Chapter 64: Filming on a Horror Cruise

  October 14, 1998, 4:00 pm

  "Horror Cruise" filming location.

  "Aphrodite No. 1" is a pretty good old-fashioned cruise ship, with a spacious and bright deck, a classic shape that's deep enough to shoot horror movies, and still has a heavy flavor.

  As the director of this play, Rabbit Bill felt very depressed, because just before that, a simple shot, the heroine Natasha had already filmed seven or eight times.

  "Oh God, dear Natasha, this isn't a porn shoot, we're filming a horror movie, so please tone down your seductive performance! Now, you're a mother who's lost her child and is feeling oppressed and in pain. I want you to find that feeling, yes, that one, and then grab the axe and start fighting with the unknown killer on the cruise ship..."

  Bill spoke with great eloquence, and Natasha listened very attentively to his teachings.

  Next to him, Jessica Alba, as the female lead, had been struggling to stay awake. If it weren't for the strong wind on deck that made her skin numb, she might have dozed off a while ago.

  "What a stupid woman!" Jessica judged, "Damn it, she can't even do such a simple acting, and that Chinese Yi let her be the heroine... I heard she used to shoot adult videos, did she have an affair with that Chinese Yi?" Jessica secretly speculated, looking at Natasha's devilish figure, with a plump butt, twin peaks piercing the clouds.

  "It seems that this Chinese guy has no taste, he actually fancies her and lets her be the female lead." Jessica complained about Yifeng's lack of vision, even more furious that Natasha had stolen her role.

  Under the guidance of director Bill, "Horror Cruise" continues to shoot. This time Natasha's heroine is vivid and it can be seen that she has learned seriously.

  This group of shots has been finished, and it's already been over an hour.

  The main story content of "Horror Cruise" is actually very simple.

  In reality, the female lead is not a very good mother, always losing her temper with her child because the child is disabled and she is a single parent, living a very hard life. One day on the way out, due to the female lead's mistake, they got into an accident and died. After death, her soul transcended and saw the miserable situation in front of her, suddenly feeling regretful and guilty. The story that follows is all her imagination, struggling with herself and time, trying to go back to the past. From then on, she fell into a cycle of reincarnation... Her soul constantly reincarnating, seeking self-redemption...

  "Alright, this set of shots is done. Next, please get ready everyone, we're going to shoot the emotional scenes, the crying scenes, yes, the crying scenes! The crying scenes are divided into three parts: beginning, middle and end. We're currently shooting the middle part: the female lead realizes her child has died, she's terrified and can't bear it, then she breaks down on the ground in tears."

  "Remember, this crying scene is layered. First, it's fear, uncertainty, and refusal to believe that your child has died or that the accident happened. The second layer is realizing you've been deceiving yourself, and inside, the anxiety turns into heart-wrenching grief. The third layer, the person loses the courage and will to live on, and tears can no longer replace atonement!"

  "Does everyone understand? Natasha, you must get this scene right, no more NGs, we don't have much film left to waste... Dear friends, it's already October, the weather is very cold, and we've been shooting on this damned cruise ship in the freezing sea breeze for three hours. I think everyone wants to hurry up and finish work, go back and drink a cup of hot coffee or whiskey to warm up. So please, put your heart into it, one take, OK?!" Rabbit Bill's mouth was dry as he did his best to motivate them.

  When shooting AV previously, Usagi Bill always looked forward to shooting a proper film; now that he finally has the chance, he realizes how torturous it is to shoot this kind of movie.

  At this moment, Bunny Bill really didn't know whether he should thank or curse Yifeng.

  Oh God, I'm so exhausted!

  Under Bill's mobilization, Natasha and others are ready.

  Director Bill took a deep breath and shouted: "Eck God!"

  ……

  Natasha cried very well in front of the camera, yes, she cried very movingly and touchingly.

  Even Jessica Alba, who had previously muttered that she was a moron, couldn't help but admit that this Russian woman was quite skilled at crying scenes, and at least one notch better than her own performance during the audition.

  "Damn it, I didn't think she had a trick like that!" Jessica sniffled, the sea wind blowing so hard it was almost making her catch a cold.

  "CUT! Good, great!" Bunny Bill was in a wonderful mood, unexpectedly Natasha's performance in this scene was so brilliant.

  "Everyone go to the cabin and rest for a while, men stay behind to pack up equipment, we'll take the yacht back later!" Rabbit Bill let out a sigh of relief. At this shooting speed, he was sure to finish filming within a week. Poor fat Jack, wonder how he's doing on his end? And Easy Big, his scenes probably haven't even started yet, haha, maybe I'll be the first one done after all!

  Just thinking about finishing the play and showing off in front of everyone, Bunny Bill was thrilled.

  Jessica returned to the cabin and put on a thicker jacket, this usually revealing beauty, wrapped herself tightly for the first time, covering her chocolate-colored skin that was previously exposed.

  "Achoo!" She let out a sneeze.

  "Come on, have a drink to drive out the chill!" The speaker was surprisingly Natasha, whom Jessica had cursed countless times in her heart.

