What exactly is a movie audition testing? Acting? Looks? Background?
The answer is all of them, but different types of films have different priorities.
If it's an art-house film, the demands on acting will be higher. Acting can break through the limitations of appearance, helping actors stand out.
For example, Anthony Hopkins, Meryl Streep, and Benedict Cumberbatch are all considered average-looking. Many even say Cumberbatch is ugly, but they can conquer directors and audiences with their acting.
In China, Huang Bo, Sun Honglei, and Ge You follow a similar path.
But if it's a commercial film, especially a blockbuster, acting isn't as crucial. Of course, that doesn't mean a blank slate; some basic skills are still needed, which is why Eric arranged for Gadot to study in advance.
For such commercial blockbusters, directors' casting criteria lean more towards appearance and temperament, needing to fit the character's image. Campus films require handsome boys and beautiful girls. Who would watch if the lead had buck teeth and a big face, no matter how good their acting? We're not Ugly Betty.
Megan Fox, the original female lead in transformers, Lin Yun from Stephen Chow's The Mermaid, and the twilight trio, for whom Eric has already commissioned a script expansion, all follow this pattern.
As for background, it is, of course, the most powerful of the three. Otherwise, ask Gwyneth Paltrow and Xiang Zuo, and you'll understand.
Since that press conference, MGM began a global open casting call, receiving over 3,400 resumes in one month.
These were all from actors. If the open call had extended to amateurs, the number would probably have been in the hundreds of thousands or even millions.
It's impossible to interview all three thousand-plus people; it would be exhausting. So the first round focused on image and resume, which already filtered out ninety percent of applicants.
Then came layers of screening, with the final list of candidates for auditions reaching Eric's desk for his approval.
After much screening, over three thousand people were whittled down to just over fifty. These lucky individuals were then sent character bios and some script excerpts to prepare for their auditions.
Of course, not all 50-plus were lucky. In fact, over 40 were 'connected' individuals, relatives or friends of his father who had pulled strings. This just goes to show that background is the most powerful asset.
Even if he didn't intend to use these people, an audition opportunity still had to be given to save face.
However, after the interview, they would be told to wait for news, and a few days later, a phone call or email would be sent, stating that they were not suitable, without specific reasons. The matter would pass, and everyone would still laugh and joke when they met.
In a large room, Tom Hardy sat in a corner, watching people continuously walk in, and his mouth couldn't help but twitch.
He saw James Franco, the young actor who had shot to fame a few months ago for his role in spider-man. Although he wasn't a top-tier star yet, he was a hot commodity, which put a bit of pressure on Tom!
Then he saw Jake Gyllenhaal, a former child star who had been nominated for Best Actor at the Independent Spirit Awards last year for Donnie Darko. The pressure doubled!
Next to walk in was Heath Ledger, also a child star, who was nominated for Best Movie Actor at the 3rd Teen Choice Awards last year for A Knight's Tale. The pressure was immense!
Soon after, he saw Ryan Gosling not far away, who reportedly made his film debut last year and immediately received an Independent Spirit Award nomination.
Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Tom Hardy's heart suddenly pounded. He had felt this before, when he auditioned for band of brothers and Black Hawk Down.
Fortunately, he landed a small role in both productions, but his acting career seemed to end there.
Those two roles weren't enough to open doors for him. You'd be hard-pressed to find him in Black Hawk Down, even without a microscope.
But today, he was auditioning for the male lead, the male lead in transformers, and the competition was terrifyingly fierce. He felt scared.
Just then, another person walked in. Seeing him, Tom Hardy quickly stood up and waved, "James, James, over here."
James McAvoy heard someone call his name, followed the sound, and spotted Tom Hardy, who had also played a small role in band of brothers.
Both were British actors, met while filming that show, and occasionally chatted. They weren't best friends, but they were acquaintances.
"James, it's so good to see a friend here. I'm so nervous," Tom Hardy whispered.
