Compared to James Shams's confidence, Ted Hope looked a little worried. Since the establishment of Good Machine Pictures, the predecessor of Focus Pictures, in 1991, the two of them have collaborated on dozens of niche literary and artistic works. Acquired by Universal Pictures at the beginning of this year, and retaining the position of the two in the company, Ted Hope was naturally very serious about their first acquisition, and wanted to make some achievements to show Universal Pictures, telling them that the deal was not a loss.

In his opinion, their first work of the year should be conservative and safe. Although they have bought the rights to "Brokeback Mountain" a long time ago, he does not plan to bring it to the big screen in the next year or two. Don't look at the previous extraordinary success of "Gifted Ripley", but "Brokeback Mountain" is not "Genius Ripley", if "Genius Ripley" is a crime drama with a gay skin, then "Brokeback Mountain" is an out-and-out gay movie, no high-IQ crime, no thrilling escape and pursuit, only the painful life of two men.

In Ted Hope's plan Zhou Hong, this movie will have to wait at least two years to see the trend of public opinion before making plans. But his partner James Shams doesn't think so, he thinks that "The Talented Ripley" has been laid for a long time, and it's time to release "Brokeback Mountain", which is destined to hit the awards season and be the first single dedicated to the world.

He insisted on making "Brokeback Mountain", even if he wanted to find his old partner Ang Lee to guide him! Okay, he has no opinion if you insist on filming "Brokeback Mountain", but Ang Lee, who is a box office □□, resolutely can't. It's not that he doesn't think about Ang Lee's strength, he has been working with Ang Lee for as long as Shams has been working with Ang Lee, and of course he knows how brilliant "Brokeback Mountain" will shine in Ang Lee's hands.

It's just that the pressure of public opinion is too great now, and almost every report that talks about Ang Lee is mocking and resisting, and everyone thinks that Ang Lee is overlooked, and the greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment. At this time, once they announced that a gay movie would be directed by Ang Lee, one spitting from those media would be enough to make "Brokeback Mountain" die!

If it weren't for Shams bringing news that Theolod might join Ennis, Hope would have to oppose Shams to the end, even under the pressure of internal divisions. As a result, there are only two days left before the audition, and there is news from Theorod's side that Theorod intends to play Jack instead of Ennis, and the eighteenth-tier actor who has just emerged as a youth idol does not like Jack but likes Ennis......

Forget about Theorod, a monster, what qualifications do you have as an actor who eats by your face to choose a role like Theorod? Anyone who knows a little drama knows that the role of Ennis is more difficult than Jack, so why do you think you can control him? Theorod does not play Ennis, what is the point of this?

Hope blacked face right now, but he wouldn't do such a stupid thing as temporarily changing his mind and canceling the audition, he decided to discuss with Shams: "Since Theorod has taken a fancy to Jack, let's think more about Ennis's actors." Edward Norton is also good, and the chemistry on screen with Theolod is good, Jude Law, Brad Pitt, Ralph Fiennes, Adrien Brody, Christian Bale, Johnny Depp, Ewan McGregor, Leonardo DiCaprio...... We can also send them an invitation, whether they will refuse it when they hear Ang Lee's name or not, we will have to try, and maybe they will audition for Ennis's award potential and Theorod's sake?"

"You have a point. Shams nodded, "But some of them don't quite fit Ennis's temperament...... Well, let's try it first, at least their acting skills are guaranteed, but, excluding the high salary, our budget is not that much, and only Theorod has made it clear that he can reduce his salary......"

Those stars were really shocked when they received the invitation, they didn't expect that someone would find Ang Lee to make a movie so soon, it was still a gay niche film, if this news was leaked, it would definitely be scolded at that time. However, actors who receive audition invitations will not do this kind of thing, confidentiality is a dead rule in the industry, although leaking news can get a short period of hype, but in the long run, no production company will invite an actor who does not follow the rules to leak the news in advance, which is much more serious than spoilers after the film is completed, and it can be called self-destructive.