  The Russian woman said, handing over a beautiful silver wine jug to Jessica.

  Jessica was also blunt, anyway, she got a cold because of her, her acting skills were too bad, always delaying the time.

  He took a big gulp.

  "Ah? Cough cough cough!" Jessica burst into violent coughing. "What kind of wine is this... it's so spicy?"

  "Hehe, this is our homemade wine from our hometown, you can't buy it in stores." Natasha patted Jessica's back to comfort her.

  "You... Russian women... all drink such strong liquor? Cough cough!"

  "Yes, we Russian women can basically drink." Natasha smiled, "Because it's very cold over there, when it's October in the US, it's already snowy and icy over there, the frozen Volga River is like a sleeping mother, looking very peaceful, without its usual roar and anger..." Natasha's tone seemed to be filled with sorrow.

  "Do you miss your hometown?" Jessica seemed to be infected with this melancholy and couldn't help but ask.

  "Uh-huh." Natasha nodded and took a big swig from the silver flask. "I miss my homeland, you know? My dear Jessica, it's famous for breeding our great Russian poet god Pushkin. Yes, Pushkin is our pride, eternal pride, even if I'm deep in America, I'll say he's the best poet in this world!" Natasha seemed to be getting emotional.

  "If life deceives you,"

  Don't be sad, don't worry!

  On gloomy days, you need to calm down:

  Believe it, happy days will come.

  Heart forever yearning for the future

  But now often melancholy

  Everything is fleeting.

  Everything will pass.

  But that's all in the past

  It will become a fond nostalgia.

  ……

  Natalya suddenly recited a poem in Russian.

  Although Jessica didn't understand its meaning, she could tell from Natasha's expression that she seemed to like the poem.

  In fact, this poem is the great poet Pushkin's "If Life Deceives You", Jessica had heard of it in college, but hearing such an authentic work was a first.

  "Isn't this poem beautiful?" Natasha asked, taking a sip of wine.

  Jessica nodded.

  "I also think it's beautiful, just like a portrait of myself." Natasha's tears flowed out for some reason. She took big gulps of wine.

  Jessica was frightened. "Look, let me have a sip too?" She snatched the silver wine jug away. "What a beautiful wine jug, is this your own treasure?"

  "No, it's my husband's."

  "Your husband?" Jessica's eyes widened in shock. "You're married?"

  Natasha smiled wryly, "Not only have I been married, but I also have a child. Look, isn't she pretty?" She took out the pendant from her neck, opened it, and inside was embedded a photo of a two-year-old girl.

  Exquisitely carved and polished, lovely to the extreme.

  "She's adorable," Jessica said.

  "Yes, not only cute but also very well-behaved. Poor baby, I haven't seen her for almost a year now..." Natasha kissed the photo, and tears flowed from the corners of her eyes once again.

  Jessica figured out why Natasha could act so well in crying scenes, look, like this, always with tears in her eyes, like a faucet, who can compare to that.

  "I don't quite understand, since you have a family and children, why did you still come to America?"

  "Why? Not for the money." Natasha wiped away tears, "My husband is a drunkard, but he wasn't like that before. Since he lost his job, he started drinking and would come home and beat me... Even so, I still love him because I know how much pain he's in. Those damned political reforms, those scoundrel bureaucrats, they stole everything from the state and the factories under the guise of reform, including my poor husband's insurance and severance pay... God, how can there be such terrible people in this world!" Natasha sniffled.

  Later on, he learned to do business with others, but was cheated by his best friend. Our family owed a huge debt and couldn't pay it back... We really had no way out! At that time, we didn't even have money to buy vodka, let alone milk. My poor little one could only eat bread crumbs with us! Poverty made my warm and loving home collapse instantly! At this time, my husband said, Natasha, go to America, many women went there and earned a lot of money back, you go too!

  "Hehehe," Natasha cackled, "making a lot of money? Everyone knows what they're doing in America, besides youth and beauty, what else do they have... Hehe, my dear husband, let me go out and sell!"

  Bitter smile, big bitter smile!

  Looking at Natasha's appearance and listening to her words, Jessica suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

  "When I raised my objections, guess what he said? He said that the 13 or 14-year-old girl next door went to America and entertained those damned Americans, sending back thousands of dollars every month to support her family. You're already in your twenties, can't you just put aside your personal feelings?! Besides, as long as I don't look down on you, what's there to be afraid of? He was encouraging me, encouraging me! Encouraging me, a wife and mother, to go to America and sell myself, haha, isn't it ridiculous?" Natasha's face was tinged with despair.

  "Dear Natasha, don't say that, okay? I understand your suffering." Jessica comforted. All along, Jessica had thought her own life was miserable enough - she couldn't find a suitable job, didn't have much pocket money, and couldn't buy the clothes she loved. But compared to Natasha's story, it was... incomparable.

  "No, today I want to tell the story in my heart, please let me speak out, it's been a long time since I've spoken so freely."

  "Alright, but you can't have any more wine." Jessica screwed the silver cap back onto the decanter and handed it back to Natasha.

