novelraw Chapter 255
Chapter 255
Central Los Angeles studio.
Mark Levi found Josie outside the corridor of the production office of "Like Heaven", and asked, "Josie, do you have time to talk alone?"
Josie glanced at her assistant Kelly, who reminded, "There are still 15 minutes."
So she rubbed her temples, nodded and agreed, "Yes, let's go to the small meeting room here."
The two walked into the conference room and closed the door.
Mark Levi looked at Josie and said, "I don't think Matthew McConaughey or Hugh Grant are suitable for this movie. The leading actor should be someone with a scholarly temperament like Tom Hanks, and there is no need to be too overbearing." Handsome."
Matthew McConaughey is the candidate proposed by Fox. Although he missed "Titanic", there are still many big-name stars who have partnered with him in the past two years. The main theme action movie "Hunting U-6000" will be released.
To be honest, his resources have always been a mystery.
And Hugh Grant appeared on the shortlist entirely because this year he exploded a "Notting Hill", and now many Hollywood romantic comedies will give priority to inviting him, even though many people still remember his recruitment scandal, but Whoever makes the audience like him.
Obviously, women are not the only ones who can commit crimes based on their beauty, men are no exception.
Josie said noncommittal, "I know Hanks is the best candidate in your mind, but we can't afford to hire him, and we can't hire him."
In fact, who wouldn't want to work with Tom Hanks right at the peak of his career?
The problem is that Lao Tang is very picky about the script and production team when he takes the film now, and he has put all his energy on the film "The Rest of the Deserted Island" this year, and almost declined all invitations.
On top of that, Josie and Tom Hanks look so much like the next generation, which would be a disaster for a romantic movie.
"Yes, I know." Mark Levy paused, and continued: "So, why don't we consider John Cusack? His acting skills are very good, and the price is within the budget."
John Cusack is an actor who was born as a youth comedy star. Since his debut in the 80s, the popular "Prison in the Sky" in the first two years made him really taste the taste of popularity, and he will be in the upcoming "Being John Malco" There is a wonderful performance in "Vitch".
At least in the next ten years, for most North American movie fans, apart from John Cusack, there is no actor who can play the middle-aged frustrated man with a bad face so naturally.
Josie nodded and said, "I see, Mark, we will consider Cusack, but this will be discussed in the morning meeting, and I will not promise you anything."
After getting her answer, Mark Levi was not too disappointed.
This is really because the producers sent by Fox have been pushing Matthew McConaughey, and this highly regarded actor has played a successful lawyer in "A Time to Kill" a few years ago. Movies with young directors and big production teams are not very interesting.
His personal temperament is too shrewd and oily, and he is obviously more suitable for roles such as lawyers, Wall Street elites, and prodigal sons in love.
Rather than a certain sense of "Human Ghosts Are Unfinished".
"Good morning, boss."
"Good morning, Susan."
"Josie, you don't look very well."
"Thank you, Mary, I just have a headache."
"Need painkillers? I happen to have them here."
"No, but thank you anyway, Nora."
"Hi Josie, how are you doing?"
"Hello, Art, I'm doing well, the scenery in New Zealand is really unforgettable."
After greeting the people in the room one after another, Josie sat at a long oval table in the conference room, resting her elbows on her forehead silently.
Kelly walked up behind her and said softly, "I asked someone to buy a cup of hot cocoa, you can drink some."
——Josie has not eaten anything since she got up at 04:30 in the morning. This situation is abnormal and worrying.
"Thank you, let's put it here first." Josie waved her hand, "It's time for our meeting."
Kelly puts the Starbucks mug on the table.
The greetings before the meeting are over.
The first person to get to the point was Art Linson, the producer sent by Fox, and what he conveyed was also the opinion of the Fox production department: "I think Matthew McConaughey is very suitable for this role. Not bad."
"McConaughey's acting skills are indeed passable, but his temperament is too elite. We need a male protagonist who is not so strong." Mark Levy, the original author and screenwriter, was the first to jump out to object. He has a certain amount of casting Right to Suggest.
Art Linsen was not angry either, and still suggested with a smile: "Then how about Matt Damon? His combination with Josie should be a good match."
"But he's too expensive." Suzanne Levin, the producer of Tianji Films, said bluntly, "Matt Damon has already received 500 million US dollars for "The Talented Ripley", and recently his salary is even higher. It's going up."
"How about Greg Kinnear?" Casting director Mary Fine suggested a candidate.
"Is it too old?"
"It's a bit. And for Josie, he's too short."
"Hugh Grant or Ethan Hawke?"
"Too handsome. Too much scene stealing for this movie."
"It doesn't matter if you're handsome. We're making a romantic movie. The audience just wants to see the romance and fantasy that can't be had in ordinary life."
