CHAPTER 398: ROMANCE FILM AGAIN

In January 2016, Summit Entertainment’s announcement of a new romance project might have passed under the radar, except for two names that caught everyone’s attention: Lucas Knight and Emma Stone. Within hours, entertainment outlets from TMZ to E! News were running the story.

The announcement stirred particular interest given Lucas’s track record in romantic films like "Like Crazy" and "The Artist." His ability to create authentic chemistry with his co-stars had become legendary.

At a busy café in Los Angeles, two college students discussed the news over their lattes.

"Did you hear?" Amelia leaned forward excitedly. "Lucas is doing another romance film, this time with Emma Stone. As someone who ships Lucas and Jennifer, I’m kind of conflicted about it."

Madison rolled her eyes. "Actually, I’m looking forward to seeing him with someone new. It gets predictable when he’s always paired with Jennifer."

"What?" Amelia’s coffee cup froze halfway to her mouth. "How can you say that? They’re literally perfect together. Have you seen them in anything?"

"Don’t care," Madison’s voice took on a dreamy quality. "In my head, Lucas is my boyfriend anyway."

Amelia shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Okay... that’s a bit much."

"No, it’s not," Madison defended herself. "You should see the Lucas Knight fan forums. We all hate Jennifer Lawrence. She doesn’t deserve him."

"I... didn’t know you were like this," Amelia said slowly, trying to keep her tone light. "Maybe I should start looking for new friends?"

"You don’t understand," Madison continued, her voice rising. "Lucas belongs to all of us, not just Jennifer."

"Please stop talking," Amelia muttered, noticing nearby customers turning to stare at them. Her cheeks burned with secondhand embarrassment as her friend continued to profess her devotion to a man she’d never met.

The scene perfectly captured the intense parasocial relationships some fans developed with celebrities - a phenomenon Lucas himself often worried about.

***

Lucas drove through Atwater Village, taking in the laid-back, artistic vibe of the neighborhood. Despite having only a few thousand residents, the area had a distinct character - part bohemian enclave, part small-town charm, with independent coffee shops and vintage storefronts lining the streets.

The winter morning carried that peculiar Los Angeles coolness - crisp enough for a light jacket but with sunshine that promised warmth later. Lucas pulled up to a converted industrial building, its brick exterior softened by climbing vines and string lights.

Inside, the production office balanced creative energy with organized chaos - mood boards covered the walls, miniature set models occupied tables, and musical notation sheets were scattered everywhere. The space hummed with pre-production energy.

Damien Chazelle stood talking with choreographer Mandy Moore, music director Justin Hurwitz, and cinematographer Linus Sandgren. They turned as Lucas entered.

"Hey, it’s nice to see you," Damien stepped forward, embracing Lucas warmly.

Lucas returned the hug with a chuckle. "Yeah, it’s been a while."

Damien made the introductions, each crew member greeting Lucas with a mix of professional courtesy and genuine enthusiasm.

They’d all heard about his musical background - a rare actor who could genuinely handle both the acting and musical demands of the role.

"You’re the first one here," Damien gestured to a chair, then grinned. "We’ve got a piano room set up specifically for your rehearsals, but first, let me walk you through our vision for the film."

Lucas was deep in conversation with the crew when J.K. Simmons walked in. His face lit up immediately.

"Hey Fletcher!" Lucas called out with a grin. "Promise not to slap me this time? My timing’s much better now."

Simmons burst out laughing, visibly relaxing. "Only if you’re not rushing or dragging, Knight," he shot back, falling easily into their old dynamic from "Whiplash."

Two days into production, Lucas began his "training" in the piano room. He carefully measured his progress, deliberately showing gradual improvement rather than revealing his full abilities. The Mental Workshop had already perfected his piano skills, but he knew better than to display mastery too quickly.

Even with his restrained approach, Damien and the music team watched in amazement as Lucas supposedly "learned" complex jazz pieces at an remarkable pace.

"It’s extraordinary," Damien mentioned to Justin Hurwitz during a break. "First drums in ’Whiplash,’ now piano... if he wasn’t already Hollywood’s biggest star, he could’ve been a professional musician." He shook his head in wonder as Lucas worked through another challenging piece, his fingers dancing across the keys with carefully controlled "developing" skill.

What they didn’t know was that Lucas was actually holding back significantly, letting them see only what would seem believable for someone learning jazz piano, even an exceptionally quick learner.

Hours later, Emma Stone arrived at the production office. While she greeted Damien with familiar ease, her demeanor shifted noticeably when she approached Lucas.

"Hi," she said, affecting an exaggerated timidity. "Don’t know if you know me, but I’m an aspiring actress, Emma Stone."