Only when the list of actors is determined and the film company releases the news by itself, it is not an exaggeration to say that he has also auditioned for a certain role before.

Some of the invitees declined the invitation from Shams and Hope, considering their current careers and reputations, while others agreed without thinking. When Marshall received Shams's notice, he knew that Heath's audition might not go well this time, and he wanted to call to remind the other party, but found that the other party's mobile phone had long been turned off, and he couldn't even get through to his home.

Thinking that this guy sometimes has the same urine sex as Theorod, Marshall couldn't help but be a little worried, he didn't want his star to get sick again if he didn't get better, so he called Theorod again and tactfully asked him to take more care of Heath.

Theolod thought that Marshall's so-called "care" was to play against him before the audition and help him find his feelings. Even without Marshall's reminder, he knew that it was impossible for Shams to hand over Ennis to Heath so confidently, and they would definitely find a few stars to audition together.

It's just that Theorod has the heart to help, but Hiss on the other side can't find his figure as if he is out of touch, if he hadn't shown up on the day of the audition, Theorod almost thought that something had happened to him, but he learned from Marshall that Hiss would have lost contact like this when he was preparing for the role before, ranging from a few hours to a day, but it wasn't as long as it is now.

Theolod looked at the tiredness on Hiss's face and the shining eyes, couldn't help frowning slightly, then suddenly laughed again, and patted the other party's shoulder as if he didn't know anything: "Man, look at your dark circles, I don't know that you thought you had a party at home yesterday and stayed up all night." What's wrong? I'm too nervous knowing that I have an opponent today?"

"No, I just can't sleep. Heath smiled lightly, as if he was not very comfortable with the fact that Theorod was still so familiar after years of not seeing him.

"Actually, you can try to count the sheep. Theolod suggested earnestly. "Marshall should have told you that you weren't the only one auditioning for Ennis today, right?"

"It doesn't matter. Hiss's answer was simple, like being possessed by a silent Ennis. But the strong confidence in his words made Theolod laugh and pat him on the shoulder again.

Arriving at Focus Pictures, Theolod saw many familiar friends in the room, as well as some strangers who had only met in movies and reports. Edward Norton and Jude Law were among them, and they agreed to audition the second they heard that Theolod would also be joining. Theolod caught up with them for a while, and then called Hiss, who was sitting alone in the corner, to get to know everyone.

"Theo, I sense your partiality. Norton teased, glaring at Heath "aggrieved".

"Yes, his heart has long been on my side, and we have a tacit understanding when we play partners. Jude put his hand on Theolod's shoulder.

Heath was a little overwhelmed by the banter of these old friends, but Theorod said, "Come on, I like to (take care of) those younger than me." ”

Norton, 33, Jude, 30, Heath, 23, Theorod, 24.

“……”x2。 The two who are over thirty years old but feel that they are still young feel that they have been critically attacked, and they are still violently injured.

"Poof...... Heath couldn't help but laugh as he saw the two of them look "incredulous", and he noticed that Theorod seemed to have the potential to make him grin.

It didn't take long for Theorod, as the first auditioner and the only auditioner for the role of Jack, to walk into the next room first, but he didn't come out after a long time, and the assistant had already started to call Ennis's first audition in, and the others thought Theorod had left from the other doorway, but they didn't want to push the door open and enter, Theorod was sitting with the other auditioners, looking at them with a smile.

In his words, he just stayed to help them try out their lines and acting skills...... Idle is idle anyway. Well, anyway, in a way, Theorod is the least big-name actor in Hollywood today, but also the most headstrong.

Hope looked at Hiss in front of him, and there was no joy or anger on his face. He deliberately arranged Heath Ledger at the end, hoping that the previous auditioners would be a blockbuster, and then there would be nothing to do with Heath Ledger. But the reality is that all the previous auditioners have played very well, especially Edward Norton, who has already cultivated a tacit understanding with Theorod after working with Theorod twice, and is comfortable playing against Theorod.

However, whether it is Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, who is known for his acting skills, or Christian Bale, who amazed everyone with "American Psycho...... They all performed well, but, for some reason, they lacked a sense of persuasiveness, a sense of amazement.

