The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 416

High above the ground, a suspended camera glided along its tracks, panning across the vast green screen that filled the studio.

On the undulating green floor, over thirty men, their bodies seemingly carved from marble, moved with disciplined precision. Shields held high, they swiftly dropped into a crouch, their rough, dark-gold shields locking together to cover them completely. For a moment, they resembled a phalanx of immense, dark-golden tortoises.

After the sweeping panoramic shot from above, the camera descended, the operator zooming in for a close-up on Matthew and several other principal actors.

"Persian cowards!"

Matthew's mouth gaped in a ferocious shout, revealing a flash of white teeth. His expression was merciless.

In his mind, Leonidas, the Spartan king, was more than just a brave and courageous warrior; he was a decisive killer, a man who showed his enemies no mercy.

The very concept of laying down their arms or sparing a foe was alien to the Spartan way.

"Hahahaha."

James McAvoy, still hunkered down beneath his shield, let out a laugh.

Beside him, Michael Fassbender asked, "What's so funny?"James replied, "You heard the man. We'll be fighting in the shade!"

Michael grinned like a shark, and the men around them erupted in laughter.

A moment later, they all rose to their feet.

At that moment, Zack's voice boomed across the set, "Cut! Swap out the shields!"

The prop master and his team came onto the set, handing each actor a shield riddled with prop arrows.

The crew made a few quick adjustments, and filming paused for several minutes.

They were more than a week into the shoot, and thanks to meticulous preparation, everything was running exceptionally smoothly. The battle scenes between the Spartans and the Persians were nearly complete.

Zack had scheduled a sixty-day shoot, aiming to wrap by the end of May at the latest. But at their current pace, they were on track to finish in just forty-five days.

While the crew adjusted the lights and cameras, Zack approached Matthew.

"How's the king holding up?" Zack asked, eyeing him.

Matthew gave a slight shrug, spinning the spear in his hand. "Lost without my queen," he quipped.

Good-natured laughter rippled through the actors behind him.

"Alright," Zack said, seeing the laughter spread. He clapped his hands sharply. "We can talk about that later."

Despite his short stature and relative inexperience, Zack commanded authority on set. The actors quieted down at once.

Zack turned back to Matthew. "This next take needs to be powerful! It has to show the king's resolve! Keep moving forward, don't look back!"

Matthew nodded.

Zack then stepped off the set. The camera operator mounted a custom-built dolly, its lens aimed squarely at Matthew.

It was simple cinematic language, and Matthew, having been an actor for a long time, understood that Zack was trying to reinforce the heroic image of Leonidas—a cinematic tribute to the Spartan warriors.

Even if the historical record didn't always paint them in such a glamorous light.

An assistant director stepped forward, holding the clapperboard in front of the lens. "300, scene fifty-two, take twenty-five!" he called out, snapping the board shut.

Matthew stood before the camera, a mountain of a man with a spear in one hand and a shield in the other.

He took a deep breath, every muscle in his body coiling with perfect tension.

Then, Matthew raised his right hand. He brought the spear down hard, dragging the sturdy shaft across the face of his shield, snapping the embedded arrows in two.

Immediately, he gazed into the distance, as if spotting the enemy, then turned back to another camera and roared, "No Spartan dies today!"

"A-ROO! A-ROO!"

A collective roar erupted from the men behind Matthew. Just as they'd rehearsed, they swiftly fell into formation, shields raised and spears leveled forward.

The effect of their long hours of pre-production training was undeniable.

"Perfect!" Zack shouted in that moment.

He was clearly satisfied with the take.

Once the scene was done, Zack called out, "Alright, new setup! We're moving to scene twelve!"

Matthew and the other actors were done for the day. They laid down their weapons and left the set together, heading for the locker rooms.

****

After getting his makeup removed, Matthew met up with Helen, who had just arrived on set. Together, they headed straight for the Warner Building, just a short distance from the Warner Studios lot. Warner Bros. was not only distributing 300 but also producing and distributing I Am Legend. With both films gearing up for their promotional campaigns, Matthew, as the lead in each, was the centerpiece of the studio's entire marketing strategy.