Full-time actor

Chapter 647 [73] Long-awaited audition! Nolan's question!
The next day, Warner Bros. headquarters in Hollywood.

Although the main investor of the movie "Batman: The Dark Knight" is Legendary Pictures, all DC copyrights belong to the giant Warner.

So the audition location is also here.

Warner has absolute control over this film, and Legendary is more of an investment.

This type of cooperation is very popular in Hollywood at present, using money from the financial industry to leverage the entertainment industry and has achieved unprecedented success.

The current film market in the United States is more of a relationship between product and investment.

The six major film studios are responsible for producing projects, while several film studios with Wall Street backgrounds, of course, invest money, and then work together to produce "products" and sell them worldwide.

Legend is the best among them, and the Theory of Relativity is just a younger brother in front of it.

Last year, Legendary Pictures signed a seven-year cooperation agreement with Warner Bros., which stipulates that the two parties will jointly finance and produce 7 film and television works in the next seven years.

The first one is Batman, Warner’s most popular IP hero, and the director is Nolan, whom Chen Yu is going to meet today.

Of course, the movie was very successful and got off to a good start. With an investment of more than 1 million US dollars, the box office reached 3.75 million, and its reputation swept the world.

Afterwards, Warner handed over all the copyrights to Legendary, including Superman, the Joker, etc.

"The Dark Knight" that Chen Yu is going to audition today is the most important product launched by Legend this year, with an investment of up to 2.5 million US dollars, which has doubled.

Of course, they also want to double their box office expectations to around 8 million US dollars.

So this is an extremely ambitious number and also a challenge for Christopher Nolan.

If successful, it means that Nolan will join the ranks of the world's top directors, with greater voice and independence.

If he fails, he will be directly hit rock bottom. If he wants to make a comeback, he can only start with small-budget and independent films and climb up step by step.

This is the cruelty of Hollywood. It may be more difficult for a director to make a name for himself than for an actor.

Of course, everything you get after success is definitely much higher than what you get as an actor.

This is why directors from all over the world, like actors, rush into Hollywood.

It's really that this circle is too tempting for directors.

It means global influence, the world's most mature film industry system, the most advanced technology, plus the highest fame and status.

Actors, it’s pretty much the same.

He could show them what the best movies in the world looked like.

At least, that's the case for now.

Chen Yu also admitted it.

……

"Hello, we have an appointment!"

Chen Yu's manager Mazen confirmed the information with Warner's staff, while Chen Yu was looking at the building of Warner's headquarters.

This was his first time here. Chen Yu had been to Paramount before, and this was the second Hollywood Big Six he had visited.

A towering and majestic building with a modern design. The glass on the building sparkles like a blue lake under the sunlight.

Hollywood is currently in its heyday, and the influence of the six giants is global, so its headquarters building also looks very impressive.

"Hello, Chan, please follow me. Director Nolan and his team have been waiting for a long time!"

Following the staff, Chen Yu and his group got on the elevator.

Going directly to the 42nd floor, Chen Yu heard in his previous life that before Nolan and Warner broke up, he had a separate office space on the first floor of Warner. This turned out to be true.

Although the current Nolan is completely incomparable to the later generations, Warner was still quite good to him in the early days.

Otherwise, the two would not have collaborated for nearly 16 years, until "Tenet" flopped at the box office, when cracks began to appear and they parted ways.

“Wow… there are so many people!”

Mazen looked at the people who were already waiting at the audition area and shrugged slightly towards Chen Yu.

In fact, their arrival caused quite a stir.

After all, Chen Yu's fame in Hollywood is now rising. The global hit of "Mission Impossible 3" has made him a new generation of hot action star in Hollywood, and his fame and status are close to the first-tier ones.

Not to mention the audience in the North American market, at least many film practitioners in Hollywood should already know him.

It's just that a yellow man auditioned for a heroic movie, which seemed a bit weird to many people.

"Besides auditioning for the Joker, there are other roles!"

