After Joseph Gordon-Levitt left, the second person to walk in made Eric frown. It was Shia LaBeouf, the original star of "transformers."
Eric had just said he didn't dislike anyone, which was, of course, a lie. Shia LaBeouf was the one he hated the most.
However, this guy's agent and his dad were quite familiar, so even though he was only 16 and a genuine high school student, Eric couldn't refuse and had to let him audition.
Before Eric's transmigration, this guy had been out of the spotlight for a long time, so many people had forgotten him, but he was definitely Hollywood's king of troublemakers, the kind Ezra Miller would kneel and call 'senior.'
When Shia LaBeouf was 19, he dared to threaten his neighbor with a knife. It was lucky he didn't get a taste of American justice.
After he became famous because of "transformers," he became even more arrogant, developed an alcohol addiction, and completely turned into a drunkard, often with a drink in hand.
First, he was arrested for drunkenly breaking into a chicago chain pharmacy, attempting a zero-dollar purchase.
He didn't calm down for two months before he was caught illegally smoking in a public place in Burbank. He refused to appear in court after receiving a summons and didn't appoint a lawyer. The court then put a bounty on him as a wanted criminal, a somewhat humiliating $1,000, and he only paid the fine under public pressure.
Then came drunk driving, where his arm was grazed by an Optimus Prime, resulting in a fractured arm.
That's why there was a scene in "transformers 2" where Sam's arm was injured; it was because Michael Bay was forced to change the script. The crew couldn't be delayed because of one person.
Immediately after, he complained that Spielberg was old and "indiana jones 4" was subpar, calling his participation in that movie his biggest mistake.
Yet, his role in "transformers" was precisely due to Spielberg's strong support.
That wasn't all. Later, during rehearsals for the Broadway play "Orphans," he stalked his co-star Alec for a month, scaring the latter into calling the police, and the production team fired him.
2012 brought another explosive piece of news: on the set of "Lawless," a drunken Shia LaBeouf ambushed Tom Hardy, knocking him unconscious and sending him to the hospital.
His reputation was already in tatters. Perhaps no one wanted to cast him in movies anymore, so he started directing.
He directed a short film that won an award, but just as his reputation was improving, he was exposed for plagiarism. He then used a drone to apologize to the original author, but the drone flew to the wrong address.
By 2019, Shia LaBeouf's antics reached their peak. He wrote and directed "Honey Boy," a film depicting his own childhood.
In the film, his father could only be described as a villain, and the audience understood the pain caused by his upbringing.
Just as the audience began to sympathize with him, a twist emerged: he personally admitted on a show that the plot was fake and he had made it all up.
To get his dad's consent, he even tricked his dad into signing a fake script, making his dad the target of public criticism. It was truly a case of 'pitting' his father and excessive antics.
The incidents listed here are only a fraction of Shia LaBeouf's misdeeds. Besides these, there were also domestic violence against girlfriends, assaulting homeless people, and other atrocities. Ezra Miller looks like a breath of fresh air compared to him.
Eric would have to be insane to use such a psychopath.
"Shia LaBeouf, do you know the story of transformers?"
"Yes, I've seen it on TV."
"Tell me a few names of Autobots and Decepticons."
Shia LaBeouf was instantly stunned. What kind of question was this? In fact, he hadn't watched transformers at all; he had only learned a little for the audition.
He immediately stammered, "Optimus Prime, Megatron, and... and..."
Eric tutted, "You don't seem to know much. Deceiving a producer is not a good habit."
Shia LaBeouf eagerly tried to explain, but Eric didn't give him a chance, pressing on, "Can you drive proficiently? The male lead has a lot of scenes inside a car in the movie."
This question was, of course, a trap, because California law requires minors to be at least 16 to apply for a driver's license.
But getting a license at 16 doesn't mean you can drive on the road. There are strict restrictions, such as not being able to drive at night, needing a parent present to drive, and not being able to transport people other than parents, etc.
Because of these numerous restrictions, although many people get their driver's licenses at 16, not many actually drive on the road. Los Angeles's public transportation is also convenient, so students generally rely on it.
Facing this question, Shia LaBeouf could only try his best to explain, "Sir, I already have my license, and I can practice well. This isn't..."
Eric interrupted again, "But we don't have time to practice. We only have two months for filming, do you know that?"
The other interviewers were speechless. You just told Joseph Gordon-Levitt that filming would take three months; why did it suddenly change?
Seeing Shia LaBeouf stammering and flustered, Eric said expressionlessly, "Of course, everything I just said is secondary. Let's do the acting test first."
