The "Arrival" project was finally ready to roll cameras, with production set up in Canada. Director Denis Villeneuve had handpicked Quebec, specifically the outskirts of Rimouski, as the key location. The backdrop was stunning - a perfect blend of natural beauty and fresh, open landscapes.
As the rural area near Rimouski transformed into a bustling film set, the quiet town found itself at the center of unexpected excitement. Production vehicles and crew members swarmed the outskirts, their presence impossible to ignore.
The usually tranquil community was suddenly abuzz with activity. Word spread quickly, and soon neighbors were excitedly sharing the news.
"Hey, did you hear?" one resident called out, practically bouncing with excitement. "There's a Hollywood production just outside town!"
"No kidding?" his neighbor replied, eyes wide. "Any big names in it? Anyone we'd recognize?"
The first resident shrugged, grinning. "Not sure yet, but half the town's already headed out there to catch a glimpse."
The promise of Hollywood glamour in their backyard was too tempting to resist.
Soon, several people gathered near the production set. They saw the place was indeed set up for a Hollywood film. One of them spotted the Canadian director.
"That's Denis Villeneuve," someone said quietly. "I liked his film 'Incendies'."
As they looked around, another local noticed a familiar face.
"That's Amy Adams," they said, gesturing towards the actress.
The group watched as Amy took a sip from a water bottle. She seemed to notice the onlookers and gave a friendly wave.
"Hi, guys," Amy called out.
"Hi," the locals responded, waving back.
The exchange was brief but left the locals feeling a bit starstruck. They continued to watch the set activity from a distance.
Lucas stepped out of his tent, and the locals' excitement instantly peaked. Recognition flashed across their faces.
"Hey, that's Lucas!" someone called out.
"Lucas Knight!" a few voices chimed in. "Loved you in Joker!"
Another added, "Your Elephant Man performance was amazing!"
Caught off guard by the warm welcome, Lucas smiled. He approached the group, his manner friendly and open. "How are you guys?" he asked.
"We're doing well," one local replied, already reaching for their phone. "Could I get a picture?"
"Why not," Lucas agreed easily.
As Lucas posed for photos and chatted with the locals, his co-stars watched, surprised by his willingness to approach the onlookers so casually.
His security detail tensed, on high alert, but Lucas waved them off. "It's fine," he assured them.
The locals were thrilled by Lucas's approachability, and the impromptu meet-and-greet continued, creating a buzz of excitement around the set.
Lucas chatted with the locals, his tone friendly and casual. "So, you guys from around here?" he asked.
"Born and raised," one local replied. "Never thought we'd see Hollywood in our backyard."
Lucas nodded, looking around. "It's beautiful out here. I can see why they picked this spot."
"Oh yeah," another chimed in. "Wait till you see the sunsets. Nothing like 'em."
Amy, seeing Lucas's ease with the crowd, decided to join in. "Hey, mind if I crash this party?" she said with a smile.
The locals welcomed her warmly. "We were just telling Lucas about the area," one explained.
"It's so peaceful here," Amy remarked. "Quite a change from L.A., huh?" she said, nudging Lucas.
Lucas laughed. "No kidding. Might have to consider a vacation home here."
They continued chatting, the conversation flowing easily between talk of the town, the film, and life in general. It was only when a crew member called out, "Fifteen minutes to filming!" that they had to wrap it up.
"Thanks for the warm welcome, guys," Lucas said.
Amy nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you've made us feel right at home."
As they headed back to set, the locals were left with big smiles and a story to tell for years to come.
As they walked back to the set, Amy nudged Lucas. "Gotta say, I didn't expect the great Lucas Knight to be so... normal with people. It's like you forget you're famous."
Lucas chuckled. "What, you want me to wear sunglasses and hide behind bodyguards? Nah, fame's just a thing that happened. I'm still me."
Amy glanced around at the scenery. "So, vacation home here? For real?"
"Ah, I was just being nice," Lucas said with a grin. "You know me, I'm not big on spending money."
"Right, right. Living saint and all that," Amy laughed. "All that charity work... I gotta ask, what drives you to help so many people?"
Lucas sighed, his mind drifting for a moment. He thought about all the suffering he'd seen in his previous life, people left alone in their most vulnerable moments. But he couldn't exactly explain that to Amy.
"I guess I'm just a softie," he said finally, shrugging. "Figure if I can help, why not, you know?"
Amy nodded, studying him. "Well, softie or not, it's pretty admirable. Just don't forget to take care of yourself too, yeah?"
Lucas smiled, appreciating her concern. "Thanks, Amy. I'll keep that in mind."
"You know," Amy said, "I do some charity work too. Mostly focused on at-risk youth and arts education. It's not on your scale, but..."
