“Just tell me where to be and when, and I’m there,” Katrina told Franny, happy to give her fate—makeup and hair-wise, at least—over to others.
The plan worked, as far as Katrina was concerned. Franny stayed with her as they were shuttled from the hotel to the location. Franny went with her to the costume trailer, which had been parked next to the picnic pavilion, on the side away from the old church. There was already a crowd in the pavilion eating breakfast, but the air around the place was higher energy today than it had been yesterday. Clearly, things were heating up.
Sonia came in while Katrina was being kitted out in her first gown. The costumers had worked off her measurements, and they did some last-minute tucks here and there, on-the-spot, that didn’t take long at all. Katrina was enchanted with the dress that made her feel regal.
Sonia made her spin around and move a bit, then pronounced the dress perfect. They would be filming some of her interior scenes this morning and the director wanted to make sure she looked just right.
After costuming, came hair. Katrina sat in the chair while Guermo fussed over her hair, brushing and twisting and combing and even making little braids in strategic places. She had met him once before, in New York, when she had met him at a hair studio so he could get a feel for the color and behavior of her natural hair. Sonia had been adamant about leaving her hair as natural as possible, which meant no coloring was required. However, Guermo had told her they would make strategic use of hair pieces that matched her natural color for certain styles. He’d taken photos and made notes about color, including highlights and lowlights.
Guermo was a handsome Latino with an obvious flair for fashion. He was all business when it came to hair, and he had several high-budget films to his credit. His English was heavily accented, but he seemed able to converse fluently in several different languages. When they’d been in the salon in New York, he’d had short conversations with other stylists in French, Portuguese and Spanish, just while Katrina had been there.
While he worked, he talked about the plans Sonia had made for the day. He would be with Franny, shadowing Katrina on the actual set where they were filming. The rest of the cast would be working outside the building, continuing to work on one or two of the many fight scenes in the movie. They’d rigged up a system of colored flags that would be hung out one of the windows to let the people outside know when they were actively filming and needed absolute quiet.
When Guermo pronounced her hair done, Katrina caught her breath at the image in the mirror. She looked…otherworldly. Ethereal. Not like her usual self at all. At least, she didn’t think she’d looked like that on a normal day at the restaurant.
Franny had done just enough to highlight her eyes, and the hair really added to the look, with tendrils artfully drifting around her face in a way that was totally impractical but looked divine. The dress, though, really made the image. It was of fine cloth. A heavy brocade, she thought, that felt and looked lustrous, like pure silk.
Sonia came in to see how she looked again. Pronouncing the look awesome, she then took Katrina by the hand and personally escorted her to the old church, talking as they went.
“As you know, we’re filming some of the foundational scenes for Maid Marian today. Nothing too intense. Just basic stuff that establishes Marian’s place in the world. We’re starting off easy, since I know this is your first time in front of a camera,” Sonia told her in a low voice, not unkindly. “Don’t worry. You’re perfect for this part, and I know you’re going to knock it out of the park.” Sonia smiled and let go of Katrina’s hand as they entered the building. “Go on up to where all the lights are and familiarize yourself with the set. That section is part of your home, so you need to feel comfortable there.”
Katrina nodded her agreement and thanked Sonia quietly before heading off to do as she was told. The place had been transformed. Fully loaded with props and furniture in just the area designated as today’s set, it really did look like a room in someone’s fancy home from medieval times.
Katrina stepped in front of the lights and tried not to squint at the brightness. She was well lit, but there were deep shadows all around, and when she looked out to where the cameras were set up, all she could see were vague outlines of equipment and people. She couldn’t identify what she was looking at, which, in a way, made her job easier. Without being able to see the audience, she could suspend her own disbelief and get more into the role. At least, that was her belief. The proof would be in the pudding, as her mother liked to say.
Ren stood next to Sonia back in the shadows of the old church. The director had asked him especially to be on set today, in case his co-star needed any advice or encouragement. Ren didn’t know how to feel about that. On the one hand, he had this weird desire to look after Kat. On the other, she was human. He shouldn’t be feeling quite so protective of a human female… Should he?
He’d been watching for the past few minutes, waiting for Kat to find her stride, but it didn’t quite seem to be working. Sonia had done a couple of takes, but if he was any judge, none of the material they’d shot so far would be useable. Kat was beautiful, and he suspected that beauty would translate well on film, but at the moment, she looked scared and uncertain. Quite the opposite of what Marian needed to be.
Sonia had written it so that Marian was carefree at first, before meeting Robin, with a lively interest in politics and the world around her. Most of the action was taking place in the great hall at Marian’s family estate, which was near Sherwood Forest in Sonia’s version. Her first meeting with Robin would happen in the same place, when he came to rob the family and their important guests, including the Sheriff of Nottingham, who was thinking of courting Marian.
Sonia called a break and told Kat to sit tight. Kat stayed under the bright lights while Sonia came back to talk to Ren.
“She’s not getting it, is she?” Sonia said in a low voice so that their conversation was kept just between them.
“She’s nervous, and it’s showing,” he agreed.
“Would you talk to her? Maybe give her some pointers?” Sonia looked him up and down, her vision apparently as good as a shifter’s in the semi-darkness. “You were working out with Greg, weren’t you?”
“The fight scenes don’t choreograph themselves, you know,” he replied.
“It’s okay. You’re fine. Just go talk to her, will you?” Sonia encouraged him, though he knew he was sweaty and a bit disheveled from the workout.
Sighing, he strode forward toward the set area. Kat was standing on the raised part of the stonework that had once been an altar but now acted as the dais on which the high table sat in Marian’s family’s great hall.
Sonia went off to the cameras and stood watching. He saw her make a signal to her technical people, but he was more concerned with Kat at the moment. He stepped into the light, and Kat turned, catching sight of him. She gasped and her mouth opened in a little O of surprise.
He could hear the mechanisms of the cameras humming. Sonia, the sneak, was filming this—and thank goodness she was. Kat’s reaction to seeing Ren was exactly what was scripted for Marian’s first glimpse of Robin.
Now, Ren understood. That look. That innocence. That was the essence of Marian.