"Me too. I was so happy when I got the audition notice and flew to Los Angeles two days ago, but now…" James McAvoy's expression was also grim.
"I feel like my chances of getting the role are slim. How can I possibly compare to James Franco?"
"Don't be discouraged. James Franco certainly has the biggest name, but if they only looked at fame, MGM wouldn't hold an open casting call, would they?"
"Yes, but I'm still very nervous, my heart is pounding!"
"Relax, think about what you learned in school, take a deep breath. He's here too."
"Who?"
James McAvoy waved, "Michael, over here, I'm here."
Seeing so many people waiting to audition, Michael Fassbender couldn't help but gasp when he walked in. Just as he was about to find a place to hide, he heard someone call his name.
He turned his head and saw James McAvoy, whom he had met while filming band of brothers, and his junior, Tom Hardy.
As if he had found his group in an instant, he quickly walked towards the two of them.
Although they were competitors, at this moment, he still hoped for a warm little group to accept him.
It didn't necessarily have to be warm, just enough to block some wind; he was cold!
Sitting next to James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender swallowed and whispered, "It's so oppressive. Is no one talking?"
James McAvoy raised his chin, "Whoever speaks loudly will become the focus, and that's not a good thing at a time like this. Look at Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Heath Ledger, they're whispering too."
"Who is that person? What a great physique!"
"It seems to be Chris Evans. I saw a movie of his last year."
"The male lead?"
"Yes."
"Don't say anything else, I'm even more nervous!"
Inside the audition room, Eric sat in the middle, with a few people on either side. Among them, one man and one woman were his appointed partners.
The woman was Patty Jenkins, 31 years old this year, serving as Associate Director.
It doesn't matter if you haven't heard her name; you've definitely heard of or seen her work.
One is monster, the film that propelled Charlize Theron to an Oscar Winner.
Another is wonder woman, the one Gal Gadot will star in in the future.
Not long ago, Patty Jenkins was pitching the monster script around the market for investment, and then she was caught by Judy.
It has to be said that Judy has a very sharp eye for scripts. First, she brought saw, and now she's brought monster.
Eric immediately made a decision, promising to invest in the film and allowing her to direct, on the condition that she would serve as Associate Director for Eric's transformers.
Patty Jenkins readily signed the contract. Half a year's work for tens of millions in investment—it was totally worth it!
The man was Neill Blomkamp, 23 years old, not old, serving as a Director's Assistant.
His most well-known works should be District 9 and Chappie. His current ability is certainly not as good as Patty Jenkins', but he is perfectly capable of being a Director's Assistant.
Looking at the time, Eric said, "Let's begin."
Soon, a sunny-faced young man walked in, greeting them neither subserviently nor arrogantly, showing no trace of nervousness. Although only 23, he had been acting for 10 years and had experienced similar scenes too many times.
Based on looks alone, Joseph Gordon-Levitt was qualified. Playing a seventeen or eighteen-year-old student wouldn't feel out of place. Patty Jenkins and the others checked a box on their forms.
Eric didn't waste words. Today was a busy day, so he got straight to the point: "Joseph, have you read the script? What kind of person do you think Sam is?"
This was almost a mandatory question, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt was well-prepared for it, answering without hesitation.
"I believe that on the surface, Sam is a somewhat nerdy high school student. He doesn't stand out at school, has no girlfriend, and no one believes his grandfather's stories. So I think deep down, he yearns for recognition."
"But at the same time, he's very brave and can step up at critical moments, so courage and passion are buried deep within him."
"When Bumblebee is captured, he cares about his companions, which shows he values friendship."
Joseph Gordon-Levitt's answer was satisfactory. Eric continued to press, "If you were to play Sam, how would you approach it?"
"I would base it on my understanding of the character and follow the director's requirements, performing it according to the film's tone. This character is interesting but not complex, and I believe I can handle it."
"Very good, you seem very confident. I like confident actors; it's a manifestation of conviction. Let's do a scene. Neil, you'll assist."
The scene they rehearsed was Sam threatening Sector 7 to release the Autobots with their help.