"Ethan Hawke can send an invitation, Hugh Grant is too expensive."
"And what about Paul Rudd?"
"Another handsome boy."
"I don't really like the combination of him and Josie. Amy Heckerling's "Leading the Way" is too deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. I don't think fans will accept it."
Several people talked one sentence to another for a long time, but Josie, who was sitting in the first place, remained silent. She took a sip of the cup of hot cocoa and couldn't help frowning fiercely.
—Maybe because of the headache, she felt a little nauseous.
Art Linsen thought that Josie wanted Paul Rudd to be the leading actor.
The old gentleman thought: This is not acceptable, she cannot be allowed to randomly choose someone just to attract her best friend and boyfriend.
——Although she insisted on going her own way, he was really not sure to object.
Of course, there is no problem with Paul Rudd himself. The problem is that he has played whatever he has done in the past few years. Obviously, this guy's luck is not very good.
Don't think Hollywood isn't superstitious.
If it's not superstitious, Qiao Qian, who has never had a record, can keep her salary soaring all the way?
So Art Linsen quickly asked, "Are there any other candidates?"
Mary Fine flipped through the actor's resume, looked at the crowd and said, "How about John Cusack. His acting skills are good, and his appearance fits."
"I think it's okay." Mark Levy was the first to agree.
"Then invite him to audition." Art Linson and John Cusack had just collaborated on "Traffic Jam". Although the film itself was not very successful, the actor left a good impression on him.
"Is there any more?" Josie started rubbing her temples again.
Mary Finn observed Josie's expression, hesitated before saying, "Is Edward Norton available? I think the chemistry between you and him is great."
"Oh, Norton is good." Art Linsen was also quite satisfied with the casting. In addition to the temperament of the actor and the character, the sparks of the male and female protagonists in and out of the play are quite interesting.
Fight Club is proof of that.
"He should be busy with the post-production of the new film recently." Josie felt that she could not concentrate, and took a deep breath secretly, "And I don't think it would be a good idea for us to cooperate again in the short term."
"You have the final say." Mary Finn is very Buddhist.
In the end, after Josie's approval, casting director Mary Finn decided to send out audition invitations to Ethan Hawke, John Cusack, Greg Kinnear, and Paul Rudd.
The role audition in the afternoon was about the leading man in Spy Belle.
Prior to this, Warner, one of the producers, had already started a round of auditions, picking and choosing male stars in Hollywood who fit the role, and the rest were handsome and handsome men with eye-catching appearance. The positioning is very accurate.
This role is just the opposite of the male protagonist in "Like Heaven". The actor needs to be more handsome, hot and sexy, so as to attract female audiences to better substitute for the heroine and enter the cinema.
So that afternoon, Josie watched a beauty show in another sense in the audition office.
Matthew McConaughey is everywhere (how can he be everywhere?), Paul Walker who has not yet become popular, Gerard Butler who has attracted Hollywood attention, Satellite Award Best Newcomer Aaron Eckhart , Bradley Cooper, who was pulled over by his agent from the filming scene of the TV series...
It can be said that those who are not six feet tall cannot even enter the audition list. For example, the new Cyclops James Marsden of "X-Men" stopped outside this round of list.
Kelly accompanied Josie to watch everyone's auditions, and couldn't help but whisper to her: "To be honest, today's audition is a bit like the scene of an Arab sheikh choosing a concubine, and you are that sheikh, boss."
If you have to describe it like this...it's really a bit.
Josie gave her assistant a very speechless glance, and the latter stuck out his tongue at her and made a movement of zipping his mouth.
Due to a slight injury in New Zealand, this time she did not personally audition for the male lead, but sat with the director and producer, flipping through the resumes of each actor.
She drew a circle on Paul Walker's name, and she is more optimistic about this action star who will become popular with the Fast and Furious series in the future, and for this movie, his acting skills and appearance are enough, and his worth is not too high. high.
Director Sean Levy prefers Matthew McConaughey, but he has almost no say in casting, so his opinion can only be used as a reference.
Producer Bruce Berman is a cheerful middle-aged white man who did not express any substantive opinions throughout the process. He sincerely praised each actor's performance to Josie, and the adjectives were not repetitive.
That's what Hollywood filmmaking is all about.
Generally speaking, the producer-centric system is followed here, but top directors and top stars are exceptions.
Whoever has a big coffee position will be useful in what he says.
Josie is now following the route of Tom Cruise's box office superstar plus participating in the production. As long as there is a project starring her, it is basically her word.
After the audition, the male lead was not decided on the spot. On the one hand, no one had outstanding performance and was a perfect match for this role. On the other hand, it allowed some time to think about it, and various agents competed for this role.
——Josie is only inclined to Paul Walker, rather than insisting on him.