"Alright, you can leave now."
Michael Sheen's audition lasted less than twenty minutes. Under the intervention of the record company, Martin Jackson called a halt. "We will inform your agent of the audition results later."
All the costume auditions were over, the photographer turned off the camera, and everyone else was packing up their things, no longer paying attention to Michael Sheen. Michael Sheen stared blankly at Martin Jackson, hoping he would give him a hint, even a glance, but Martin Jackson kept communicating with the photographer, not even looking at him.
"Let's go."
Seeing Michael Sheen standing still, the assistant director named York came over to urge him, "You should go and remove your makeup."
With that, York opened the door to the audition room.
Michael Sheen glanced at Martin Jackson again, but the other party still showed no expression.
York frowned slightly. This actor was too tactless. The audition team was about to hold a meeting to discuss, and him staying there was just causing trouble.
Also a minor actor, this Michael Sheen was far worse at handling social situations than Matthew.
"Go!" York had to remind him, "Don't just stand there!"
Michael Sheen turned his head and saw York looking disgusted. Just as he was about to say something, York urged again, "Hurry up!"
Helpless, Michael Sheen could only follow York out of the audition room in an awkward posture. No matter what, the audition results hadn't come out yet, and he still had a chance to be the final winner.
"No one ever said that the longer the audition, the more likely you are to get the role!" Michael Sheen comforted himself, "Maybe it's already decided it's me, and the audition is just a formality…"
Back in the dressing room to remove his makeup, Michael Sheen found that Matthew, who had changed back into his clothes, hadn't left yet.
"Hey, Mike." Matthew was very interested in this method of integrating acting into life practice. "Did it go smoothly?"
Michael Sheen stood in front of the makeup mirror, waiting for the makeup artist who had gone to the restroom to come back and remove his makeup, and said, "I don't know either." His eyes flashed, and he asked, "What about you? Why did it take so long just now?"
Matthew hadn't left because he was waiting for Michael Sheen to come back. If Michael Sheen was the final winner, then so be it. But if he was the winner, would Michael Sheen be content after paying such a huge price?
"It was supposed to be over in ten minutes." Matthew said the words he had prepared earlier, "Director Martin Jackson stopped me and insisted on adding another scene."
He shook his head, "I can't really say what exactly happened."
Michael Sheen was instantly a bit confused. What was Martin Jackson trying to do? Was he still interested in Matthew Horner? If so, his promise to himself… In the audition room, the representatives of the Actors' Guild and several assistants left one after another, leaving only Martin Jackson, the record company's representative, and Britney Spears and her agent.
The final decision for the costume audition rested with the first three people. Britney's agent was there to protect her client's rights.
"What's your opinion, Martin?" the record company representative asked, "Who do you favor?"
Martin Jackson had already decided on his choice and said, "Michael Sheen! I think Michael Sheen is the most…"
"No! He's not suitable!"
Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Britney Spears, "You can't choose him! His walking posture is too ugly! He's just a duck!"
Being interrupted and contradicted in such a way by a girl who was not yet nineteen, Martin Jackson felt a bit humiliated. Although MV directors usually couldn't go against record companies and singers supported by record companies, he didn't want to give up just yet. After all, he had made a promise to Michael Sheen, and Michael Sheen had also paid him.
"Why?" Martin Jackson asked.
"Yesterday you still thought Michael Sheen was good."
He had earnestly suggested to the record company and Britney Spears to use Michael Sheen, and although they hadn't directly agreed, they had basically tacitly approved.
Now, after just one day, they had changed their minds?
"But I watched today's audition." Even if Britney Spears was a bit simple-minded, she wouldn't reveal the real reason. "I think his walking posture is too ugly! Matthew Horner is better."
In the past, if Britney Spears had said that, Martin Jackson would have given up.
But he had taken the payment, so he had to try to fight for it. "Matthew Horner has only appeared in three roles so far and hasn't even been an actor for four months. Michael Sheen has been struggling in the acting circle for three years and has far more acting experience than Matthew Horner. And judging from the audition results, he is also better than Matthew Horner."
Martin Jackson was the director, so who performed better in the audition was entirely up to him to say.
Everyone looked at Britney Spears, especially the record company's representative.
However, the record company said nothing. The company was about to face the matter of renewing the contract with Britney Spears, and in this regard, her wishes would certainly take precedence.
