In the audition room, casting director Thomson glanced at the list and said, "Let Martin Davis in." "The Latino aunt at the door went to call someone.

The assistant whispered: "Recommendation from wmA, Thomas Lane customer. ”

"I know." Thomson's voice was also low: "Look at the audition effect." "If people are too stretched, there is no need to think about human feelings.

Martin followed the Latino aunt into the audition room and saw a total of seven people seated, including the photographer.

Six are very serious, and one is fishing and playing pSp. There is no need to guess, it must be a related household. No crew is indispensable.

Martin recognized Thomson and went over to shake hands: "Director." Thomson nodded slightly: "The role you auditioned for is a director of an independent film, there is no script yet, you perform a part." Martin came to the visor, and his emotions were a little brewing, recalling Benjamin's words and actions when he was crazy, and quickly substituted for it.

This is the director he is most familiar with.

"$1 million, another $1 million for this film to start!" Martin has seen a lot of independent film directors who are worried about making money, with excitement, helplessness and madness on their faces: "Man, tell me, who can pay a million dollars!" Who can put $1 million into my project? He was hysterical and raised his voice: "As long as he pays for it, I will sell him my ass!" It's no problem to kneel on the ground and blow for him ten times! Thomson said that the company is still relatively reliable, and the acting skills of the people recommended are no problem.

When Martin's performance was over, Thomson said, "Yes, you go back and wait for news." Martin said thank you and left the audition room.

Thomson asked the people around him, "What do you think?" The assistant understood what he meant and was very cooperative: "It shows the dilemma and helplessness of an independent film director. The woman next to her said: "Of the seven people who completed the audition, he was the best and his acting skills were very good." Thomson made a decision, but still had to put it out: "Go ahead, let the next one come in." Martin came out of the audition room, asked the reception staff, checked his mobile phone number, and walked out of the small office building.

Walking to the parking area, he thought for a moment, took out his phone, and dialed Robert's number: "Hey, man, what are you doing?" ”

"How did you come up with the idea of calling me?" Robert's spirits could be heard in his voice: "I'm teaching rookie acting." Martin said directly: "Move, you go get a bottle of Coke, whether it's a glass bottle or a can, and put it on the table that is biased towards Los Angeles." Robert was surprised: "Why? Martin explained: "I just auditioned and I'm competing for a role, which is important because I can join the Screen Actors Guild as soon as possible. Robert understood: "Man, Coke doesn't work. ”

"I know, regular Coke doesn't work." Martin emphasized, "I want a Coke that Robert has blessed!" ”

"Okay, I'll do it." Robert had long been numb, hung up the phone and went to the theater sales office to buy a can of Coke, went to his office on the second floor, moved his desk to the west, and put the can of Coke.

After thinking about it for a moment, he found olive oil again, applied it to the can, crossed it, took a picture with his phone, and sent an MMS message to Martin.

When Martin received the MMS, he felt a little more down-to-earth in his heart, and specially called Benjamin: "Director, it's nothing, I just want to say thank you to you." A woman's laughter and Benjamin's words came from the earpiece: "Thank me for what?" Martin said: "Congratulations on coming out, don't disturb your happiness, hang up." "The last call, Martin called Thomas, the agent was very busy, and the call took two calls to get through.

Thomas was simple and clear: "Just wait for the notice." Without waiting for Martin to reply, he hung up.

On Friday morning, Martin was notified by the crew that he had been offered the role. In the afternoon, he and Thomas met at the gate of Warner Studios and went to the small building where the crew was located.

Thomas was dressed in a suit and leather shoes and carried a black briefcase, which is the standard stockbroker in New York.

In Los Angeles, it's natural to be an entertainment agent.

"You're not a member of a union, and you won't be paid much, up to $3,000." Thomas said quickly as he walked: "Don't care too much about the salary at this stage, getting the opportunity to get the role is more important than anything else, the crew will start filming soon, and you can submit an application to the union when the film is turned on, so that we are eligible to seek heavier roles." Martin said, "You're a professional. The two went to the office building, Martin waited in the break room, and Thomas went to talk to a producer about pay, but he was back in ten minutes.

He said to Martin: "The character is paid $2,800 per episode, and you can appear in a maximum of two episodes, transportation, meals, accommodation, and insurance, according to the normal standards of the crew, and if there is no problem, you can sign the contract, and you can get a few pages of the character script after signing." Martin really doesn't care about the payroll for the role: "No problem. Thomas said to the assistant who came with him, "Inform your boss that you can sign a contract." There was a ready-made template for the actor's contract, and Martin followed Thomas to another conference room, took the contract from his assistant, reviewed it carefully, and signed his name.

