In the next few days, Lance and the others split into two ways, Lance and Donald began to make direct contact with the ** forces in the City of God, while Percy, Albert and Hayden stayed in the hotel to recruit actors.

Surprisingly, Lance's negotiations went very smoothly, but the recruitment of actors ran into obstacles.

Due to Donald's good foreshadowing, the ** bigwigs welcomed the arrival of Lance, because the education level of these bigwigs is generally not high, and their impression of Hollywood has always stayed at the stage of the big screen, so the negotiations went smoothly, and in less than three days, Lance met with the Quartet respectively, worshiped the mountain, obtained the filming permission, and obtained their verbal commitment to escort.

On the other hand, the recruitment of actors was far from meeting expectations, and they had already sent small advertisements in the slums, saying that there was a short-term job opportunity here, but after three days, less than 100 people came to sign up, which was really unexpected.

As a result, Lance and others had to start going to the streets near the slums, looking for suitable non-professional actors, and then directly convincing them to join the short-term project.

In order to prevent these non-professional actors from being affected by "film shooting", so that it affects the authenticity of the filming, Lance and others did not inform them that this was for a movie casting, but only a short-term part-time job opportunity. Still, the casting after taking to the streets was noticeably smoother.

For the children in the slums, as long as they can earn money, they are willing to do any job, and many children do not even bother to ask about the content and nature of the work, but simply nod their heads and say yes after hearing that "you can get 50 dollars for three trainings in a week". Only a very small number of children, after making sure that they are not drug trafficking, smuggling, or trafficking, also nodded and agreed.

There are almost no rejections.

At this time, they realized that the reason for the poor effect of the previous small advertisement was actually ...... Most people are illiterate.

In less than three days, they found more than 400 children, between the ages of 12 and 19, and began to give them auditions, as well as some simple physical training, all of which were videotaped and documented. After that, 200 suitable candidates were selected and divided into eight groups according to their age and personality differences, and received a two-week professional actor training course.

In the blink of an eye, they had been in Rio de Janeiro for more than three weeks, and the remaining five members of the crew also came to meet one after another and began to prepare intensively for the upcoming filming. Today is the time to officially select the actors in the play, and they need to choose one hundred and ten of the best candidates from 200 candidates.

Although, Lance wanted to be able to maintain the "non-professional" nature of these non-professional actors, improvisational performances would add a lot of color to the reality of the film. However, for film shooting, there are still basic requirements.

As an actor, you not only need to understand the basic shooting rules of the movie, such as how to not be embarrassed and jerky in the camera lens, such as how to learn to move naturally during the shooting track; At the same time, it is also necessary to be able to cooperate with the needs of the director and show a certain performance ability when necessary.

So, they had to screen this group of children further.

At this time, all the children also knew that they had the opportunity to become an actor and make more money, which made everyone excited, and they were eager to prove their abilities immediately.

Lance finished his work and came back from outside, and the selection of the few adult roles in the film had been completed, unlike the child actors, Lance preferred actors with some acting experience but unknown actors, but because the Brazilian actors' union could not help at all, it took a little longer than expected, and finally completed the casting with the help of Donald.

When I returned to the hotel, the audition was only a third of the way through, and in the courtyard of the hotel, the children bustled together, talking nervously, impetuous smiles, impetuous voices, and impetuous movements collided in the air, showing the true feelings of their hearts.

Lance found this scene interesting, because there were so many uncertainties in this small space, and he didn't know what impact the appearance of "City of God" would have on the future of these children, and maybe it would not make any difference, and they would continue to live in the slums after the filming; Someone might become a movie actor or even an international superstar – that's the quintessential Hollywood script.

But Lance is more curious about whether anyone will be exposed to a whole new world because of this movie, develop their own independent thoughts, and carve out a life of their own? Maybe it's not about being an actor, it's just chasing your dreams, leaving the City of God and becoming one of the thousands of ordinary residents of Rio de Janeiro, doing an ordinary job, nothing special, just leaving that City of God.