Shia LaBeouf was stunned again, but he was screaming internally, "If it's not important, why did you make it sound so serious? You scared me!"
But at this moment, his mind was in disarray, and he couldn't get into character. A simple performance got stuck three times, and he finally walked out dejectedly.
Eric, however, encouraged him a few times, saying he had a bright future and this was just an off day.
Shia LaBeouf couldn't help but have the misconception that this producer wasn't so bad after all.
Only after he walked out did Eric say, "See? Too young, can't handle pressure at all. If he can't handle a few questions, how can he cope with actual filming?"
The other interviewers were speechless again. You said all the good and bad things; it seems it's all the other person's fault.
Outside, seeing Shia LaBeouf on the verge of tears, everyone's heart skipped a beat. Although he was an unknown, he shouldn't be so miserable, the interviewers were too harsh!
After calming himself down, James McAvoy stood up from his seat. Tom Hardy and Michael Fassbender cheered him on.
"You can do it, James. This is the best opportunity; you will definitely seize it. You are Sam."
"I am Sam! I am Sam!"
While self-hypnotizing and taking deep breaths, James McAvoy walked into the audition room.
The moment he walked in, the interviewers knew he had been eliminated.
First, his height. Gal Gadot is 175 centimeters tall, but the British gentleman in front of them was only 170 centimeters. This was awkward.
More serious was his demeanor; his temperament was even more artistic than Joseph Gordon-Levitt's.
His slender eyebrows and prominent lower eyelids, paired with thin, dry lips and a small mouth, made him perfectly suited for an art-house film male lead.
If he was willing to make the sacrifice, he could even play the female lead.
In short, his appearance didn't fit the image of an American hero at all, and Eric would certainly not be satisfied.
Not long after, James McAvoy walked out with a conflicted expression. Tom Hardy and Michael Fassbender rushed over to ask about the situation.
"James, how was it?"
"I failed. He explicitly told me I wasn't suitable, but then he asked if I was willing to play other roles?"
"What kind of role?"
"A supporting role that doesn't have many scenes but is very important, with close-ups and lines, definitely not cannon fodder."
Hearing this, Tom Hardy and Fassbender understood why he was conflicted. Auditioning for the male lead but getting an unknown supporting role, how could he not be conflicted?
"James, are you going to accept?"
"Why not? With my current fame, something is better than nothing."
Not long after James McAvoy's audition failed, Tom Hardy and Michael Fassbender were also eliminated.
The former was not yet the muscular behemoth like Bane, but had a roguish charm, the kind of image where an audience member would know at a glance that this kid wasn't a good person, which didn't fit Sam.
Moreover, Eric remembered that young Tom Hardy always had issues with alcoholism and drug addiction, and was probably still undergoing treatment. Casting him as the male lead was out of the question.
Michael Fassbender had a similar problem. Although he was handsome, his face exuded a rebellious and stubborn personality at first glance.
Especially when he frowned, he always gave off a feeling of deep-seated bitterness, suitable for Magneto, but clearly not compatible with Sam's enthusiastic and sunny demeanor.
Of course, they weren't without gains. Eric offered them roles as American soldiers, with lines and screen time.
James McAvoy wasn't suitable for military uniform, so Eric gave him the role of a computer expert, which fit his temperament.
The other two were more suitable for military uniforms, especially Fassbender. Eric could already imagine his ferocious expression as he traversed the battlefield.
At this point, the "band of brothers" British Trio were all eliminated.
Inside the audition room, Eric looked at James Franco in front of him. He wasn't yet the controversial 'Fu Lan Lan' he would later become, but he was the most famous person auditioning today.
"James, give me a profile, very good."
"Frown slightly for me to see, that's fine."
"Now smile."
James Franco smiled slightly, and the aura of a rich young master on his face was undeniable, but Sam's family background was actually very ordinary.
Eric frowned, "James, relax a bit, open your mouth wider at the corners. I need you to laugh heartily, let out a 'haha' sound."
"Okay."
James Franco nodded, readjusted his expression, and this time he gave off a more aloof impression.
Then he opened his mouth and laughed loudly, but the intensity seemed a bit too much, turning into a silly grin.
The interviewers all shook their heads slightly, because in James Franco, they saw a common problem among young actors, especially those who were popular and handsome.
These actors knew they were handsome and knew which parts of themselves were most attractive, so they always intentionally or unintentionally showcased them, while trying to hide their shortcomings.
Their approach wasn't wrong, and it was human nature, but over time, that demeanor became ingrained and was difficult to correct in a short period.
