Warner Bros. Studio had been around for a long time. Many of the Rooms in this soundstage had partition walls, and the soundproofing could only be described as average. Even without listening closely, Matthew could tell that the people arguing were Charlize Theron and Stuart Townsend. However, Charlize Theron's voice was very low, while Stuart Townsend's voice grew louder and louder.
Suddenly, the argument stopped abruptly, followed by a loud slam of a door.
Matthew opened the door and stepped out of the dressing Room, just in time to see Stuart Townsend's back disappearing at the end of the corridor. He guessed the person who had just slammed the door was him.
Not every unknown man could calmly accept that his girlfriend was an oscar best actress winner, especially when he was an actor himself.
With a sigh in his heart, Matthew walked to the door of Charlize Theron's dressing Room, knocked gently, and asked, "Sally, can I come in?"
"Wait a moment," Charlize Theron's voice came from inside, and soon she said, "Please come in."
Matthew pushed the door open and entered. Charlize Theron was sitting in front of the vanity mirror, her exquisite face still wearing that slightly cold expression.
"Are you okay?" Matthew put down his backpack, pulled over a chair, sat down next to Charlize Theron, and asked with concern, "What happened this time?"
This wasn't the first time he had seen Stuart Townsend and Charlize Theron arguing on the Crew, but the previous times their voices had been very low, not as intense as this time.
Charlize Theron shook her head slightly, "I'm fine." She forced a smile, "Thank you, Matthew."
Matthew reached out and gently patted Charlize Theron's arm. He didn't ask further, but instead said, "We're friends, after all."
Regardless, Stuart Townsend was still Charlize Theron's boyfriend for now. If he, an outsider, rashly chimed in with an opinion, it would easily cause resentment.
That wasn't what he wanted. Even if he were to intervene, he had to find a suitable opportunity. Right now, Charlize Theron was clearly still being tolerant of Stuart Townsend.
Charlize Theron stood up, briefly packed her bag, and said, "Let's go."
Matthew shouldered his backpack, went over to open the door, and waited for Charlize Theron to exit before they walked toward the soundstage entrance together.
The long corridor was very quiet,
but as Matthew walked along, he could see many curious eyes peering from some of the open doors.
Charlize Theron noticed as well and directly pulled up the hood of her athletic jacket to cover her head.
After leaving the soundstage, since it wasn't far from the studio entrance, the two simply walked. Charlize Theron took out a pair of sunglasses and put them on.
"How long have we known each other, Matthew?" she suddenly asked.
Matthew thought for a moment and said, "Over two years, I think. Not as long as you've known Keanu and Depp."
Charlize Theron kicked a small pebble off the road with her sneaker and said out of nowhere, "In the first two years we were together, he wasn't like this."
Matthew knew Charlize Theron was talking about Stuart Townsend. Seeing that she intended to continue, he didn't interrupt.
"Later, I gradually became famous," Charlize Theron said to herself. "But his career didn't take off. Gradually, many things changed."
She sighed, "To be precise, the failure of the league of extraordinary gentlemen completely changed our lives."
Since Charlize Theron was willing to talk about it, Matthew took the opportunity to say, "Actually, people are always changing. You and I are changing too. But people have to adapt to this change and the external environment, rather than letting the environment adapt to a person. That's impossible."
Charlize Theron smiled, "If he had a mindset like yours, he wouldn't be like this now." She put her hands in her pockets and said, "Things I desperately wanted to strive for and work hard to maintain always go astray, unable to follow the ideal path."
"Have you ever thought about changing paths?" Matthew said.
Hearing this, Charlize Theron stopped and turned to look at Matthew. Matthew looked at her candidly, as if caring for a best friend, and said, "Sally, you treat me as a friend, and as your friend, I've had some words held back for a long time. I don't know if I should say them."
"Go ahead," Charlize Theron had always had a very good impression of Matthew.
"I'm not trying to interfere in your private life, I just feel a bit indignant," Matthew lowered his voice and said. "Last time outside Depp's bar, I saw Stuart Townsend get physical with you in the car. If we hadn't been a bit far away and Stuart Townsend hadn't started the car so quickly, Depp and I would have dragged him out of the car..."
He didn't say the rest, believing Charlize Theron would certainly understand.
Matthew looked at Charlize Theron and spoke bluntly, "You should know mine and Depp's tempers. You're our friend, but he isn't. If someone were to lay a hand on you in front of me—"
He waved his hand, "Never mind, let's not talk about that. Sally, in my eyes, you're a strong, independent woman and also a very tolerant person."
