Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Audition director Lynn Stammaster is a veteran professional audition director. He is the first audition director in Hollywood to leave his name on the opening credits of a movie. He is highly respected in the industry and is generally considered to be one of the two founders of the position of casting director.

Last time he was ordered to find an actor for Superman, he completed the task perfectly and found the very handsome Christopher Reeve.

So this time, the producers Salkind and his son asked him to come out again, hoping that he could create miracles again and find another girl from Krypton for the American audience.

The casting director first searched in Los Angeles for two weeks and met hundreds of candidates. In fact, there were only two people who moved him.

One was the popular youth idol, Brooke Shields. This girl has the right hair color, a good image, and acting skills... Forget it, acting skills are not important in this movie, and there is a lot of time to slowly train her. It is time for her to learn acting skills.

The other is a black-haired girl, who is only five feet five inches tall. But the natural meaning of the flowing eyes can make her very good at completing the image of the Kryptonian cousin who wakes up Superman with a kiss. This is a completely different way of acting from Brooke Shields, but he thinks it can work.

This time, the Salkinds hope to repeat the success of the Superman series of movies and sign a contract with the actress for three live-action Superman movies, so that her salary can be controlled within a reasonable range.

So compared to Brooke Shields, who has already asked for a high price, he still believes that the black-haired girl will win the final casting, if there is no better candidate on this trip to New York.

Looking at the pile of audition photos sent by the assistant, casting director Lynn began to look at them one by one. Casting is more important based on intuition, so he usually does not look at the resume behind the photo, but first picks out the photo that makes him feel satisfied, and then looks at the resume in the second round.

New York is the largest candidate for actors besides Los Angeles. There are many performing arts schools and Broadway, and many TV series are produced here.

The casting director can't help but feel a little tired after reviewing hundreds of photos one by one, and his eyes are a little presbyopic.

"Hey, who is this?" A girl with big blue eyes jumped out, which made his eyes light up.

This time, he did not follow the usual practice of picking out this photo and then looking at the resume, but immediately turned to the back to see the girl's name.

"Helen Slater, graduated from the performing arts college, has a history of acting in TV series and commercials."

It turned out to be her. The casting director received a call from the industry asking for help and mentioned Helen's name. But even without this call, this girl is too suitable for Superwoman, except for the color of her hair.

He covered Helen's dark brown hair with his hands and imagined what blonde hair would look like.

"Let her come for the audition." The casting director asked his assistant to call.

Helen Slater was accompanied by her mother to the first round of auditions, and Ronald was busy with other things.

Gerard had a TV business to deal with. Anyway, the first round was just to select the next seven or eight key recommended candidates, and he had already said hello.

"How is it? Did the casting director take a fancy to you?" Helen's mother saw that her daughter came out after a few minutes, and she didn't know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing. Surrounded by girls and parents who came to audition, she pulled her daughter into the car and asked Helen.

"I don't know. He asked me to come back and wait for notification."

"That should be a good thing, right? Ask Ronald later."

"Of course it's a good thing. He will let you wait for notification if you have the hope of making the final recommendation list." After meeting Helen, Ronald answered her question. With his father's care, it is impossible that he would not even give the final interview opportunity.

Ronald has done a lot of auditions and knows that such people with connections will at least give a real audition opportunity in the later rounds.

"How are you today?" Helen asked him.

"A small distributor wants to invite me to make another youth film. I asked my agent to turn it down, but he came to New York." Ronald answered.

"Did you agree?"

"No," Ronald shook his head. This small distributor is called Atlantic Distribution Company. It is essentially a small distributor like Roger Corman's New Century Company, with some small and old theater distribution channels in various places.

On the one hand, Ronald doesn't want to repeat himself by making another youth film right away. On the other hand, if you want to direct a youth film, Universal and Paramount have offered olive branches, and former boss Roger Corman has offered small ones. There is no need to deal with new agencies. There are many scammers in this industry, so you have to be careful.

"Ah, I'm so nervous. What if I can't make the final audition list?" Helen was a little nervous. After all, this was her first movie audition.

"I've been notified. I'll go to the second round of auditions tomorrow." A few days later at noon, Helen ran to Ronald excitedly to tell him the good news.

"Very good, just calm down..."

"Okay, I know how to do it. Gerald has already told me what to order." Helen was in high spirits and full of confidence.

"Oh, I'm nervous again." In the afternoon, Helen started to get nervous again, "I'm called so early tomorrow morning. Will I be the first one in line?"

"There's nothing wrong with being the first. I know some casting directors like to put the most promising candidates in the first audition."

"Really?" Helen relaxed a little.

