Page 13 of Double Standard

The sound of our ride approaching steals the moment, and Ana places one last kiss to my lips, chaste by comparison, before turning to walk to the car with her hand pulling mine.

The show of affection was just for the cameras.That’s whatI tell myself, until she looks at me over her shoulder, a soft smile pulling at her cheeks.

“Unless I don’t want to be good,” she says. “And with you, I’m not so sure.”

I open the door for her and put my hand on the roof of the car to steady myself.Breathe.

The Nashvillian

Athena’s WarComes to Town, Brings Star Power

By Billy Slater

The landscape of Vanderbilt / West End has changed with the arrival of the cast and crew ofAthena’s War, the latest installment of the Battle of the Gods action movie franchise. Filming began this week at the Parthenon in Centennial Park, with additional plans to shoot downtown at Bicentennial Mall, the Engrel estate in Williamson County, and a specially built soundstage in East Nashville.

Director Francesca Stella confirmed toThe Nashvillianthat shooting will occur over eight weeks and that they are working with local authorities to minimize disruptions for residents. Those who live near a filming location should expect occasional road closures and/or delays.

While the film’s requirements have already created logistic challenges for some residents, Mayor Teddy O’Connor believes the movie will be good for Nashville, stating, “We are thrilled for the economic benefit to our city, plus the expected increase in visibility and tourism that it will bring.”

And of course, some locals are hoping to spot thefilm’s stars, Colt Haggerty and Ana Barlow, during their time in town. While their working days are long, both have been seen supporting area restaurants as well as attending the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital Reach for the Stars fundraiser.

Mayor O’Connor encourages residents to give theAthena’s Warcast and crew a warm Southern welcome and to help make them feel at home.

XI

Levi

We’re mid-hand-to-hand combat when Francesca’s voice echoes across the soundstage. “More pankration, less boxing!”

Prior to this film, I would’ve guessed that pankration was a type of pastry, not an ancient martial art. Now we all know better.

“Levi, get lower so you can drag him down by the waist. That will help open up the shot.”

I take the note and plow into another stuntman, leading with my shoulder before wrapping my opposite arm around his trunk and pulling. We fall to the mat beneath us.

“Cut! That was much better, thank you. Colt, places!”

He takes his spot next to me. This is the first time we’re running a scene side by side, with one camera trained on Colt to capture up-close frames and another pulling wide to cover the fighting happening between Ares—me—and Odysseus, on behalf of Athena.

While we wait for Francesca to roll camera, Colt tells me my work looks sharp.

Then he catches my eye. “Did you see the girls earlier?” He means Ana and her double, who were also filming side-by-sides this morning. And I did—it was a masterclass in working together to capture the exact emotional and physical mood Francesca wanted for the scene. She seemed thrilled by how it was turning out in real time. I was mesmerized watching Ana in her element. Powerful, intentional.

When each scene cut, she rallied the troops, grabbing bottles of water for her castmates from craft services and shouting words of encouragement. She was also quick to throw an arm around my waist and lean her head against my shoulder when she found me there watching her. It felt good to tuck her against me for a moment, to kiss the top of her head, before sending her back. It seemed like every eye in the place was on us, or every eye but Colt’s.

“Oh, yeah. They did a great job,” I tell him, stretching out my lower back, stiff from all the crouching.

“Better than I expected,” Colt says. “I’ve never thought Ana was right for this role. Between you and me, I pushed to get her replaced.”

Pushed to get her replaced.“Yeah, thatHollywood Starrumor must have been... not great for you,” I say.

“No, before that.”

I start to ask him what he means when we hear, “Roll camera!” and it’s too late.

The day we met, Ana told me that Francesca was considering recasting her role to prevent more negative press. But Colttryingto get Ana fired, wanting her gone? That feels different. As Colt slips back into character, he clears his throat, like what he said was casual, but unease drips through me. His words sit in my stomach, loaded and leaden.

When Francesca yells action, I channel every bit of my building discomfort into the poor guy working opposite me. My mind is a threshing drum trying to sort through my thoughts.