Birth of an actor

Before William knocked on the door, a discussion was taking place in the audition room, featuring Universal executive Stacey Schneider and her assistant producer Jim, Met Joe Black writer-director Martin Brest , Screen Actors Guild representatives and Anthony Hopkins.

The feud initially arose between director Martin Brest and producer Jim.

"I don't understand," said Martin Brest. "Since we already have Brad Pitt, why should we consider anyone else? You all know that Brad Pitt was my first choice, and he just had Brad Pitt. The acting was pretty good too.”

"Meet Joe Black" is not only Martin Brest's first film in five years since the great success of "Scent of a Woman" in 1992, but also an idea he has been brewing for nearly 20 years—— The film was inspired by an old movie "Death Needs a Vacation" adapted from a Broadway play in 1934. As early as the 80s, Martin Brest had been looking for someone to work together to adapt the script, and planned to retell the story. It's time for the big screen.

1992's "Love on the River" made Brad Pitt's handsomeness into the hearts of American movie fans, and also into the eyes of Martin Brest, while "Interview with the Vampire" in 1994 and "Burning Passion" Years" not only established that Brad Pitt's appearance is comparable to Tom Cruise, another handsome guy in Hollywood - in 1995, Brad Pitt was selected as the "Sexiest Man in the World" by "People" magazine Pitt, and Tom Cruise was the cover of the magazine in 1990-and it also made Martin Brest firm to invite the other party to star in "Meet Joe Black", because in his conception, the Grim Reaper It just has to be this handsome.

What is rare is that after reading the script, Brad Pitt also showed a strong interest in the film, especially after learning that the film budget and Anthony Hopkins will also star. The filming has been going smoothly until the producer Jim fell in love with another actor—yeah, that’s right, it’s William Williams, who has become popular in Hollywood this year and also has a smoky face and figure. Bradley.

Originally, the cast was about to be finalized, and now the protagonist has become unclear again, and Martin Brest is a little annoying.It's not that he's dissatisfied with William Bradley or prefers Brad Pitt, but that he doesn't like producers very much, and even Universal's top executives come to criticize him.

So after Brad Pitt's audition, when Martin Brest found that the performance of the other party did meet his expectations, he decided to fight for his right to speak.

"I just think we have multiple choices." Producer Jim said: "In terms of appearance, William Bradley is not inferior to Pitt. In terms of acting skills, he has also been recognized by the Golden Globe Awards. Why don't we look at him How will it be played?"

"But Bradley was brunette and Pete was blond," said Martin Brest.

Although the American mainstream society has been sparing no effort to discredit the image of blondes, it has been satirizing "blond beauties with low IQs" since Marilyn Monroe appeared earlier, but stars who are born with blonde hair and good looks are rare because of their number , but it is easier to be loved by the public. For example, the reason why Brad Pitt is so popular now is inseparable from his blond hair. Even when "People" magazine selected Pitt as the world's sexiest man in 1995, it used Brad Pitt, who dyed his hair brown in "Interview with the Vampire", is not as evil as Tom Cruise, who dyed his black hair golden. Charming.

"Please, who stipulated that the god of death must be blonde?" Jim muttered: "Black hair is a more reasonable choice, isn't it, mysterious, powerful, and unfathomable."

"Then who stipulated that the god of death must have black hair?" Martin Brest retorted angrily.

Ms. Stacy Schneider, the most powerful executive at Universal, clapped her hands: "Okay, Martin, Jim, it's pointless to discuss these things now. How about we watch Will's audition?"

The director and the producer both nodded without saying a word.

……

"Good morning."

"I was a little loud just now, sorry."

William sat on the chair and bowed his body, leaving a space on the right side of his body so that the waiter in the cafe could serve him breakfast. Unsatisfied, he searched in front of him for a while, picked up the milk pot and put it into the teacup, tasted it again and felt satisfied, then continued: "Also, the 'baby' who just talked to me on the phone is not my daughter. friend, but my youngest sister."

After saying this in a joking tone, William glanced forward, as if sitting opposite him was an elegant beauty, and he was speaking to that beauty on purpose, so as not to be misunderstood.