Charlize Theron remained silent, but she didn't find Matthew's words harsh at all. Instead, she felt that Matthew, like Keanu Reeves, truly cared for her.
On the issue of Stuart Townsend, Keanu Reeves had advised her more than once.
Matthew sighed softly, "Sally, whatever choice you make, I will support you as a friend. But I want to remind you of one thing: tolerance is not indulgence."
Charlize Theron nodded, "I know."
Matthew didn't say more. Charlize Theron was older than him and wasn't an inexperienced young girl like Lily Collins or Alexandra Daddario. Even when she took the initiative to talk about it, it was better to stop while he was ahead.
Besides, Charlize Theron had clearly taken his words to heart, so there was no need to say more.
Arriving at the parking area at the entrance of Warner Bros. Studio, Matthew asked before getting into his car, "How about we go to the Black Mamba for a drink?"
"Another day," Charlize Theron shook her head. "I need to go back and consider some things."
Matthew opened the car door and added, "If you need anything, call me anytime."
Charlize Theron nodded with a smile and got into her car.
Over the next few days, Matthew and Charlize Theron continued to cooperate in filming the shootout scenes at the home goods plaza. He didn't see Stuart Townsend come to the Crew to visit Charlize Theron again. During a casual chat with Charlize Theron, he learned that she had used her network to secure an important role for Stuart Townsend in a Crew called 'The Best Man'.
Matthew didn't say much either. He continued as before, having a good rapport with Charlize Theron during filming and often chatting, drinking tea, and eating together outside of filming.
While filming, Matthew took advantage of the Crew's weekend break to interview several assistants who had left messages in his email, but he didn't find a suitable candidate. In this regard, he always adhered to the principle of preferring quality over quantity.
After all, a personal assistant can come into contact with too many unknown things about a star.
Additionally, he received several emails from Lily Collins in his personal inbox.
These emails were mostly fans' beautiful imaginations and greetings for the star, as well as asking whether Matthew would attend the Teen Hollywood Awards ceremony.
Matthew ignored the others and only replied to Lily Collins' inquiry, telling her that he would appear at the Teen Hollywood Awards ceremony on time.
Matthew had signed the actor's contract for the two sequels of pirates of the caribbean with Walt Disney Pictures last year. Cooperating with Walt Disney Pictures for promotion was also an obligation stipulated in the contract. Although the two sequels wouldn't start back-to-back filming until next year, Walt Disney Pictures had never relaxed on the preliminary publicity work.
Not only was he attending the Teen Hollywood Awards, but the other two leads also had to rally for pirates of the caribbean. Johnny Depp was to participate in the Teen Choice Awards, and Keira Knightley was to attend the MTV Movie Awards.
Walt Disney Pictures intended to fully utilize the fame of the three leads to create momentum at the three award ceremonies.
Nowadays, the influence of the pirates of the caribbean series was growing. With the DVD release and television broadcasts, more and more people were attracted to the film. Even Disneyland was preparing to re-plan the pirates of the caribbean attraction.
Walt Disney has a whole industrial chain and a massive promotion platform. Once a teen-oriented movie becomes a hit, the actual revenue generated is often several times the movie's box office.
For instance, the sales of action figures and dolls for pirates of the caribbean, specifically the characters Jack Sparrow and Will Turner, were staggering. At the end of June, Matthew received a payment of $1.58 million from Walt Disney Pictures. This income was merely his share of the portrait rights for the Will Turner action figures and dolls.
Because his fame was insufficient at the time, his share of the portrait rights was only the minimum percentage mandated by the union. From this, one could also see the madness of Walt Disney Pictures' peripheral income.
A blockbuster film can bring long-term income not only to the production and distribution companies but also to the main cast and Crew.
According to Matthew's understanding, many stars who have starred in several blockbuster films can still live very comfortably even if they fade later, as long as they don't self-destruct.
Unfortunately, such examples are rare. Most stars have staggering incomes when they are popular, but their expenses are equally staggering. Once they develop the habit of spending money lavishly, if their income drops sharply later, they often find it difficult to adapt, and a series of financial and psychological problems will occur.
Matthew had heard too many such examples and knew to take them as a warning.
At the end of July, the Teen Hollywood Awards opened on time in Los Angeles. Matthew walked onto the red carpet early as agreed with the organizers.