The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood! Chapter 26

"Alright, you can go now." Michael's audition lasted less than twenty minutes before Martin Jackson called for a break. "The results will be sent to your agent."

With the audition over, the cameraman switched off the camera, and the rest of the crew began packing up their things, paying no mind to Michael, who was staring blankly at Martin Jackson. He was hoping for some kind of hint, even a glance, but the director just kept chatting with the cameraman, not even looking his way.

"Let's go." Seeing Michael standing frozen, York approached him. "It's time for you to get your makeup removed."

With that, York opened the door to the audition room.

Michael shot one last look at Martin Jackson, but the director still paid him no attention.

York frowned slightly. The actor was being tactless. The audition team was about to hold a discussion, and he was just standing there, getting in everyone's way.

"Move it," York had to say. "Stop standing around."

Michael turned his head and saw the look of disgust on York's face. He was about to say something when York urged, "Follow me."

Michael had no choice but to follow York out of the audition room, his strides unnaturally wide. Since the results hadn't been announced yet, he could still be the final winner.

Back in the dressing room, Michael found that Matthew, who had already changed back into his own clothes, hadn't left yet.

"Michael," Matthew was always happy to practice his acting skills on him. "Did it go well?"

Michael stood in front of the makeup mirror, waiting for the makeup artist to return from the restroom to remove his makeup. "I don't know," he said.

A glint in his eye, he asked, "What about you? Why were you in there for so long?"

Matthew hadn't left specifically to wait for Michael's return; if Michael ended up winning, so be it. But if he was the one who won, what kind of expression would Michael have?

"Actually, it should have been over in ten minutes," Matthew said, reciting the lines he had long since prepared. "But the director, Martin Jackson, insisted on continuing the audition and added a few more scenes for me."

Michael was stunned. What was Jackson trying to do? Was he trying to please Matthew? If so, then his promise to him...

...

In the audition room, the representative from the Screen Actors Guild and several assistants left one by one, leaving only Martin Jackson, the representative from the record label, and Britney Spears with her agent.

The final decision rested with these three, and Britney's agent was there to assert his client's authority.

"What's your opinion, Martin?" the record label representative asked. "Which one do you like?"

Martin Jackson had made his choice long ago. "Michael," he replied. "I think Michael is the most—"

"No." Before he could finish his sentence, Britney Spears cut him off. "You can't choose him. He walks funny, like a duck."

Martin Jackson was incensed at being interrupted by a girl not yet nineteen. While music video directors usually couldn't argue with record labels and the singers they backed, he didn't want to give up. After all, he had given Michael his word, and Michael had already "paid."

"Why the change of heart?" Martin Jackson asked, his bewilderment obvious. "Yesterday, you thought Michael was a good choice."

He had formally recommended Michael to the record label and Britney Spears, and both parties had more or less agreed, even if not explicitly.

Only a day had passed, and they had already changed their minds?

"Yes, but I saw today's audition," Britney Spears said, not wanting to reveal the real reason. "Matthew was better."

In the past, if Britney Spears had said that, Martin Jackson would have immediately given in.

But he had been "paid." "Matthew Horner has only been in three roles and has been an actor for less than four months. Michael, on the other hand, has been in the business for three years. He has far more acting experience than Matthew, and based on the audition, he's no worse than him."

Everyone looked at Britney Spears expectantly, especially the record label representative. However, he said nothing. They were about to renew their contract with Britney, and her wishes had to come first in this matter.

"His walk can be adjusted," Martin Jackson pressed on, unable to understand why the guy hadn't gotten his act together after all this time.

"I don't like him." Britney Spears grew impatient and gave an incredibly compelling reason. "I don't want him to be the male lead in my music video."

"..." Jackson was speechless.

He couldn't even think of a rebuttal to Britney's reason.

The record label representative immediately said, "As you wish. We'll take Matthew, then."

He turned to Martin Jackson and said, "Inform Matthew Horner's agent that the contract will be signed this afternoon."

Right now, nothing was more important to them than making Britney Spears happy.

Now that the record label and the singer were united, Martin Jackson was powerless to object. After a short pause, he said, "Alright, I'll have someone call Helen Herman and let her know."

Britney Spears left with the record company representative, and Jackson called his assistant. "Call Helen and inform her of the audition results."

In the dressing room, Michael finished removing his makeup and walked with Matthew toward the studio exit.

"I wonder when the results will be out." Michael's impatience was written all over his face.

Matthew was relatively calm. "It should be soon. After all, it's just a music video, not a feature film."

They had just reached the studio door when they saw Amanda and Helen Herman walking toward them. From a distance, Amanda was already gesturing to Matthew.

Matthew knew at once that he was the winner of the audition.

He was thrilled, even a little excited, but he didn't let it show.

"I was just looking for you." Without even glancing at Michael, Helen spoke directly to Matthew. "Don't leave yet. I need you to sign something after I finish discussing the contract with the team."

Those words definitively announced the outcome of the audition.

"Me?" Matthew looked at Michael, who had frozen beside him with an expression of unconcealed astonishment. "I'm going to be in Britney's music video?"

Amanda looked at Michael, then squinted at Matthew, who apparently still hadn't caught on.

Helen paid no attention to Matthew's words. "You're coming with me to talk about the contract."

She nodded at Amanda. "You too."

Amanda and Matthew had to follow Helen back into the studio.

"How did this happen?" The three had just left when Michael snapped out of his stupor. "Why did Matthew win, not me? Jackson promised me!"

He suddenly remembered what Matthew had said in the dressing room—that Martin Jackson had specifically added an audition scene for him.

Jackson was the director and had a significant say in casting. Typically, the record label and the singer would respect the director's choice.

As Matthew walked away, Michael's thoughts raced. Why would Martin Jackson add a scene for Matthew? He must have had other ideas about him. It was like any relationship—the one you couldn't have was always more appealing than the one you already did.

And Matthew, that guy was a two-faced liar. He must have hit on Martin Jackson that night and was just setting him up to be...

Those two bastards!

...

Walking down the hallway, Matthew turned his head to look back but could no longer see Michael. He couldn't know exactly what Michael was thinking, but he could guess he must be devastated.

He wanted to see if he could provoke Michael, to see what he would do after paying such a huge price only to be left with nothing. Ideally, he would push Michael to go beat up Martin Jackson.

Michael had nothing left to lose, and if he really did attack Jackson, Matthew would finally get revenge for the humiliation he suffered in the hotel that night.

...

At the studio entrance, Michael's face was flushed red. Was he just supposed to accept this result?

Accept it? How could he possibly accept it? He clenched one fist and unconsciously rubbed his backside with the other hand. After all the humiliation he had endured, this was the result? Martin Jackson had kicked him to the curb and gone after new prey?

"He promised me the role," Michael muttered to himself. "But he tricked me."

Michael hated him, the man who had subjected him to unprecedented humiliation, who had used him and then refused to pay the price.

Bastard!

Feeling a sharp pain in his rear again, Michael shuddered as he remembered everything that happened that night. With a surge of fury, he spun around and marched back into the studio, heading for Jackson.