Chapter 11 |
Winona Ryder immediately recognized him as the guy she'd seen in the office hallway during lunch. Recalling her assistant's words, she turned to look at Angelina Jolie, who was already staring back. The contempt in Jolie's eyes was undisguised, and their sharp gazes clashed, sparks flying between them.
"Bitch," the same thought crossed both Winona Ryder's and Angelina Jolie's minds.
Standing opposite Winona, Matthew could feel the tension between the two women. Seeing the hatred in their eyes, he guessed the conflict between them was only going to escalate.
Suddenly, he saw Winona Ryder's gaze turn to him, and for some reason, a sense of unease washed over him.
Winona Ryder looked first at Matthew, then turned her head to glance at Angelina Jolie as a suspicion formed in her mind. Rumors had been circulating lately that Angelina Jolie and Jonny Lee Miller were preparing for a divorce. Could a third party have gotten involved? This guy, perhaps? After all, he was handsome enough to turn anyone's head, even a married woman's.
Her gaze shifted back to Matthew. Judging by Jolie's behavior, the probability of a secret affair between them seemed high.
"James," Winona called out suddenly. James Mangold, who was talking with the cinematographer, immediately turned. "Is something wrong, Winona?"
Winona Ryder gave a slight nod, walked over to him, pointed at Matthew, and said, "Replace him."
Although a director usually holds significant power on set, James Mangold was well aware that Winona Ryder was also a producer and wielded far more authority than he did. He, the director, wouldn't even be involved in post-production; he was essentially just a hired gun.
Matthew watched them in utter astonishment. Their voices weren't loud, but they were clear enough to reach him.
Then, he looked toward his agent, Dennis, who was also on set, his gaze questioning: What was happening? Was he really being pushed aside just like that?
Dennis, standing at the edge of the set, had also heard the exchange. At the first opportunity, he took a step back, cowardly hiding behind a crew member.
It was clear Winona Ryder had a problem with the fool, and he wanted no part of the fallout.
He was familiar with the crew, and besides the producer Kathy Conrad, who rarely appeared on set, the most influential person on this film was Winona Ryder.
Go up against Winona Ryder for a small, insignificant role? He wasn't that stupid.
Dennis paid Matthew no mind, wondering if he should just leave early. As for Matthew, he could fend for himself.
He immediately averted his gaze, then looked toward Angelina Jolie. Based on what happened at noon, she was feuding with Winona Ryder. Would she say something on his behalf?
Angelina Jolie, sitting on a long sofa, turned her head to look at Winona Ryder. Like most actors, she wore her emotions on her sleeve, and her displeasure was practically written on her face.
Although she didn't know why Winona Ryder had suddenly made such a demand, she had a vague feeling that Winona was targeting her.
However, Angelina Jolie had no intention of doing anything about it. She had indeed quarreled with Winona Ryder, but getting into another fight over a minor actor simply wasn't worth it.
She had already given him the opportunity to fulfill their verbal agreement. In this unexpected situation, he could only blame his own bad luck.
"I'm the star of this film."
As the person with the most power on set, Winona Ryder spoke with authority. So as not to make a bad impression on the others, she pointed at Matthew and offered a weighty justification:
"You'll distract the audience from me if you stand so close. Your face is too handsome. We need someone more plain-looking, and—"
"I understand, Winona," James Mangold interrupted. He immediately walked over to Matthew and said bluntly, "You won't be in this scene."
With a thousand protests screaming in his heart, Matthew had no choice but to step off the set. No one cared about the feelings of a nobody.
Winona Ryder exchanged a few words with a somewhat displeased James Mangold, then walked onto the set, casting a pointed glance at Angelina Jolie, who looked extremely uncomfortable.
As the crew continued to prepare for the shoot, Matthew found himself demoted from participant to spectator. He scanned the periphery, spotted Dennis's portly figure, and walked over.
"Why didn't you say anything?" he asked, stopping beside Dennis.
Dennis hastily took two steps away, as if Matthew were carrying some malignant disease.
"I have urgent business on another set." He raised his arm and glanced at his watch. "I have to go. See you."
Before Matthew could say another word, Dennis had hurried away.
