The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 449

As she watched Matthew leave the lounge and head for the red carpet, Taylor’s eyes followed his every move. Though only seventeen, she was far more mature than most girls her age. Scott Borchetta, the former CEO of DreamWorks, had made sure to instill in her many of Hollywood’s unwritten rules of survival.

With a Hollywood veteran as her mentor and being a sharp girl herself, Taylor’s understanding of the entertainment industry far surpassed her years.

Scott, the founder of Big Machine Records, came over and asked in a low voice, "How did it go?"

"I invited him." Taylor raised an eyebrow. "He didn't say yes... Well, I should say he politely declined."

"That's alright," Scott said. "I have faith in you."

"I'm sure I'll succeed." Still gazing at the exit, she murmured, "I just think Matthew Horner is magnificent. He has this incredible mature charm."

Scott glanced at Taylor, knowing full well this was more than a simple teenage crush.

****

Once on the red carpet, Brown Williams was on high alert. His eyes swept methodically over the crowd of fans on the left, searching for any sign of trouble, ready for anything.

Because of the recent underwear theft incident, he was now shadowing Matthew on the red carpet—not in front, but slightly behind, positioning himself on the side closest to the fans.Although the fans entering the park had gone through strict security checks, Brown’s years as a soldier and bodyguard had taught him that if someone was truly determined to cause harm, they didn't need a gun or anything made of metal.

Fortunately, Matthew was also concerned for his own safety. He gave the crowd a quick wave and moved swiftly toward the interview area.

The interview zone was occupied only by reporters from ABC Television and the Disney Channel, so the chances of an incident were low. Still, Brown didn't let his guard down, remaining poised to protect Matthew even as he posed for photos with Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley.

As the tallest of the pirate trio, Matthew stood in the center, his left arm draped around Knightley’s shoulders and his right around Depp’s back. The three of them projected an image of genuine affection.

And unlike many Hollywood photo-ops where the camaraderie is purely for show, the three were genuinely good friends in their private lives.

After the photos, Matthew was about to head into the theater with Depp and Knightley when Jerry Bruckheimer stopped him.

Jerry clearly had something to discuss, and the two of them fell back, letting the rest of the cast walk ahead.

As they entered the theater and the crowd ahead of them thinned, Jerry finally spoke. "Matthew, have you signed on to any other films after Goldsman's I Am Legend?"

"Yes." Matthew didn't deny it; there was no hiding something like that from a man like Jerry. "I've had a few offers, but nothing is signed yet."

He felt a flicker of suspicion, deliberately leaving his answer vague.

Jerry seemed to ignore the nuance. "I’ve been working with you since Black Hawk Down. How many years has it been? Five!"

Matthew nodded slightly. "Just about."

He remained wary; in this business, friendship was often just a tool for leverage. "We've worked on Black Hawk Down, Pirates of the Caribbean, and National Treasure," he began. "Jerry, I wouldn't be where I am today without you. I'm always grateful for that. Thank you."

Hearing his words of gratitude, Jerry pressed on. "It's been almost two years since National Treasure came out. Audiences have been waiting for the sequel. It's time to put it back on the agenda."

Matthew chuckled. "I had a feeling that's what this was about."

He added, "As far as I know, Disney Pictures has shelved the National Treasure sequel. It's not slated to start anytime soon."

Why had Disney shelved the sequel? Jerry, of course, knew the answer: Matthew and his agency were asking for too much money.

Jerry thought for a few seconds. Disney Pictures had plenty of other projects, but his own production company was a different story. A sequel to a blockbuster like National Treasure was the surest way for Jerry Bruckheimer Films to turn a profit.

"Matthew, I can push Disney back to the negotiating table and get them to restart the project," Jerry said confidently. "But we'll have to make some concessions if we want to work together."

Hearing this, Matthew stopped walking. When Jerry stopped as well, he said, "Jerry, I've already made a significant concession personally."

He shook his head slightly. "Disney's offer for the sequel lacks sincerity."

After all, his disagreement with Disney was never about creative differences or anything of the sort. It was purely about the distribution of profits.

Disney wanted to maximize its profits from a blockbuster sequel that had a high probability of success, and he wanted to maximize his.

Since this was a business partnership, guaranteeing one's own profits was the first priority.

Matthew didn't bother telling Jerry that even if Disney wanted to return to the table, he and Helen wouldn't even consider negotiating unless the offer met their expectations.

Jerry looked somewhat disappointed as he watched Matthew walk into the screening room.

Before entering the theater himself, Matthew glanced back at Jerry, who was following behind him.

Bruckheimer had been one of his mentors, but by the rules of the business, he and Jerry owed each other nothing.

Matthew made his way to the front row and took his seat. Depp leaned over and asked, "Jerry wasn't trying to cause a rift, was he?"

"No," Matthew whispered, not mincing his words with Depp on his left and Keira on his right. "He wants me to take a lower offer so Disney Pictures will restart the National Treasure sequel."

Keira overheard and asked, "You're not going to say yes, are you?"

Matthew pointed to himself. "Am I that stupid?"

Depp chuckled. "Asking you to lower your salary? Is he trying to pocket more of the profits for himself?"

Matthew shrugged. "Disney's the one that needs to concede."

Keira and Depp both agreed, nodding in unison.

When the screen lit up and the movie began, the three of them fell silent. But Matthew’s thoughts weren't on the film. They were on Jerry, who had shown signs of decline over the past two years, releasing several mediocre films. His aura as a producer with the Midas touch was beginning to fade.

In Helen’s opinion, audiences seemed to be growing tired of Jerry's signature style of commercial filmmaking. If Bruckheimer didn’t adapt, his string of box office disappointments would undoubtedly continue to grow.

The same could be said for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. The film had gone through three test screenings in the weeks leading up to its release. And while the dynamic between Will Turner and Jack Sparrow was still full of spark and appeal, the overall narrative was weak, and the feedback from the test audiences hadn't been great.

Of course, most people, including Matthew himself, still believed the film would be a box office success. It was far from a bad movie.

Matthew had already seen the film at the private screenings. Of the three main characters, Elizabeth's role had been further diminished, turning her into little more than a sidekick to Jack Sparrow and Will Turner. Jack Sparrow remained the unpredictable wild card, while Will Turner was the straightforward hero.

From his rescue from the cannibal tribe to the chaotic battle for Davy Jones's heart, Jack Sparrow's character consistently managed to steal the show and leave the biggest impression on the audience.

Unfortunately, the storytelling wasn't nearly as strong as in The Curse of the Black Pearl.

As far as Matthew was concerned, the special effects in Dead Man's Chest represented the pinnacle of what the Hollywood industry could achieve at the time.

In his opinion, the film's other major problem was the disjointed nature of the plot and the inconsistent character motivations.

It didn't help that he was just an actor and couldn't interfere with the production. It was only natural that a film produced and distributed by Disney would be made in this style.

When Matthew had first seen the preview, he had joked to himself that he should have pushed Jerry Bruckheimer to have Will Turner and Jack Sparrow perform a dance number for Davy Jones. They could have just made the villain die of laughter.