Perhaps Matthew and Keira Knightley's greetings played a role, as the crew quickly finalized David Jones's casting, with British actor Bill Nighy successfully securing the role.
Additionally, casting director Mustapha adjusted the final audition order for the Witch role, moving Eva Green from the last to the first to participate in the costume fitting.
She quickly completed her audition, and according to Helen Herman's judgment, barring any major unforeseen circumstances, Eva Green would land the Witch role once all auditions for it were complete.
Speaking of which, with Eva Green's appearance and temperament, playing a dark character like a witch is simply perfect for her.
Her biggest problem was that her first film as a lead actress in Hollywood was a massive flop, otherwise she wouldn't be competing for a supporting role with not a particularly large amount of screen time.
Even so, if Matthew and Keira Knightley hadn't put in a good word beforehand, whether she would have passed the audition was an unknown.
Matthew later received news that the crew's original strongest contender for the Witch role was the black actress Naomie Harris, a candidate recommended by Jerry Bruckheimer's subordinate, Alexander.
However, director Gore Verbinski did not want Naomie Harris to appear in the film, otherwise this black actress would have won out long ago.
This should have involved a power struggle between Jerry Bruckheimer and Gore Verbinski within the crew, with "King Arthur" seemingly being a watershed moment for Jerry Bruckheimer.
"Pirates of the Caribbean" was an exceptionally large production, with hundreds of behind-the-scenes staff alone.
With such a crew, any slight disturbance quickly spread, and Matthew and Keira Knightley's intervention in the audition was not kept secret, so the news naturally swept through the crew like wind and then spread beyond the set.
"So, our chances of getting the role are very small?"
In the living room of an apartment, Naomie Harris looked at her agent and asked, "Ronald, is that right?"
Ronald, who looked very young, said directly, "The chances are small, but that doesn't mean there's no chance."
Naomie Harris bit her lip, looking thoughtful.
Although she was British, she was of Jamaican descent, a background that naturally limited her career development.
To break into Hollywood from the British theater and television scene, she had just fired her original British agent the previous year and joined this CAA agent.
However, with her qualifications, she certainly wouldn't become a client of a major agent.
This agent named Ronald had only left CAA's mailroom at the beginning of last year, and strictly speaking, he was a newcomer to Hollywood, just like her.
Being a newcomer didn't matter; backed by the giant CAA, she believed she had an advantage over other similar actresses.
Having only been in Hollywood for just over a year, Naomie Harris had already played some minor supporting roles in "After the Sunset" and "A Cock and Bull Story."
As a junior agent who had just emerged from the mailroom, Ronald naturally couldn't acquire high-quality client resources.
Initially, when the company assigned him a black female client of Jamaican descent like Naomie Harris, he was quite displeased.
However, he later discovered that this woman wasn't entirely useless; she was bold and proactive in competing for roles, and coupled with the recent shift in some people's tastes in the industry, as well as his own efforts as an agent, she had secured a few significant roles.
"Since there's still a chance," Naomie Harris stood up from her chair and said directly, "Ronald, who do I need to sleep with to get this role?"
Ronald wasn't surprised by this at all; after more than a year of working together, he had come to realize that, just as he perceived black people to be relatively simple-minded, Naomie Harris also thought things through quite simply.
Influenced by the recent so-called "black political correctness" in the industry, she had a strong drive, daring to strip and dare to do.
He also admitted that several of the roles Naomie Harris had landed were largely due to this style of hers.
"Naomie, wait a moment, don't rush." Ronald made a downward gesture, and after Naomie Harris sat down, he said, "Let's first analyze the specific situation, and then see how we should fight for it."
"That Eva Green is a white actress, right?" Naomie Harris was greatly influenced by the increasingly prevalent "black political correctness" in the industry in recent years, and the environmental situation in this regard had helped her a lot in securing several previous roles.
"I'm black, and if I remember correctly, there are no major black roles in 'Pirates of the Caribbean.' Aren't they afraid we'll spread the word that they discriminate against black people?"
Ronald was momentarily speechless, but Naomie Harris's words were not without reason.