  Natasha took the wine jug, "Hey, this is the gift that bastard gave me before I came to America, his favorite wine jug! Haha, ironic, isn't it? The drunkard I hated the most gave me a wine jug, and now I've also developed a taste for drinking. Yes, after coming to America, I was left with no choice but to swallow my pride and shoot adult films underground, going to bed with different men every day..."

  In fact, Natasha's measurements are 36D, firm and enticing, paired with a 25-inch waist and 36-inch hips, which can be said to be nearly perfect. This is also the reason why she was discovered by an underground AV director. Compared to many Russian women who smuggled themselves into the United States only to become streetwalkers or brothel prostitutes, she is already lucky to have become a female star.

  "Now that I think about it, shooting adult films isn't so bad," Natasha continued. "At least I earn enough to support myself through my own labor. But when I first started out, I really struggled to adapt and was often scolded by the director, who said if I didn't improve, I'd be thrown back onto the streets with those poor prostitutes. I was terrified, but then I met Director Bill, who's a good person."

  "Do you know, Jessica..." Natasha suddenly smiled, her tear-stained smile looking a bit strange.

  "What?" Jessica didn't quite understand.

  "Actually, shooting that kind of film has some benefits, at least I learned some skills, how to put it, the skills to please men... It's quite ridiculous, right?" Natasha said with a bitter smile. "However, if you're willing, Jessica, I can teach you..."

  "Ah?" In an instant, Jessica's entire pretty face turned red. Although Jessica had always been bold and avant-garde in her attire, looking fiery and enchanting, in reality, she wasn't that kind of casual girl.

  "What? Don't tell me you're still a virgin..."

  "For Pete's sake, you already know...!" Jessica could no longer hide her shyness, her entire face turned beet red.

  "Oh God, so our Jessica is that pure, haha, then how about this, from now on you teach me acting, I'll teach you how to please men well, like using your hands, using your mouth..."

  Jessica's face was burning, although she usually talked about similar topics with her sisters, such as how to kiss boys and how to hug... but Natasha said it more explicitly. Jessica was too shy to listen, but couldn't help being curious, after all, as a pubescent girl, she was still very interested in this aspect.

  It's said that American teenagers have open-minded views, but it also depends on what kind of people they are.

  Jessica was a new immigrant and faced great discrimination when she first came to the United States. At that time, not only did she have trouble making friends with boys of her own age, but even going to school was difficult as boys would tease her by putting frogs or cockroaches in her desk drawer.

  It wasn't until she grew up to be 15 or 16 years old, and developed a sexy and charming appearance, that she finally made some new friends in the residential area. However, most of these friends were still female, and she had an innate fear or disgust towards boys, which was also the main reason why she broke up with her boyfriend after they started dating.

  Jessica's friends were mostly new immigrants like her, some from Mexico, some from Brazil... They hadn't been influenced by America's sexual openness, and although they weren't ignorant about sex, they also weren't so casual about it. Of course, there were some who had fallen into depravity, but that wasn't the case for most of them.

  At this moment, Natasha's words were like a big sister chatting with a neighbor's little sister, talking about some secret bedroom whispers. This suddenly made Jessica feel a sense of closeness... only people close to you would say these things, right?

  "You know, if you can conquer that man in bed, he'll listen to you for the rest of his life. Believe me, Jessica, I'm speaking from experience... unfortunately, by the time I figured this out, it was too late..." Natasha forced a smile.

  Jessica understood what Natasha meant, but she really didn't want to dwell on this embarrassing topic anymore. Didn't you see that Director Bill and those men have already come in? It looks like the outdoor filming equipment has been packed up almost completely, and the cruise ship is about to set sail back.

  "I promise you, Natasha, we can exchange acting skills, after all I'm much younger than you and there are many things I need to learn from you... Well, that's settled then. Look, the director and Ruchi have come back." Jessica greeted Bill and others with a guilty conscience.

  How could Natasha not see through Xiaoyu's thoughts, find it funny, and have been so innocent herself? But life... damn life will torture innocence into worldliness, and naivety into cunning. It's still more comfortable to be with a little girl like this, at least you don't need to play any tricks.

  "Look at you, I know what you mean, Jessica. Don't worry, from now on we'll work together to make this film a success. How can I say, dear Yi gave me this rare opportunity, I must repay him well, yes, he's a good man!" Natasha thought of Yi Feiyang and couldn't help but smile gratefully.

  Is that rascal a good person?

  Jessica also thought of Yi Feiyang, and then a smug smile naturally appeared in her mind, as if to say, "See, I told you I'm a good person. The reason why I was difficult and teased you during the interview is because I think you're interesting..."

  "Damn it, you're so funny!" Jessica cursed loudly, and the smiling face of Yifei Yang in her mind was instantly shattered.

  "What was that?" Natasha exclaimed in surprise.

  "Oh, I didn't say anything... um, maybe I said we should head back." Jessica's previously cooled cheeks flushed again.

  Hmph, it's all because of that damned bastard!

  Our spicy girl, cursed once again.