The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 256

Panicked screams and frantic footsteps echoed through the air. Matthew gripped his pistol with both hands, aiming it forward as Jessica and the other actors fled toward him, pursued once again by the walkers. Dressed in her character’s drab clothes, Jessica, despite being the female lead, was almost lost in the panicked crowd.

Matthew rushed toward them, saw the walkers closing in, and squeezed the trigger.

Bang!

A sharp crack rang out as an empty shell casing spun through the air.

The fastest of the zombie actors pursuing the crowd fell with a groan, a spray of blackish-red blood erupting from his head.

Matthew fired a series of shots, channeling the persona of his character, an elite police officer. With nearly every shot, a mist of blood erupted from the back of a zombie actor's head.

This was the result of the crew’s meticulous preparation. Zombies were a crucial supporting element in the film, and every scene featured different ways of killing them. To create a vivid and terrifying zombie presence, Sean Daniel had hired special effects makeup artist David LeRoy Anderson, a two-time Oscar winner for his work on The Nutty Professor and Men in Black.

To realistically portray the look of death and decay, Anderson had studied countless forensic science books, crime scene photographs, and traditional zombie lore. He meticulously researched the characteristics of a human body’s decomposition days, weeks, and months after brain death, dividing the changes in the zombies’ decay into three distinct stages.

The first stage featured very pale corpses with plenty of fresh blood. The second stage showed open wounds and deteriorating skin with numerous petechiae, mostly blue and green. The third and most severe stage was when bones began to show, wounds had dried up, and the skin was sloughing off, turning an oily black.

Corresponding to these three stages, the prop blood also differed. In the first stage, it was a standard red with normal fluidity. In the second stage, it tended to be brownish and viscous. By the third stage, it had become black and greasy.Since the release of the original Dawn of the Dead all those years ago, film technology had undergone a quantum leap. New methods and materials were constantly emerging, and while the elements that terrified audiences remained the same, the film crew could now execute them with a horrifying new level of realism.

Matthew picked off several of the fastest pursuing walkers, giving the fleeing actors a moment of safety, but the sound of gunshots was attracting even more of the undead.

According to the script, his character was supposed to meet the crowd and lead them back into the mall, slamming the iron gate shut just as the walkers caught up to them.

Just as Matthew was about to join the frantic group, Jessica, who was running at full tilt, suddenly stumbled over something on the ground.

That wasn't in the script!

Zack glanced at the set but didn't yell cut. It was common for actors to fall while running, and even more plausible in a film where a character was being chased by a horde of ravenous walkers.

The director was a flexible man. When he saw Jessica fall, not only did he not stop the take, but he was curious to see how Matthew would handle it. He didn’t force his actors to rehearse scenes to death before filming, nor did he impose too many rigid rules during the shoot.

As an actor, you keep going until the director calls cut, even if something unexpected happens.

It was one of the most basic rules of filmmaking, and Matthew, who had been making movies for several years now, certainly understood that. He immediately raced toward Jessica Alba.

It wasn't just him; even the minor actors with supporting roles and the extras playing walkers didn't stop. They continued the chase, giving the survivors a reason to keep running for their lives.

Without a command from Zack, the main camera, which had been following Matthew, instantly refocused on him and his new objective.

Jessica's fall had been unexpected, but she didn't cry out in pain or call for a cut. Everything proceeded as normal.

Matthew reached Jessica in two long strides.

This wasn't in the script, but Matthew knew that since Zack wasn't stopping the shoot, he had to keep acting.

Without a word, he hauled Jessica to her feet, and they started running again.

Jessica followed Matthew’s lead, fully aware that, like him, she was now the focus of the main camera. She knew their frantic escape had a high probability of making it into the final cut.

In the blink of an eye, she had gone from being one of many forgettable characters to the center of the action.

"Faster!" Matthew shouted. "Get inside!"

Jessica scrambled for the doorway. Unprepared for her sudden arrival, Alexandra, who was already standing there, collided with her. The impact sent Jessica staggering, and she grabbed the doorframe to keep from falling.

Zack frowned slightly but still didn't call cut. Instead of appearing jarring, the clumsy collision felt authentic in the chaos of the chase.

The sound of shuffling zombie feet grew louder from behind. Matthew didn't hesitate, seeming completely absorbed in the post-apocalyptic struggle for survival. With a hard shove, he sent Alexandra stumbling through the door, then spun around and slammed his fist into the head of a lunging zombie.

The actor playing the walker had been trained for this, and as soon as Matthew's fist made contact, he dropped to the ground.

But more zombies were right behind him.

The scene was completely off-script, but Matthew, who was used to action sequences and knew that large-scale fights rarely went exactly as planned, spun around and kicked Jessica, who was still hesitating in the doorway, square in the rear. She shot inside.

Alexandra immediately slammed the door shut, and a split second later, a series of heavy thuds rattled the metal frame.

Then, from outside, Zack's voice boomed: "Cut!"

Matthew glanced first at Alexandra, then at Jessica. He said nothing, simply opened the metal door and walked out.

"Excellent improv," Zack said, greeting Matthew with a hearty compliment. "You handled that unexpected situation perfectly."

"Thanks," Matthew replied.

He turned his head to look at Alexandra, who had followed him out, and then at Jessica, who was rubbing her backside, clearly sore from his kick.

Was Jessica Alba's fall an accident? Was Alexandra's collision with her unintentional?

Many people might have thought so, but a guy like Matthew, whose mind worked in rather unique ways, didn't buy it for a second. Still, he had no intention of saying anything—incidents like these were far too common in Hollywood.

Matthew turned and approached Alexandra first. "Are you okay?" he asked.

She smiled and shook her head, remaining as quiet as ever.

Matthew then walked over to Jessica and said with a hint of embarrassment, "Sorry, I got carried away in the moment, it's—"

Before he could finish, Jessica interrupted him, her face bright. "It's fine. It's all part of the job."

Matthew feigned relief. "Well, that's good to hear."

"That's a wrap for this location," Zack announced, directing the crew. "Let's move inside."

As the director busied himself getting the crew inside the mall, Matthew was about to follow when he sensed a palpable tension between Jessica and Alexandra. He stepped forward, positioning himself between them.

After all, he'd promised Helen he would look out for Alexandra.

And if Jessica's fall wasn't an accident...

A new thought occurred to Matthew: maybe Alexandra’s collision with Jessica at the door wasn't so accidental either.

Just then, the production's publicist appeared, waving to Matthew from a distance. He walked over and said, "A few media outlets have shown up. Sean wants you to do an interview."

Matthew had always been easy to work with and agreed immediately. "No problem. Just let me know when you need me."

The publicist noticed Alexandra standing next to Matthew, remembering that Matthew had made a point of introducing her as his friend. "Miss," he added, "you should join him."

"Me?" Alexandra's face showed a flicker of surprise. "Really?"

Prior to this, she had only played a small role in the cast of Underworld and had never been interviewed by the press.

"Of course," the publicist confirmed. "Don't leave after you wrap for the day."

Nearby, Jessica watched the publicist with an expectant look on her face. Although her part was effectively a supporting role, she was nominally the female lead. If the press was here for interviews, the production should have arranged for her to appear alongside Matthew.

But the crew had apparently made no such preparations. The publicist simply walked away.

Matthew headed toward the mall entrance. Alexandra shot Jessica a look that was laced with defiance before hurrying after him.

Watching the two of them leave, Jessica cursed under her breath, her anger finally spilling over. "Fake eyes, fake tits, ugly bitch!"