Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Casting director Don Phillips is a handsome man with long hair and an artistic temperament.

Entrusted by Julia Taylor of the New York Casting Studio, he promised to try to favor Ronald when casting. The two met privately in a cafe.

"I know you stayed in Julia's casting studio for a while. It's a great place. Is the white cat still there? I always pet her when I worked there." Don Phillips and Ronald got in touch and chatted for a while.

"She's still there, but she's old. She doesn't like to move now and likes to lie there in the sun."

Ronald knew that although Don Phillips still had some traces of the New York casting method, he paid more attention to the actor's temperament and the suitability of the role than his Hollywood counterparts.

But overall, his casting method has deviated from the New York school and is closer to the Hollywood method. First look at the relationship, then the appearance, and finally the director's preferences. If there is still room for selection, then look at the temperament core.

"I hope to see more about the degree of fit between the actor's temperament and the core of the role, which is why I asked Cameron Crowe, the author of the original novel, to participate in the casting."

"Are you serious? This is just a youth comedy, not "The Godfather."

"The Godfather was also filmed as a gangster exploitation film. It was the perfect casting that made it a classic of a generation, not the other way around." Ronald laughed.

Looking at Don Phillips who was a little surprised, Ronald knew that he was afraid that he would be extremely picky and torture the casting director and everyone involved in the casting.

"Of course I won't be unrestrainedly picky, but I need to do my best within my ability. I'm not Coppola, and there is an associate producer next to me who has her own ideas."

Don Phillips originally thought that he was just coming to the crew to get a salary. When he heard Julia Taylor's request, he thought the director was an insider or a rich kid playing around. He originally planned to use his professional ability to help, but when he heard Ronald's statement, he was also skeptical for a while.

"I suggest that we hold a first round of casting without any roles, so that we can see multiple possibilities at once. Don't waste too much energy in the first round. Many producers, company executives, and other people who have been asked to help will save the second round of auditions."

"I understand, I'll do as you say."

Don Phillips breathed a sigh of relief. He was finally not a fool.

On the morning of the first round of casting, Ronald, Heckerling, and casting director Don Phillips appeared in the casting office of Universal. There was a movie camera in the back, and all the audition candidates had to introduce themselves to the camera to see how they would look in the frame.

"Shall we start?" Heckerling suggested.

"Wait a minute, we have another companion." Ronald raised his hand to stop the assistant who was about to go out to call someone.

"Who is it? Why don't I know?" Heckerling asked.

"It's the original author of the novel 'Fast Pace', Mr. Cameron Crowe. I asked him to be a reference for the character's personality traits."

Just then there was a knock on the door. Ronald saw that it was Cameron Crowe who came and hurriedly introduced them to each other.

Crowe moved a chair and sat at the side. Heckerlin knew that Crowe did not have the power to vote, so he would only be a person who provided reference opinions in the second and third rounds of interviews. So he did not object.

Ronald knew that all the power was earned by himself. If Crowe could provide some meaningful opinions, he would not be ignored.

"Let's get started." Ronald signaled to his assistant.

The first audition today was for male roles. The first few people were not satisfied. There were not many teenage actors. This audition was also a try-and-see attitude. If there were any actors who were floating at the bottom, they would pick them up.

"Next."

A tall male actor walked in.

"Good morning, my name is Eric Stoltz."

"Hello, Eric, please introduce yourself to the camera." Heckerling motioned him to introduce himself to the camera for the record.

"My name is Eric Stoltz, from California."

"How was your life in high school?" Ronald asked.

"I was a drama fan in high school and participated in the school's comedy club. After graduating from high school, I joined an acting company and performed a drama in Edinburgh, Scotland for a year."

Ronald and Heckerling asked a few more questions and exchanged glances. It seems that everyone recognized his appearance and experience.

"Okay, if we have further news, we will let you know." Casting director Don Phillips said to him.

"I think he is suitable to play the eldest brother Brad. Cameron Crowe admires the temperament of this actor."

"We can take a look again. He is the first suitable candidate." Ronald replied.

"How is his film and television performance resume?"

"He has participated in a TV movie "The Grass is Always Greener on the Septic Tank," the casting director replied.

What the hell!

"Next person, please come in."

More than a dozen actors passed by, and finally a candidate who everyone thought was suitable walked in.

The actor who came in was a slightly mature-looking male actor, with a slightly high forehead, some of the stability of a mature man, but also a little bit of the mischievousness of a teenager.

"Please introduce yourself to the camera"

"My name is Tom Hanks, I'm 25 years old, from..."

