She's a pain!
Do have any cigarettes?
No, just a cigar stub from Robert.
Give it to me!
He had to keep it.
No, give it to me!
Thanks.
Mind if I open the window?
Yes, I mind. That's exactly right. I do mind.
No, no AC, please.
I can't stand it, I hate it.
I've told you 10 times!
I'm burning up.
You never answer my calls!
Robert's waiting!
Robert Danjou?
You promised to see him.
Where's Mira's dressing room?
- 2nd floor. Shall I take you? - I can manage.
I meant no offense.
Screw what you meant.
Ok, great. Robert Danjou.
René!
I'm so happy to see you!
Sorry, I'm in a hurry.
We had a coffee date.
I have bigger issues to deal with.
Which is why you need coffee. Sit down.
Excuse me...
Can I get a double espresso?
I have to have coffee with him.
Sure.
So, what's wrong?
I need Mira to grasp the importance
of the abduction scene.
And her crucial scene with the Grand Vampire.
Sure...
Mira and I prepared well for it.
You worked on it together without telling me?
That's why I wanted to see you.
We polished the dialogue.
Minor touch-ups here and there.
Actors often do that.
No, actors do not often do that.
Just wait, you'll be happy.
We worked hard on our chemistry.
What chemistry?
We're playing a couple.
Says who?
You're joking?
We're a couple, c'mon!
No.
Sorry, that never occurred to me.
Who said you're a couple?
- Did you read the script? - Of course.
There's no couple in it.
Ok, ok. Anyway, our work sessions have been fabulous.
Work sessions?
We found our rhythm.
We're in sync! That's rare.
- Thanks. - Very rare.
- And amazing. - So, Robert...
we'll continue this later.
Anytime. I'm at your service.
- One more small thing. - Yes?
I'm so grateful to you.
It's wonderful to work with a great director
and a great friend.
Thanks.
It's important to put these things into words.
I'm honored that you trust me.
Feuillade had a new actor playing
the Grand Vampire in each episode.
How ingenious of you to meld them all into one!
It gives me all the space I need
to express the nuances of this criminal mastermind!
I'm sure you'll pull it off.
I hope to be worthy of your trust.
Very generous of you.
Very sexy.
Enough, Malik. Get out of my fucking frame.
Almost done.
- No! Jesus Christ! - Just a minute.
Almost done...
- There! - Let's go!
Mark it!
Let's go! Roll camera!
Quiet on the set!
We'll be going again.
2 seconds. Wait 2 seconds.
Action.
I've looked everywhere. She's nowhere to be found.
She's not in her dressing room, not in wardrobe.
I have no idea. I've combed the whole place!
I got everything that time.
Am I disturbing you?
No, I was just reading "The Financial Times."
Can we talk?
Sure.
Sit down.
Sorry to be blunt, but I'm confused.
Mira just told me you see her and the Grand Vampire
as business partners.
No, not at all.
Why would I have said such a thing?
That's what I thought!
I guess she misunderstood.
It was probably due to my bad English!
Exactly!
What a relief!
Robert,
you have nothing to worry about.
Skylar!
We need pics for Instagram!
This is such a fresh look for you.
Can you get the full body?
Great. Thanks.
- See you tomorrow. - 6:30 am.
- Why so early? - Road closures.
What a drag.
I'm back!
You finished late.
I waited around all day
and ended up shooting my scenes in overtime.
How was it?
Terrible. Everyone shouting at everyone.
Where are the kids?
At my mother's.
She promised them pizza and a horror film.
Why terrible?
My character's a fool and René doesn't care.
Is it really that bad?
Whatever Mira does, she's a genius to him.
And me?
She is impressive, though.
I know, I pale in comparison.
It's not a competition.
I can't help myself.
Come see the dailies.
Wow.
She's magnetic.
I knew it.
Wow, okay!
Very hot.
Hot? It didn't look hot on set.
It's super hot.
When will we be there?
30 minutes.
- 30 minutes? - Yes.
Next time I'll ask for a motorcycle taxi.
Here's the footage.
From the show you're working on?
Wow! So that's really Mira Harberg?
Show me!
Do you have a minute?
Yes.
So, we've been talking amongst ourselves.
We've been having a good conversation
about a serious subject.
OK, go on...
Please understand that I'm merely the spokesperson.
I'm here to convey the views that most of us share.
- OK. - May I sit down?
Of course, sit down!
- You too, have a seat. - Have a seat, Marie.
So, we have...
a concern.
Do you not get the impression
that Moreno
is raping Irma Vep in that scene?
I don't know what you're getting at.
Listen, excuse me, but he hypnotizes her.
Yes!
