Chapter 007: Audition
Chapter 007: Audition
Eric followed James and the others to a small temporary soundstage. Looking at the familiar surroundings, Eric felt slightly excited. Inwardly, he silently said to the movie equipment around him, Just wait, my darlings. This time, I will definitely become a film legend everyone looks up to. When future generations look back on Hollywood, I want them to say of Eric Williams, just like in Barry Diller’s biography: He is Hollywood!
As the author of the screenplay, all questions about his understanding of the character were skipped during the audition, and they directly began the performance.
In his previous life, during his years of struggling, Eric had also worked as an actor and appeared in quite a few films and TV dramas. After all, in that circle, when a friend’s production crew had a role that matched his image, he would often be dragged over with a single phone call to play a bit part, earn ten or twenty thousand in pay, expand his connections along the way, and maybe even run into an opportunity someday.
Penny Marshall casually selected a few scenes for Eric to perform. The first few scenes were all very simple. Eric had already practiced them privately for several days, and with the clear images of the original film in his mind, he performed them very easily.
This surprised Brooks and Penny Marshall, who were watching from the side. Eric’s performance was nothing like that of a complete beginner with no acting experience. If he could maintain this level during the official shoot, Eric would not even need the short-term training afterward, and they could directly begin preparing the film.
“Next, Eric, try this section.” Penny smiled and handed Eric a section of the script. From her expression, Eric was certain he had basically passed this stage, and he felt a wave of relief. Just now, he had also been afraid that he would make some mistake in his performance.
He looked at the script in his hand. This was the scene on the school auditorium steps where Mike comforted his daughter after her breakup with her boyfriend. This scene contained Mike’s favorite line, and also one of the film’s most classic lines.
“Ms. Penny, I need an actress to play opposite me for this scene.”
“Of course.” Penny Marshall turned to a female staff member beside her. “Teresa, run this scene with Eric.”
This scene lasted more than two minutes, so Eric and the girl named Teresa spent a few minutes preparing. Teresa only needed to roughly remember the lines. After all, she was only a “prop.” Eric, however, carefully felt out the various emotions shown in the scene: his concern when he saw his daughter crying, his panic when he heard that his daughter might have slept with Stan, his awkwardness and inexperience while comforting her, and his helplessness when his daughter suddenly threw herself at him in desire.
After they were ready, a staff member called out, and the performance officially began.
Maggie sat on a prop box and pretended to cry.
Mike walked forward, concern showing on his face.
“Hey, Maggie, what’s wrong?”
“Go away.” Maggie tucked her hands into her sleeves and ignored Mike as she continued crying.
“Hey, what exactly happened?” Mike sat down beside Maggie.
“What do you want to do? Pat my head and say, ‘I told you so’?”
“No, no, no, I won’t.” Mike hurriedly explained, “I just want to know what happened.”
“Stan dumped me.”
“Stan dumped you!” Mike raised his eyebrows slightly, and a flash of surprise passed over his face before it changed into anger and disbelief.
A father would naturally be happy to discover that his daughter had broken up with her scumbag boyfriend. But once he realized that the boy had dumped his daughter, he became overwhelmingly furious and incredulous. In a father’s view, his daughter was so outstanding that of course she should have been the one to dump that scumbag. What right did that scumbag have to dump his daughter?
James Brooks and Penny Marshall, who were watching Eric’s performance from the side, both showed surprised expressions at that moment. If Eric’s performance just now could be counted as sixty points, then this single change in facial expression was enough to raise Eric’s performance to ninety points. James began to acknowledge Eric somewhat. Someone who could reach his position definitely would not be the kind of paranoid person who, once he disliked someone, found it difficult to change his opinion.
The two people onstage continued performing.
After hearing that his daughter might have slept with Stan, Mike instantly became frantic. Once he confirmed that the terrible thing had not happened, he hugged his daughter, awkwardly scratched his head, and clumsily organized his words to comfort her.
“When you’re young, the smallest thing can feel like the end of the world. But it isn’t. Everything is only just beginning. Along the way, you might meet a few jerks, but one day, you’ll meet a boy who holds you in the palm of his hand and revolves around you like the sun, rising and setting.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
“You’re so sweet.” Maggie threw herself into Mike’s arms. After Mike realized that his daughter’s emotions toward him were not quite normal, he flailed and shrank back, grabbed his backpack, and stood up. While inviting his daughter to his party, he also defended himself from being pushed down by her.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
As soon as the two finished performing, James Brooks and Penny Marshall could not help applauding. With their professional judgment, they could naturally see how excellent Eric’s performance was. When the nearby staff saw the director and producer’s actions, they also followed along and applauded.
Michael Klaus stood to the side, grinning as he clapped. Although he also thought Eric’s performance was outstanding, he was not a professional. But from James and Penny’s actions, he knew that Eric had passed the audition. This meant the Back to 17 screenplay had successfully been sold, and he would receive at least one hundred thousand dollars in commission. Although he owned a small publishing house and its performance was decent, his entire net worth was only around four or five million, and most of it was real estate. Receiving one hundred thousand dollars in one payment was also a huge sum to him.
After passing the most crucial audition, many things naturally fell into place.
Eric sold the screenplay and signed the actor contract for two hundred fifty thousand dollars and five hundred thousand dollars respectively. The screenplay price was fifty thousand dollars higher than expected, which Michael had fought for. After all, half of it belonged to him. As for the acting pay, although Eric’s performance was excellent, he was still a newcomer, so five hundred thousand dollars was reasonable.
In the blink of an eye, Eric discovered that he already had a net worth of more than six hundred thousand dollars. Although the actor’s pay would only be paid after the film finished shooting, this still gave him the illusion that a lifetime had passed. If he had this much money in his previous life, he would definitely have produced a film himself. Unfortunately, among so many colleagues in his previous-life circle who had worked hard and struggled, only a tiny handful had truly become directors.
After signing the contract, Eric left Fox’s filming base with the check. What remained was the film’s preparation work. Although he very much wanted to participate and accumulate some experience, he had only just gained the producer and director’s favorable impression. He did not want to give them the illusion that he was meddling too much in film matters again.
As for the acting classes originally planned, they were also canceled. In Penny Marshall’s words, Eric’s performance was perfect, and there was absolutely no need to waste time on those beginner acting courses. As for minor flaws in his acting, they could simply be corrected during filming.
Eric went to the bank with Michael Klaus. After cashing the check, he paid Michael one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars. Eric did not feel too distressed about this money. Although Michael had not done too much, the mere fact that he recommended the screenplay to the right people was enough. If Eric had relied only on himself, with no connections whatsoever, who knew how long it would have taken him to sell the screenplay, let alone with that additional condition attached.
After that, he resigned from Jeff’s restaurant, just as Jeff had expected. Since they had spent over a month together, Eric invited his coworkers to his house for a small party. Jeff and several older coworkers did not attend.
After partying all night, Eric was plied with alcohol by his coworkers until he was dead drunk, then fell into a deep sleep.