Matthew didn't have time to consider finding a new part-time job. When he arrived at the Disney studio again, preparing to meet the newly replaced director, he found a large number of reporters gathered at the studio entrance, some even carrying cameras.
Unfortunately, none of them paid him any attention.
Matthew walked past them into the studio, and no one even looked at him.
However, he heard a lot of reporters discussing.
"Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera have deep personal conflicts, and this news was scooped by someone else."
"They were at odds even in Disney's Mickey Mouse Club, and we didn't even know!"
"These two hid it really well."
"I'm going to keep a close eye on Britney these next few days!"
Listening to these discussions, Matthew entered the Disney studio, guessing that Elena Boyer's "American News Report" must have dug up some old stories about Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera and reported them.
He had left in a hurry today and hadn't bought a newspaper, and now it wasn't convenient to go out again.
Matthew first called his agent, Helen Herman. She was already at the studio, waiting for him at the entrance.
Driving a four-wheeled electric cart, Matthew quickly arrived at the studio. From a distance, he saw Helen Herman standing in the shade at the studio entrance. As usual, the young female agent was wearing a well-fitted suit, and her golden-brown long hair was meticulously tied into a ponytail at the back of her head.
"Morning, Helen." Matthew parked the electric cart and walked over.
Helen Herman turned and walked into the studio, saying to Matthew as he followed, "It's not early. Britney's already here."
Matthew pulled out his phone, glanced at it, and muttered, "There's still fifteen minutes until the agreed time."
"What?" Helen Herman didn't hear Matthew's mumble clearly and asked, "What did you say?"
"Ah, nothing." Matthew deliberately changed the subject, "Why did Britney come so early?"
The two turned into the corridor of the studio's office area. Helen Herman didn't answer Matthew's question. Instead, she reminded him, "Britney was provoked by reporters at the set entrance, so don't say too much."
Matthew nodded, "Mmm."
Although he was asked to attend the shooting preparation meeting called by the new director, Matthew's mind was still quite clear. He had no say in anything, and the best approach was to be a quiet, unmoving stone.
The two gradually approached a small conference room. Helen Herman suddenly asked again, "The report about Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, was it published by your reporter friend?"
"What report?" Matthew feigned ignorance, and indeed, he hadn't read the report. "I haven't read the newspaper today."
As they arrived in front of the conference room, Helen Herman was about to ask another question when a girl's somewhat sharp voice came through the conference room door.
"Don't tell me to calm down! Christina Aguilera is a bitch, and I'll say that to anyone! She's a slut! Don't expect me to pretend to be friends with her in front of the media. Even if all the media criticize me, I won't do it!"
"Britney..."
"No way!"
Matthew looked at Helen Herman, who frowned slightly but maintained a calm expression.
She raised her hand and gently knocked on the door, and the voices inside abruptly ceased.
Helen Herman pushed the door open, and Matthew followed her in.
There were only two people in the conference room: Britney Spears and what appeared to be her agent.
Helen Herman acted as if she hadn't heard their conversation. She walked to one side of the conference table, pulled out a chair, and sat down. Matthew followed suit, sitting next to Helen Herman.
"Hello, Helen." Britney Spears's agent greeted them proactively.
Helen Herman offered a professional smile, "Hello."
Matthew first glanced at the agent, then at Britney Spears, who was leaning back in her chair with her arms crossed, looking quite miffed.
It had to be said that Britney Spears, not yet nineteen, hadn't turned into an older woman; she was in her prime, vibrant and alluringly sexy. Perhaps due to her personality, even just sitting there, she exuded a star's aura.
The conference room door was then pushed open from outside, and a record company representative entered with a short, dark-haired man in his thirties.
The record company person looked at Britney, then at Matthew, and said, "You're all here."
It seemed Britney Spears's side had already met him. He introduced the short man to Matthew and Helen Herman: "This is the new MV director, Mr. Zack Snyder, very famous in the advertising and music video industries."
"Hello, Mr. Snyder." Helen Herman stood up and shook hands with him. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Matthew also stood up and shook hands with the short man, "Hello, Director Snyder, I'm Matthew Horner."
Zack Snyder also politely shook hands and greeted each of them.
Subsequently, the MV crew, such as the cameraman, props, makeup artist, and set designer, arrived at the conference room. The record company representative stepped aside, and director Zack Snyder began to discuss the shooting details.
