"How about this one?"
Inside the audition room, a male actor had just finished his audition and left. Someone from Jive Records leaned into Britney's ear and asked, "He was alright, right?"
"No," Britney Spears shook her head directly. "Too skinny, not strong enough."
The person from Jive Records whispered something into the MV director's ear. MV director Martin Jackson didn't hesitate to draw a red cross over that actor's profile.
As the director, Martin Jackson needed to respect the opinions of Britney Spears and Jive Records. He had a certain say in casting and other matters, but his turn came after theirs.
However, Martin Jackson believed that the two wouldn't offer too many decisive opinions, as he was the professional.
"Let the next one in."
Martin Jackson told his assistant, who quickly brought Michael Sheen in.
When Britney Spears saw Michael Sheen, she whispered to the person from Jive Records, "This one looks good."
In the waiting room not far from the audition room, Matthew saw another person go in excitedly and return dejectedly. He couldn't help but look away, noticing Amanda sitting in a chair, bored and fiddling with her phone.
Helen Herman had left after bringing them here. According to Amanda, she had gone to meet with an executive from Jive Records.
The three people who had completed their auditions all returned in low spirits. Matthew felt a bit apprehensive and was very curious about the audition room but couldn't go in. He had asked the first and second people who were rejected, but both remained tight-lipped, not mentioning anything about the situation inside the audition room.
Matthew lowered his voice and said to Amanda, "We're old friends. For this audition, is there any information you know that I don't that you can share?"
He had long since extracted the information that Amanda was Helen Herman's cousin.
"Doesn't seem like it," Amanda thought for a moment and said. "Oh, right. I heard Helen say that Britney Spears has a lot of say in the casting of her MV's male lead."
Matthew nodded gently, pondering the information.
Not too long after, Michael Sheen returned to the waiting room. Unlike the previous three, his face was full of excitement. Matthew didn't need to ask to know that this guy had definitely passed this initial audition.
Just then, someone called out, "Matthew Horner!"
"Coming!"
Matthew responded and quickly followed the person into the audition room.
This was an initial audition, similar to an open call, with no makeup or costume changes.
As soon as he entered the audition room, Matthew subtly and quickly surveyed the opposite side. Directly facing him was a camera, behind which sat a bespectacled cameraman. To the left were several chairs, with a row of people seated on them, the most noticeable among them being Britney Spears with her long, golden-brown hair.
Matthew didn't recognize the others, guessing they might be the MV director or producer, management from Britney Spears' record label, and representatives from the actors' union.
Most of the actors from Angel Agency who came for this audition were members of the actors' union, and according to relevant regulations, representatives from the actors' union would certainly be involved in the audition.
"Are you Matthew Horner?" a man in his thirties, who looked quite handsome, asked. "You've played roles in 'Girl, Interrupted' and 'Gladiator'?"
Matthew didn't look at the camera lens and replied calmly, "Yes."
Martin Jackson had no reason to doubt. The information provided by Angel Agency in his hand included a promotional poster for Universal Pictures' recently released 'Gladiator'.
"Walk around twice," he added.
Matthew began to move within the camera's range.
Martin Jackson watched Matthew intently.
He instinctively felt that Matthew had clear facial contours, well-defined and upright features, a tall and strong physique, and exuded a unique masculine charm.
Then, his gaze moved down from Matthew's rugged face, first resting on his thick, powerful chest, nodding slightly at the bulging pectoral muscles. When Matthew turned around and walked back, his eyes moved to his long legs and firm buttocks... Without the actor having to take off his clothes, Martin Jackson could imagine that the muscles on this man's body would surely be a sculpted, streamlined beauty.
He kept nodding. This actor named Matthew Horner had truly excellent physical attributes, even better than the one who had just passed the audition.
"We must put this one on the list for the second audition," the thought involuntarily popped into Martin Jackson's head. "If he's eliminated from this audition, there won't be another chance."
"This is a candidate strongly recommended by Angel Agency," the person from Jive Records whispered to Britney Spears. "What do you think?"
Britney Spears nodded gently. "Very good. Choose him."
"Alright," Martin Jackson called out, stopping Matthew. "That's enough. You can go out now."
Martin Jackson had no objections, and Britney Spears and the record company found him suitable. For this initial audition, that was enough.
Matthew was a bit puzzled that it ended after just two walks. He felt that this initial audition was just to check one's appearance and how photogenic they were.