After examining his physique and demeanor, Eric asked again, "What do you think you can bring to the movie?"
"Many things. I will obey any arrangements made by the director. I can endure hardship and perform any scene myself. There will definitely be a lot of explosion scenes in the movie. If the director wants it to be more realistic, I can do without a stunt double. I am confident I can portray Sam well and present a popular male lead to the fans."
The answer was excellent, and everyone was very satisfied. Everyone likes an obedient and responsible actor.
As James Franco walked out of the audition room, the waiting crowd saw the smile on his lips, and their hearts tightened, thinking it was not good.
Then Jake Gyllenhaal walked out, leaving without a word. He was recalling what Eric had just said.
Next was Ben Foster. There was no sign of disappointment on his face, which was not surprising, as he never had a strong desire to win.
He had been acting in TV shows for years with little fame, especially after his girlfriend, Kirsten Dunst, became famous for starring in "spider-man," which made him realize the gap between them.
His unremarkable acting career, repeated failures, and setbacks had long worn down his will. He often felt he wasn't suited for this path.
Recently, he had been arguing frequently with his girlfriend and was constantly disheartened and unmotivated. He had only submitted his resume with a 'let's see' attitude. If he got selected, it would be a stroke of luck; if not, so be it.
Fortunately, it wasn't bad; he got a small role as an American soldier.
After Ben Foster left, the auditions continued.
The number of people waiting became fewer and fewer, and more and more people left disappointed, until only Heath Ledger and Chris Evans remained.
Inadvertently, the two simultaneously looked up, their gazes intertwining. Although they didn't know each other, with only the two of them left in the large room, not doing anything felt a bit awkward.
So, both smiled simultaneously. Luckily, at this moment, Chris Evans's number was called, which ended the somewhat awkward scene.
Inside the audition room, the others gradually figured out Eric's routine. He seemed very familiar with these young actors and could always make various demands tailored to their strengths and weaknesses.
Moreover, it was clearly evident that he didn't have a good impression of a few of them, and his questions were highly targeted and aggressive.
He was also very lenient with a few others, such as Jake Gyllenhaal, to whom Eric gave many constructive suggestions. His attitude towards the "band of brothers" trio was also very friendly.
As for Ryan Gosling, who had just left, a newcomer who had debuted two or three years ago, Eric was also very lenient, allowing him to fully showcase his characteristics. His temperament indeed fit the character of Sam.
Of course, there were also shortcomings, such as a slightly long chin, but in this audition, he was already considered very good.
At this moment, the door opened again, and a tall, handsome, and sunny young man walked in, introducing himself very politely.
Looking at the 21-year-old Captain America, whose face still showed a hint of youthful shyness and restraint, Eric couldn't help but smile slightly.
"Chris, relax, don't be so nervous. This is just an audition, not an interrogation!"
Light laughter filled the room, and the atmosphere instantly eased considerably. Chris Evans finally relaxed.
"The interviewers are quite nice, why were those people looking so glum?"
Muttering to himself, young Captain America cooperated with Eric, performing different actions and expressions.
His subsequent acting test also went smoothly, because for the past two years, all the roles he had played were high school students, so he was perfectly adept at such characters.
After going through the basic process, the interviewers secretly nodded. His temperament fit, and he was handsome and charming. He was a strong contender for Sam.
Suddenly, Eric stood up from his seat, and under everyone's puzzled gaze, walked in front of Chris Evans, circling him a few times.
Then, to the latter's surprise, he leaned in, pinched his chin, patted his abdomen and chest, and after a brief pause, released him and returned to his seat.
"Sorry, Chris, I mean no offense, but if you want to get the role of Sam, you need to work harder."
Chris Evans's heart skipped a beat. Combining Eric's recent action with his own handsome face, he thought,
"No way, is he gay?"
"What does it matter to him? This is an A-list production, this is Hollywood. You should have been prepared, Chris. Just close your eyes, you can definitely do it."
Gritting his teeth, Chris Evans tried hard to say, "Whatever you need me to do, just say the word, sir."
"Actually, it's not that complicated. Your physique is too good, too muscular. Sam isn't like that."
"I need you to lose weight. You must say goodbye to the muscles you worked so hard for. This will make your wide jaw narrower, and that's what Sam looks like."
Hearing this, young Captain America immediately breathed a sigh of relief, his mood swinging wildly.
For the past two years, directors in his auditions had always asked him to gain muscle, and he always played big, muscular characters. This was the first time he encountered someone asking him to lose muscle.
Maintaining a physique was painful, but destroying it was blissful.
With a smile on his lips, young Captain America walked out of the audition room.