Marshall pondered the feasibility of Theorod's suggestion, and at the end, he smiled, as if laughing at himself.

"Do you really think I can run a company on my own? Don't believe it or not, I don't believe it myself. Besides, do you know how difficult it is for a newly established brokerage company to survive? As long as there is a little famous job in the industry, it will be robbed by a large brokerage company, and a small company cannot find a source of business, so it will not be able to provide a job channel for its own contracted stars, and they will terminate the contract with us, and the company will have fewer stars, and the company will not be able to become bigger, and the consequence of not being able to become big is to be bullied by large companies all the time, so there is no end to the vicious circle......

Marshall said. His words are not unreasonable, and the reality that he has struggled for nearly twenty years and has not made a name for himself seems to have consumed his momentum and self-confidence, he does not think that with his own strength, he can do the step that everyone envies, and even he can only fall from the bottom into hell.

The negativity in Marshall's words made Theolod frown, and he looked at his familiar and unfamiliar agent dissatisfied, and the reproach in his blue-green eyes was so obvious that it gave Marshall the illusion that he had made his elders angry.

"If you don't want to keep fighting, you could have changed your job in a supermarket, like going to a second-tier city and finding a Walmart where you would be paid enough to settle in, but why did you end up staying in Los Angeles and signing me?"

“…… It's different, Theo, signing you is equivalent to me getting a job, having an income, and starting my own company...... It's complicated, but in short, the nature of the two is different......"

"Why is it different?" Theolod looked at Marshall's embarrassed face, the blame in his eyes gradually turned into helplessness and relief, he lowered his voice, and said very seriously and calmly, "Listen, Marshall, whether you decide to fight again and sign me, or start your own business, in the final analysis, it is a matter of attitude." It's the same, no matter what you do, your attitude determines whether you can be different from others. ”

"But I couldn't see it just now, I couldn't see the perseverance and persistence you had when you signed me in the first place, all I saw was self-denial and vacillation. Do you remember when we first met, when you sat at the bar with a gin and thought about today, no one knows how high you can reach in the future before you start. ”

"But I also know what you're worried about, yes, it's not as easy as words to start your own company, but you have to remember that you are not struggling alone, you are my agent, you and me. Do you think you're going to be squeezed into the middle of all the big companies, and you won't have any contracts or opportunities to find you? It's okay, and me, believe me, Marshall, even if you can't get any endorsements, there will be endorsement opportunities and audition opportunities that will come to you. ”

That's right, this comes from the self-confidence of an emperor in the film and television industry, in his previous life, his film invitations and endorsement contracts were countless, Marshall hardly had to worry about anything, he could earn millions of dollars every day just by looking at the contracts and appointments sent by assistants and secretaries, Theorod did not think that he was rusty to the point that no one could see his acting skills, after all, he has always been at his peak, not to mention that his mentality towards acting has changed in this life, which makes him play more naturally and without burden.

Worried about being squeezed by a big company without a contract? It's okay, I'm by my side, I'm by your side, I'm covering you reads;.

“…… Are you really only seventeen years old, and I never knew you were so arrogant......" Marshall laughed at Theorod's last domineering words, and he only thought Theorod was comforting him, after all, he didn't know what Theorod could achieve. "But then why do you want me to start my own company so much?"

When Theolod heard this question, he was suddenly slightly stunned, he seemed to realize something, and a smile suddenly appeared on his face that he didn't know whether it was true or fake.

"Why? Please, man, isn't that what a good friend is supposed to do? Whatever you do, I encourage you to support you, you help you or something. Theolod shrugged his shoulders, "Besides, I'm very confident in myself, I believe that the two of us will be able to make a lot of money soon, and then your small company will not be a small company, and I plan to invest 20,000 yuan now to get a shareholder title, maybe in many years I won't have to worry about food and clothing even if I don't act." ”

“…… Tsk, feelings are you waiting for me here? I want to get a piece of the pie, Cheng, this is what you said, it just so happens that I am short of money to open a company, even if I rent a 20-square-meter store as the company's headquarters, all kinds of expenses will have to be tens of thousands of dollars this year. Marshall laughed, rubbing Theorod's hair.

Theorod, whose hair was ruffled by him, smiled silently, but his mood was not as relaxed as it seemed on the surface.

Marshall reminded him why he wanted Marshall to start his own company?

Because, he wants Marshall to become the person he remembers, step by step......

I didn't expect him to be so old and still can't look at it, and he still has such naïve and selfish thoughts...... Theolod smiled wryly, he thought he could tell the difference between this Marshall and his Marshall, but he couldn't.

You should think about it, Theolod Lecht. Theolod said to himself, you can only be good friends, and you can only do what friends should do, don't go the wrong way to the dark, this is another world, why can't you still think about it?

