The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 675

"The Expendables?" Matthew asked, looking at the formal written invitation. "Sylvester Stallone's new movie?"

Helen looked up from her computer monitor. "He sent the invitation just yesterday, offering you a role as one of the main characters."

She added succinctly, "Stallone is the director and primary producer on this film. Millennium Pictures is financing and producing, with a budget of around seventy to eighty million dollars."

Matthew placed the invitation back on the desk. "What do you think?"

"I recommend turning it down," Helen said without hesitation, then explained, "Judging by the list of actors Stallone has invited, this is a film by old-timers, for old-timers. And while it falls into the tough-guy action genre, it doesn't align with your positioning at all."

Matthew nodded slowly. His impression of "The Expendables" was that it was a project built on nostalgia and little else.

Helen continued, "After bringing in so many action stars, how can you guarantee your role will stand out? Stallone is the director and lead producer; do you really think he'll let you have the top billing? Besides, the production budget is so small. After paying everyone's salary, will there be anything left for the actual filming?"

Hearing her analysis, Matthew stated plainly, "Just find an excuse about a scheduling conflict and turn it down."

The film really wasn't a good fit for him. Besides, appearing in a movie with a crowd of aging action stars—was he trying to tell the world he was past his prime?

Matthew was confident his appeal would last another twenty or thirty years without any issue. Many famous actors in Hollywood only became more popular as they got older.Well, he was only twenty-eight. It was still too early to think about getting older and more popular.

Helen picked up the invitation, casually tossed it into the wastebasket beside her, and said, "Weren't you asking me to keep an eye on Plan B?"

Matthew's interest was piqued. "Any movement on Brad Pitt's side?"

"Just three days ago," Helen said, placing her glasses neatly on the desk.

"The film 'John Carter,' directed by Andrew Stanton and starring Brad Pitt and Natalie Portman, has begun filming at Disney Studios."

Matthew gave a satisfied nod. "I see."

Helen looked at Matthew, wanting to ask about a few things, but she held back.

Matthew noticed her hesitation but paid it no mind. "Is there anything else? If not, I'm heading back. This shoot has been exhausting, and I need to rest."

Helen, however, replied, "There is. A lot more is happening."

Matthew leaned back wearily in his chair. "Alright, let's hear it. Make it quick."

Helen quickened her pace slightly. "Four more things. Disney Pictures has arranged for the 'Fast & Furious' team to present at next year's Oscars, possibly one of the major awards; the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has sent you a formal invitation to become a member; don't forget you have a cameo to shoot for 'Hannah Montana' in three days; and Christopher Nolan wants you to visit the 'Inception' set next week."

Matthew tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, making his decisions quickly. "Agree to all of them."

Presenting at the Oscars was tied to promoting "Fast & Furious 4," a franchise he planned to be part of for a long time. The success of the fourth film was too important to miss any opportunity for exposure.

Even though the Oscars' ratings had been declining in recent years, with viewership gradually falling to the low thirty-millions, no one could deny the attention that the industry's biggest night attracted.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had invited him to join, which meant he would become one of the six thousand judges for future

Oscars. There was no harm in accepting; after all, famous directors like George Lucas who never joined the Academy in their entire careers were exceedingly rare.

"Who nominated me for membership?" Matthew asked curiously.

Academy members were invited by the appropriate committee and were required to have a certain level of achievement in the film industry. The criteria were mainly based on talent, high honors and popularity in the industry, an Academy Award nomination, special achievements in a specific field, or outstanding contributions to the development of cinema.

In other words, Academy members didn't have to be film industry practitioners. Among the six thousand members today were bankers, journalists, IT elites, and more.

And to even be considered by the committee, a candidate had to be nominated by at least two current members.

Helen answered softly, "Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley."

"Those two..." Matthew couldn't help but shake his head. "They didn't even give me a heads-up. Were they trying to surprise me?"

He asked Helen, "Once I accept the invitation, when will I officially become a member?"

"By December 30th," Helen replied, having already guessed what Matthew was thinking.

"You'll be in just in time for the Oscar voting."

Matthew nodded seriously, a thought suddenly occurring to him. "I wonder if any of the candidates will try to lobby me?"

Helen felt there was no good intention behind that question, but she still said, "They should. After all, your fame speaks for itself, so you might be able to influence some people's votes."

Hearing her words, Matthew couldn't help but clap his hands together. "Excellent."

He was already a member of the Screen Actors Guild and was on track to join the Producers Guild of America. Since "Twilight" was already out and had been a huge success, he expected to become a member of the Producers Guild this month.

Then he would have a say in the acting and film awards.

Best Picture didn't matter much to him, but the races for Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress seemed to be heating up.

Actresses were different from actors; for them, it was crucial to become famous and win awards as early as possible. Otherwise, most of them would have to fade from the spotlight by the time they reached forty.

Now that it was awards season, any actress who wanted to stand out at the Oscars might just have to pay him the proper attention.

***

He was on time for both his cameo in "Hannah Montana" and his visit to the "Inception" team. The first was a promise to Disney that would be beneficial for future collaborations, and the second was part of a formal agreement requiring him to communicate thoroughly with Christopher Nolan before shooting began.

Before leaving the Angel Agency, he called Christopher Nolan and spoke with him briefly. The film's cast was still in preparation, with Nolan selecting actors for roles other than Matthew's lead and a few minor supporting parts.

Most of the confirmed actors were British talents who had worked with Christopher Nolan for a long time, like Michael Caine and Cillian Murphy, who had both appeared in the two Batman films.

Currently, Christopher Nolan was holding auditions for several male roles and two female roles to find suitable actors and actresses.

After the call, Matthew suddenly thought of James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender. Perhaps he could ask if they were interested and recommend them to Nolan.

Returning to his estate, Matthew called each of them. James had originally planned to propose this year, but his packed work schedule, with one film after another, had forced him to postpone it. Michael, on the other hand, was the same as ever, cycling through girlfriends one after another.

Both were very interested in Nolan's film, and a shoot in the first half of next year would fit their schedules perfectly.

Matthew found the time to visit Warner Studios, where he found Christopher Nolan busy with prep work and formally recommended James and Michael to him.

Christopher Nolan's preference for actors from the British Isles was well-known, and James and Michael—one British, the other raised in Northern Ireland with Irish citizenship—fit his criteria perfectly.

Since it was Matthew's recommendation, Christopher Nolan reviewed both men's résumés and then agreed to let them audition soon.

Aside from Matthew himself, they weren't part of Nolan's inner circle, and Matthew was quite satisfied with this outcome.

If, after his recommendation, Christopher Nolan had simply agreed to cast James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender without even meeting them, Matthew would have thought something was wrong with Nolan's judgment.

Filming was scheduled to begin after next year's Oscar ceremony and was planned to take no more than one hundred days, with the film set for release in the summer of 2010.

Matthew had high hopes for "Inception." After

"Hancock," he needed a film that was as strong critically as it was at the box office.

He spent the next two days relaxing at his estate. During that time, he met with Charlize Theron to discuss "The Hunger Games" and then drove to Disney Studios, as arranged, to prepare for his cameo in "Hannah Montana."