Chapter 61 – Temperament Is the Soul of an Image

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In the face of fierce competition, it's not just about winning. Even wanting a chance to win requires being 100% prepared. The Band of Brothers project was still in its early planning phase, and the crew was keeping things tightly under wraps. The information that landed in Matthew's hands had only been obtained after Helen Herman went to great lengths.

It wasn't guaranteed that this would help him land the role, but not studying the material carefully would only lower his chances.

Over the next few days, aside from attending his regular acting classes, Matthew spent nearly all his time poring over the documents Helen had managed to collect.

Though the information wasn't particularly detailed, it covered everything from the background of the project to brief character outlines—even minor supporting roles had descriptions.

Being able to review material like this before the audition made Matthew feel that Helen really had done her part.

The first thing Helen had marked out was who held the real power in the production: Gary Goetzman, Tom Hanks, and Steven Spielberg. These three had near-total control over casting, directing, and production decisions.

They were close collaborators—Tom Hanks had worked with Gary Goetzman on Philadelphia and That Thing You Do!; he'd also partnered with Spielberg on Saving Private Ryan. According to the documents, their partnership would extend beyond Band of Brothers as well.

Helen also noted that Tom Hanks wasn't just a producer—there was a strong chance he'd direct at least one episode.

In her analysis, Hanks was the real driving force behind the series.

In other words, if Matthew could somehow get on Tom Hanks' good side and deliver a strong audition, his odds of landing the role of Ronald Speirs would significantly increase.

The real question was—how?

Helen had been upfront: people at her level didn't have access to someone like Tom Hanks or Steven Spielberg.

As for Matthew himself, well… it wasn't self-deprecation to say that he was worlds apart from them in the industry. Forget crossing the Pacific—he might as well be across the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean too.

Could he use the same foresight-based tricks that had helped him land Britney Spears' MV? He searched his memory for gossip or weak spots involving Spielberg and Hanks. These two were famous, sure—but squeaky clean, with no scandals or dirt to exploit.

And both were seasoned veterans. Any cheap or underhanded tactic would only backfire.

Matthew stared at the documents for a long time without finding a breakthrough.

No wonder Helen had told him to give it his all at the audition—it might be his one and only shot.

Since schemes were off the table, he set them aside and focused on what really mattered: understanding the role.

Helen had gotten word from Eric Polk that the overall style of Band of Brothers would follow the tone of Saving Private Ryan. But unlike that film, which was fictional, Band of Brothers was based entirely on real events. Every character had a real-life counterpart with the same name. Tom Hanks even planned to have some of the actual soldiers on set as consultants to ensure historical accuracy.

The production was secretive, and Helen had only managed to obtain a general story summary: the show would focus on the 101st Airborne Division's Easy Company, following their journey from training camp in Georgia to 434 days of battle across Europe.

The most useful piece of information? Each episode would focus on a different character. By spotlighting individual stories, the show would humanize the war while recreating its brutality.

Meaning—each episode would have a central protagonist.

Could Ronald Speirs be the focus of one of them? Matthew couldn't help but wonder. But like the detailed plot, this was top-secret info that Helen simply couldn't get her hands on.

One more thing—Helen had learned that aside from the book Band of Brothers, the production was also using the memoir of Easy Company soldier David Kenyon Webster as source material.

Unfortunately, that diary was already in the production team's possession. Helen was still trying to locate a copy.

Looking at everything she'd gathered, Matthew had to admit—Helen Herman could be arrogant and frustratingly stingy with information, but in terms of diligence, she was beyond reproach.

The file was thick. Helen's prep work was meticulous.

As he flipped further through the documents, Matthew found a line that boosted his confidence.

The three executive producers—Goetzman, Hanks, and Spielberg—had agreed not to cast well-known actors. To maintain authenticity, they wanted faces that the general public wouldn't immediately recognize.

"No wonder Helen told me to go for this role," Matthew thought, nodding to himself. "It's not impossible after all."

The document also confirmed one thing with certainty: Richard Winters would be the show's lead character.

The other characters were briefly introduced, but Matthew focused all his attention on Ronald Speirs—the role he was aiming for.

One disadvantage Helen pointed out was Matthew's age—he was on the younger side.

Still, she didn't think that was a dealbreaker. He had a mature mindset, and makeup could easily bridge any physical gaps. In Hollywood, the difference between early and late twenties was practically meaningless.

The character description said Speirs was a hardcore soldier with top-tier combat ability. He originally served in Dog Company and was promoted to lead Easy Company after the Battle of Bastogne, when the former commander panicked under pressure.

One chilling detail stood out—Helen had noted a rumor that Speirs had executed German POWs.

"Executed prisoners of war?"

Matthew frowned. The file didn't have much else, so he knew he'd have to study the Band of Brothers book carefully to really grasp the role.

A few months ago, reading a book like this would've been torture. But after months of focused training, his reading had improved. He wasn't fast, but he could get through it.

Knowing his limits, he also went to consult someone more experienced—his acting teacher, David Astor.

Matthew selectively told him about the audition and the role.

"You're saying you got an audition for Band of Brothers, the one being produced by Spielberg and Hanks?" Astor, rubbing his bald head, looked impressed. "That's a huge opportunity. If you pull this off, it could change your career."

Matthew gave a wry smile. "I want to pull it off, but I heard dozens of people are auditioning for this role." He paused. "Mr. Astor, I came to ask—how do I truly bring a tough-as-nails soldier to life?"

"A hardened soldier, huh…" Astor gave him a thoughtful look. "You've got the physical look, sure—but that won't matter much at the audition. Everyone who makes it this far is physically suitable for the role."

Matthew nodded. "I know my experience is limited compared to most of them. I'll have to rely on the strength of my performance."

"Audition performance is crucial," Astor agreed. "Especially if Hanks and Spielberg are the ones deciding. In that case, performance could be everything."

"Why?" Matthew asked, genuinely curious.

Astor smiled. "At their level, very few things impress them anymore. And this is a minor supporting role. If someone wanted to pull strings to get it, they'd owe Hanks and Spielberg a huge favor. For a small role, is that really worth it? Who wants to be in debt to them for something like this?"

Matthew thought about it. If he had enough clout to get in touch with Hanks and Spielberg, he certainly wouldn't want to waste a favor on a minor part.

In any culture, favors are hard to repay—Hollywood's no different.

"Let's focus on the role itself," Astor said. "For a gritty WWII character, there's no room for melodrama, exaggeration, or theatrics."

"With these kinds of roles," he added, "temperament is the soul of the image. Without that raw military energy, no matter how you act, it'll fall flat."

Astor paused, then said, "I've worked on a few WWII films myself. My advice? You need real experience, real emotion. You've got to be willing to go all-in. Only then will you match the energy of a hardened soldier."

Matthew nodded slowly. Astor wasn't saying anything groundbreaking, but it helped clarify things.

"If I keep talking, it might distract you more than help." Astor smiled and shook his head. "Matthew, that's all I've got. The rest is up to you."

"Thank you." Matthew stood and bowed his head. "Thank you, Mr. Astor. This really helped."

Then he left the office, pulling out his phone to call Helen Herman.