Lucas smiled warmly at her playful introduction. "Oh right, you’re that unknown actress from ’Birdman’ and ’Easy A.’ Must be your big break."

Emma laughed, visibly relaxing. "Okay, that was pretty terrible of me." She admitted, "I’m just nervous about working with you. Everyone in the industry talks about your process, your performances. It’s a bit intimidating."

"Don’t be," Lucas assured her. "I’m not that hard to work with."

"Yeah? Because I’ll be honest - I was worried you’d be one of those super-intense actors who stays in character 24/7 and won’t even look at their co-stars between takes."

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Met a few of those, have you?"

"Oh god, yes," Emma rolled her eyes. "Had one guy who wouldn’t even eat lunch with the crew because his character was going through emotional turmoil. Three months of him brooding in his trailer."

"Well," Lucas chuckled, "I promise to eat lunch with everyone, even if Sebastian’s having a bad day."

The tension fully broken, Emma grinned. "Thank goodness. I was worried I’d have to practice my jazz hands alone in the corner."

Lucas and Emma’s chemistry developed naturally - perhaps too naturally, given they’d be playing romantic leads. Their easy rapport during breaks and rehearsals caught the attention of the production team, though everyone maintained professional discretion.

The next day found the production split across different areas. Lucas had the piano room to himself, while Emma worked with Mandy Moore in the dance studio. Mary Zophres bustled around her corner, surrounded by fabric swatches and costume sketches.

In the dance studio, Mandy focused on helping Emma find Mia’s emotional core. "It’s not just about the steps," she explained. "It’s about what each movement means to her dreams."

During breaks, Lucas would often find himself deep in discussion with Damien about Sebastian’s character, or sharing quiet conversations with Emma when their schedules aligned.

Friday brought excitement when Damien gathered everyone together. "Tonight, we’re screening ’The Umbrellas of Cherbourg’ in the soundstage," he announced. "I want us all to absorb its unique blend of realism and musical fantasy."

The screening setup felt intimate - Lucas settled in with Emma on one side and J.K. Simmons on the other. As Jacques Demy’s masterpiece unfolded, its influence on their own project became clear.

Afterwards, the room buzzed with inspiration. "The way they transition from dialogue to song..." Emma mused.

"Those color palettes could inform our own visual language," Mary added.

"The bittersweet reality within the fantasy," Lucas noted, already thinking about Sebastian’s arc.

Seeing the creative energy flowing, Damien smiled. "Every Friday, we’ll screen another classic. ’The Young Girls of Rochefort,’ ’Singin’ in the Rain,’ films that can inspire different aspects of what we’re creating."

***

As days passed, Lucas’s "mastery" of the piano pieces left the cast and crew in awe. Emma found herself understanding why people in the industry spoke about Lucas in hushed, almost mythical terms. The rumors about his exceptional talents weren’t exaggerated - if anything, they might have understated his abilities.

The Friday screenings became a cherished tradition. While Lucas didn’t necessarily need the inspiration for his performance, he found himself appreciating the artistry of these classic films in new ways. Emma, particularly, seemed to absorb every frame, every nuance.

During one break, they found themselves sharing a quiet corner of the studio. Lucas gently steered the conversation to her recent experiences.

"How are you doing? I heard about you and Andrew," Lucas asked carefully. "Must be tough working through that while starting a new project."

Emma smiled wryly. "It’s actually good timing. Helps to throw yourself into work, you know? Plus, these old films we’re watching... they’re reminding me why I fell in love with acting in the first place."

She hesitated before asking, "Speaking of relationships... I have to ask - is Jennifer okay with all this? The romantic scenes, the chemistry reads? I’ve heard you two are practically joined at the hip."

Lucas smiled reassuringly. "Yeah, she’s completely fine with it. We actually had a long talk about it. She understands the craft better than anyone - she’s an actor too, after all."

"I just hope she doesn’t watch the final cut and decide I’m her arch-nemesis," Emma joked, but there was a hint of genuine concern in her voice.

"Trust me," Lucas shook his head, chuckling, "she’s not that kind of person. Knowing her, she’ll probably invite you over for game night after seeing the film."

"You know," Emma said thoughtfully, "I’ve seen Jennifer at events and award shows, but never really got the chance to meet her properly. Would love to get to know her."

Lucas smiled. "I can introduce you two after we wrap this film."

"Really?" Emma looked both excited and slightly nervous. "That would be nice, though I’m a bit shy about it."

"Don’t worry about it," Lucas assured her. "She’d be happy to meet you."

Emma nodded with a small smile, clearly pleased at the prospect.

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