"What do you think of high school students working odd jobs in convenience stores to earn tuition for college?" Ronald asked.

"I think it's a very responsible act. I also come from an ordinary family, and I understand that people who can work odd jobs to earn college tuition have endurance, determination, and the ability to handle details."

"Have you ever been in love in high school?" Heckerling asked.

"Of course, I have my high school sweetheart." The actor named Hanks replied, "Who can ignore such a handsome guy?"

"Have you ever had a crush on anyone..." Heckerling continued to ask questions.

Ronald was a little satisfied with this actor, handsome but can be classified as an ordinary person. With a sense of humor and a sense of responsibility, he is very suitable for the role of big brother Brad. At the age of 25 this year, although older than high school students, his face is relatively tender, and the audience can introduce a slightly mature big brother

"I saw your role in the TV series "Close Partners", has it been renewed for the next season?" Casting director Don Phillips began to ask questions.

"Yes, the contract has been renewed."

"Will you give up filming 'Close Companions' for this film?"

"I think I can do both."

"Okay, we will let you know if we have further news."

After Tom Hanks left, Cameron Crowe was the first to speak:

"This one is better than the previous one, and it is very suitable for the role of big brother Brad. The temperament is also in tune. He looks like a responsible person, but not too smart, which is very suitable for the feeling that big brother Brad gets everything from books."

"Yes, Cameron, I think so too, but..." Ronald smiled bitterly. Cameron Crowe still didn't understand film and television production very well, so he signaled casting director Don Phillips to explain.

"Hanks is currently filming the ABC comedy series 'Close Companions', which had good ratings last year and will be renewed for a new season in October this year. That means he will be filming a TV series during our filming. Running back and forth like this will affect our filming, after all, Brad is a protagonist and has a lot of scenes."

"And now the new policies implemented by the President after he took office have caused a severe economic depression and high prices for everything. The original budget is not enough. If we can't increase the budget, we can only compress the filming to 7 weeks." Ronald announced a piece of news.

Unexpectedly, the actor President gave a good speech, but his policies after taking office have caused even uglier price increases and unemployment rates than his predecessor. He said this is labor pain, and the economy will improve in the second half of the year. It seems that politicians will always shirk responsibility.

"Oh, that's a pity." Cameron Crowe muttered.

"Add him to the list first and see if there are any suitable people later?" Ronald asked Heckerlin for his opinion.

"I think it's okay."

"Okay, let's call the next one."

...

After interviewing many candidates in a row, no one was eye-catching.

"Next" was already in the afternoon, close to the end of the get off work day. Ronald drank a sip of black tea and called again. Seeing that no one came in, he asked, "Anyone else?"

"Good afternoon, my name is Forest Whitaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to audition." A big black man came in and squeezed in from behind the door. Ronald noticed that one of his eyes was a little crooked.

Ronald took the information and saw that this was a newcomer, not a union member. He was a little taller than himself, and his figure was very burly. Standing there, he had a kind of intimidating power, like a bodyguard of a gangster boss.

"Have you played football?" Ronald asked.

"In high school, I played linebacker. I got into California Polytechnic State University on a football scholarship, but retired due to a back injury during the game."

"Have you acted in a play?" Heckerling was also very interested in him. This person has very good appearance conditions, suitable for the role of the football star in the play, and he happened to be a tough guy who got a football scholarship.

"I was a church choir member when I was young. After I got injured, I joined the choir and also acted in the drama club." Whitaker answered politely.

"Very good." Ronald and the other three people discussed in a low voice. This is a supporting role, not many scenes, and many shots are playing football in their true colors.

Moreover, it is difficult to find a football player with good looks. This big guy has good looks, a bully temperament, and some acting experience. It is estimated that their crew can't find a better candidate.

"Let's choose him? I guess you can't find a more suitable person." Don Phillips also suggested so.

"Do you have an agent?" Ronald asked.

"No, what do you mean?" Whitaker couldn't believe it.

"Yes, you are selected. If you have an agent, let him come to the crew to sign. If not, take my business card to CAA or WA to find a temporary agent to sign.

Congratulations, Mr. Whitaker."

Ronald stood up and shook hands with him.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you." Whitaker was very happy and shook hands with several people present.

Then he said goodbye politely and left the room.

But through the window of the room, they all saw Whitaker jumping and running towards his car as soon as he left the office. He was a very interesting big man.

"It's almost done. Let's stop here for now?" Ronald asked several audition partners.

“Okay,” Heklin looked at his watch, “We’ll continue tomorrow and see the actress.”