"Of course, your appearance is so outstanding, if I were to be the casting director, I would choose you, that's right. Film casting is mainly about choosing the right appearance and acting skills..."

"Acting skills aren't so important... I understand." Helen looked a little sad, "But there are so many beautiful girls in New York, and those who go there tomorrow will definitely be the best of the best."

"You will always be the most beautiful one in my heart..." Ronald began to say nice things, asking Helen to relax a little. If she stays so nervous, she won't be able to perform at her best for the audition tomorrow.

But Helen's idea is not unreasonable. For such a popular Superman spin-off movie, there must be many very beautiful girls who will audition. Although Helen is beautiful, in the film industry, beauty is just a ticket.

Of the actresses I have seen since I entered the industry, which one is not a beauty that stands out among ordinary people?

I have to find a way to help her relax, and then go to the audition with confidence tomorrow.

"Do you still have your Supergirl uniform?" Ronald asked Helen.

"Are you there? What?"

"You might as well put on this uniform and go to the audition." Ronald had an idea.

"This? Is that okay?" Helen didn't expect that Ronald was talking about this.

"You know, when auditioning, the most important thing is the photogenic effect. See if your image and role are suitable.

If you can put on a Supergirl uniform to shoot an audition video, on the one hand, you can let them intuitively feel what you look like in the uniform, and on the other hand, it can also show your determination. "

The more Ronald thought about it, the more he was right. Dressing up like a character to audition would definitely leave a very deep impression on the producer. When filming "Famous", the actresses were also required to put on ballet costumes and dance a section.

"That's it. You look beautiful in uniform, and you will surely conquer the audition director and producer."

Helen was dubious, but seeing that Ronald was so sure, she took out Supergirl's uniform, put it on her body, and made gestures in the mirror.

"It seems that the waist is a bit big. I'll ask Aunt Karen to change it for you." Ronald noticed that Helen's slender waist made the uniform a bit too big, and he used his hands to help her close it, which immediately revealed her proud figure.

"Okay, will it be too much trouble Karen?"

"It doesn't matter. It's too late to go to your home on Long Island and ask your mother to help you change it. Aunt Karen is very good at making clothes. She used to make all of Donna's clothes."

"It's very simple. If you're only wearing it once, I'll just pack it in the back for you." Aunt Karen looked at Helen's appearance after putting on the uniform, and then decisively pushed out the sewing machine.

After changing her clothes, Helen put them on again, and sure enough, her superwoman figure was now revealed.

"There seems to be a mark on the back of the uniform." Ronald touched his chin and saw.

"By the way, does the Superman family all have a cape?" He remembered that in the Superman movie, Christopher Reeve flew in the sky wearing a scarlet cape.

"Is there one for Supergirl too?"

"Yes, there must be."

"Well..." Ronald scratched his head, "Wait a minute, I'm going to buy a Superman cape.

Soon, Superman's cape was bought, and Aunt Karen helped cut it short according to Helen's height, and used a sewing machine to seal the hem.

Ronald helped Helen Slater put on her cape, and sure enough, a heroic superwoman appeared.

"Very good, just wear it like this." Ronald thought it was very good.

Helen returned home with her altered uniform and cloak.

Ronald watched Helen go away at the door.

"What's wrong?" Aunt Karen saw Ronald standing at the door, and Helen's taxi was no longer visible.

"Hmm... I don't know. Seeing her dressed like this today, I think she will definitely get this role."

"Don't be like this, you are all good children." Aunt Karen touched Ronald's shoulder. She knew that Ronny was thinking of his ex-girlfriend Antonia.

"I seem to understand her father Gerard's thoughts. If Helen only plays a supporting role, there is a high probability that she will stay in New York, not far from her parents, acting in small theater plays, or becoming a high school drama teacher.

I advised him to let it go

Was Helen doing the right thing by pursuing her dream? "

In front of his aunt, Ronald had no reservations.

"Auntie, you had your own ideas before marrying your uncle, right?"

"Yes, I married Steve right after I graduated from high school. Originally, I wanted to go to Manhattan to find a job. But I have never regretted the time I spent with Steve, and our daughter Donna." Aunt Karen Hugged Ronald.

“Americans are born free, and we are born with the right to choose our dreams.

Just like you, Ronnie, if you didn't pursue your dream with all your strength and didn't even finish college, how could you have directed a debut film with a box office of 30 million yuan at the age of 22? "Aunt Karen pulled Ronald back into the house.

"I know, I will go back and get my college diploma." Ronald smiled. His aunt was still obsessed with graduating from college.