In the crowd, Lance saw a thin boy, leaning behind the pillars of the courtyard, quietly hiding behind, quietly and indifferently watching the beings in the courtyard. Some people dream of making a fortune, some people think that they should buy a pair of sneakers after they get paid, and some people want to show off this rare job to their friends...... But the boy did not join in, nor moved, but stood quietly, a little timid, a little curious, a little longing, and a little detached.

It was the boy who was in the shelter in the City of God that day.

Lance crept up behind the boy and sat down on the stone railing next to him, "So, you're here?" ”

The boy turned his head sharply, as if frightened, and after seeing that it was Lance, he did not relax completely, but looked at Lance with his back against the pillars.

Lance didn't mind the boy's reaction either, instead turned his head to look at the courtyard, "Why don't you join them?" You are all about the same age and live in similar circumstances...... Isn't the topic they're discussing now something you're passionate about? The boy didn't answer, just shook his head, "Or is your personality not used to talking to people?" The boy shook his head again, which made Lance laugh dumbly.

"Aren't you excited? Maybe you can become an actor, at least, making this movie can make you a good income. Lance didn't mind, and continued to speak, asking the other person, but more to himself. The boy shook his head again, but Lance didn't know what he was denying, "It seems that you are not interested. ”

Lance's smile narrowed, and he didn't speak any further, just quietly watching the children in the courtyard who were still restless.

He thought of his childhood, in a world of darkness where it was as if the future could never be seen. He never sued anyone, and his former foster family was also his "City of God", and he was a small being in that besieged city, struggling with life. Looking at the children in front of him, Lance seemed to see his childhood self. Luckily, he seized on the last glimmer of hope and escaped.

Adapting and filming "City of God", Lance was selfish, but he didn't intend to sue anyone for this secret.

"Videographer." The boy spoke suddenly, and the honest voice pulled Lance out of his memory, and he turned his head to look over.

Lance didn't hear clearly the first time, so he had to raise an eyebrow and ask suspiciously, "What?" ”

The child pursed his lips tightly, and after a while, he said, "I want to be a journalist." After a pause, "I'm not interested in actors." ”

"Why?" Lance cast a curious look.

The child shrugged, then shook his head again, and said hesitantly, "I don't know...... Because the photos published in the newspaper look cool. When he had said this, the boy seemed to think that his answer was too bad, and that his dream was too small, and he hung his head in embarrassment, and for a moment he lifted the pillar.

"What's your name?" Lance's voice rang out again, and the child looked up at Lance in bewilderment, which forced Lance to repeat his question again, and the child came back to his senses and replied, "Alexandre-Rodrigues." ”

"Alexander, I think the role of Ah Cannon in the movie is very suitable for you. You can try to see if you want to, and maybe it will be an opportunity. Lance's words left Alexander confused and completely incomprehensible, but Lance didn't mind and chuckled, "At the very least, you can get a good salary." ”

With that, Lance stood up and turned to leave. But he didn't take two steps before Lance stopped and turned around, "Also, don't forget that dream." This time, Lance walked away without pause, leaving Alexander standing there with a look of understanding.

For him, the world was too complicated and too difficult to understand.

The casting of the actors was completed before the sun set, and the crew completed the casting task smoothly, selecting one hundred and ten non-professional actors. But that's just the beginning.

Over the next two months, Lance went into battle and returned to his previous profession as an acting teacher, training the children in basic acting. In the process of training, all the children were divided into three groups and lived in different dormitories, cultivating close interaction between them, refining the most authentic and living black street language and rush experience, so that they could truly integrate into the life of the city of God.

It was a long and arduous job, but Lance was completely calm and unhurried. Even the news that Diorama Pictures reached a cooperation agreement with Focus Pictures to jointly shoot "Lost in Tokyo" did not make him confused, but just devoted himself to acting training.

In the blink of an eye, Lance has been living in Rio de Janeiro for more than three months, and the "City of God" is finally officially launched today!