[Chapter 143: Work]
"Link, this is the list of actors for the third round of auditions," Daniel DeVito said, sitting at the desk with Sophia, a pile of audition materials stacked high on the surface.
"There are so many. Did you order them?" Link asked, eyeing the thick stack of personal profiles containing resumes, stats, and a few headshots.
"Nope, just tossed them together. Before the third round, their chances of being selected are pretty similar," Sophia replied as she sipped her coffee.
Link picked up a few of the top sheets. The first name he saw was none other than Ben Affleck, auditioning for the lead role.
"I remember the character is supposed to have blonde hair, smart, sensitive, and a bit of a loner -- not too handsome, just average looking. Ben seems a bit clueless, and his acting isn't all that great. How'd he make it to the third round?"
"Let him audition for the supporting role instead. The character is a wealthy troublemaker with a rebellious attitude. Kind of a jerk -- sounds a lot like Ben, doesn't it?" Sophia chuckled.
"Could be worth a shot. But Ben's really tall -- 6'3" -- it might be tough to work with the other lead actors. You guys should pay attention to that during auditions."
"Got it," Daniel nodded.
Link continued sifting through the profiles, spotting many familiar names among the male actors. Aside from Ben, there was Matt Damon, Edward Norton, Ryan Phillippe, Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Leo DiCaprio, Paul Walker, and Ethan Hawke -- all young, rising stars in their twenties.
Seeing so many future A-listers interested in a project with a relatively modest budget of $12 million took Link by surprise. The low production budget meant that the star salaries were kept under $100,000, which should have discouraged high-profile actors. Yet, the stack was filled with celebrities, indicating that his reputation in the industry wasn't as bad as he thought.
"Is this Joaquin Phoenix the brother of River Phoenix?" Link pulled out Joaquin's profile. At 19 years old, he'd already appeared in several films, mostly in supporting roles, with little fame.
"Yes, he's River's brother. We thought he'd be perfect for the role of Todd -- right after the plane lands, Todd's brother passes away unexpectedly. Maybe we can invite River for a cameo," Sophia explained.
Link stroked his chin, considering that River Phoenix was one of Hollywood's hot young stars, with roles in films like Stand by Me, The Mosquito Coast, My Own Private Idaho, and others. He'd been nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for his role in 1988's Running on Empty and won Best Actor at the 48th Venice Film Festival in 1991 for his part in My Own Private Idaho. River was handsome, a good actor, and considered a golden boy of Hollywood. If they could snag him for a cameo, it would be a major win.
"Let's give it a try," Link said, moving on to the female actors. There were plenty of recognizable names there, too: Liv Tyler, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, Naomi Watts, Mena Suvari, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Angelina Jolie -- all young beauties in their twenties.
In Final Destination, three of the seven main characters were female: the lead Clear Rivers, the teacher Valerie Newton, and the second male lead's girlfriend, Terry Chaney. The role of the teacher had already been filled by Renee Russo, a 39-year-old actress recommended by the William Morris Agency, who had transitioned from modeling to acting.
After reviewing several options sent over by WMA, Link had selected her.
"We still need two more actresses from this list," he said.
"This is Drew Barrymore. She's auditioning for the role of Terry. What do you think?" Sophia laid Drew's makeover shot on the table.
The character of Terry was described as a fashionable, open, and rebellious girl with a cuter vibe, different from the lead's beauty. Drew was only 18, and in the photo, her short red hair and bright red lips complemented her denim jacket. She definitely had that cute yet rebellious look.
Drew had become a star at a young age, featuring as a child in Spielberg's E.T. At one point, she had made headlines for her wild teenage years, battling substance abuse and spending time in rehab. In 1990, she published a memoir titled Little Girl Lost, signaling a fresh start as she tried to turn her life around. Over the last two years, she had shown promise in films, even earning a Golden Globe nomination for her role in the thriller Poison Ivy.
"Drew's a star with plenty of resources. Why would she care about this small supporting role?" Link wondered.
"Ha! Why not? You're a big director; every film you make becomes a global hit. No one wouldn't want to be in one of your movies. Plus, it's your first project with a budget over $10 million. Many are curious about how you'll raise the bar and what box office numbers you'll pull in. There's a ton of media buzz surrounding it. This film's already a hit before it even started, so it's only natural that Drew would want to audition. And honestly, with your charm, she could very well be interested in you," Sophia joked.
"That could be true," Link said with a smile. "She does seem like a good fit. If she's interested, we can consider her, but I'll leave the final picks to you guys. My only requirement is to find the most suitable leads and the best combo."
"Understood. I'll make sure to pick a knockout for you," Sophia replied with a laugh.
"Let's not get carried away. We're making a movie, not going on a date! Pretty faces alone won't cut it. They have to suit the character profiles," Link said with a chuckle.
From going through these profiles, he knew who acted well, who looked good on camera, and who had significant potential. But just reviewing resumes wouldn't reveal which actors had chemistry or if their height and build complemented each other, as well as personality and charisma mixing together.
Without certainty, he wouldn't just pick a pretty actress on a whim. Producing a $12 million film required as much precision as building a bridge or launching a rocket. One small misstep could cost millions in lost box office revenue after the film's release, something he couldn't afford.
...
Once Daniel and Sophia left, Link stretched, staring out at the sunny view. He checked with his assistant, asking if there were any tasks left. If not, he was planning to head out to have some fun.
Lily came in, dropping a hefty stack of papers on the desk.
There were reports from the overseas box office of Paranormal Activity, data detailing each stage's revenue splits, the weekly box office income for the newly released The Blair Witch Project, and some details about the expenses related to Final Destination during its production.
"Why are there so many reports?" Link groaned.
"This year, the company has more projects than ever, so obviously, there will be more work. These are all from the few days you were in Miami, so hurry up and look them over, Mr. Chairman. Everyone's waiting for your approval," Lily teased with a smirk.
"Let's tackle this together," Link proposed.
"What am I supposed to do while you read?" she replied skeptically.
"Help me sort through the files," he said, ignoring her protests, pulling her into a chair by the desk to go through the materials together. They discussed work while taking breaks, increasing their productivity significantly.
*****
https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.