—Let’s not talk about the knife, fork, dinner plate, and milk jug. In fact, there is nothing in front of William, except air.He was playing the scene of the first meeting with the heroine Susan in front of a void, and the props were only a stool, and because the heroine played by Claire Forlani was not present, the hero and heroine fell in love at first sight in a cafe. In the drama, the performer is only William himself.It's sad, isn't it?

"No, I'm not the type to have multiple girlfriends at the same time."

"I've never had just one girlfriend. Of course I did."

While talking to the heroine Susan in the void, William kept moving his hands. He absently cut the imaginary waffle with a knife and fork, and his tone slowly became a little nervous: "In fact , I'm looking for (girlfriend)—"

"Who would have thought that? Maybe it was you." When he said this line, William smiled and looked straight ahead, as if he was looking directly into a lady's eyes.

And his eyes, the dark green pupils are incredibly deep, charming but not sloppy, but can make people feel sincerity.

'That's how it feels! 'Although it was not obvious on the surface, Martin Brest was shouting in his heart: "Anyone will be intoxicated by such dedicated gazes, whether it is Susan or the audience in the movie theater! They will undoubtedly love the man in front of them." It was love at first sight! What I want is exactly this kind of performance!"

Although his heart was agitated, Martin Brest controlled his expression very well - he was the one who had always opposed William Bradley before, so he would not change himself so quickly Thoughts - interrupting William's performance with a light cough, Martin Brest said: "Okay, William, I think we can start the second act."

Hearing Martin Brest's words, William nodded, retracted the smile on his face, and his eyes became much more restrained.

Seeing such a performance, Anthony Hopkins thought in his heart: "The acting skills can be retracted freely. Through the changes in eyes and expressions, it is like a different person in an instant. How old is he? The newspapers seem to say that he is about 20 years old?"Are today's young people already so powerful? '

Thinking of this, Anthony Hopkins was suddenly full of expectations for the second audition in a while. He looked down at the script, wanting to clear up the emotions left over from the previous scene in William and prepare for the next scene. When, do some preparations.At least he can't be compared to this young man who is decades younger than him, can't he?

……

Suzanne, the youngest daughter of billionaire Perish, ran into a charming man in a cafe. They fell in love at first sight, and they talked until they had to go to work. After being hit by a car, Reaper borrowed his body to come to the world. He chose to observe and experience life by Pei Ruixu's side, met Susan, and started a love between Reaper and mortals under Susan's initiative.

This is how "Meet Joe Black" opens, which means that the actor plays two characters at the same time (although one of them is rarely seen): the cafe man and Death.

And that's what William and Brad Pitt auditioned for today: a two-act scene, a scene where the café man and Susan meet for the first time, a scene where Death appears to Perish, and an unbelievable billionaire. dialogue.Whoever makes these two different characters seem independent and charming, William or Pete, wins.

When Anthony Hopkins stood up from his seat, he had become Perish, a wise and tolerant billionaire, an old man whose heart often felt uncomfortable and felt that he might not be dying.

Anthony Hopkins' expression was calm, but his eyes were a little panicked. He couldn't stop looking around, and at the same time, his body was sideways, with his feet facing two directions, as if he was struggling between the two choices of forward and backward - ——At this moment, Perish, who he plays, has just discovered that a mysterious man has appeared in his study, and this man is unpredictable and powerful, even what he said when he was alone with his daughter Susan on a private plane They can all be reproduced clearly.

"What the hell? Why do you know this!" Anthony Hopkins stared at the possible hiding place of the mysterious man:

"who are you?"

"Recall the eternal and unbounded world, I have always been there." A deep and elegant voice sounded, like the strings of a cello being gently plucked, and even people's hearts were gently plucked.

Everyone in the room showed surprised expressions at the same moment.

'The accent has changed! Martin Brest looked in shock at the two people who were immersed in the emotions of the characters: "When he played the man in the cafe just now, Bradley was still in the middle of the United States, probably the accent around Kansas, and the regional accent was still Heavy, but now, cockney?No, it's an Oxford accent!The accent is still very pure! '

The class difference between a strong Kansas accent and an Oxford accent is almost as far away as a pizza delivery guy in a pizza shop and a law firm partner wearing a three-thousand-dollar suit, matching the Kansas accent and Oxford accent for the man in the cafe and the Grim Reaper respectively. Differences and differences in status naturally emerged.