Eric had specifically chosen this. Ordinary campus and family scenes would be no challenge for Joseph; he was accustomed to them. This scene, however, needed to convey Sam's arrogance; he had to act out that feeling of revenge.
A few minutes later, the performance ended. Eric and Patty Jenkins exchanged glances, then calmly looked at Joseph.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt's heart skipped a beat. This type of scene was indeed his weak area. Heath Ledger, on the other hand, was more adept at it. However, he still had confidence in himself, a confidence born from over a decade of acting experience.
However, Eric then dropped a bombshell question: "Joseph, you should be studying at Columbia University right now, right?"
"Yes, I'm a sophomore."
"Then here's the problem. The filming schedule for transformers is very tight. I won't allow actors to take leave. Can your studies be delayed for three months?"
This question was very realistic and potentially fatal. Joseph Gordon-Levitt wasn't studying acting, but French poetry, history, and literature. Whether he could catch up on his studies after a delay was one issue, and whether the school would even allow it was a much bigger problem.
Creak.
The door opened, and everyone's eyes fell on Joseph Gordon-Levitt's face, trying to read the outcome from his expression. But they were disappointed; his face was calm.
Heath Ledger, a good friend from their collaboration on 10 Things I Hate About You, walked over and patted his shoulder: "How was it, brother?"
The two walked to a secluded spot before Joseph Gordon-Levitt spoke: "Heath, I think I messed up. You need to do your best; this audition is very aggressive."
"Was it hard?"
"Not necessarily hard, but he will make things difficult for you!"
"Who?"
"That MGM Vice President, Eric Cooper."
"Eric Cooper? He should be the producer, right? Where's the director?"
"I don't know. There were only those few people in the room. I didn't see the director."
Heath Ledger looked at the audition room in confusion, then remembered that the director for transformers had never been publicly announced.
Logically, this should have been decided before casting—script first, then director, and finally actors. Because selecting actors is also the director's task, and if the director isn't happy with the actors, how could the directing be effective?
"Anyway, good luck, brother!"
Inside the audition room, after Joseph Gordon-Levitt left, Patty Jenkins looked at Eric.
"Eric, you were very aggressive today. What's wrong?"
Eric retorted, "Was I?"
Another interviewer, a man in his forties, interjected, "It couldn't be more obvious. Among the younger generation in Hollywood, Joseph is quite good."
"But you seemed to deliberately pick that particular segment for him to perform, even though that scene is actually just a very small interlude in the film and not important. Don't you like him?"
Eric took a sip of water, "No, I don't dislike anyone. Everyone who makes it to this stage is excellent, it's just that they specialize in different areas."
"Joseph, he's great, but I don't think his temperament is suitable for transformers."
"Don't you feel it? That artistic, intellectual vibe about him. Right now, what suits him best are fresh, youthful films set in schools or cities. If he develops in that direction, I think his future is bright."
"But transformers needs a sunny boy. Their temperaments can't be blended."
After hearing Eric's explanation, everyone nodded in agreement.
Some people are naturally born with an artistic face. The first impression people get of him is, 'He looks so melancholic.' Such actors are naturally best suited for that type of role.
"Eric, were you really a finance major before?"
"Why do you ask that, Pierce?"
Old Pierce smiled and said, "I've been in this industry for decades, and I've auditioned at least thousands of actors."
"But if you asked me to analyze what path an actor should take, I would never dare to say, and I don't think many people would dare to make a definitive statement."
"Even though Joseph Gordon-Levitt has been acting for over ten years, he probably hasn't even figured out his own positioning."
"But you can see his place. You really should have told Joseph what you just said."
"Eric, this is a very rare ability, usually only possessed by top directors and producers."
Knowing the other party was flattering him, Eric took the opportunity to ask, "Do you think I have the potential to become a great director?"
"Hahaha, why not? transformers is a good one. Perhaps you can use it to practice."
"That's an interesting suggestion! You said it!"