After a week of audition and elimination, the candidates for the leading role of "Iron Man" were reduced from the last fifty to ten. In order to choose Tony Stark from the last ten, several main creators of the crew began to frequently Hold a meeting to discuss.
"David, this can't work, I need you to do it all over again. Remember, Tony Stark's pride is the kind that is engraved in the bone, and there is no need to show it through the appearance, so your tone of voice needs to be taken for granted. Some."
With the last ten candidates left, the crew no longer conducts concentrated auditions, but conducts in-depth discussions and auditions with each candidate in turn, and gradually eliminates them, so that the most suitable candidates can be selected more carefully.
In a conference room in the studio, Eric patiently explained his views on Tony Stark to David Duchovny who participated in the discussion today.
David Duchovny was originally supposed to be the leading actor in "The X-Files". Due to historical changes, he is still only a small role in various independent movies or TV shows. Eric didn't feel much about David Duchovny's performance in "The X-Files", but he was very impressed with his other work "California". The down-and-out writer Hank Moody played by David Duchovny in "California Love" is impressive in his cynical way of shuttling among all kinds of beauties.
After Eric finished speaking, David Duchovny, who was sitting on the opposite sofa, thought for a moment and said, "Then, Eric, I will try again."
Eric turned his head and was about to instruct the staff next to him to write lines for David Duchovny, but he noticed that everyone, including Joss Whedon, looked at him strangely. This is obviously not the first time. In recent days, Eric has always felt that the atmosphere around him is a bit inexplicable. At this time, he finally couldn't help 'exploding' and said: "I warn you, no matter how dare you use this kind of worship all day Look at me, be careful that I will deduct your wages, Sally, repeat the scene with David again."
Several people sitting on the sofa laughed lightly. The production assistant named Sally picked up the script book, glanced at David Duchovny, got confirmation, and began to read the words in "Iron Man". Christine, a reporter from "Vanity Fair" magazine: "Some people say that you are a contemporary Da Vinci, what do you think?"
"It's nonsense, and I don't paint."
"What do you think of the other nickname, Merchant of Death?"
"That's not bad," replied David Duchovny. "Let me guess, Berkeley?"
"Actually, Brown University."
"Well, Miss Brown, the world is not perfect, but we have no choice. I promise you, if one day I don't have to use weapons for peace, I will switch to building a children's hospital."
The two were about to continue, when Eric interrupted: "OK, it's still not OK, David, your tone should be faster, and also, this scene can't seem too casual, probably, um, anyway, you Think about it again, if it doesn’t work, let’s change it.”
David Duchovny hesitated, and said, "Eric, can you demonstrate it for me?"
Eric couldn't find a suitable adjective just now. Hearing what David Duchovny said, he nodded without thinking too much, turned to the production assistant and said, "Sally, just start from that part just now."
Eric said, but didn't see Joss Whedon behind him excitedly gestured towards the photographer in charge of video recording, and the other party naturally turned the camera to Eric.
Sally noticed Joss Whedon's small movements behind Eric, but lowered her eyes pretending not to know, and saw the script read in her hand: "Mr. Stark, have you rehearsed this sentence many times?" ?”
Eric doesn't need to read the lines at all. Whether it's the recent audition or the memory in his mind, Eric is familiar with the whole script. Similarly, no one knows what he wants better than him. As a result, after quickly sorting out his thoughts, Eric replied naturally: "Talk to the mirror every night before going to bed."
Sally nodded: "I can tell."
With a cynical smile on the corner of Eric's mouth, he stared at Sally and said, "I really hope you can see it with your own eyes."
Stared at by Eric's natural and aggressive eyes, Sally felt her face suddenly became hot, and she dodged for a while, and her tone stumbled a little. Although she was also very familiar with the script, she still mispronounced it. The line: "Mr. Williams, I, I hope you can be more serious."
"..." Eric was speechless for a moment.
"Haha." Everyone in the room couldn't help laughing.
Sarah blushed even more quickly, and felt a feeling of embarrassment that could not be added. She raised the script in her hand to block her face, got up and ran to the bathroom next to her.
Seeing the girl's act of running away, everyone's heartless laughter became louder.
After a while, Eric clapped his hands and said, "Okay, everyone, let's continue, skip this paragraph, and change to the episode where Tony Stark and Colonel Roddy are on the plane."
When Eric spoke, everyone stopped laughing and continued the discussion.
As the evening approached, sending David Duchovny away, Eric was about to discuss the effect of David Duchovny's performance today with Joss Whedon and others, but he heard Joss Whedon say: "Eric, I'm off work soon, how about going for a drink together?"
Eric wondered: "Huh?"
"I mean, there are still a few good bars in Venice Beach," Joss Whedon said. "And, I want to talk to you about another thing. Actually, this is what everyone means."
Eric looked at Joss Whedon's expression and nodded: "Okay, that's all for today."
Due to the rise of Firefly Studios, Venice Beach near Playa Vista has also become a frequent gathering place for Hollywood filmmakers in recent years, and many leisure places such as restaurants, coffee shops, and bars have also sprung up.
Following Joss Whedon to a bar called 'Light', Eric suddenly realized that he hadn't had this experience in a long time.
It happened to be off-duty time, and although the night had not yet fallen, the bar had already started to be lively.
Eric wore sunglasses and followed Joss Whedon into the bar, watched him greet the boss familiarly, asked for a relatively secluded booth in the corner of the bar, and the two sat there together.
Asking for a glass of beer from the waiter who followed, Joss Whedon asked, "Eric, what do you want to drink?"
Eric felt that the waitress in cool clothes was staring at him fiercely, so he simply took off his sunglasses, raised a finger at the girl with wide-eyed eyes and made a silent expression, and then smiled: "I also want to A glass of beer."
