
The direction to lean toward was already glaringly obvious.
Someone interjected, "Absolutely, Elena is absolutely right. Martha, from the very beginning, was a vicious supporting character. In the end, she even orchestrated the female lead's fiery demise in Flower Square. To be capable of such deeds, she must have concealed her true nature quite effectively initially. Otherwise, how could she have possessed such capabilities?"
"Exactly, exactly..
The consensus grew, making it challenging for the assistant director to maintain control of the situation, especially in Dean's absence.
To establish his authority as the set's manager, he signaled to the screenwriter, "Go on, revise the script. Transform Martha from this point into a meek and delicate royal princess."
Audrey: '...'
Anna: '...'
Elena's eyes betrayed a hint of smugness as she gazed provocatively at Audrey. "If you're unsure how to act, don't hesitate to seek guidance from others. You're a total greenhorn, and I have no idea where you sprang from. You're utterly clueless."
These words were too much, and Anna seethed with anger, poised to retaliate. Nevertheless, Audrey stopped her..
...