America: Starting with the acquisition of MGM...

Chapter 45, Section 47: I Want to Cooperate with You (Please Read On)

The last actor to audition was standing right in front of him, Heath Ledger, the man who lived life to the fullest despite his obsession.

A clown made him a legend; his captivating yet chilling performance left Christian Bale breathless.

He perfectly portrayed a clown who embodies a combination of mental illness, criminal, child, artist, and philosopher, a character who is both absurd and terrifying, yet possesses a transcendent quality.

Ultimately, he became the ultimate freak born from Gotham, and even ascended to the highest point of the villainous pantheon.

In Nolan's Batman trilogy, Batman can defeat the Ninja Master and Bane, but he is unable to defeat the Joker.

Eric never hides his admiration for certain actors, and Heath Ledger is undoubtedly one of them.

But his temperament really didn't fit with "Transformers". When Eric got Heath Ledger's resume, he was thinking about it, but he couldn't figure out where to put him. It would be an insult to have him play a small role, so he had to give up with regret.

On set, after Heath Ledger finished his self-introduction, Eric didn't proceed with the audition process. Instead, he asked, "Heath, is 'The Kelly Party' finished filming?"

The movie has not yet been released. Heath Ledger plays the male lead, a chivalrous thief who endures societal oppression, eventually erupts, and dies.

Thinking Eric was worried about scheduling conflicts, Heath Ledger quickly replied, "It's already finished filming, I have plenty of time."

"Was the process smooth? I watched the trailer; your scenes are quite complex. How do you usually get into character?"

Feeling a little puzzled, Heath Ledger still replied, "The dramatic conflict in 'The Kelly Party' is indeed quite complex, and the characters' emotional differences are very large, but my acting was recognized by the director."

"As for how to get into character, besides studying the script and communicating with others, I like to lock myself in a room. The quiet environment allows me to think more and get into character faster."

Eric nodded: "Heath, I'm not worried about your acting skills. You've already proven yourself in 'The Wife of a Convict'."

Heath Ledger was somewhat surprised: "You've actually seen 'The Convict's Wife'? That's a very obscure film, and I only played a small role."

"All roles, big or small, are important, but I'm a little worried about how you get into character. While a confined environment can help you get into character, it can also make it easier to go crazy."

At this point, Heath Ledger was completely confused about what Eric meant. Wasn't this supposed to be an audition? How did it turn into a chat? Everyone else also looked at Eric strangely.

After chatting for a few more minutes, and advising him to get more sun and stop overthinking, Eric finally revealed the result: "Heath, you don't need to audition. You're not suitable for Sam."

Heath Ledger was stunned. Weren't they just having a good chat?

One minute they're asking about my schedule, the next they're praising my acting skills. I was just getting into a good mood when suddenly they turned on me like that. It's so frustrating!

He quickly pleaded, "Wait, sir, at least let me finish the audition before making a decision, okay?"

"No need. I've seen your movies: 'Two Hands,' '10 Things I Hate About You,' 'The Patriot,' 'The Knight of the Holy War,' 'Four Feathers,' and 'The Sin Eater.' I've seen them all. I know your acting range better than you do yourself."

Watching Eric recite his own works as if they were his own treasures, Heath Ledger felt both proud and frustrated, and was speechless for a moment.

Just as he was about to leave, Eric said, "Heath, Sam really isn't right for you, but if you'd like, I'd like to work with you, just on a later date."

At that moment, Heath Ledger felt his mind was a bit muddled and asked, "When?"

"It's not decided yet. It could be the second half of next year, or the first half of the year after."

"Okay, no problem, but I need to read the script first."

"no problem."

Since he can't get Sam, getting another role is not bad either; the worst thing for an actor is not having enough choices.

I finished the audition in a daze, got a role in a daze, and then walked to the entrance of the MGM building in a daze.

Heath Ledger then realized something was wrong; he hadn't even asked about the movie's genre or the character.

Moreover, making a movie is the director's job. No matter how good you are as a producer, you can't take the place of the director. Can your words be trusted?

He suddenly realized that this might be a trap, but given his personality, he was unlikely to go back on his word after making a promise.

Moreover, although the person opposite him was about the same age as him, he actually held great power at MGM, which made him a little intimidated.

Never mind, we'll see when the time comes.

The audition finally ended, and everyone stretched together.

After a short break, they began discussing the selection of the male lead. In fact, after the selection process, only two people were ultimately chosen: Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling.

In Eric's mind, there was an even more suitable candidate: Andrew Garfield.

But when he was looking at the resumes, he couldn't find Garfield and thought that his subordinates had been blind and had rejected him.

After inquiring, there was no confirmation, and it was unclear whether the child had entered the entertainment industry, so the matter was left unresolved.

After some discussion, it was decided to eliminate Ryan Gosling because his face was too long and he didn't look good standing next to Gal Gadot; they didn't have a romantic pairing.

Ultimately, the audition was a success, landing one male lead, one computer expert, and several American soldiers.

Imagine a Transformers movie that brings together Captain America, Wonder Woman, Professor X, Magneto, and Bane—it's quite exciting.

When they become famous in the future, their fans will definitely be excited and cheering when they go back and look up their past.

Three days later, the audition results were announced, and Gal Gadot's identity was also revealed, immediately sparking another round of public discussion.

"Why not choose James Franco? He's the most suitable candidate."

"Bullshit! James Franco's acting is so bad, he's nowhere near as good as Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Joseph is way better. Is the director blind? Why didn't they choose Joseph?"

"I like Jake Gyllenhaal. His deep eyes are amazing. He's the perfect choice."

"Are you crazy? Jake Gyllenhaal is too ugly. He's not good enough for a Transformer, let alone an Autobot. He's not even good enough for Gal Gadot!"

"Does nobody like Chris Evans? He's so handsome, the director has such good taste."

"Which eye of yours saw Chris Evans as handsome? He's just a big guy who can only play stupid idiots, and his movies have proven that."

"The male lead was really badly cast, but the female lead is good; this newcomer looks very hot!"

"Agreed, that was the only right choice the director made. I love her nose, it's so captivating!"

It's that crucial moment again to decide on next week's recommendations, so please give me your support, guys.

(End of this chapter)