"Walking posture can be adjusted." Martin Jackson also couldn't understand why that guy still wasn't ready after so long.
"I just don't like him!" Britney Spears showed a hint of impatience and directly gave an incredibly powerful reason, "I don't want him to be the male lead in my MV."
"Uh…" Martin Jackson was speechless.
He couldn't even find any words to refute Britney Spears' reason.
The record company representative immediately said, "Alright, then use Matthew Horner." He turned to Martin Jackson and said, "You inform Matthew Horner's agent, and we'll sign the contract this afternoon."
To get Britney Spears to sign the long-term record contract with the company, nothing was more important than making her happy.
Now that the record company and the singer had a unified opinion, Martin Jackson was powerless to refute. After a brief contemplation, he said, "Alright then, I'll have someone call Helen Herman later to notify her."
Britney Spears and the record company left together. Martin Jackson called his assistant and instructed, "Call Helen Herman and inform her of the audition results."
In the dressing room, Michael Sheen finished removing his makeup and walked out with Matthew, heading towards the exit of the studio.
"I wonder when the audition results will be out." Michael Sheen's eagerness was completely written on his face.
Matthew, on the other hand, was relatively calm. "It should be soon, right? After all, it's just an MV, not a feature film."
As the two of them reached the entrance of the studio, they saw Amanda and Helen Herman approaching. Amanda even gestured to Matthew from a distance.
Matthew immediately understood that he was the one who won the audition!
He felt a little excited, even thrilled, but he didn't show it.
"Perfect, I was just about to look for you." Helen Herman didn't look at Michael Sheen and directly said to Matthew, "Don't leave yet. After I finish discussing the contract with the crew, you'll need to sign it."
These words undoubtedly announced the audition results.
"Me?" Matthew squinted at Michael Sheen, who was stunned beside him, and showed an incredibly surprised expression, "How could it be me?"
Amanda glanced at Michael Sheen, then winked at Matthew.
Michael Sheen looked at Matthew, surprised and a little confused. Was he surprised? Was this an accident? Or… Helen Herman completely ignored Matthew's words and directly said, "Come with me, we're going to discuss the contract."
She nodded to Amanda, "Let's go."
Amanda and Matthew had no choice but to follow Helen Herman into the studio.
"How could this be?"
As soon as the two left, Michael Sheen recovered from his daze, "Why is Matthew Horner the winner and not me? Martin Jackson promised me!"
He turned his head, but the three people had already disappeared into the studio.
Where exactly did the problem lie?
Suddenly, he remembered what Matthew had said in the dressing room: Martin Jackson had specifically added an audition scene for him!
Martin Jackson was the director and held significant sway in actor selection. Under normal circumstances, record companies and singers would respect the director's choice.
Michael Sheen, on the path laid out by Matthew, thought more and more: Why did Martin Jackson add a scene for Matthew? He must still be interested in Matthew, still have feelings for Matthew? Just like a normal male-female relationship, what you have in hand is never as good as what you can't get?
And Matthew, this guy might also be one way on the surface and another underneath. Maybe he hooked up with Martin Jackson that night, but was just playing hard to get… These two bastards!
Walking in the studio, Matthew turned back to look, but Michael Sheen was no longer visible. He couldn't tell exactly what Michael Sheen was thinking, but he could guess that he must be very frustrated.
He had done so much before, just to try and see if he could provoke Michael Sheen's emotions after paying a huge price and ending up empty-handed, preferably to stimulate Michael Sheen to directly confront Martin Jackson.
Michael Sheen might not do as he intended, but if he didn't, he wouldn't lose anything. If he did, it might allow him to vent the anger he felt that night at the hotel.
At the entrance of the studio, Michael Sheen's face flushed. Was he just going to accept such a result?
Accept? How could he accept this! He clenched one hand into a fist, while the other unconsciously reached for his butt. Enduring such great humiliation, and this was the result? Martin Jackson kicked him aside and then went after new prey?
"He promised me this role." Michael Sheen seemed to be talking to himself, "He promised!"
Compared to Matthew, Michael Sheen hated the person who had used him and then promised him even more. That person had made him suffer unprecedented humiliation, used him, and then didn't want to pay!
Bastard!
Feeling the strange sensation in the middle of his butt again, Michael Sheen remembered everything that had happened that night, and his whole body trembled. He turned around and walked back into the studio.