The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 311

The crew of Mr. & Mrs. Smith was naturally aiming for a PG-13 rating, though many scenes were shot on a much larger scale than what would appear in the theatrical version. For the studio, revenue wasn't just about the box office; while ticket sales were the standard by which Hollywood measured its stars, the income from outside the theaters, especially from DVD sales and rentals, was absolutely insane in this era.

As far as Matthew knew, last year's Pixar animated film, Finding Nemo, had sold 18.5 million DVDs to date, with sales approaching $300 million.

The DVD for Pirates of the Caribbean, a film in which he had starred, had also sold 13.3 million copies, generating over $200 million in sales.

Compared to the high cost of a major promotional theatrical release, DVDs were far cheaper in terms of both printing and distribution channels. Helen had even told him that for a conglomerate with a well-developed industrial chain, like one of Hollywood's "Big Six," the cost of a DVD was just over five percent of its selling price.

In an age of staggering DVD sales and rental figures, nearly every producer and distribution label was pushing DVD sales hard.

However, looking back over the years, there were some common characteristics among films that sold well on DVD. For instance, the movies that topped the sales charts were invariably box-office hits, making theatrical success a crucial factor for a DVD's triumph.

Another key factor was that the DVD version offered more fresh content than the theatrical release.

A prime example was Matthew's own film, The Scorpion King. It was released in theaters with a standard PG-13 rating, but the later DVD release included a lot more explicit content, such as sex scenes between Matthew and Kelly, which effectively drew consumers to the film.

The DVD market was more lenient than the MPAA's strict theatrical rating system, so the DVD version of Mr. & Mrs. Smith would naturally be on a much bigger scale.

Soon, the onlookers on the set were asked to leave the studio. Aside from the director and a few essential crew members, only Matthew and Charlize remained.Neither of them was a newcomer. Matthew had filmed scenes like this several times before, and Charlize was even more familiar with the process.

After the director, Doug, called for them to begin, Matthew took the lead, and Charlize did her best to fight back, just as the script intended. The two of them became intimately entangled.

But the shoot was soon halted, as Doug decided that neither of them was good enough.

"What I need is wild, reckless sex," Doug exclaimed. "To shatter the old divide once and for all and bring you back to loving each other."

He looked at Matthew and Charlize and said, "You're both too restrained! You don't have that crazy energy lovers have when they reconnect after a long separation!"

Matthew exchanged a whispered word with Charlize. It wasn't easy to get aroused on cue for scenes like this, not to mention that Charlize had placed a pillow between them during the take to avoid some of the awkwardness.

Before filming, he had stepped aside and done a few exercises to make his breathing ragged, creating the illusion of arousal for the camera.

It was the kind of scene that wouldn't be convincing if the actors in it weren't excited.

Charlize wasn't idle either; she had a glass of champagne, followed by a shot of tequila, to gradually get herself into the right mood.

The second take went well. The long shot lasted nearly two minutes, and the scene was soon completed.

When the take was over, Matthew released Charlize, who had been pressed firmly against the table.

Both of them were breathing a little heavily, and their gazes met by chance. Charlize immediately turned away to look somewhere else, seemingly a bit embarrassed.

Matthew asked softly, "You weren't hurt, were you?"

Charlize pulled out the soft pillow hidden under her dress, tossed it aside, smiled, and replied, "I'm fine."

Matthew was about to do something when Charlize slipped from his grasp. "I need to take off my makeup."

With that, she walked off the set without waiting for Matthew's reply.

After leaving the set and reaching her dressing room, she dismissed the makeup artist and leaned against the door. Her breathing grew heavy again, and she couldn't stop herself from reaching a hand down.

Two short minutes later, Charlize had regained her cool composure.

The sound of a dressing room door opening and closing came from the next room; it must have been Matthew. She hastily finished removing her makeup, changed into her own clothes, and hurried out of Warner Studios.

Back in the day, she and Stuart had fallen in love precisely because of a scene like this...

Sitting in the car provided by the crew, Charlize felt a headache coming on at the thought of Stuart, followed by a wave of confusion, unsure of where their relationship was headed.

She knew that some things couldn't be compared without creating a huge psychological chasm, like comparing Stuart and Matthew.

Matthew was as bright as a star, and Stuart was...

Charlize quickly shook her head; such a thought was too dangerous. Besides, Stuart's virtues were obvious. Although his temper had gotten much worse in recent years, he was far more devoted than Matthew, a playboy who slept with practically every woman around him.

It was true that tolerance wasn't the same as indulgence, but she hadn't reached her limit yet. Besides, once this film was over and she had some time, she would try to convince Stuart to see a psychiatrist. Maybe with professional help, he could change for the better.

...

Matthew finished removing his makeup, left his dressing room, and had barely left the studio when he ran into the producer, Akiva Goldsman, who called out to him.

"You're a fine actor," Goldsman praised him. "I was impressed watching the shoot. You're well-suited for roles like this."

"You're too kind," Matthew said modestly.

Goldsman waved a hand. "No need to be modest. Everyone on set could see you're a good actor."

Matthew smiled and didn't reply.

Goldsman said, "Matthew, there are very few young, bankable actors like you out there."

And he could tell from the shoot that Matthew was the kind of actor who didn't cause problems for the crew, so he added solemnly, "I look forward to working with you again."

Matthew couldn't quite grasp what Goldsman meant by that, but he replied, "Me too."

Goldsman then changed the subject and started talking about the filming of Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

As both a producer and a screenwriter, Goldsman saw the value in a young actor like Matthew more clearly than Doug, who was dedicated to his career as a director. He believed that Mr. & Mrs. Smith was highly unlikely to fail.

It didn't take much analysis for him to see that Matthew was on the path to becoming a superstar.

The projects he had planned required exactly that kind of superstar, someone who could carry a film at the box office and was suited for a strong role. But with the current production of Mr. & Mrs. Smith and the upcoming adaptation of The Da Vinci Code, his next project was undoubtedly a few years away. By then, Matthew would probably be in the top echelon, and it wouldn't be easy to get him to accept an audition.

Actors needed the right projects, and producers and directors needed star actors with immense appeal.

Goldsman was looking far ahead, already preparing for his next big project with a producer's foresight.

After chatting with Goldsman for a while, Matthew left the studio. He had an appointment that evening. He walked to the entrance of Warner Studios and drove his BMW to an upscale restaurant in North Hollywood, where Ilana had arranged to have dinner with him a few days prior.

Matthew ordered a few familiar dishes at random, handed the menu back to the waiter, and looked at Ilana questioningly.

Meeting his gaze, Ilana asked, "Any news lately?"

He shook his head. "No. I've been busy filming Mr. & Mrs. Smith. I haven't had time for anything else."

"You always disappoint me." Ilana lifted her glass of water, took a sip, and then asked suddenly, "What about you and Charlize Theron?"

"We're just ordinary friends," Matthew replied casually. "Nothing more."

"Ordinary friends? You can lie to other people, but don't lie to me." Ilana's eyes flashed.

She snorted and added, "My people have photographed the two of you having dinner together many times."