"It's so embarrassing. I'd better wear it when I get to the audition." Helen Slater was waiting for Ronald's car in front of her home the next morning. She was still wearing her own T-shirt and jeans.

"Okay, don't forget to bring it." Ronald reminded Helen's mother to help her put the uniform into her bag and put it in the back seat of the car.

"Do you really have to wear this uniform? Helen is afraid of being laughed at." Her mother put her bag on the back seat and sat in. Seeing Helen's awkward look next to her, she still felt a little funny. "Do all actresses have to wear this when auditioning?"

"No, this is Helen's secret weapon."

When they arrived at the audition location, Helen Slater was indeed ranked first that day. The audition director came to call her in.

Ronald was not sure whether the audition director ranked the best candidate first, or deliberately put the good house at the back like a real estate agent, so that the producer always looked at the girl who was not satisfied in the front, and finally his eyes lit up.

A total of eight candidates were sitting in the waiting area outside the audition location, and no one was wearing a Supergirl uniform.

Helen Slater was a little embarrassed, not knowing whether she should change her clothes.

"Put on this coat first, we have to audition the scenes of Supergirl's Earth identity Linda Lee first." The audition director handed over the green school uniform coat.

After Helen put it on, she glanced at Ronald. Seeing her boyfriend nod in encouragement, she walked in.

"Please introduce yourself." The audition director introduced the producer Salkind and his son, and then asked Helen to start the audition.

"Good morning, my name is Helen Slater, I am five feet eight inches tall..."

After shooting the front and side shots, the producer Salkind and his son handed over a piece of paper with a dialogue of Supergirl on it, "Please familiarize yourself with it and read it to the camera."

"Can I go to the bathroom?" Helen asked.

"Please go."

"This is the one I like the most. Her height is very suitable. Her blue eyes and face shape are also suitable for playing a righteous role like Supergirl. He and Christopher Reeve look a bit like each other. The audience will think they are cousins."

While Helen went to the bathroom, the audition director began to promote the most suitable candidate in his mind.

"Well, why haven't you come yet?"

The Salkind father and son began to wonder if Helen Slater was too nervous and couldn't get out of the bathroom.

"Oh, I'm dressed like a fool." Helen Slater changed into Supergirl's uniform in the bathroom. She felt so stupid. How could she believe Ronald, the bastard, and how could she meet the producer and casting director dressed like this.

"Ms. Slater?" The casting director's voice came from outside the door...

"It's too late..."

"Pop!" The door of the audition room was pushed open, and a female warrior wearing a blue and red uniform with a big S on her chest walked in.

She threw her cape back, "Good morning, I'm Kara Zor-El from Krypton, Superman's cousin. After the destruction of Krypton, I took an interstellar journey to Earth. Now I'm Linda Lee, a high school student in New York on Earth."

The father and son of Selkind looked at each other and saw satisfaction, "Very good, please do it again for the camera..."

"Hahaha, look at the way she's dressed?" The other seven candidates waiting for the audition outside the door couldn't help laughing when they saw Helen walking out of the uniform without changing out of it.

The hand-sewn uniform still looked a little cheap.

Helen looked ashamed, and she pulled Ronald and his mother out.

"Let's go change first." Ronald took Helen's bag of changed clothes and said to her.

"Let's go." Helen wanted to leave even more when she heard the girls laughing in a low voice.

"Next..." Ronald walked out with Helen, and the audition director's voice came from behind.

"How about this one?"

All eight actors had finished their auditions, but every time the Salkinds saw an actor, they always thought of Helen Slater, who was the first to audition in the morning.

The image of the superwoman uniform always jumped out stubbornly and was compared with other actors.

The heroic temperament and demeanor were really unforgettable. The later auditioners, some were born with blonde hair, and some were athletes who turned into actors with better bodies, but none of them had the attitude of "I am the superwoman".

"Still Helen? She is better than the other seven in New York, and better than the black-haired girl in Los Angeles."

The casting director was very confident in his recommendation. Helen is taller than the short actress in Los Angeles, has a more confident demeanor, and is more convincing when she flies on the wire.

"You are right." Both the Salkinds nodded in agreement. Indeed, Helen Slater's uniform is too impressive.

"Demi Moore in Los Angeles is also good. Let her play Supergirl's best friend Lucy Lane." Old Salkind thought about it. The actress's acting skills are also good. It is better to give her a binding contract and sign them together. Anyway, this best friend has appeared in the Supergirl trilogy.

"What about Brooke Shields?"

"Oh, her mother wants $1.5 million per film. We don't want to continue the discussion. Anyway, these two newcomers can probably keep the salary below $100,000 per film."