Many black actors now loved to use this tactic, brandishing the big sign of discrimination, and it was always effective in Hollywood.
He had spent a few years in the mailroom and had some insight.
If this trend continued, any mainstream film without important black characters, or even without a black lead, would see black actors like Naomie Harris jump out and claim disrespect for black people and so on...
However, Ronald then thought that this was actually good.
He couldn't change the overall industry environment, and now, with this ever-effective big sign in hand, and a Naomie Harris who dared to strip and dared to do, he might just be able to groom the next Halle Berry or the female equivalent of Will Smith.
"It's not a question of discrimination or not right now," Ronald said slowly.
"According to the accurate information I've received, during the audition for the Witch role, lead actor Matthew Horner and lead actress Keira Knightley both put pressure on the crew and director Gore Verbinski.
When both lead actors speak up simultaneously, even Disney Pictures has to seriously consider it."
Naomie Harris asked curiously, "Why would they help Eva Green? If Matthew Horner was sleeping with her, that would make sense.
is Keira Knightley bisexual?"
Ronald was speechless again; Naomie Harris's thought process was truly a bit too simple.
"The situation is actually very clear," he had to say once more.
"Eva Green and Matthew Horner are both represented by Helen Herman at Angel Agency.
It's likely Matthew Horner wanted to help Eva Green get this role, so he asked his ex-girlfriend Keira Knightley to help, and then they convinced director Gore Verbinski."
"So that's how it is," Naomie Harris first mumbled, then said seriously, "Can you find me an opportunity to sleep with Gore Verbinski before my audition?"
Ronald quickly stopped her, "No, Naomie, absolutely don't mess around!"
He solemnly warned, "Gore Verbinski likes blonde bombshells, he's not into black people..."
Naomie Harris's eyes widened, and she raised her voice slightly, "He's being..."
"Stop! Stop!" Ronald knew what she wanted to say and quickly interrupted, "I said, things aren't that simple.
Even if you really did sleep with Gore Verbinski, he might not necessarily cast you."
Naomie Harris was puzzled and couldn't understand what Ronald meant.
Ronald, though inexperienced and just starting out, had seen many situations at CAA, and given the massive size of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" crew, news spread everywhere, making it not difficult to draw some conclusions.
He continued, "This matter is not as simple as it seems.
With Matthew Horner and Keira Knightley speaking up simultaneously, director Gore Verbinski will definitely give them face, because his power struggle with producer Jerry Bruckheimer has already moved into the shadows.
He is credited as a producer and wants to gain more power from Jerry Bruckheimer on set, but he can't do it alone.
Johnny Depp's actions are erratic, so gaining the support of Matthew Horner and Keira Knightley is very important for Gore Verbinski."
Naomie Harris finally understood, "You mean Matthew Horner is the key person in this matter."
"Exactly." If she still didn't understand, Ronald really wouldn't know what to say.
"Matthew Horner influenced his ex-girlfriend Keira Knightley, and director Gore Verbinski wants to win him over, so as long as you get Matthew Horner on board, you'll get that role."
Naomie Harris suddenly stood up, "Then I'll go sleep with Matthew Horner."
Ronald nodded and said, "Matthew Horner has an office near South Buena Vista Street in Burbank..."
In Matthew's office near Angel Agency, Bella Anderson sat in front of her computer, reviewing the latest emails, among which were the latest box office data from Universal Pictures.
After reading the email, she looked up at the opposite side, intending to speak to Matthew, who was sitting behind another desk.
She first noticed the miniature surveillance camera on the wall.
The camera had a unique design and was subtly placed directly above a framed poster, appearing at first glance like a decoration for the poster.
Having such a surveillance camera in one's own office, where one works, would make anyone uncomfortable, and Bella Anderson was no exception.
However, this camera was installed when she first moved in, and she was also the one who purchased and supervised its installation; Matthew had not hidden it from her, his employee.
She often had to follow Matthew and wasn't always working here, so the office would be empty at times.
Since many things were stored here, installing this camera was also a precaution.
As a native-born American, Bella Anderson knew that the security situation in her country was not just bad, but quite terrible.
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