This gap in success was simply a reflection of their respective abilities, which was perfectly normal.
Compared to a prodigy like Steve Kevin, Gregg was undoubtedly just an ordinary person.
“Kevin.”
“My name is Clark Gregg.
Dawson told me about Jigsaw.
I want to play—”
“No problem,” Kevin interrupted smoothly.
“What?” Gregg looked completely stunned.
He hadn’t even read for the part yet, but he had already gotten the role.
How?
Kevin then said slowly, “I trust Dawson.
He wouldn’t joke around with my future or his own.
Since he recommended you, you must be fine.”
Kevin’s words made both men beam with happiness.
They were completely unaware that the real reason was that Kevin had been reborn and already knew the actor’s future potential.
Of course, his swift decision also had to do with the genre of the film.
Generally speaking, in the film industry, there are three types of scenarios that can happen: first, the script carries the actor; second, the actor carries the script; and last, an actor happens to stumble upon the perfect script.
In films where the script carries the actor, as long as they meet the basic requirements of the role, the movie is highly likely to be a hit regardless of their fame.
In films where the actor carries the script, even a mediocre movie can become a hit because a specific A-list star carried it on their shoulders.
As for an actor stumbling upon the perfect script, it simply meant that their luck shone and they happened to land a role tailor-made for them, instantly rocketing them to stardom.
These three dynamics were actually quite easy to identify in Hollywood.
And Saw was undoubtedly a film where the script carried the actors.
As long as the actor playing Jigsaw could convey the exact chilling vibe Kevin needed, anyone could make the character iconic.
Even if the actor didn’t necessarily skyrocket to the A-list overnight, it was still a role that would etch their face into the audience’s memory.
This would have massive benefits for Agent Coulson’s future career development.
At the very least, it would be far better than his original career trajectory.
Of course, “Agent Coulson” was just what Kevin called him in his heart.
The man had simply left too deep an impression on him in The Avengers and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
His real name was Clark Gregg.
With Kevin’s prompt casting decision, all three parties were satisfied, and the subsequent dinner was naturally very pleasant.
…
The next morning, having finalized the cast and built the basic framework of his crew, Kevin applied for an extended leave of absence from USC for the duration of the shoot and hurriedly got to work. This chapter was copied from NovelPing without permission.
The plot of Saw mainly takes place in a few dilapidated, secret rooms, so the set design requirements were very simple.
To save on expenses, Kevin and his assistant director scoured the areas around Hollywood and finally rented a few empty warehouse spaces to renovate.
There was no other option; New Line Cinema did not own massive studio backlots, so the production had to scout and build their own interior sets.
Fortunately, Saw wasn’t complicated in this regard.
After finding a suitable location and carefully recreating the script’s bathroom’s grim aesthetic…
It was time to tackle the part of the production that consumed the most funds: the intricate torture devices that would be featured throughout the entirety of Saw.
In order to perfectly recreate the deadly traps from the script, Kevin sought out a medium-sized practical effects and prop company recommended by CAA.
They were tasked with manufacturing the horrific props he needed.
In the end, the prop master tasked with following Kevin’s hyper-specific blueprints looked genuinely afraid of him.
The poor guy’s eyes practically screamed: Just how twisted is your mind?
Why is absolutely everything a torture device?!
With the props in place, the assistant director finished preparing the remaining pre-production logistics and crew deployment.
Kevin was extremely satisfied with the efficiency.
A film set is never something a director can handle alone.
From ordering the cast’s lunchboxes to daily scheduling and personnel deployment, these logistical headaches were the responsibility of the assistant director.
As the director, Kevin’s only task was to capture his creative vision through the camera lens and guide the actors’ performances.
…
On September 15, 1991, principal photography for Saw officially began.
The $1.3 million invested by New Line Cinema had been deposited into the production’s escrow account, and a relatively unknown but highly experienced middle-aged producer sent by the studio arrived on set to oversee the finances.
After a brief exchange, Kevin realized this man represented New Line Cinema’s utmost sincerity.
As long as Kevin didn’t blow the budget recklessly and kept the shooting schedule steady, the producer would act like an invisible man on set.
This was an ideal setup.
There were no big-name, demanding actors in the cast, and several key crew positions were filled by his own trusted USC classmates.
Because of this, Kevin’s absolute authority was fully established on set.
Of course, this absolute control was also a double-edged sword.
In a crew structured like this, if Saw failed, Kevin would have no one to blame but himself.
He might as well pack up and leave the directing industry altogether.
“Today we’re shooting the first bathroom scene.”
“Yes, Director!”
Inside the makeshift soundstage, standing before a three-walled set built much like a sitcom interior, Kevin began issuing his orders.
The original Saw was filmed in 2004 by director James Wan with a total budget of $1.2 million.
Now, it was 1991, and Kevin’s budget was $1.3 million.
Factoring in inflation, actors’ salaries and equipment rentals in 1991 were significantly cheaper than in 2004.
Kevin essentially had far more abundant resources at his disposal than James Wan originally did.
Armed with this advantage, Kevin hoped to make his version of Saw an even greater classic.
He was determined to make up for the minor narrative and visual shortcomings that had plagued the original due to its severe budget limitations.
Desperate to make a name for themselves, the rookie actors were all incredibly dedicated and professional.
This formed a sharp contrast with the entitled “traffic stars” Kevin remembered from his previous life.
T/N: “Traffic stars” (流量明星) is a modern Chinese internet term referring to celebrities who generate massive web traffic and have rabid fanbases, but often lack actual acting talent or professionalism.
However, this was easy to understand: “actor” and “celebrity” were two fundamentally different professions.
Actors relied on their craft and hard work to attract audiences, while celebrities relied purely on their appearance, manufactured personas, and marketing.
Moreover, the actors in front of him were still unknown nobodies struggling on the brutal road to fame.
They simply couldn’t afford to show a lack of professionalism at this stage in their careers.
…
Over the next twenty-five days, combining the memories from his previous life with his technical abilities in this life, Kevin filmed Saw as quickly and efficiently as possible.
He even managed to leave some extra time for reshoots to thoroughly polish the final cut.
While twenty-five days might sound incredibly fast to an outsider, Kevin knew that James Wan had shot the original Saw in a mere eighteen days.
Having reserved a full week more than Wan, and drawing upon his memories from two lifetimes, Kevin’s directing ability was certainly no worse than James Wan’s when he first started out.
With all of these factors aligned, this version of Saw was guaranteed to reach the absolute best possible state within the limits of Kevin’s capabilities and budget.
Finally, Kevin called “cut” on the very last scene.
“That’s a wrap!” Kevin shouted, his voice echoing across the soundstage.
“I officially announce that principal photography for Saw is complete!
I am incredibly grateful for everyone’s hard work and cooperation over these past twenty-five days.”
He then turned to the studio rep.
“Mr.
Kate, how much money is still left in the escrow account?”
The producer, who had happily played the role of an invisible man for the entire shoot, looked down at his ledger and replied accurately: