AN: Alright, I'm back. This week, I'll do my best for stable updates. So, gimme those powerstones and help me climb the ranking.
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[New Shooting Site | New York]
The land did not look like much at first glance, which was always how it began.
The area looked like a large, uneven stretch of industrial land at the edge of the city. It was surrounded by warehouses that had stopped trying to look appealing long ago. Rusty fences leaned at awkward angles. The cracked asphalt showed signs of years of truck traffic. Old loading bays still held the faint smell of oil.
Alex stood near the center of it with his hands in his coat pockets, the early May wind tugging at his collar, and saw something entirely different.
He saw gravity rewritten.
"This is where he runs," Alex said quietly.
Rachel stood beside him with her tablet balanced in one hand. "You have said that four times."
"Yes," Alex replied without hesitation. "Because I keep discovering new ways he can run and swing around."
She finally looked up from the screen and studied the space more carefully, her expression shifting as the scale of it settled in. "You are thinking vertically again."
"I am always thinking vertically," he said. "Spider-Man does not belong on the sidewalk."
The plan was ambitious enough to make insurance companies break into a collective sweat.
Unlike his previous films, this story could not be contained within carefully controlled interiors or politely framed streets. It required air and height, motion that did not wait patiently for the camera to catch up. The swinging sequences alone demanded room not only for actors and rigs, but for error, momentum, and safety margins generous enough to accommodate human fallibility.
Alex needed a playground large enough to let physics breathe.
He had bought the land without hesitation.
His legal team handled the acquisition with alarming efficiency, and within days, the work had already begun. Surveyors marked distances across the ground. Engineers debated load tolerances and structural limits. And they were going to tear down everything and build what Alex needed from ground zero.
This site was going to be the backbone of the shoot.
It would be a place where mistakes could happen safely, where new camera systems could be tested without crowds pressing in, and where actors could practice and stunt artists could test without becoming headlines for the wrong reasons.
Alex walked the perimeter at an unhurried pace, his gaze tracing invisible lines through the open air as if the scene were already unfolding around him.
"We are going to need multiple rig paths," he said. "One for speed, one for precision, and one that lets the camera chase the movement without fighting the swing."
Rachel tapped her screen, scrolling through schematics. "The engineering team is already drafting modular gantries. They can be adjusted depending on shot requirements."
He nodded, satisfied. "Good. I want the motion to feel earned, not assisted."
She paused, then glanced up at him. "That sentence is going to end up on a very expensive memo."
A faint smile crossed his face. "It usually does."
...
Next were the permits to shoot...
...And permits were another matter entirely.
New York did not give itself away easily.
Scenes that required public spaces came with layers of negotiation, each one smiling politely while holding a clipboard like a shield. They need access to streets, bridges, rooftops, subway entrances, and other places... Places where Spider-Man belonged, but where logistics absolutely did not.
Rachel had taken point on all of it.
Alex trusted her with this part without question. She understood the city's rhythms and the people who guarded them. She knew when to push and when to wait. When to charm and when to bury someone under documentation so thorough it felt personal.
Her updates arrived steadily.
One message confirmed limited street closures for early morning shoots. Another secured rooftop access under strict time windows. A third involved a subway platform that came with enough rules to qualify as a short novel.
Alex read them all carefully, then forwarded the notes.
Make sure we have crowd control rehearsals.
Confirm sound restrictions near residential blocks.
Double the safety buffer on anything involving height.
Rachel replied minutes later.
Already done. Also, someone from the city asked if Spider-Man could wave at kids during the shoot.
Alex smiled to himself.
Approved.
...
Next was one of the most important locations...
Oscorp was the easiest decision.
Titan Studios had the space, the infrastructure, and several unutilized floors that were practically begging to be turned into something sinister. The building already has clean lines, glass, and elevators that could feel cold if lit correctly.
Alex walked through the building with the designer, both of them silent for a long stretch.
"This feels right," Alex said eventually. "What do you think?"
The designer nodded. "We can make it work."
"Perfect," Alex replied. "Start tomorrow and make sure to follow the prints I sent you last night. I want the floors to look exactly the same."
...
Stunt coordination began before casting had even finished celebrating.
Jane, Alex's second assistant, approached the task with the kind of seriousness usually reserved for military operations. She compiled lists of doubles with backgrounds in gymnastics, parkour, aerial work, and wire performance. She scheduled early physical tests. She insisted on redundancy.
Alex approved all of it.
"This film lives or dies on trust," he told her during one briefing. "If the performers do not feel safe, they will hesitate. And hesitation shows."
Jane nodded. "I will make sure they trust the air."
"That is an excellent sentence," Alex said. "I am stealing it."
She did not smile. She was already making calls.
...
With that taken care of, it's time for the FX and safety team.
Alex brought back the team from Alien. Since they worked together before, coordinating for this movie will make it easier for both parties.
Their reunion felt familiar.
"You are escalating," one of them said during their first meeting, half amused, half impressed.
Alex nodded. "Yes. But with people I trust. So, you all up for the job? Can you make it happen according to the list?"
The team exchanged glances, then smiled.
"Give us a few weeks, and we'll make it happen."
...
[Titan HQ | Alex's Office]
The office smelled faintly of fresh paper and coffee.
Morning light filtered through the tall windows, cutting clean lines across the desk where blueprints, call sheets, and shipping manifests had begun to stack into something that looked suspiciously like a small city.
Alex sat behind the desk with one hand pressed to his forehead, eyes moving over the paperwork like they were trying to sprint through mud.
Rachel sat across from him.
