Chapter 148: Audition

[Chapter 148: Audition]

The next day, as Jodie Foster stepped outside, she noticed a new nameplate in the hallway, elegantly inscribed with some words and symbols.

[← Jodie's home and Link's home →]

Jodie Foster lifted the corners of her mouth, feeling a significant amount of tension from the previous night dissipate since her conversation with Link.

---

In the morning, Link jogged a few laps downstairs, feeling refreshed as he arrived at the office, casually checking on the auditions for Final Destination.

The casting process for Final Destination was not going smoothly. After the second round of auditions, several promising actors suddenly withdrew, opting out of the third round.

Notable names like Brad Pitt, Ethan Hawke, Mark Wahlberg, Cameron Diaz, and Gwyneth Paltrow had initially shown interest but later stepped back.

The production team had also planned to invite African American actor Forest Whitaker for a significant role as the coroner, but he declined, and it was clear that River Phoenix would not be making a cameo.

News, according to Sofia's investigations, indicated someone was targeting him, attempting to hinder his ability to churn out successful films.

Link, however, didn't stress over it. This was a slasher film primarily aimed at a young audience, with no widely recognized actors involved, so he did not believe it would significantly impact ticket sales.

In addition, his previous films had performed exceptionally well driven by his own abilities rather than the star power of well-known actors.

Should someone seek to disturb this process, they would surely face an uphill battle.

However, knowing that his competitors might strike back, he had to take some measure.

He instructed Jon Gordon to release news about the casting disturbances, announcing that both Brad Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow had performed admirably in the first two rounds, and they had initially been slated for the leading roles. Unfortunately, their withdrawal had a substantial effect on the casting process, potentially leading to a box office flop. The future of the movie was uncertain, and Link's career could take a nosedive with this film.

By doing this, he aimed to release misleading information to confuse his rivals and generate some buzz around the new film to capture the public's attention.

After setting all that in motion, Link made his way to the audition office to see how things were unfolding.

...

"Ben, how did the audition go?"

Outside the Final Destination casting office, Matt Damon quickly approached Ben Affleck as he emerged, eager to get the scoop.

Ben's brother, Casey Affleck, and Joaquin Phoenix also glanced at Ben, anticipating his response.

"It went terribly!"

"What happened? Was there a problem?" Matt inquired, his tone reflecting concern.

"Link showed up, I don't even know when he got there. He was watching me during my audition, and I just couldn't perform well." Ben Affleck grimaced.

"Link showed up?"

"Link's here too?"

The gathered actors awaiting their auditions buzzed with excitement and anxiety, their expressions revealing a mix of eagerness and dread.

In the earlier auditions, Link hadn't been present. The casting was overseen by producer Danny DeVito, assistant director Sofia Coppola, and casting director Victoria Thomas.

Now that Link had arrived, many actors felt a wave of relief. They believed that with him in the room, fairness would reign, and the threat of favoritism or backdoor deals was minimized.

As director and investor in the film, Link would ensure that only the most fitting actors were selected, rejecting any notion of underhanded tactics.

This was undoubtedly a great opportunity for newcomers without agents.

"Ben, how could you perform poorly? You've worked with him before; it should have been an advantage!" Joaquin Phoenix pressed.

"It's not that straightforward," Ben replied, shaking his head.

Last year while filming The Blair Witch Project, Link had critiqued his acting skills, pointing out his stiff expressions and suggesting he needed to practice more if he wanted to be a professional actor.

Ben admitted his skills didn't stack up against Matt's, though he believed that with his good looks and youth, he still had a chance at an Oscar for Best Actor if he worked hard enough.

Yet after Link's critique, he hadn't taken his practice seriously; he spent more time contemplating directing than honing his acting talent.

This lack of preparation led to heightened nervousness in front of Link during the audition. He worried about how Link perceived him, particularly after having spoken poorly of him in a bar, and whether Link might regard him as ungrateful.

As he stood in the audition, those thoughts distracted him, making him feel awkward and increasing his anxiety, which only contributed to a subpar performance.

"Ben, don't stress about it. If you're the right fit for the lead role, it will be yours. Link won't pull out just because of a little hiccup. He's too big for that."

Matt offered reassurance.

Ben shrugged, mulling over the idea that big names could be petty, not wanting to hear any criticism against them.

"Mr. Edward Norton, please come with me!"

A staff member called out from the door.

"I'm here!"

Edward Norton promptly set down his script, wiped his face and short hair with a towel, and followed the staff member into the audition room.

"Edward even brought a towel; he seemed very prepared," Casey Affleck mused.

"Opportunities favor the prepared," Joaquin joked.

Once Edward stepped in, the male actors in the waiting area began pacing, anticipating their next call.

...

"Ladies and gentlemen, good morning!"

Upon entering the office, Edward Norton politely greeted the group. His movements and tone revealed a bit of shyness.

"Mr. Norton, please take a seat. Now, please follow my instructions, I need you to perform the following scenario. Be ready; we will begin in ten seconds," casting director Victoria Thomas instructed.

"Okay."

Edward pulled out a chair and stole a glance at Link, who was situated in the corner, reviewing Edward's information.

Edward Norton had just turned 24, graduated with a degree in History from Yale University, and was a novice with no previous acting experience apart from having taken drama classes in college.

His appearance was decent; he looked somewhat handsome, with a personality closely resembling that of the lead character, leaning towards introversion.

That was an asset.

However, he faced a challenge with his age; he lacked the youthful demeanor typical of a high school student, a problem also faced by the previous Ben Affleck.

Whether or not they would proceed with him would depend on how well he performed during the audition.

...

"Mr. Norton, it's time to begin performing. You are asleep on a plane."

Victoria instructed.

Edward closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair.

"You're having a nightmare about a plane explosion, and everyone on board dies; you wake from this frightful dream."

Victoria continued with the prompts.

Edward, eyes still closed, furrowed his brow, tilting his head from left to right before suddenly opening his eyes, showing a look of panic.

So far, this segment of his performance was decent. Although his expressions and gestures were somewhat cliche, he quickly grasped how to handle the scene after being prompted, proving he was sharp and had some innate talent.

"You see a picture in your hands, realize the order of deaths, and gain confidence in overcoming the grim reaper."

Victoria shifted the scene.

Edward appeared momentarily stunned, then looked down at his hands, frowning, before widening his eyes, punching the air and shouting, "Yes!" with a newfound smile.

"Mr. Norton, we've concluded the scene. Now please attempt to deliver a few lines from this script."

A staff member handed him a card with several lines written on it.

Edward studied it for more than ten seconds, then declared, "I'm ready."

...

"Alex, talk to me. What happened?"

Victoria started the lines.

"I... I saw it... like, I don't know... the plane took off. I saw it leave the runway... I looked down and saw the ground... And then the cabin banged and the left side exploded. The the whole plane... blew up. It was so real. Exactly how everything goes."

As he delivered these lines, Edward appeared genuinely tormented, his tone heavy with emotion.

His performance was commendable.

Victoria exchanged a few more lines with him, then declared Edward's audition complete.

Edward stood to take his leave.

"Link, what did you think of Edward Norton?" Sofia asked as she turned back to Link.

"He's good; he's a promising candidate for acting," Link nodded in agreement.

*****

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