Lucas perked up. "That's awesome, Amy. What got you into that?"
Amy shrugged, a bit self-conscious. "I guess... I remember struggling as a kid. Feeling lost. If I can help even one kid find their path through art, it's worth it."
"That's really cool." Lucas nodded.
As they continued chatting, their easy rapport was evident. Over the next few days, this friendliness extended to the rest of the cast. Lucas found himself joking with Forest Whitaker between takes and swapping stories with Mark O'Brien during lunch breaks.
The relaxed atmosphere on set made the long shooting days fly by.
Meanwhile, locals who had snuck close to the set were discreetly filming bits of the production on their phones. Despite the crew's best efforts to maintain privacy, the excitement of having a Hollywood production in their backyard was too much for some to resist.
***
Before long, videos of the "Arrival" set popped up online. They didn't cause much of a stir at first, but when someone posted a snap of Lucas Knight, things started heating up. The post racked up thousands of likes and a flood of replies on Twitter.
"Where's this?" one user asked.
"Canada," the poster replied.
Canadian fans went wild. "Lucas Knight's in Canada?! Where? I'm his biggest fan!"
The original poster tried to be vague: "Can't say exactly. Don't want to mess with their filming."
But fans weren't letting it go that easily.
"Come on, at least tell us what he's working on!"
"Is this for a new movie? TV show?"
"Spill the tea! We promise not to crash the set... much. 😉"
The poster stood firm: "Sorry guys, my lips are sealed. But it looks pretty sci-fi from what I saw."
This only fueled more speculation:
"Sci-fi? Lucas Knight? I'm already sold!"
"Maybe it's that 'Arrival' movie I heard rumors about?"
"Whatever it is, I'm camping out at my local theater on opening day."
Of course, the media wouldn't be about to be left behind with celebrity news, especially Lucas Knight. Within hours, the headlines began to flood in, sourced from eager fans who had snapped photos and posted videos of the star on set.
"Is This Paramount's $17 Million Deal?"
"Fans Catch Lucas Knight in Action—Exclusive Sneak Peek at His New Role?"
"Is Lucas Knight's Next Big Project Sci-Fi? Rumors Swirl After Set Photos Leak!"
Speculation ran wild. Fans had captured blurry images of Lucas surrounded by futuristic props, sparking rumors about the genre of the project. Some claimed it was a space thriller, while others guessed it involved time travel. Still, nothing concrete had been confirmed by Lucas or the production team.
***
Days slipped by as the production moved across Canada, with filming taking place at various locations, including Mél's Cité du Cinéma Studios, known for hosting major productions.
As weeks passed, the crew continued their work in the vast, rugged landscapes of Saint-Fabien.
The project was nearing its final stages, but filming was far from over.
Lucas, in his role as Ian Donnelly, found himself immersed in the complex emotions and quiet intensity required for his character. Day by day, as they shot scene after scene, the emotional stakes of the story grew higher.
Amy, equally dedicated to her role, was often by his side, and together they tackled some of the most challenging sequences.
"You alright?" Amy, in her role as Louise, asked Lucas as Ian.
Ian looked troubled as he gazed into the distance—the sun already dipping below the horizon, casting long shadows across the set. The camera zoomed in on him and Amy, capturing the weight of the moment. "Louise," Ian finally spoke, his voice heavy with emotion.
"Yeah?" Amy replied, embodying her character with palpable sincerity.
"If you could see your whole life from start to finish..." Ian paused, struggling to find the right words. "Would you change things?"
Louise's expression shifted, reflecting the complexity of the question. She searched Ian's eyes, trying to comprehend the depths of his turmoil.
After a moment, he leaned closer and whispered in her ear, sharing an intimate understanding that transcended words.
They embraced tightly, the bond between their characters unbreakable in that moment.
As the scene concluded, the director, Denis, called out, "Cut!"
The atmosphere on set transformed as Lucas and Amy stepped out of character, the tension dissipating amidst the applause of the crew. After weeks of hard work, they had finally wrapped filming. Yet, Lucas couldn't shake the feeling that Amy was still wrestling with her role.
He observed her from a distance, noting the conflict in her expression.
It was evident that Amy was feeling the weight of Ian's choices more deeply than Lucas. He could see the sadness in her eyes, a reflection of her empathy for both Louise and Ian. It was no secret to him that she was grappling with the emotional turmoil faced by both characters, caught in their intricate dilemmas.
Lucas understood her struggle. In his previous life, it was her character, Louise, who faced the complicated choice.
It seems that, in a way, both characters will have to make difficult choices. In this world, it is Ian who faces the challenging decisions, while in his previous life, it was Amy's character, Louise Banks, who dealt with similar dilemmas.