Chapter 66 Killed Prisoners of War

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Sitting behind the monitor, Tom Hanks didn't speak at all since the audition, but occasionally he would write a few words on the actor's information with his pen. It was these short comments that would determine the performance of each actor here. Success or failure in field auditions.

He lowered his head and drew a red "X" on the profile of an actor who had auditioned before. He didn't write anything. This kind of person doesn't even need to look back at the audition video, and can be eliminated directly.

That actor made a bad impression on Tom Hanks. He was tall and strong, and he was very suitable for playing a tough guy. He walked crookedly and stood loose in front of the camera, even in a military uniform. It also looks like a gangster and gangster, not a Jagged soldier on the battlefield.

Such people have no need to think about it at all.

Tom Hanks put down his pen and raised his head, just to see another actor approaching, he couldn't help nodding slightly, this one is much better than the previous one!

The other party is getting closer and closer, and compared with the previous one, it is simply the gap between heaven and earth.

This man is tall and straight, his waist is straight, and he walks very steadily in every step. Although his face looks quite young, his expression is firm and his eyes are bright, which makes people feel that he is the kind of person worthy of trust and support. .

Tom Hanks couldn't help but flip through the actor's profile and glanced down. The name marked on it was Matthew Horner.

He picked up a pen and drew a circle on the name of Matthew Horner. This person's physical condition and temperament are very suitable for playing a tough soldier. In terms of external conditions, among the five actors who have entered the audition room , he's the perfect fit for the role of Ronald Spears.

If there is a problem, he looks a little younger, but with a makeup artist there, it's not a big problem.

Of course, Tom Hanks will not be so arbitrary, so he only draws a circle. The specific situation depends on the effect of his audition. If he does not perform well, the decision pen is in his hand, and he can draw the circle at any time. Change to red cross.

"Matthew Horner..." Tom Hanks said without warning, "Introduce yourself."

In the audition room, the rest of the crew looked at Tom Hanks with a little surprise. No one seemed to think that he would take the initiative to speak. Today's audition has gone on, and this is the first time Tom Hanks has spoken to an actor!

The other four actors are basically the casting directors asking questions.

The actor in front of the camera introduced himself, and the rest of the crew looked over and saw that this man was wearing a standard WWII U.S. military paratrooper attire, standing there like a javelin. People vaguely feel a temperament that belongs only to men and soldiers.

These people instantly understood that it must be the temperament and external conditions of this little actor named Matthew Horner that moved the demanding Tom Hanks.

They were all involved in the project, knowing that Tom Hanks, who started and led "Band of Brothers," was under enormous pressure, with companies such as HBO, DreamWorks, and the BBC throwing up to $100 million in production costs for the miniseries. , once screwed up, even if he is Tom Hanks, the consequences are quite serious.

So, from the script to the props to the costumes to the actors, even if it is an inconspicuous little detail, Tom Hanks is very demanding.

Especially in terms of actors, it is said that he and Steven Spielberg have rejected many relationships who are not suitable for acting in the military at all.

No one dares to joke about a $100 million project.

Matthew stood there, following Tom Hanks' request, and roughly said his resume.

No one in the crew was dissatisfied with his resume. After all, he played the role used for previous promotions in Ridley Scott's "Gladiator" and played the leading role in Britney Spears' MV.

Basically in line with the crew's requirements for actors to have certain qualifications but not too well-known.

After listening to the actor's self-introduction, the casting director looked at Tom Hanks. Seeing that Tom Hanks didn't mean to speak, he followed the previous audition process and said, "Walk around the audition room."

Matthew immediately took his long legs and walked around the audition room.

Then, at the request of the casting director, he made several other moves, all of which focused on showing his body and appearance.

"Give him a script," the casting director said to an assistant. "You go play against him."

An assistant director walked up to Matthew and gave him the script, which was only one page, and the page was never full, not even a strict framing of the performance of Ronald Spears.

The scenario design of the script is very simple. Two recruits from E Company are digging foxholes. Ronald Spears, the new commander of E Company, passed by them and heard the soldiers talking about him.

