Behind The Spotlight Chapter 288
Axel walked down the hallway with his entourage following four steps behind. To be precise, the people following him were his assistant, manager, bodyguard, and his talent agent, Vanessa Wang.
The small-time actors watched as the assistant director greeted Axel with respect, and Axel returned the greeting with humility. However, despite his humble demeanor, everyone could see that Axel Gunner was no ordinary actor. Now that his talent had evolved into a golden talent, he possessed a distinct aura.
The actor who had won the Best Supporting Actor Award this year was none other than Axel Gunner.
Vanessa Wang wore a proud grin as she observed everyone staring at Axel with keen interest. She might not have been the person who helped him reach the pinnacle of success, but she was his talent agent now, and that was something to be proud of.
"Mr. Gunner, right this way. Director Jim Gan is waiting for you in the audition room." The assistant director guided them inside.
The entire group went in. Once the door closed, every actor waiting in line broke out into anxious expressions.
That was Axel Gunner, the one and only Jayson Born! They couldn't compete against a star of his magnitude, they simply weren't famous enough to match him. If Axel secured the lead role, the best these small-time actors could hope for was to fight for minor supporting roles in the superhero film.
They grew increasingly nervous, and Murray was no exception. He was just a nobody, he couldn't win against Axel. He let out a quiet sigh, believing he stood no chance this time. Arnold had told him that their primary target was the role of Justice Guy, but it seemed they would have to adapt.
'...Being the villain isn't so bad. It still offers exposure... But do I really have to go bald?' he asked himself.
The antagonist in the movie was a bald billionaire.
...
...
...
Amidst the crisis unfolding outside the audition room, Axel faced the production team and introduced himself.
"Axel, I'm going to be honest with you. Just as I mentioned last time, I can't picture you as the protagonist of this movie. I invited you to audition for the role of Jex Juther," Director Jim Gan said plainly to Axel. Vanessa's face flashed with displeasure, though she quickly smoothed her expression over.
Out of all the scripts she had prepared for Axel, he had taken a liking to a superhero project. On top of that, he didn't mind playing the bad guy, a choice that could potentially harm his heroic image as an actor. But Axel was genuinely intrigued by the character. Besides, he had played the villain in Two:Face, and that movie had performed remarkably well. He didn't mind repeating the experience.
"I understand, Director," Axel agreed smoothly.
With that, he delivered a short scene in which Jex Juther confronts Justice Guy.
"1-A!"
"1-A!"
"You are an alien!"
Director Jim Gan was visibly impressed by the performance, clearly envisioning the scene come to life. Out of all the actors who had auditioned for Jex Juther, Axel was undeniably the best.
"I only have one last question before we wrap up this audition. Are you comfortable shaving your head?"
"Of course."
Vanessa Wang almost blurted out a reaction, but managed to restrain herself.
Hair was a vital asset for an actor!
'Fortunately, Axel is finished filming Born Supremacy, so altering his hairstyle isn't a problem... But I was planning to land a shampoo endorsement for him!'
So far, Axel didn't have a shampoo endorsement deal, and that was a lucrative contract Vanessa was eagerly pursuing to earn a hefty commission.
However, if Axel went bald, that endorsement would evaporate. Vanessa wore a bitter expression as she watched Axel nod in agreement to the director's condition.
'He could have just asked for a detailed prosthetic bald cap instead. That would be much better than actually shaving his head,' she thought.
What she failed to consider was the significant prep time required for a realistic prosthetic bald cap. Beyond applying the piece, the actor would have to sit in a makeup chair for at least an hour every single day while artists blended it seamlessly. That would consume precious production time daily. The director didn't want to waste time, and neither did Axel.
Furthermore, Axel wanted to immerse himself in the role as authentically as possible, and shaving his head was merely one step in that process.
With that issue settled, both sides expressed satisfaction with the audition, indicating that Director Jim Gan was firmly interested in casting Axel. All that remained was negotiating the salary, and the deal would be sealed.
Once Axel and his entourage exited the studio, the auditions resumed until Murray's turn arrived.
He was instructed to put on the suit and stand before the production panel.
Murray maintained a pristine physique, and his toned muscles earned subtle nods of approval from the panel.
He was directed to perform basic poses, mimicking flying maneuvers and landing stances on the floor. Director Jim Gan observed Murray closely, a slight frown on his face. Next, Murray executed a short fight choreography sequence against a stand-in opponent. He looked undeniably sharp and thoroughly impressed the production team.
"You don't have any formal acting experience, do you?" Jim Gan asked, studying him.
"Yes, sir," Murray answered, keeping his composure intact despite his inner nerves.
"Then I want you to perform this specific scene, the moment where you defend yourself against Jex Juther's accusations that you're nothing more than a dangerous alien. You've likely read that portion of the script."
"Yes, sir." Murray drew a deep breath. The character he was auditioning for was Justice Guy, though if he missed out on the lead, he was more than willing to try out for Jex Juther as well.
"You're not one of us. You came from somewhere else, another world. An alien among humans! And you're lying to us about who you really are," Jim Gan recited Jex Juther's line in an accusing, sharp tone.
"I don't deny where I come from, but I am here now. I may not have been born on Earth, but I chose to protect it. I stand with humanity, not above it," Murray delivered the line to the best of his ability, hoping it landed well with the judges.
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