The next day, Marshall brought Theorod to the Screen Actors Guild as promised, and after paying the dues, Theorod finally officially became a member of the Screen Actors Guild, and there was an additional supporting actor qualification on his resume for the film that will not be released until next year.

After joining the Screen Actors Guild, Theolod has more opportunities to interview - many films will send a form to the Screen Actors Guild when looking for actors, register the required actors' requirements, and then the Screen Actors Guild will send an invitation email to each actor who meets the requirements according to these requirements.

Of course, it is impossible for those films with large companies and big investments to find actors in this way, and when they were preparing the film, they had already found the corresponding stars. Therefore, most of the emails sent by the actors' union are invitations to the debut films of unknown directors, or invitations to extras.

However, Marshall believes that now Theorod has no fame, and the only film has not yet been released, if he wants to make money, he can only send an email from the Guò Actors Guild, even if those roles are poorly paid, but it is better than nothing.

Knowing what he thought, Theolod decided to talk to the agent who had been looking for his next opportunity since he finished playing Allen.

"Marshall, I think there's one thing I have to tell you, I didn't come to Hollywood to make money, I just wanted to act in the movies I was interested in. It may sound naïve and unattainable, but my dream is to have fun and freedom in acting, not to be famous, you know? So really, you don't have to work so hard to find your next opportunity. ”

"But you can't expect the opportunity to find you on your own, right? I dare say that before the release of "Fear of the First Degree", no filmmaker will send us an invitation, and we will not get any product endorsement opportunities, are you planning to do nothing and go back to work during this time?"

Marshall looked at Theolod with some hatred, probably in his eyes, Theolod's desireless and indifferent attitude at the moment is not like a dream-chasing teenager who came to Hollywood, but like an old man who has reached the twilight of his life and is content with everything and has no hard work.

"No, I mean, you don't have to work so hard to find a contract for me, instead, I think you can focus your energy on your company first, while I don't have any fame right now and you're not busy at all. Theolod patted Marshall on the shoulder.

"You're so tired, and the more you try to juggle both, sometimes you can't get anything good on either side. You also know that I don't have any fame now, so no matter how you look for it, it is impossible to find a supporting actor contract, after all, there are not so many "First Class Fear" in this world, and other tricks or small roles, the actors' union can handle it, otherwise what is the purpose of my money to join the union?"

"Deal with the mess over there first, and don't be sorry for all the savings I've invested. ”

“…… Are you sure you're okay without me lately?"

"We've only known each other for three months, man, and I lived seventeen years before I met you. Theolod laughed and picked up the iced juice in front of him.

"Okay, okay, self-reliant boy, you give me a month, let me leave for a month, and when I get my broken façade right, I promise to find you a job as a leading actor. Marshall swore as he threw his gin money on the table, "Of course, if the actors' union sends me an email during this period, I will also notify you as soon as possible, maybe there is something you are interested in? ”

Theorod shrugged his shoulders and said he didn't care, and when he looked up and saw Marshall about to get up and leave, he immediately put down the juice: "Are you going to leave now?"

"Otherwise, the sooner I finish my affairs, the sooner I can be your competent agent, don't you plan to go home?" Marshall, who wanted to give Theolod a ride, saw that he was still sitting in his chair and did not move, so he had to sit down again when he had just gotten up.

"It's okay, you go first, I'm going to sit here until the sun goes down before I go back, it's August now, this is Los Angeles, if I don't wait for the sun to go down, my attic must be as hot as an oven, you just let me rub the air conditioner for a while, tomorrow will be fine, I can continue to work in Susan's shop to blow the air conditioner." Theolod said, taking a sip of the cheapest juice in front of him.

"......, but didn't you notice that the waiter had already looked here several times, hey!"

Marshall didn't have such a strong psychological endurance as Theorod, he sat with Theorod for a while, couldn't stand the waiter's eyes, got up and left in a hurry. And Theolod really sat in this coffee shop until dark before reluctantly getting up, putting down his juice money and pushing the door open.

For the next half month, Theolod lived between the restaurant and the attic, as before, until Marshall, who had been missing for most of the month, reappeared in front of him.

"Theo, sometimes I really want you to install a phone, it doesn't cost much, my shareholder, so that if there is something I don't have to run to your house every day. On the night Theorod came back from the bar, he saw Marshall, sitting in front of his house with a silver flask in his hand, "Good news for you, I received an email from the Screen Actors Guild, and there is an interview in two days, although this film is still the debut of a rookie director, and it is characterized as a cult film, but at least it is better than the group performance or dragon invitation I received before, do you want to talk about it in detail?"

Theorod raised his eyebrows, stepped forward to open the door, and made a gesture of please.