Then when she's unconscious,
he takes advantage of her.
Exactly!
Ok, but isn't that a form of rape?
Maybe, but i'm just recreating,
almost identically, Feuillade's scene.
I think it's rather convenient
the way you hide behind Feuillade.
Did he make films in an era
when abused women were forced to shut up?
He made films in 1915!
If you're asking if that was a century ago,
the answer is yes! We're in 2022!
Ok?
Where's this coming from? Sorry.
Eat, eat! Take your break.
Sure, but...
The ban was eventually lifted and the shoot continued.
Extraordinary.
You're celebrating the fact
that a woman was complicit in her own exploitation.
Come on! How can you spew such bullshit?
Sorry, but times change.
Women no longer accept abusive directors like Feuillade
and his ilk.
Get used to it.
So Robert, you're saying you agree
with the police chief, not Musidora?
You bet I do.
The police chief was the one decent person
in the whole nasty business.
Fine.
The good news is,
you found the scene provocative.
Sure, in a perverted way, perhaps.
Sexy in a perverted way. That's what we're after.
So what's the problem?
He's right!
The truth is, the scene clearly aroused you.
And it disturbed me to be aroused by a scene
that's offensive to women.
Damn!
Look out!
Relax, no rush...
- You drive like a crazy person. - Really?
If that guy hadn't stopped short, he would have hit us.
I feel like I drive slowly.
You were wrong to challenge Robert.
- Why? - Because he has a point.
What do you mean?
Robert's just furious
because Moreno took Irma Vep from him
and gets to have a kinky scene with her.
He's the one being gross, not me.
True. But it's your choice to overstate the sexual element.
It's innocuous compared to what we see in movies now.
Ok, but it's a fine line.
I don't get it.
What aren't you getting?
Hi, a beer please, you?
I need an espresso.
The world is changing,
and this is a hot button topic.
Right, but Robert is using this as an excuse!
Sure! He's angry that you won't give him his way.
So he's playing the puritan to annoy you.
He's a hypocrite!
We all know that! He's so transparent.
But if you don't take heed, you will offend some people.
- Me? - Yes, you!
Why on earth would you be spared?
Listen...
Be honest. Do you think I have ever lacked sensitivity
on gender issues?
No, but you're a man.
You have to be mindful of your privilege.
I always check my privilege!
Even with Irma Vep's rape?
It's in the original!
Yes, it is.
And you seem to get off on it.
Of course I get off on it!
If I don't, how will the audience?
What's the problem?
Shouldn't movies get people off?
Depends where you draw the line.
Crossing the line is what gets people off.
Know who you sound like?
Gottfried.
Hello.
Let me call you back.
Gregory, I stayed up all night writing a new scene.
Musidora has to speak for herself.
I cannot allow Robert Danjou
to make her say what she never said.
This new scene will help clear everything up.
The scene is based on historical fact.
When the production was shut down by the authorities in 1916,
Musidora herself pleaded the case with the police chief!
Their conversation is in her memoir.
Look...
Please, monsieur police chief...
- Have a good day! - Thanks.
Dear Gregory, how are you?
Thank you for coming.
You're welcome.
How's it going on set right now?
Cast and crew are laser-focused.
The vibe on set is good.
Well, René has been harassing me on my cell.
When I finally picked up,
he told me he wants to get rid of Robert Danjou.
- Why is that? - I asked him why.
He ranted incoherently, using language that was...
quite foul.
You know René.
That's why I'm worried.
René and Robert had an argument,
but it's settled now.
Thank you.
No way he's firing Danjou or anyone else.
Does René realize that if he derails, he's off the show?
If he derails, he'll stop coming to work all on his own.
And we'll be in trouble.
Do we have a backup plan?
Backup plan?
In case we're forced to terminate René.
Hello.
Welcome, sir.
I'm meeting Ms. Harberg.
Yes. She's over there.
There are no sick days in cinema.
We show up.
Extras for your scene cost me 2,000 francs!
Do you realize that?
There was no one to come tell you, I live alone.
You're not cut out for cinema, Jean Aymé.
Will I be shooting today, or may I leave now?
Buzz off!
Very well.
Wait.
Jean Aymé, follow me.
Manichoux, let's shoot!
Light the set.
Go fetch Musidora. Hurry!
Here's the scene.
There will be no rehearsal before we shoot.
Irma Vep awaits the Grand Vampire...
Let's shoot.
- Positions. - Ready.
Let's roll.
Action.
Cut!
Next scene.
Fetch Moreno!
So, what's next?
Go straight to the accountant for your last paycheck.
Musidora killed you. You're done.
Buzz off.
Next!
I asked for Moreno. Where is he?