Most of the shooting plan set by the previous director, Martin Jackson, remained unchanged, especially the MV's script and style. The only change was that Zack Snyder considered shooting a beach scene on a studio set a terrible idea and proposed shooting on location at Paradise Cove Beach in Malibu.
The record company agreed, Britney Spears had no objections, and Matthew's opinion was negligible.
Thus, except for a very few shots to be filmed in the studio, most of the MV's filming locations would be changed to Paradise Cove Beach in Malibu.
Matthew listened intently throughout, keeping his mouth tightly shut. Unless someone asked him a question, he wouldn't utter a word.
His importance as the male lead was incomparable to that of the female lead.
In fact, during this meeting, Zack Snyder didn't mention anything else related to Matthew, except for wanting the male lead's styling to be more masculine, preferably highlighting the beauty of his muscle lines.
As for muscle lines, Matthew was confident he wouldn't have any problems. He remembered this director and roughly knew what type of muscles he appreciated.
Although his muscles were far less exaggerated than those of some movie male leads, this was the male lead of an MV, not Superman or Batman.
Superhero movies, being simple and mindless, were undoubtedly the first choice for casual entertainment. When he lived on the other side of the ocean, Matthew, despite rarely going to the cinema, benefited from online piracy. He had watched downloaded ultra-high-definition versions of several superhero blockbusters directed by Zack Snyder. At that time, DC and Marvel fans on the internet would constantly argue, and Zack Snyder was the focal point of their debates, so he knew this director with a strong personal style.
However, at that time, his impression of this director wasn't good; "Batman v Superman" was really too dull.
Matthew's only good impression of Zack Snyder was that he chose an incredibly suitable Wonder Woman for the Justice League series.
Those legs, that face, made him just want to lick the computer screen.
For this, he even broke his habit of downloading pirated content and specifically went to the cinema to watch the "Wonder Woman" movie, which was definitely a film that showcased "Gal Gadot is so beautiful!" in every aspect, from every angle, in slow motion.
Of course, the past was the past. The current Zack Snyder was an inconspicuous MV and commercial director, but he was still not as accomplished as Zack Snyder.
At the very least, Zack Snyder was already a director, while he was still a minor actor.
Thinking of this, Matthew quickly discarded his past prejudices against Zack Snyder, lest it affect the upcoming shoot.
He believed that in a situation where a change was necessary, the record company would rather replace the male lead than casually change the director.
"What are you thinking about?" Helen Herman's reminding voice came, "How can you be distracted even now?"
Matthew's excuse came readily, "I'm pondering the director's requirements, how to make the character more masculinely beautiful."
The meeting had already ended, and the attendees were leaving one after another. Matthew also stood up and asked, "Are we leaving too?"
"Let's go." Helen Herman was the first to exit the conference room.
Matthew followed her and said, "Didn't the crew set up a rehearsal schedule?"
"The crew has a rehearsal schedule; they've been rehearsing since March." Helen Herman was like toothpaste; Matthew had to squeeze her to get anything out. "Britney and her backup dancers have been rehearsing. Your role doesn't require rehearsal."
Leaving the studio, Matthew drove the four-wheeled electric cart, taking Helen Herman all the way to the studio gate, where he found the reporters blocking the entrance in a chaotic mess, completely surrounding Britney Spears's car. It seemed they wouldn't let her leave unless she came out to answer questions.
"is this how celebrities are treated?" Matthew said with a hint of envy.
"Celebrities don't get this kind of treatment every day." Helen Herman got off the electric cart. "This is because of the gossip report about Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera published in 'American News Report.'"
She suddenly asked, "is your reporter friend employed by 'American News Report'?"
"Uh... I think so." Matthew deliberately feigned confusion. "I haven't asked."
He proactively changed the subject, "Can you help me find a part-time job?"
Helen Herman looked puzzled, "Don't you have a part-time job? Are you not doing the driver's job anymore?"
"I'm unemployed." Matthew didn't hide it. "I took too many days off and was fired by my boss."
Helen Herman walked towards the outside of the studio. When Matthew caught up, she said, "Don't rush this. Your top priority right now is to get this MV shoot done. We'll talk about work after the MV shoot is over."
Matthew exited the studio gate, looked at the car surrounded by reporters and unable to move, and said, "Alright then."
Helen Herman was right; nothing was more important than the MV shoot right now.