""Strange Kid", director Harmony Cocklin, you definitely don't know who this director is, because I didn't know before this, until I checked it and found out that he had only written an independent film script called "Half-Mature Boy" before, or N17, which was just released at the end of July this year, and I just caught up with the last show before the movie was released...... How to say, the plot is very ...... Forbidden and unique, although you are seventeen now, I don't recommend yì you to read reads;. ”

Marshall went straight to the point as soon as he walked in the door. In the past half a month, he has really looked tired, his beard has grown a little longer and he hasn't shaved it, his hair hasn't been taken care of much, the dark circles under his eyes are very thick, and his tie is loosely tied.

"Kid Strange is his directorial debut, and the plot introduction is very general, the original words are, 'It is about the decadent, numb and cruel life of the people in the small town after the hurricane, full of all kinds of sex, violence, homosexuality, freaks, waste and cat abusers, and it is extremely reflective of the dark environment in which teenagers grow up in today's American society, repressive and negative. ’”

"Well, I took it. ”

"As for the characters...... Wait, what did you just say?" Before Marshall could finish speaking, he heard Theorod say coldly, "I haven't told you about the role yet, and you agreed?!"

"I've always been interested in cult films, and besides, they sound like fun. Theorod said. He is telling the truth, although cult films are diametrically opposed to the mainstream of Hollywood and disdainful of academics, but the hidden stories in these films are very deep and free.

“…… Interesting?" Marshall's mouth twitched, "I just wanted to try it, I didn't expect you...... Are you serious? Seriously, I don't see where the whole introduction reveals a kind of negative misanthropy in the movie. ”

"If the director's approach is unique enough, and the actors are good enough, it would be a very successful cult film of obscure and irony, after all, the subject matter is not something that anyone can master. Theorod said, "Okay, can you tell me what role is needed for this movie?"

"Two characters, one of the leading actors, and one supporting actor. Marshall looked at the contemplation and seriousness on Theorod's face, couldn't help but sigh, and dutifully gave him the information, "One of the male protagonists is a boy who asks for a weird-looking boy and an antisocial child who lives with a mentally ill mother, while the male supporting role is a skinny boy who always wears a rabbit ear plush hat, and there are not many scenes, interspersed throughout the film." ”

"But......" Marshall carefully looked at Theorod's face, and finally sighed, "No, your appearance is too good, it's not the 'weird' they asked for at all, you can only try the male partner, but visually...... This character won't have much appearance, and judging from Colin's previous "Half-Mature Boy" script, I'm afraid this character will not be very good for you in the future......"

"It's okay, is a role the whole of an actor? A really good actor should be an actor who can handle any role. Besides, I'll only do what I want to play. Theorod shrugged. His meaning is obvious, he can act whatever he wants, he is happy, he doesn't care how others are blind, he is so willful.

"Okay, whatever you want, I'll pick you up in two days and take you to the interview place, which is still a coffee shop...... Yes, visually, this director is also very personal. Marshall said, taking a sip of wine, "You have a good rest, I won't bother you, I still have to go back to the office, and there is a document that has not been sorted out." ”

After Theolod sent Marshall out the door, he tidied up and went to sleep, and he was still working on the second and third days, for him there was no need to prepare for these two roles, and there was not much information about the roles given, even if he wanted to prepare, there was no way to interpret the role.

Theolod had a habit of researching the director's style before taking on the film, but since Harmony's only screenplay was now out of theaters, and his DVDs weren't going to hit the shelves right away, he had to save his research until the day of the audition.

Two days later, he saw a long line outside the coffee shop, all of them young people, some of them "weird-looking" as the request suggested, and some of them ordinary-looking but skinny and weak. Some of them seem to have been inspired by the description of the request and dressed themselves in a very decadent way, with mohican hair, lip studs, and some even rabbit-eared hats.

Theolod saw it in his eyes and couldn't help but sigh that it is worthy of Hollywood, it is the same in any world, the glamorous appearance on the surface cannot hide the cruel fact of competition, just like now, just an independent film, a director's debut film without any fame, can attract so many people to audition.

Of course, most people may have the mentality that they are the starring/supporting role, even if it is the starring/supporting role of a debut film, it is better than a group performance.

Among these people, Theolod, who wears an ordinary T-shirt and jeans, and puts canvas shoes on his feet, is probably the most "ordinary and normal" in terms of dress and appearance.

As an independent cult film with a director that no one has heard of before, the audition for "Strange Kid" is certainly not as formal and large-scale as "Fear of the First Degree", both the interview location and the interview style are arbitrary, and there are only two interviewers, director Harmony Cocklin and Screen Actors Guild representative David Brown.

Seeing this, Marshall began to hesitate about the correctness of sending such an audition invitation to Theorod - although he was not famous now, he did not need to be so ...... Don't choose to eat, judging from the people who audition and the location of the audition, this film is a little unreliable.

Theolod was more free than Marshall, and he stood honestly in the line, because he arrived relatively early, and after waiting for almost an hour, it was his turn.