Before assessing his acting skills, Ang Lee, who is an auditioning officer, asked Heath a question as he had done every time before: "Tell us, what do you think of the story of "Brokeback Mountain"?"

"While the story is about the love that Ennis and Jack have traded for their lives, same-sex love is not essentially what Anne Ploe wants to tell. Heath didn't think long to give this answer, "She wanted to talk about homophobia, she wanted to talk about this social problem." ”

Heath's answer made Hope can't help but glance at Theorod, his answer is the same as the answer of the actor when he auditioned, he really wonders if Theorrod has privately "made up the lesson" for Theos, otherwise how could he see it so thoroughly?

Ang Lee smiled, and Shams took over the topic and asked, "What do you understand about Ennis's character?" Needless to say, it's too complicated, just say one or two of them. ”

He is a product of that era, but he is not, because he is not so cowardly, on the contrary, he has courage, but he is too shy in the face of love, so he can break through the limitations of that era. The death of his parents at a young age made him attach great importance to his family, he was credible, and he valued commitment, which is why he married Alma after coming down the mountain. Although he is silent, but this does not mean that he is very wooden, in fact, he is more sensitive than anyone else, although there is a shadow of childhood, but for love he still returned to Jack without hesitation, but he is not so brave, for Jack, he does not even dare to give him a real promise, because he does what he says, if he gives Jack a promise, he will definitely lose his family. ”

The casting director made a note of something in his notebook, and then said, "Alright, that's it for the question session." Hiss, could you please give us a frontal, side shot...... Very good, let's see your acting skills next. Theo is in charge of the Jack part at the moment, Ennis will hand it over to you, these are the lines, you have five minutes to write them down, if you forget the words in the middle, you can also read them, don't be nervous. ”

Hope knew that all success or failure was up to him, so he adjusted his sitting position and looked at Hiss as he looked down at the script. Although he didn't think Heath's acting skills could surpass everyone before him, he was eager to see what he could do when he knew so much about Ennis and the story itself.

"Really, I'm rushing all the way here, I'm afraid I'll be delayed for a while, what about you?" Five minutes later, without warning, Theolod didn't ask, and said the lines he had memorized long ago, and he didn't know if he was deliberately embarrassing Heath or what, at least everyone before him would have thoughtfully asked if he needed more time.

He said it in the same tone as it had ever been before. The scene is set when Ennis and Jack reunite four years after leaving Brokeback Mountain, and Jack whispers to Ennis after the madness of the motel. His tone was natural and hoarse, as if he had a piece of honey that would never melt, and even his voice was a little sweet, as if he was still caught in some memory, and there was an ambiguous chuckle in his voice, which almost softened the hearts of everyone who heard it.

There will be some slight differences in the same play and the same person every time, but Theolod can maintain the same tone and emotion in every previous play, which shows how mad he has reached in his control of his acting skills.

"I? I don't know......" Hiss began, his lines so simple that he didn't need a script at all. Ennis didn't expect Jack to ask like this at all, he was slightly stunned in Jack's gentle voice, and almost subconsciously replied with some disguise and dissociation, his eyes flickering a little. When he got Jack's letter, he did sit on the edge of his seat and wait at the window every day to look out of the window, Heath didn't get the previous hint, but he had read the original text countless times, and he had already figured out Ennis's state of mind, he actually wouldn't show his heart, and he didn't dare to let Jack know how much he loved him.

"I don't know how to say it......" he muttered, almost whispering, but the hearts of those who listened to him trembled—did he not know how anxiously he was waiting, or did he not know how much he loved Jack, or did he not know how to express his love to Jack?

Next, Jack asks Ennis what to do after that, and Ennis's pretended calm and indifferent evasive answer is even more amazing, almost everyone can feel the heaviness, helplessness and pain behind his calm whispering, coupled with the seemingly expressionless on his face, but in fact a slightly frowning brow and suppressed eyes, no one will doubt his Ennis's persuasiveness.

Because this kid is a genius! 166 Reading Network