"Ah, okay, okay," the waitress nodded in shock, turned and hurried away, but it took a while before she came back with two glasses of beer, her face was obviously covered with makeup, and she took off her makeup. Some exaggerated earrings on the ears. Putting the beer in front of Eric and Joss Whedon, the girl did not leave and asked boldly, "Mr. Williams, can I take a photo with you?"
Eric smiled and shook his head: "Sorry, miss."
The waitress was not discouraged, she took out a business card from her short jacket pocket and handed it directly: "Mr. Williams, this is my number, call me."
After saying this, the waitress didn't give Eric a chance to refuse, she turned around and left with her slender waist.
Eric picked up the business card and looked at it, and said, "Jenny, heh, I think it's better to be called Jennifer, I like the name Jennifer."
Joss Whedon laughed and said, "Call her over now and ask her to change her name. I think that girl will never refuse."
"I'm not in the mood to do such boring things," Eric shook his head, put his business card on the table, looked at Joss Whedon, and said, "So, Joss, what do you want to talk to me about? "
"Eric, in your opinion, among the candidates we auditioned recently, which one is the most agreeable to your request?"
Eric smiled, picked up the business card on the table and played with it again, and said, "I guess, this is not what you want to talk about tonight?"
Joss Whedon shrugged and said, "Eric, I think you must have realized everyone's feelings during this time."
"Um?"
"All of us feel like you're the one who knows the Tony Stark character the best, more than any auditioner we've been through in a while. You've been going back and forth over the last few weeks about how these actors should act. Acting, you should use that expression, you should use that tone."
Eric raised his head: "You also want me to play Tony Stark?"
Joss Whedon nodded: "I have discussed it with Mr. Katzenberg and Mr. Allard in private, and they all think this plan is feasible."
Eric hesitated for a while, thinking of the recent audition process, he was indeed dissatisfied with all the audition candidates, even when recalling the performance of Robert Downey Jr. in his memory, Eric also felt that many of his detailed performances were inappropriate. Not as expected.
"Joss, you have to know that I'm already a producer now, and if I play the leading role again, you, the director, may be fucked at any time."
"If you can make this movie more perfect, even if I quit the crew, there is no problem," Joss Whedon said without hesitation: "Eric, I am also a fan of the "Iron Man" comics, so I am very happy I hope this movie can have a leading actor who is the most suitable for it."
"I haven't even participated in the audition. Although I know what kind of Tony Stark I want, are you sure I can act?"
Joss Whedon smiled and said, "Eric, I don't think you even need to perform, as long as you can perform in your true colors. Just look at the reaction of Sally and you to the lines in the afternoon. In other In front of actors, Sally has never blushed. As a playboy, Tony Stark must be able to have a strong attraction to women. Besides, well, I have been secretly observing you for a month, A lot of your words and deeds are very similar to the Tony Stark we want."
Eric unknowingly folded the business card in his hand into a paper airplane. Hearing what Joss Whedon said, he raised his head again and said, "Okay, let's choose from these ten people first."
Joss Whedon felt that Eric's tone had loosened, and continued without hesitation: "Eric, I know you are very busy, but you should also be clear that the filming of "Iron Man" will not occupy you. Too much time, the planned shooting cycle is four months, if the schedule is tight, you only need to stay on the crew for less than two months, and most of that can be done in the Los Angeles studio, even if it is For overseas scenes, we only need to rush to the neighboring Nevada state."
"The key is not these, Joss," Eric said: "In the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man needs to appear in no fewer than six films."
Joss Whedon said: "But it's not a problem, Eric, except for a few "Iron Man" main stories, other crossover episodes, you must have fewer scenes, maybe even less than a month. And , we make a film related to "Iron Man", the average period should be two years, and two months are taken out every two years, I think it is not a problem for you at all, right?"
"It seems that you have made up your mind to let me come in person?"
Joss Whedon smiled and said, "Eric, to be honest, don't you really think about playing this role yourself?"
Eric's eyes flashed, and he said, "I've thought about playing the role of Hugh Hefner, and I don't know if he has 2,000 girlfriends now."
"Haha, that's the tone," Joss Whedon laughed, "Tony Stark's tone."
"Okay, okay, I'll think about it, and I'll give you an answer tomorrow, um, the day after tomorrow." Eric threw the little paper plane in his hand towards Joss Whedon, but the plane went over the block and flew In the adjacent compartment, a girl's soft cry was heard immediately.
Joss Whedon knew that Eric's mind was loose, and he wanted to continue his lobbying, but two petite girls walked over angrily, and one girl was still holding the paper airplane in her hand, and was about to Xingshi asked the crime, but he recognized Eric at a glance, his angry expression was put away immediately, but he didn't know what to say for a while, he was like two little quails.
With a smile on the corner of Eric's mouth, he looked at the two girls with great interest, and raised his hand and pointed to Joss Whedon: "This guy is throwing things around, don't look for me."
The girl in the black dress who was slightly shorter on the left reacted at this time, and said quickly: "Yes, I'm sorry, Mr. Williams, we, we are fine."
Saying so, the girl in the black skirt was about to drag her companion away.
Eric looked at the slightly taller girl with a little baby fat on her face, and said, "Sarah, right, I happen to remember your name, Sarah Michelle Gellar. "Speaking, Eric looked at another girl and asked knowingly, "What's your name?"
"Ah, I," the girl in the black dress didn't expect Eric to know her friend, and said quickly, "My name is Jennifer Love Hewitt."
"Oh, another Jennifer, I like girls named Jennifer, can I buy you a glass of wine?" (To be continued.)