Thomas asked

"Something wrong with the contract?" Martin shrugged: "The contract I signed, of course, I have to look at it again." ”

"Good, keep that in mind." Thomas emphasized: "Don't trust anyone. "What Thomas said is not good, but it makes sense, Martin has seen many celebrities being deceived by the people around him.

For example, a certain root or something. The contract was officially signed, and the assistant director sent a few pages of the script and explained to Martin: "This is part of the character script that the screenwriter rushed out yesterday, you are familiar with the character setting first, and the plot may change later, but the character setting will not change." Martin took it: "I'll figure it out." The assistant director advised: "Pay attention to confidentiality." Martin quickly glanced at the first page, and the title on his head was codename-

“star”。 Combined with the role of director he played, he was temporarily named "Star". In addition, HBO is printed on the corner of the contract.

This is Warner Studios, HBO is under Warner Bros., and Martin can't help but have a not-so-good association, and plasma and nudes fly together.

He had just jumped out of the mud pit of the late-night show and the zombie machine gun dance, and was about to fall into the HBO again

The "Yellow and Storm" trap? Martin asked Thomas, "Is this an HBO project?" ”

"It should be." Thomas said simply: "Film and television projects change a lot, and HBO projects are sometimes pushed to Warner TV, depending on the post-production. He is an agent and is good at figuring out people's psychology: "Resist large-scale dramas? It shouldn't be, I specifically watched "Zombie Dani" and late-night scenes starring you, and the HBO scale will not be bigger than Ma Zhen. Martin said that Ma Zhendu came to Los Angeles.

Thomas said one more thing: "You have good acting skills, and you can use more other skills, so be smart in the crew." Martin decided to put it bluntly: "I came out of Atlanta's gang-lined slums and dancing clubs, and I was never afraid of competition and challenges. When the two went out, they met Thomson, the casting director, in front of the office building.

Thomas stepped forward to shake Thomson's hand, quite enthusiastically: "Thank you very much this time." ”

"You're welcome." Thomson was just about to look at Martin, but Martin had already arrived in front of him, grabbed his right hand and shook it hard: "Director, when is there time?" Have a light meal together? Seeing that people were sensible, Thomson smiled slightly: "No need." He was very direct: "Give me your personal contact details." Martin understood that the treat could not offset the favor, and took out his business card and handed it to Thomson: "If you need anything, call me." Thomas put away his business card, nodded to Martin, and asked Thomas instead, "Where did you find the newcomer?" Thomas said, "He's kind of savvy. Martin didn't say much, automatically acting as a mascot.

Thomson walked towards the office building: "You're busy, I should be working." Thomas had a vague feeling that the new people assigned by the company this time were not simple.

The status of a broker is directly proportional to the share of clients under it. If Thomas poached Tom Cruise, he would immediately become a senior partner at wmA.

When he walked out, Thomas said meaningfully: "Martin, you are a little smart, and you have connections behind you, as long as you cooperate with me, I guarantee that you will definitely be popular." No matter what Martin thought in his heart, he said very beautifully: "Big guy, I believe in your strength, you can become the best partner." When we got to the parking lot, Thomas drove away first.

Martin got into the car, didn't start immediately, pulled out a few pages of the character script from his bag, and looked at it carefully.

The content of the first page of the script is normal, the independent director gathers a large number of ordinary actresses to have a pool party, how to wave and how to come.

Martin deduces according to HBO's style, and there will inevitably be more than ten or twenty pairs of headlights swaying in the film, and even a large number of car butts will be exposed.

The exhaust pipe is not, and the HBO is not to this extent. However, the director is ruthless, and it is possible that a large number of people are collectively messing around.

HBO's style is naturally understood. The second page is similar to the third page of the script, the male protagonist goes to the director, the director comes out of a bunch of women, and the two sit between the bunch of women and chat.

The fourth and final page is the dialogue between the actor and the director, about the movie. The film to be made by an independent director in the play, the male protagonist wants to be the protagonist.

The independent director admired him very much, but made a request, and the actor personally blew it out for him! This is the dialogue between the two of them, whether the actor promised or not, and it was not written later.

Reading the book, Martin guessed that the screenwriter didn't think about it.

"It's not yet the time when LGbtq people are starting to be active, and HBO's script is so wasteful?" Martin struggled to recall: "Ang Lee's 'Brokeback Mountain' is a landmark event, and it must not have been filmed yet. "After all, Hollywood is not a European film industry, and even if there are similar shots, they will not be filmed.

Unfazed, Martin collected pages of scripts and went to Burbank's Film Library, where he looked for books like autobiographies and interviews with independent film directors.

Even if it's just a small role with a small role, Martin is still 100% prepared.