Chen Yu also took a quick look and actually spotted a few big names, like Hugh Jackman, who played Wolverine, who was also there.

I don't know what role to audition for.

There is also Ryan Phillippe from "Alien", a very famous actor of the younger generation in Hollywood who has the potential to become a future superstar.

Of course Heath Ledger also came. He waved to Chen Yu and smiled slightly.

The two had chatted a little before because of Li An. Whether it was the Golden Globe Awards or the Oscars, Brokeback Mountain and Departures often overlapped, so they knew each other.

"In addition to the Joker and Wayne, Prosecutor Harvey is also very popular!"

"And Inspector Gordon!"

Mazen said in Chen Yu's ear, and then took out the information she had found: "Ryan Phillips and Jackman both came for the role of Prosecutor Harvey, and they are not in direct competition with us!"

"Heath Ledger, Paul Bettany and Reggie Halmi auditioned for the role of the Joker!"

"The most threatening one among them should be Heath Ledger!"

"It is said that he prepared for a long time to get this role!"

Mazen obviously did a lot of homework before coming here, not to mention Heath Ledger, who was the actor who played the role of the Joker in his previous life.

He took the Joker to a new level.

It is said that in order to better interpret the "Joker", Heath Ledger stayed alone in a hotel room for a month, analyzing the character's psychological state, posture and voice.

He even wrote a diary to record his thoughts and feelings about the "Joker" during that month, so that he could use it for later use during filming.

Whether this was bragging or true, Chen Yu had no idea.

However, this guy was indeed a little neurotic when acting. Chen Yu had studied his opponent's acting skills and knew that using drugs to enhance adrenaline could indeed enhance one's artistic talent and inspiration, so he died from this in the end.

Relying too much on these external stimulants will ultimately harm others and yourself.

Depression is just a fig leaf to glorify him. The death caused by depression known to the world is of course a kind of sympathy created by Warner to increase the box office of "The Dark Knight".

Warner Bros. is not the first company to use hype and publicity to boost box office revenue by taking advantage of someone's blood.

The capital market is profit-driven, which is normal operation.

Therefore, Chen Yu had no sympathy for Heath Ledger's death in his previous life.

Whether he dies or not in this life is none of his business. It is entirely his own fault.

At the moment, he must have been addicted to drugs and is seriously addicted, because he looks abnormal.

Many people think that this was done intentionally for the role of the Joker, but Chen Yu could still detect a difference between him and normal people.

But others who don’t know just think that this guy is a master!
The Joker has already started to take over.

For example, Paul Bettany, the actor who played Marvel's Vision in his previous life and one of Chen Yu's competitors, looks much more normal. As for Reggie Halpery, the actor who played the Joker in the TV series, he is a bit too old.

There is a difference between TV actors and movie actors.

"Well, all the excellent actors!"

A staff member suddenly came out, clapping his hands and saying, "Our audition will start soon!"

"Please line up and enter the venue one by one..."

The audition process in Hollywood is very different from that in China. It has a relaxed and simple side.

For example, the order of the audition is very casual, from near to far, and it doesn't matter who goes in first, since the auditioner has all the actor's data anyway.

But it is also complicated, with several rounds. An actor may have to go in again several times after auditioning once, in order to finally determine the actor needed for the role.

Of course, some will keep it a secret like Hua Xia did and notify the agent a few days later.

This may involve interests, relationships, connections, etc.

It’s similar to China.

This is normal Hollywood operation.

Especially when there are two similar actors, either of them can play the role, then it depends on the other party's interests, which is what China calls the unspoken rules.

This exists all over the world; it doesn't just exist in Hollywood because of the Actors Guild.

Where there is profit, there is demand. This is true all over the world.

Chen Yu did not choose to be the first one to go in. Instead, he sat quite back. It was not because he was nervous or afraid, but purely for the sake of following the principle of first come first served. He also wanted to observe the changes in expressions on the faces of the people who went in and out.

