The Hummingbirds
Redemption, dark secrets, and trafficked lives intertwine in a dangerous dance.
The Nile Books
Netherlands, Amsterdam, 2015
‘… and cut!’
The director leaned back in his chair as the script supervisor made the last notes and closed the script. The DOP* stepped back from the camera and murmured a short prayer. They all gathered to watch the recordings of that day on the small monitor. The actor didn’t bother. He lit a cigarette and stared into the distance. The last day of shooting was intense.
Everybody felt the pressure caused by the fact that they were way over the budget. The actor rubbed his eyes wearily and blew out his breath. The shooting has finished; he could finally quit his role and let the hangover-the dry, burning nausea—consume him.
Around them, on the big city’s outskirts, storm clouds were appearing, and shadows were growing between the houses.
At the wrap party, a nurse sat beside the actor, attempting to control his self-destructive actions. He was still needed for the press tour in 6 months. Eventually, he left. His hotel room was trashed, so he ended up in a bar near the famous Milky Way. They kicked him out. He could barely walk. The water of the canal was dirty and cold. He miraculously managed to climb out.
Standing there, wet, he decided to stay in that city.