Harmony is a little younger than Theorod thinks, he looks like he is in his early twenties, which is very interesting to Theorod, and generally makes social cult films require a lot of life experience, which Harmony does not seem to have, at least on the surface.

"The resume says you've only starred in ...... 'First Degree of Fear'? Is that the just-finished 'First Degree of Fear'? Oh, so you're the 'Ellen', and Mary mentioned to me when she came back from the previous interview that she had met a 'pervert'. Compared to Harmony, who had not spoken since Theorod sat across from them, David was much more talkative, and he glanced at the resume handed by Theorod and said with some surprise.

Mary, is Margaret's nickname, and Margaret, as one of the interviewers for "First Degree Fear", was also scared enough by Theolod.

"Ms. Bookman is an extremely good and conscientious person, and I am glad that she can say so about my cousin. Theorod leaned back in his chair and smiled very naturally.

"Well, I'm really surprised, after all, if the average person has acted with a star like Richard Gere, and played a supporting actor, they won't set their sights on obscure cult films anymore...... Sorry, Colin, no offense intended. David said, looking at Harmony next to him, who looked lazy and had no bones, and spread out on the sofa chair, the other party waved his hand to show that he didn't care at all.

As a representative of the Screen Actors Guild, in addition to helping the director choose the best actors, David also has to think from the perspective of actors. To be honest, the casting scope of this film should be aimed at newcomers who are not well-known and have not acted in any films, and for those who have already starred in commercial films or blockbusters...... It doesn't give them any help in their careers. This is also the main reason why David reminded Theorod.

Although "First Degree Fear" has not yet been released, it is unlikely to be much worse with Richard Gere supporting the box office. If Theolod turns around after filming "First Degree Fear" and makes eccentric and depressing cult films, perhaps the outside world will begin to question his film selection level and vision.

Theorod also understood what David meant, he shrugged his shoulders and said indifferently: "Whocares? ”

"Okay reads;. Seeing that the parties didn't care, David had no choice but to nod, "But your looks don't meet the requirements of the actor, do you understand? And we don't waste too much money on makeup, so the role you auditioned for is a bunny boy." ”

Theolod expressed his understanding, and he waited quietly for David's next words as a qualified listener, and that kind of attitude of not being humble or arrogant and not flattering and gentle gaze was indeed easy to gain the favor of others, so David asked the simplest open-ended question: "So, why do you think the bunnyboy wears a pink rabbit ear hat?"

This question was previously discussed between Harmony and David. They have asked a lot of people this question before, and some of them even came in with rabbit ears and hats for interviews, and their answers were strange, "Maybe he's a sissy", "He's gay", "He thinks it's enough to attract people's attention, it's unique and cool", "Who knows, maybe he just wants to keep warm, he's poor, right, poor people use whatever they find in the dustbin"......

But none of the answers intrigued the young director.

David wanted to see what kind of answer this "pervert" who shocked everyone during the interview would have.

"From the point of view of the character itself, because it is free and casual. ”

"Comfortable?" David's heart suddenly changed, what is the answer?

"Bunny Boy is still just a child, David, I don't know how you were when you were a kid, but when I was a kid, whenever my parents and guardians weren't at home...... I felt like a wild horse on the loose. Theorod joked, his easy-going attitude has always kept the whole interview process in a more relaxed atmosphere, "The hurricane took away a qiē before the plot of the movie was introduced, doesn't "Strange Kid" describe the depraved life of the people at the bottom after the disaster? Maybe the hurricane also took away the Bunny Boy's parents, and he had nothing. ”

"Maybe at first he will be upset, sad and upset, but over time, when you get used to being alone, when you get used to being alone, no matter what you do, you won't have your parents around to point you around...... Hey, I'm okay even if I'm running around barefoot, and no one will scold me for not studying well when I wear a rabbit-eared hat...... Why wouldn't I do it?"

Of course, from the perspective of the whole theme of the film, the purpose of the whole film is to satirize and disclose reality, and the artistry of the film itself will also exaggerate and dramatize this cruel reality. Why does the bunny boy wear rabbit ears? It is better to ask this question why a child who has degraded to the point of numbness should dress himself up as pure and cute. ”

David froze in place, and in the afterglow he saw Harmony change to a more comfortable sitting position.

"Can you sing?"

From the time Theolod came in until now, the young director finally spoke.

"Yes. ”

"Great, but I think you need to lose weight, you look pretty healthy. ”

"It's easy. ”

"Well, so be it, we'll get in touch with you, and call the next one in when you go out. ”

Harmony said decisively, smiling and waving at Theolod. Theorod didn't say anything more, and left the coffee shop very simply.

…… Wait, what's going on, why does he feel like he can't keep up with you?David looked at Theorod's back inexplicably, and then at Harmony beside him.

The other man just patted him on the shoulder: "We still need a strange-looking Solomon, my dear David." ”