When Brad Pitt auditioned before, he also worked hard on his accent. For example, when he played the man in the cafe, Brad Pitt used the southern accent of his hometown, and when he played the god of death, he also tried to use the accent as much as possible. The pronunciation is very standard, with a slightly arrogant tone.

But the changes made by Brad Pitt, for example, are at most bringing the local accent to Mandarin, which is definitely not as big as William Bradley's current performance, and the class contrast is so obvious.

Anthony Hopkins was as shocked as Martin Brest, but he was astonished not only by William Bradley's manipulation of his accent, but also by his control of emotion and intonation when he delivered his lines. With precise grasp, it is easy to drive Anthony Hopkins deeper into the role-at least faster than when he just played with Brad Pitt.

There is also the aura around him when he walks, because of the deliberately slowed down and rhythmic pace of his steps, while appearing casual and leisurely, there is also a powerful, mysterious, and unpredictable flavor.

"Reaper" has never looked directly at "Perish", but all his words are for the other party: "There is a problem, a problem stuck in your throat, constantly harassing in your ear, Followed you. You wanted to speak out, but you were afraid to speak out."

"That question." The billionaire played by Anthony Hopkins asked half puzzled and half curious.

"Yes, that question. Ask it, Bill, and that's one of the reasons I'm here with you."

The deep and elegant voice was so persuasive that Anthony Hopkins said the next line without having to think about it: "Am I going to die?"

"Reaper" finally turned around and looked directly at Perish, his eyes were bright and deep, as if they contained the entire starry sky or the universe: "Yes". ——This "YES" is like the sound of the letters brewing on the tip of the tongue for a long time. It is slow and dignified, and there is a strange sense of elegance.

And in those dark green eyes, "Perish" seemed to see everything. He stared deeply until the water began to appear in his eyes. Confidently reveal the identity of the other party: "You are——."

"who am I?"

"grim Reaper."

"Reaper" laughed, and his laugh was so pleasant, as if he just heard a good joke.

Although the joke was actually the fact that Perish was dying and recognized a living Reaper at the same time as he realized he was—the incredible shock on a mortal face amused Reaper, making He finds it interesting.

'Divinity. After Anthony Hopkins finished this performance, he couldn't help thinking: "It's a sad thing that a life is about to die. He doesn't feel sad, and induces a mortal to recognize his identity as a god of death and see the other party scared." Nearly having a heart attack is not a happy thing, but he smiles because of it. This is probably the divinity of death."

At this moment, Anthony Hopkins suddenly realized that the man in front of him, William Bradley, contained a soul named "Reaper" in his body at this moment, and it was only 10 minutes ago , the soul in this body is also named "Cafe Charming Man", two completely different souls are filled in the same body one after another - no, no, no, it should be said that William Bradley perfectly interpreted Two completely different souls, this difference is not only reflected in the look of eyes and body movements, but also in small details such as accent and speaking rhythm.

Thinking about William Bradley's age again, Anthony Hopkins couldn't help but be shocked again, both by his talent and his age——

This young man is only 20 years old!

……

In fact, Martin Brest has very high requirements for the acting skills of the leading actor in "Meet Joe Black". He hopes that the man in the cafe can show a suave and charming temperament in a short appearance, and he hopes that the god of death will be full of momentum and even Can intimidate Anthony Hopkins, but at the same time have a side of God who doesn't know the world - given that these two very different roles need to be played by the same actor, no matter which actor gets Joe Black in the end, It is a big test for acting skills.

Although the script doesn't focus too much on the cafe man, he and Death are indeed two completely different characters. Martin Brest naturally hopes that the actors can play the two roles differently and charmingly.

If you haven't seen William Bradley later, Brad Pitt's performance is really good-first of all, the appearance must pass the test, the image of the man in the cafe is exactly what Brad Pitt usually looks like , romantic, suave, handsome and charming, it is easy to win the favor of any woman, while the Grim Reaper interpreted by Pete has a slightly stiff walking posture, as if using a human body for the first time, showing the ignorance, ignorance and innocence of Grim Reaper when he first came to the world The innocent appearance is also very suitable for the interpretation of the role.

Brad Pitt's performance came very close to Martin Blythe's claim, but -- yes, there was a but -- but, William Bradley's performance was way beyond Martin Blythe's special expectations.