The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 255

After less than two weeks of studio shoots, the film crew relocated to a shopping mall in a small town outside of Toronto. The two-story building, slated for demolition, was surrounded by wide streets and open plazas.

The production team didn't even need to arrange for makeup trailers. Several cosmetics stores on the mall's ground floor were already well-equipped, and since they were spacious enough, Matthew didn't request a private room, sharing the makeup area with the other principal actors.

In any case, there were only four or five main actors. He was the lead, and the converted shop had separate makeup stations for men and women.

"Hi, Matthew."

The lovely Jessica Alba had just arrived and came over to greet him. "I didn't think we'd end up working on the same set," she said with a bright smile.

Matthew replied, "Hey, Jess."

Then he asked, "Still catching games at the Staples Center?"

"Of course, I'm a die-hard Lakers fan." Jessica's smile was exceptionally sweet. "But I haven't seen you there lately."

"I've been busy." Matthew thought for a moment, then answered honestly, "And I don't know the first thing about basketball, so I was bored."

In truth, the main reason was that since his breakup with Keira Knightley, he no longer felt the need to make an appearance in the celebrity-filled courtside seats at the Staples Center just to be seen by the reporters' cameras.Jessica offered, "Next time we go together, I can explain the rules to you."

Matthew nodded, completely uninterested. "That'd be great."

Just then, Alexandra, having finished changing into her costume, emerged from the dressing room and approached Matthew. Her blue eyes studied Jessica with curiosity—the only other female character with a more significant role than her own.

Matthew noticed Alexandra's approach and made the introduction. "Jess, this is Alexandra Daddario."

Then he introduced Jessica to her: "Anna, this is Jessica Alba."

Alexandra seemed reserved and simply nodded at Jessica.

Jessica, on the other hand, appeared sunny and cheerful, her face beaming with a sweet, ingratiating smile. "Hi."

But Alexandra just pointed to the chair Jessica was blocking and asked, "That's my seat. Could you move?"

"Oh, sorry." Still wearing that sweet smile, Jessica hurried out of the way. "I'm so sorry."

Alexandra walked over, pulled the chair out, and sat down. Jessica went to her own station, but the moment she turned her back, the smile vanished from her face, and a bitter curse caught in her throat.

...

Once makeup was done, an assistant director led the actors to a side entrance of the mall. The crew was nearly ready, and after finishing his own preparations, Zack came over, gave a brief explanation, and the cameras started rolling.

The side door to the supermarket was closed. Matthew and Alexandra were inside, with the camera operator filming them.

"I'll count to three and open the door," Matthew said to Alexandra, his hands on his pistol. "I'm going in. You stay here, and if things go south, shut the door."

Alexandra tried to look frantic. "Don't! We'll all die!"

Matthew wore a resolute expression. In truth, he didn't have to force it much—it was his default look. The character of the leading man had been written with his own traits in mind, which was why playing the part felt so effortless.

The action sequences in this zombie film were far less frequent than in Pirates of the Caribbean. Besides, Matthew had found playing Will Turner more challenging, so, action scenes aside, his scenes were often completed in a single take.

But next to him was Alexandra, a far less experienced actress.

Soon, the director, Zack, called cut from behind the door. Alexandra's panicked expression was unconvincing. After a quick adjustment, filming resumed—only for Matthew to make a mistake this time.

It took five takes of starting and stopping before the simple scene of opening a door was finally in the can.

The next take, however, was an unexpected one.

"This way! Run, this way!"

On the walkway in front of the door, Matthew shouted to a group of the old and infirm, led by Jessica. "Over here, quickly!"

Holding the pistol with both hands, he aimed at a zombie extra chasing the group and squeezed the trigger. Smoke billowed from the barrel, and the zombie's head instantly erupted in a bloody mist.

Behind Matthew, the camera panned to the group of survivors running for their lives. Jessica, who had the largest role among them, was barely noticeable in the crowd, as all four or five actors were scrambling in a panic.

Jessica was fit, but didn't have Alexandra's striking figure. Since her costume was a loose, blue nurse's uniform, she naturally didn't command the camera's attention like the other actress. With Zack using a wide shot, she looked unremarkable among the running cast—not even as eye-catching as the zombies.

"Cut!" Zack yelled, stopping the shoot. He felt the frame lacked a certain punch. He ordered the group of actors, "Back to one. Let's do it again."

He turned his head to Matthew. "You, too. Back to the door."

Then, raising his voice, "Anna!"

Alexandra appeared from the doorway, wearing a tight, low-cut white tank top.

Zack told her, "Change of plans for your scene. You come out the door and keep panicking, but don't scream."

Alexandra nodded.

Matthew stepped back toward the door. It wasn't in the script, but it was normal for a director to adjust a shot on the fly.

Alexandra sidled up to Matthew and asked, "Is he trying to give me more screen time?"

"Probably," Matthew said, glancing over at Zack.

Meanwhile, Jessica had returned to the ambulance, ready to start the scene again.

But she looked up just in time to see Matthew and Alexandra standing together by the door, and a shadow crossed her face.

Matthew was the absolute leading man; even in a group scene like this, the focus was on him saving them. Jessica could see that Camera A was trained solely on Matthew and nothing else. That was how you treated the undisputed star of a film, of course. She had no problem with that.

But why had the director called Alexandra over? The young actress in the tight, form-fitting tank top was clearly meant to be eye candy.

Jessica was furious, but she couldn't say anything to the director. Though she projected the image of a naive, perpetually happy girl, she was no fool.

She knew her place in this film perfectly well: she was the window dressing, there to support Matthew Horner, the undisputed lead.

Of course, a role like that, if played well, could still have a positive impact on the career of an actress like her.

But who would have thought her very first scene would be so awkward? Her costume was a loose, unflattering uniform, and she was lost in a crowd, less noticeable than the zombies chasing them.

Now the director had called Alexandra to stand next to the leading man. Wasn't she about to steal the spotlight?

Jessica Alba had been a child actor; she'd been in the business for years and saw things much more clearly than any newcomer. The script and the director's staging could directly impact a role's prominence, but an actor's own performance was just as important. If she could outshine her competition in some specific way, she could naturally draw more attention.

In Alexandra's case, for instance, just by standing there in that tight tank top, she was more likely to catch the audience's eye than Jessica was. It was an inherent advantage.

Jessica looked at Matthew and Alexandra, her mind racing. Soon, she devised a way to stand out from the mediocre crowd without earning the ire of the director and crew.

It had always been her specialty, and when she used it, she became the center of attention.

Over the past two years, Jessica had realized she'd hit a plateau in her career and needed to climb higher, using any means necessary. It was better than being a C-list star, stuck with no resources and not enough acting talent to break out.