Filming began, and a hush fell over the set. Matthew stood alone at the edge of the soundstage, the crew seemingly keeping a deliberate distance. No one told him what to do next.
"So this is the real Hollywood?" Matthew suddenly smiled. No wonder so many people said the entertainment industry was the most snobbish and hypocritical place on earth. Now he was seeing it firsthand.
Anyone else would have simply left at that point, but Matthew had faced all sorts of trials since childhood. He knew how to compromise to survive, but he wasn't easily defeated.
No one on the crew told him he had to stay, but no one threw him out, either. It was as if everyone had forgotten he was even there.
So, with no intention of leaving on his own accord, Matthew remained on the periphery, watching the scene unfold. He kept his eyes fixed on Winona Ryder, his mind racing, trying to figure out how to create an opportunity for himself.
Winona Ryder held immense power on the set, and Matthew saw her approach the director several times to consult with him. Angelina Jolie, by contrast, didn't speak to the director at all during filming.
Off the set, the two women were in completely different positions.
But on camera, it was the opposite. Winona Ryder's performance was average, while Angelina Jolie's was utterly convincing. Matthew was no judge of acting, but he found his eyes unconsciously following Angelina Jolie whenever she was in the frame.
Matthew thought that might tell him something, especially considering Jolie had been shouting about Winona Ryder wanting to cut her scenes.
After watching for a while, he was puzzled. Why would Winona Ryder cast Angelina Jolie as the second female lead in the first place? She had a talent for acting that clearly put Winona herself in an awkward position.
But after a moment's thought, he found the answer. He'd heard Dennis—that cowardly pig—mention earlier that the film was being made by Columbia Pictures, and that there was another producer involved. He guessed it must have been that producer who cast Angelina Jolie as the supporting actress.
"Cut!" yelled the director, James Mangold, after the final shot of the day. "That's a wrap!"
By evening, it was all over.
James gathered the main cast for a brief meeting to discuss the next day's shoot, while the rest of the crew began packing up their equipment, ready to leave.
"What?!" At that moment, Angelina Jolie's furious voice echoed through the studio. "My two scenes for tomorrow have been canceled? Why?"
James Mangold explained, "It's necessary for the film's over—"
Angelina Jolie didn't even bother to listen. She whipped her head toward Winona Ryder. "How dare you cut my scenes?!"
Winona Ryder's voice was as cool and clear as ever. She spoke with a hint of mockery, "It's just a scheduling adjustment, Jolie. A simple scheduling adjustment."
All the actors looked over, but there was no surprise in their eyes, as if this sort of thing had happened more than once.
"I'm calling Kathy Conrad!" Angelina Jolie was now openly threatening her. "I'm going to file a complaint with Columbia about your disgusting behavior and demand they replace the lead actress!"
Winona Ryder raised a disdainful eyebrow, her pale face unchanging as she simply said, "Whatever. Call whoever you want."
She turned to James Mangold and declared, "We'll shoot according to the new schedule tomorrow."
Angelina Jolie looked like she was about to explode, but she had nowhere to direct her anger. She was clearly being bullied but couldn't figure out how to fight back.
"Let's go, what are you standing around for? Stupid girl." Jolie snapped irritably at her assistant, who had been trying to make herself invisible, and turned toward the dressing room.
Matthew stood frozen, his eyes darting between Winona Ryder and the retreating figure of Angelina Jolie, hesitating for a moment. He trusted what he saw, and what he saw was another opportunity.
Should he approach Angelina Jolie, or should he go to Winona Ryder?
There were definite risks, but he was at the very bottom of the Hollywood pyramid, at the bottom of society itself. He had no capital of his own and nothing to lose. Without fighting for it with unconventional means, he could be waiting a very long time.
What he had seen and heard on set today made him realize all the more that opportunities like this were far too rare.
Who should he choose?
Matthew mulled it over, but a thought soon flashed through his mind: "To hell with that bitch Winona! She acts like she's on her period."
And besides his personal dislike for her, in his few memories of Hollywood's future, Angelina Jolie's fame was so immense that the only thing he remembered about Winona Ryder was that she was Captain Jack's ex-girlfriend. He hadn't even recognized her until he saw her up close.
Naturally, Matthew headed in the direction Angelina Jolie had gone.