During the first round of auditions, Chen Yu had no idea what was going on.

Anyway, many people went in like this and came out like this, with little change in their expressions.

Each person’s time is not long, just about 5 minutes.

After seven or eight actors entered, it was Heath Ledger's turn.

He came out with a calm expression, and nothing could be seen until Chen Yu walked into the audition room.

He saw a row of people sitting there. Director Nolan was in the middle, of course, and there were also several producers of "The Dark Knight". There were representatives from Legendary and Warner.

The most serious ones should be the two at the edge. Look at the sign in front of them, it clearly says something.

Actors Guild!

When actors audition in Hollywood, the examiners are composed of the director, producer and agent sent by the Actors Guild.

This is the biggest difference from China.

Moreover, the current casting system is officially claimed by Hollywood to be a system of checks and balances among multiple parties, where neither directors, producers nor even investors have absolute power.

Well, that's what they say.

In order to cover up the so-called unspoken rules and interest transfer.

To select actors, you usually need to go through a casting team first, and then this team will contact the Actors Guild!

The union will notify all qualified actors according to the requirements of the producers and arrange a time for interviews.

Of course, Chen Yu also used such channels.

It’s just that CAA has taken care of the Actors Guild, otherwise there would be absolutely no chance of appearing here.

Nolan, who was sitting in the middle, looked at Chen Yu who came in, his expression did not change. When he saw Chen Yu sitting down and preparing to introduce himself, he hurriedly stopped him and said, "Chan, we all know you!"

"Thank you!"

Chen Yu smiled, but he heard Nolan say, "I want to hear your understanding of the character of the Joker!"

“Have you read DC comics and works?”

He suddenly added.

Although his tone and expression were completely normal, Chen Yu could understand his underlying meaning.

It's simply that Chen Yu is a native Chinese. Even though he has achieved so much in acting and even occupied a place in the Hollywood action market, he would be eliminated if he hadn't watched DC.

This is actually normal. It is impossible for the director to choose an actor who does not understand the work.

Because it means that you can't get into the true soul of this character.

"Seen!"

Chen Yu nodded.

Nolan was not at all surprised by his answer.

If Chen Yu said he had never seen it, Nolan would find it incredible.

Because it meant he could go.

There should be no need to come for an audition.

But after reading these two words, you will find that they contain much more meaning.

Have you seen the movie, TV series, introduction? !

This is called seen.

In Nolan's opinion, Chen Yu was probably just cramming for the role of the Joker.

It is a bit unrealistic to read all DC comics and works.

Of course, we do not rule out the possibility that there are such perverted actors. Heath Ledger who was released earlier is one of them.

But he is an American and has been exposed to DC comics since he was a child, so it is normal for him to have read all of them.

Chen Yu is a Chinese, and DC comics have no distribution channels in China, so it is unrealistic that he has read them all. If he has really read them all, it can only mean that he has been cramming during this period.

If that was the case, Nolan would have a new respect for Chen Yu.

Nolan looked at Chen Yu, expecting his answer.

Chen Yu just thought about it and said directly: "The Joker is a madman and a pervert, but not only that, this character has a lot of depth!"

"It would be too superficial to simply regard him as a psychopath seeking revenge against society!"

It was a fairly standard answer, and Nolan and the others were unmoved.

"The role of the Joker is difficult to play because it is complicated. He is a madman, but more rational than anyone else in the world. Let's just say he is very calculating and can easily manipulate people. His IQ is ridiculously high!"

"That he is an inhuman monster?"

"But he has a deep understanding of human nature and can play with people's hearts. He can turn a kind-hearted policeman into a complete villain. It's not that he doesn't understand human nature, but he understands it too well. He can even be called a philosopher!"

"..."

Chen Yu expressed his understanding and some film reviews he had seen in his previous life all in English.

He showed off his pure English and his ability to deliver lines.

He didn't know whether Nolan would be satisfied with his answer, but he didn't stop him, so Chen Yu continued talking.

(End of this chapter)