He had just walked out of the audition room and hadn't even returned to the waiting area when a staff member came to inform him that he had passed the initial audition and was to return in five days for a makeup audition with the crew.
"I passed, huh?" Matthew had no idea that he, along with that poster, was one of Helen Herman's stepping stones.
Passing the audition was, of course, a cause for celebration. Matthew returned to the waiting room, and Amanda immediately gave him an inquiring look. He made an OK gesture, went to the water dispenser to get two cups of water, handed one to Amanda, and took a large gulp from his own before sitting down in a chair.
"It went smoothly?" Amanda asked.
Matthew nodded. "Of course. They all think I'm a good actor."
Amanda rolled her eyes and deliberately teased, "Good luck, good actor!"
"You passed the audition too?" Michael Sheen chimed in.
Matthew put down his cup. "Yeah, it felt like I passed for no reason."
"We can film together again!" Michael Sheen looked very happy. "I just asked around; everyone who passes the initial audition gets to participate in the MV shoot, but there's only one lead, and everyone else acts as background."
A thought flashed through his mind: he must get the lead role this time!
Matthew sighed. "I wonder who that lucky person will be."
Michael Sheen said, half-seriously, "Hopefully, it's one of us."
He didn't ask Matthew for help this time. After the last time, he realized that Matthew wouldn't consider their so-called friendship in such matters.
Likewise, he wouldn't either!
Seeing Matthew turn back to chat with Amanda, Michael Sheen quietly sat down. This time, he was determined to get this male lead role!
It was said that the male lead would play a couple with Britney Spears in the MV, which would surely attract a lot of attention.
Michael Sheen's mind involuntarily filled with fantasies. If he could turn the on-screen romance with Britney Spears into a real one, that would be even better. He would save ten, or even twenty, years of struggle... How could he get this male lead role? Michael Sheen had been in the industry for three years and knew it wouldn't be easy.
Especially... his gaze fell on Matthew again. This guy seemed to have a good relationship with Helen Herman. If Helen Herman strongly recommended Matthew, his chances of getting the role might be slim.
The agency side was out of the question, but what about the MV crew? He immediately remembered the person giving orders in the audition room, guessing it was either the director or the producer. If he could get through to him...
Matthew continued to chat idly with Amanda, further cultivating their already good relationship.
As for the silent Michael Sheen beside him, Matthew could guess what he was thinking without even looking. In fact, that was what he was thinking too; no small actor wanted to miss such an opportunity.
His mind was constantly calculating how to make Britney Spears notice him and develop some fondness for him.
According to Amanda, as long as Britney Spears approved, he would basically get the role.
In between, Helen Herman came once, told Amanda she had to leave for an appointment, and then departed.
After the auditions ended, the group didn't receive the same treatment as when they arrived and had to find their own way back.
Matthew said goodbye to Amanda and walked out of the studio alone. Not long after, Michael Sheen caught up from behind.
"Hey, Matthew!" he asked. "Are you still going to Hollywood Boulevard?"
"Yeah," Matthew stopped.
"Let's go together," Michael Sheen suggested. "I'm heading to Hollywood Boulevard too."
Matthew didn't refuse. He walked out of the studio with Michael Sheen, called a taxi, and stood by the roadside patiently waiting for it to arrive.
"Has your acting class started?" Michael Sheen followed Matthew, wanting to see if he had any other connections.
"It has," Matthew said casually. "It feels pretty good; it's helping me a lot."
He heard his phone ring, thinking the taxi had arrived, and took it out, pressing the answer button directly. "We're right outside Disney Studios, I'm wearing a..."
He was cut off before he could finish by a voice from the receiver, "Are you Matthew Horner?"
"Yes," Matthew found the voice a bit familiar.
The old phone was leaking sound, and Michael Sheen, standing nearby, also heard it and immediately perked up his ears.
"This is Martin Jackson, the director of the audition you just attended."
Hearing the other person say that, Matthew remembered. Wasn't this the voice of the person giving instructions in the audition room?
Matthew quickly and politely asked, "is there something you need?"
"It's like this, regarding the audition, I need to talk to you tonight..."
The person quickly gave an address, and Matthew immediately committed it to memory. "Okay, I'll be there promptly at eight o'clock."
Michael Sheen also heard the address, and his face instantly darkened. Was he going to have to watch Matthew Horner get this male lead role?