The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!-Chapter 50

Hearing Tom Hanks's question, Matthew knew instantly that a good answer would score him points. It was clear that the producer was more than satisfied with his performance so far.
But a bad answer, he realized, would cost him dearly.
The rumors of Ronald Speirs executing German prisoners of war were present in both the original book and the memoirs, but they remained just that—rumors. Not a single source ever stated with certainty that Speirs had killed prisoners.
Hanks's question, however, was framed as if Ronald Speirs had, in fact, killed them, and he was asking for Matthew's opinion on the matter.
From the perspective of modern peacetime, killing prisoners of war was a shameful act, universally condemned.
As an actor auditioning for the role of Ronald Speirs, Matthew felt he couldn't answer from that standpoint, let alone his own. He had to respond as a paratrooper who had just landed in France—or more precisely, as Ronald Speirs, who had hypothetically just killed a prisoner.
For a brief moment, descriptions of the battlefield from the original novel, which Matthew had read seven or eight times, flashed through his mind.
This was an audition for a character, and with Tom Hanks waiting, he didn't have much time to think.
"I think..." Matthew began, "it was the wisest course of action, under the circumstances."
"You've read the book?"
Seeing Matthew's nod, Hanks pressed further. "And why was it the wisest choice?"
"At that time, the troops had just set foot on French soil. It was unknown whether they would face a counterattack and be driven back into the sea the next day," Matthew reasoned, speaking purely from the perspective of a battle-hardened soldier. "They either had to transport the prisoners to camps in Great Britain, release them, or execute them on the spot."
He continued, "The first option was simply impossible. They were just paratroopers, and deep behind enemy lines at that. As for releasing the prisoners, that was even worse. Who knows if they would have returned to the German ranks? Releasing one of them might have cost the lives of the men around you."
Tom Hanks couldn't help but nod again.
The more Matthew spoke, the clearer his thoughts became. "According to the description in the novel, the troops couldn't get rid of the prisoners at that time. They were moving immediately to a rally point and then into combat to attack the 88-gun positions. The remaining prisoners posed a hidden danger, and sending them back would have required diverting combat forces. Therefore, executing them on the spot was the most rational approach."
In fact, the memoir mentioned, both explicitly and implicitly, that prisoners were not a priority during the initial stages of the landing, especially for paratroopers deep behind enemy lines.
At that moment, all the time Matthew had spent studying the memoirs paid off.
"Good," Tom Hanks said, turning to the casting director. "I'm done."
The casting director nodded, looked at the others, and seeing no objections, said to Matthew, "Mr. Horner, you may go. We will inform your agent of the audition results tomorrow."
Matthew turned and walked out of the audition room, heading back down the corridor he had come from until he reached the door to the stylist's room.
He entered the styling room, and with the help of a costume assistant, he took off the uniform, changed back into his own clothes, and washed the light makeup from his face before heading outside.
Less than twenty minutes had passed. As Matthew stepped out of the styling room, he saw Helen Herman pacing back and forth near the door.
"Let's go." When Helen saw Matthew, she beckoned him over and started toward the studio exit, with Matthew following close behind. As they left the building, she asked, "How did the audition go?"
"It was fine," Matthew said as they walked, recounting the audition. "Tom Hanks asked me a few questions and seemed particularly interested."
Helen nodded. "That's a good sign. I asked around, and apparently, Tom Hanks didn't say a word when the three actors before you were auditioning."
Matthew's spirits lifted. "So Tom Hanks wasn't interested in them?"
"It's quite possible," Helen said as she led the way out of Warner Studios. "But only he knows what he's really thinking."
Matthew stepped out of the studio gates. "They said they'd let you know the results tomorrow, but did they say what time?"
Helen walked to her car, opened the driver's side door, and replied, "They usually notify in the morning."
"So, everything will be decided by tomorrow morning," Matthew said as he opened his door. "This is going to be an agonizing wait."
He had done almost nothing for nearly a month, even taking time off from his acting and language classes at the Los Angeles School of Performing Arts to focus on preparing for the role of Ronald Speirs. Now that the audition was over, and from the looks of it, had gone perfectly, he still couldn't know the result right away. It was excruciating for someone who desperately needed the part.
Helen got into her car, started the engine, and said casually, "I have some news that might interest you."
Matthew couldn't help but ask, "What is it?"
Helen replied, "Columbia Pictures confirmed a few days ago that 'Girl, Interrupted' will be officially released in North America on December 8th. They're edly planning a premiere."
This was the first film Matthew had ever been in, and he was naturally looking forward to its release.
"Don't you have a relationship with Angelina Jolie?" Helen stated her objective. "Contact her, go to the premiere, walk the red carpet, and get the media talking about you again."
"I'm afraid that might be difficult," Matthew said with a helpless shrug. "I called her and her assistant a while back, but I never got a response."
Helen asked again, "What about Winona Ryder?"
"I think she'd rather not see me," Matthew said without explaining further. "But I'll call Jolie again later."
In truth, he didn't need much reminding from Helen; he knew he had to find ways to increase his visibility.
"You'd better get in touch with her," Helen added, sharing another piece of information. "Paramount Pictures is interested in making a big adventure film with a female lead, and Angelina Jolie is the most likely choice. If you can get on Jolie's good side, you might be able to land a decent supporting role."
Matthew was instantly energized. "I'll try."
The Angel Acting Agency's office was not far from Warner Studios, and it didn't take long for the car to pull up in front of the small, three-story building.
The Angel Acting Agency was now quite a bit larger, with four other agents working alongside Helen, though their clients were mostly minor actors and extras.
...
Tom Hanks gathered his things and left the audition room through a back door, heading to his office, where Gary Goetzman, the film's second producer, was waiting for him.
"How did your casting session go?" Hanks asked.
"It went well," Gary Goetzman replied with a smile. "Damian Lewis, the actor you and Steven recommended, is a perfect fit for the lead role."
Tom Hanks pulled out his chair and sat down. "That's good."
The lead actor had been chosen on his and Spielberg's recommendation, so that particular audition had been delegated to Gary Goetzman.
Goetzman asked Tom Hanks, "What about your casting? Did you find anyone you like?"
Hanks picked up a glass of water with one hand and pushed a stack of papers toward Goetzman with the other. "See for yourself."
Goetzman flipped through the papers, stopping abruptly when he saw one of them. He asked with mild surprise, "I can't believe you gave him a perfect score."
"He's a young actor who would be perfect for the role of a tough soldier," Hanks said, setting down his water glass. "Of all the people who auditioned today, he made the strongest impression on me. Watch the audition tape, and if you have no objections, I'll choose him."
Goetzman stood up, handed the papers back to Tom Hanks, and said, "I'll do that."
...
As night fell, Matthew returned to his apartment in Westwood. He took a shower and lay down on his bed when his phone suddenly rang. He picked it up, glanced at the screen, and pressed the answer button. "Hello, Brit."
The caller was Britney. "Hey, Matthew. Did you pass the audition?"
"I don't know yet, but I should hear something concrete tomorrow."
Britney paused for a moment, then added, "I don't have to work tomorrow. Why don't we meet up?"