The acting part of the audition started quickly. The assistant director played two roles, and of course he just read lines for the two roles.

"Have you heard of it?" the assistant director dutifully said, "The new company commander, Captain Spears, killed German POWs after the D-day airborne!"

Then, he changed his tone, "I heard that Captain Spears first gave cigarettes to German prisoners of war, and then..."

According to the requirements of the script, it was time for Matthew to play, but the script only stipulated that he interrupted at this time, but did not write what he was going to do or how he should say it.

What Ronald Spears does and says in the face of this situation is entirely up to the actors who audition.

This point, Matthew did not expect, even Helen Herman did not expect it.

Therefore, different from having adequate preparations for appearance conditions such as body posture and appearance, acting auditions can only rely on him to perform on the spot.

Fortunately, Helen Herman collected a lot of information for this audition, including not only the original book of "Band of Brothers", but also the diary and memoirs of David Kenyon Webster. I have studied these and made a lot of analysis notes, especially the character of Ronald Spears. He used a lot of time to gradually outline an outline.

There is no such scene in the original novel. Matthew guessed that it should be part of the script, but no one of the audition actors got the script. He could only start from Ronald Spears' character to imagine what a hard-line soldier would say and do. .

After all, under normal circumstances, what a person says and does is inseparable from his character.

Matthew can only think of one line, one that fits the character of Ronald Spears, a hard-line soldier.

He walked over to the assistant director, holding a Chicago typewriter in one hand, and the other hand in his pocket. With no expression on his face, he asked coldly, "Do you want to smoke?"

"I..." The assistant director was stunned by what he said, and then reacted, "No... no need."

Matthew turned around and walked away without expression.

"stop!"

The casting director called to stop the performance and looked at Tom Hanks. Tom Hanks didn't say anything. He pressed the playback button on the monitor, watched the performance just now, and heard what the actor said. When speaking, he couldn't help nodding lightly.

Although this response does not match the setting of the script, it has the same effect. This young actor seems to have put a lot of effort into grasping the essence of the role of Ronald Spears.

"Has he read the original books a lot?" Tom Hanks is a person who has worked hard all the way and likes hard-working actors. "It's very good."

Picking up the pen, he drew another circle on Matthew Horner's profile. The performance lasted for half a minute. He thought it was enough. The little actor's acting skills were enough for this role. This role is brilliant.

"Matthew Horner," Tom Hanks said again, "I have a few questions for you to answer."

Everyone, including the casting director and assistant director, looked at Tom Hanks. Tom Hanks was obviously moved by this little actor, at least in one way.

In the previous four auditions, Tom Hanks didn't ask questions, he didn't even say a word.

The casting director opened Matthew's profile and directly drew a triangle on it that represented his focus.

Matthew nodded, still standing like a javelin.

Tom Hanks put down his pen and asked, "Why didn't you respond directly?"

Matthew knew what he was asking, and said, "This kind of trumped-up thing doesn't need explanation, and I think neither denying nor admitting is the best answer. It's written on the script I got, Ronald S. Pierce has just assumed the command of Company E, and Company E has added a large number of new recruits. It is very likely that some people do not believe in him as a company commander. The shooting of German prisoners of war is not a bad thing for quickly taking control of Company E and convincing new recruits."

Being able to say these words is due to Matthew's careful preparation for a month. Without Helen Herman's materials, without repeated study for a long time, and without insisting on taking notes and doing written analysis even if the writing ability is limited, now he Can't tell at all.

Tom Hanks picked up the pen and drew another circle on Matthew's profile.

When the rest of the crew heard Matthew's words, they also nodded secretly. Among the five people who entered the audition room, he was indeed the best one.

But none of these people spoke. They knew very well that they were just accompanying the examiner. The real examiner was now only Tom Hanks.

"In the script we gave you, Ronald Spears may have killed prisoners of war." Tom Hanks asked again, "If he did kill prisoners of war, what do you think about it?"