The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 251

Leaning against the long bar at the Viper Room, Matthew picked up his cocktail and took a small sip, the sweet-and-sour taste sharp on his tongue. The drink was expertly mixed and packed a powerful aftertaste; despite his decent tolerance for alcohol, he figured a few more would knock him flat in no time.

Thump!

A glass slammed down on the counter next to him. Matthew turned to see Charlize Theron finishing an identical cocktail. She slid the empty glass across the bar. "Depp, another."

Matthew and Depp had left the reception early for a drink at the Viper Room, where they had run into Charlize, sitting alone at the bar.

Without a word, Depp mixed Charlize another handcrafted cocktail.

Charlize picked up the glass, tilted her head back, and poured the drink down her throat. She then pulled out a cigarette and a lighter, lit up, and offered one to Matthew with a gesture.

Matthew shook his head. Charlize exhaled a perfect ring of smoke. "Right," she said. "Forgot you don't smoke."

Charlize waved a hand at Depp. "Depp, one more!"

"Free drinks always taste better, huh?" Depp muttered, fixing Charlize another glass. "I'm too damn hospitable."

The smoke was thick beside him. Matthew glanced over; Charlize was clearly in a foul mood. She had barely spoken a word other than to order another drink."What's wrong?" Matthew ventured. "Is something bothering you?"

Charlize glanced at him and nodded. "Too many worries."

Matthew gave her a once-over. "You've pretty much gotten your old figure back, so I'm guessing that's not what's bothering you."

The last time he saw Charlize, she was preparing for her new movie and had gained several kilograms, but now she had almost returned to how she looked when he'd first seen her.

Charlize shrugged. "It's a woman's problem. You wouldn't get it."

Matthew could tell she didn't want to talk about it, so he didn't ask any more questions.

Just then, the bar door swung open and a handsome man strode in. His eyes swept across the room, landed on Charlize, and then he made a beeline for the bar.

As the man drew closer, Matthew heard his footsteps. He glanced over, saw him staring intently at Charlize, and warned, "Charlie, you've got company."

Charlize turned to look at the man.

As she did, Matthew noticed a flicker of panic on her face, which until that moment had been calm, almost icy.

The man came right up to her and, without a word, grabbed her arm. "Didn't you understand what I told you?" he said darkly. "Are my words just empty air to you?"

He started pulling her toward the door as he spoke. Charlize, looking as if she had done something wrong, whispered fearfully, "I'm sorry, I just came out for a drink."

"Is there no alcohol at home?" the man's voice rose sharply. "Did you really have to come to a place like this?!"

Matthew got to his feet. Judging from their exchange, this had to be her boyfriend.

Depp walked around the bar and came up beside them. "Stuart, what's wrong with this place? Can't Charlie come to her friend's bar for a drink?"

The man named Stuart ignored Depp and continued to drag Charlize out the door. Depp looked slightly taken aback but followed them out, with Matthew right behind him.

Stuart and Charlize were the first ones out of the bar, followed by Matthew and Depp.

"What's going on?" Matthew asked, confused.

Depp explained, "Her boyfriend has issues. He treats Charlize like his property."

They stepped out of the bar just in time to see Stuart and Charlize get into a car that was having trouble starting.

Standing in front of the bar, Matthew could just make out that the two people in the car seemed to be arguing.

What Matthew didn't expect, however, was to see Stuart raise his hand and slap Charlize.

From where they stood, all Matthew and Depp could do was watch as the car finally started and sped off.

Matthew frowned. "How does she put up with him?"

Charlize had always struck him as a strong, independent woman with a powerful aura.

Depp shook his head in disapproval. "Charlie is a prisoner, locked in a cage of love."

It wasn't a topic for outsiders to meddle in. Matthew and Depp watched the car vanish into the night before heading back inside, but the mood was shattered. After talking for a little while longer, they left the bar one by one.

...

In the following days, Matthew fell back into his regular routine, focusing on his preparations for Dawn of the Dead while still keeping an eye out for any news about Charlize. He saw nothing online or in the tabloids about her breaking up with her boyfriend. Instead, the latest daily gossip roundup from TMZ reported that Charlize Theron had gone on vacation to Europe with Stuart Townsend.

He sighed when he read it; to each their own, he supposed.

Matthew brought it up when he spoke to Depp on the phone, and according to Depp, Stuart was just spending Charlize's money.

Depp mentioned that both he and Keanu Reeves had warned Charlize several times, but a woman blinded by love rarely listens. Besides, they were only her friends and couldn't interfere too much.

In any case, Depp's description left Matthew with a very negative impression of Stuart. He was, to use a term Matthew had heard before, a complete headcase.

Still, he kept his thoughts to himself. After all, his friendship with Charlize was nowhere near as close as hers with Depp or Keanu Reeves, and he was in no position to say anything, especially if she herself was content with the arrangement.

As Matthew continued to prepare for his role, there was new casting news for Dawn of the Dead: Sean Daniel and Zack Snyder had confirmed the lead actress—a role Matthew considered to be the most demanding supporting part in the film.

"They've cast Jessica Alba, the lead from James Cameron's series Dark Angel."

Hearing Helen's words, Matthew remembered something. "I've seen Jessica Alba at the Staples Arena," he said. "Her skin tone... Sean doesn't have a problem with that?"

"Jessica Alba is Latina." Helen had obviously considered this as well. "You're forgetting, Sean's prejudices are specifically about people of African descent."

Matthew nodded.

Helen waved a dismissive hand. "It doesn't matter who plays the female lead. She's just eye candy; the whole movie revolves around you."

"I know." Matthew had been speaking with Zack Snyder frequently, both to prepare for filming and, of course, to build a closer relationship. "Zack has some unique ideas for the action scenes and the look of the film, but Sean rejected most of them."

Helen looked at Matthew curiously. "Snyder trusts you that much?"

Matthew said nonchalantly, "We see eye-to-eye on a lot of things regarding the movie."

Helen snorted. "You? What kind of ideas could you possibly offer?"

"Don't underestimate me, alright?" Matthew said, showing some genuine creative insight. "We both thought the film's visuals could have the rich, intense colors of an oil painting, and that the action scenes should be shot in high-speed slow-motion to show the audience every detail of the action and every splatter of blood."

Helen glanced at Matthew. "And Sean didn't approve?"

"Yeah, Sean is a pretty conservative producer." Having been in Hollywood for a few years, Matthew knew that "conservative" was hardly a derogatory term when it came to commercial films. Innovation was what studios feared. "So, the final say is with Sean."

As a new director trying to break into commercial filmmaking, Zack Snyder had little leverage. With a producer like Sean Daniel in charge, even Matthew, as the lead actor, ranked far above the director in terms of both salary and status on set.

When the investment is large, it's impossible for a new director—no matter how talented—to have much power in the Hollywood system.

Essentially, they're just glorified on-set managers.

The one good thing was that while Zack didn't have final cut, he wasn't completely shut out of the post-production process. It was better than nothing.

Over the next two days, the casting for Dawn of the Dead was quickly finalized. In addition to Matthew and Alexandra Daddario, who had already secured their parts, a large number of actors from Helen’s Angel Agency were hired for supporting roles and minor parts, such as the walking dead.

By the end of the month, Matthew arrived on set, ready to travel with the film crew to Toronto for the shoot.