"The Sony camera shipment arrived in Los Angeles yesterday," she said while scrolling through the mail. "Full package. Primary units, backups, specialty rigs, and the new stabilization systems you asked for."
Alex blinked, then rubbed his eyes with both hands.
"Sorry," he said honestly. "I missed that."
"You did not miss it," Rachel replied. "You delayed acknowledging it by eight hours. Which, given the last two weeks, qualifies as excellent restraint."
He let out a quiet breath and leaned back in his chair. "Tell them thank you. And tell them I am sorry in advance if I ask for more toys."
"I already did," she said. "They sounded excited and terrified. So, a good sign."
She tapped her tablet once and continued.
"I also sent out the call for junior actors and background performers. We hired around two hundred people so far."
Alex straightened a little. "Good."
"They are a mix," Rachel went on. "Drama students, theater kids, first-time background performers, and a few people who swear they were once blurred in a courtroom drama."
Alex smiled faintly. "Perfect."
He stood and moved around the desk, stopping near the window as he looked out over the city below.
"We will need to fill the school properly," he said. "Hallways, classrooms, stairwells. It has to feel alive, like Peter is disappearing into it instead of standing out."
Rachel nodded, already making notes. "That covers the school scenes."
"Then the pizza delivery shop," Alex added. "That place needs chaos, noise and flour everywhere."
"And Oscorp," Rachel said, glancing up. "Office workers, security, executives and assistants."
Alex nodded.
"And the outside crowd," Rachel continued. "Civilians. People who stop and cheer when Spider-Man saves someone."
Alex turned back toward her. "That part matters. He is not just swinging over the city. He is being seen by it. Make sure to hire a few more and keep them as backup. We can't be too careful."
She finished typing and locked the tablet.
"Anything else?"
Alex paused, then frowned slightly, like something had tugged at the back of his mind.
"Oh," he said, straightening suddenly. "I almost forgot."
Rachel raised an eyebrow. "That sentence always precedes something important."
Alex grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair. "Today, Max is getting her GED."
Rachel's expression softened immediately. "Today?"
"Yes," he said, already moving toward the door. "And I am not missing it."
She blinked once. "You have a meeting in forty minutes."
"I know."
"And two department heads waiting on approvals."
"They will survive."
"And a call with legal."
"They will definitely survive."
He stopped at the door and turned back toward her, pointing lightly.
"And you are coming with me. Leave the job to your assistants."
Rachel stared at him. "Alright."
They stepped out together.
....
[Test center]
Rows of plastic chairs faced a small podium and a folding table where certificates were stacked with bureaucratic neatness. The fluorescent lights hummed softly, the kind of hum that made waiting feel longer. A clock ticked somewhere behind her, loud enough to feel personal.
Max sat in the second row, Caroline beside her, hands folded in her lap. Caroline leaned over and whispered encouragement, steady and warm, but Max barely heard it.
She kept looking toward the doors.
They stayed closed.
Her smile faded just a little, not enough for anyone to comment on it, but enough that it tugged at her chest. She told herself she was being ridiculous. People had work. People were busy. People did not need to show up for everything.
Still, when the benches behind her remained mostly empty, something small and sharp pressed behind her eyes.
Caroline noticed.
She nudged her gently. "Hey. You did this for you," she whispered. "No one can take that away."
Max nodded, swallowing. "I know," she said quietly. "I just thought…"
She did not finish the sentence.
The coordinator stepped up to the podium and cleared her throat. The room settled.
"Alright, everyone," she said kindly. "We will begin."
Names were called. Applause followed each one, polite and brief. A few proud parents clapped a little too loudly. A few friends waved from the back.
Then it was Max's turn.
"Max Black."
Max stood, smoothing her shirt with hands that suddenly felt too big for the task. She took a breath and walked forward, eyes fixed on the certificate waiting for her.
She did not look at the benches again.
She was halfway to the podium when the doors burst open.
Not creaked.
Burst.
The sound echoed through the room, sharp and sudden enough to make the coordinator blink in surprise.
Footsteps followed.
Max turned, confused.
And then she saw them.
Alex came in first, phone already in his hand, snapping pictures like a proud menace. Rachel followed close behind. Earl and Han walked in together, clapping quietly but earnestly. Sophie waved both hands, eyes bright. Oleg walked in behind her, grinning like he had personally orchestrated the moment.
Scarlett slipped in next, followed by Angelina and Halle. Evangeline stood just behind them, hands clasped, smiling softly.
They all made it in time.
The room froze. People don't see that many celebrities at the same time in a small hall.
Max stopped walking.
Her mouth fell open. Her breath hitched. Tears flooded her eyes so fast it felt unfair.
Caroline let out a soft laugh beside her and stood, clapping hard.
Alex raised his phone higher, completely unapologetic. "Keep going," he said gently. "You are doing great."
Max laughed and cried at the same time, pressing a hand to her mouth as she turned back toward the podium. Her steps were unsteady now, but she did not stop.
The coordinator smiled, clearly understanding that this was no longer a normal morning.
Max reached the table. The certificate was handed to her.
As she took it, the applause filled the room properly this time.
Alex snapped picture after picture, capturing her tear-streaked smile, her shaking hands, the way she clutched the certificate as if it might float away. Rachel leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
Earl nodded to himself with approval. "That's my girl."
Sophie mouthed, "I am so proud of you."
Oleg clapped like he meant it.
Max held up the certificate, laughing through tears as she walked up to them.
"I did it," she said, voice breaking.
Alex lowered his phone just long enough to meet her eyes. "You absolutely did." He hugged her tightly.
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[5 advance chs] [All chs available for all tiers] [No double billing.]
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