Arthur had been waiting for nearly three hours when the assistant finally called his name, "Arthur Smith!"
Arthur stood up and followed the assistant into the audition room, where three people were seated.
Director Tim Burton, Executive Producer Denise Di Novi, and Screenwriter and Producer Caroline Thompson!
"Good morning, everyone," Arthur recognized Tim Burton immediately, seated in the center. That unique gothic vibe was unmistakable.
Denise Di Novi's eyes lit up when she saw Arthur because Edward Scissorhands was a highly personal drama romance work.
Arthur Smith had a good look, and having him as a supporting actor could attract young female audiences.
"Arthur, right? You're auditioning for the role of the female lead's boyfriend, Jim. What kind of person do you think Jim is?" Caroline Thompson asked.
"Flashy, jealous, and narrow-minded!"
Arthur was direct because, according to the script, Jim grows resentful and vengeful toward Edward due to the attention Edward gets, especially from the female lead. Jim tries to harm Edward but ends up getting killed by him.
"Oh, you're a student at California State University, Northridge. Are you shooting films during your summer break?"
"I've taken a break from school, likely going to drop out," Arthur responded.
Caroline Thompson nodded, then glanced at Tim Burton and Denise Di Novi before asking, "Shall we have him perform a scene?"
Tim Burton spoke up directly, "Hmm, perform a scene where you're comforting your girlfriend..."
Jim's role was simple, and since the character was a young athlete, Arthur made sure to showcase his strength and physique.
About 10 minutes later, Arthur was asked to wait for further information.
Caroline Thompson sighed, "He's got good potential. Jim's role is simple, but Arthur's look might be too striking, which could be an issue!"
Denise Di Novi disagreed, "The female lead is the prettiest girl in town. I think Arthur's attributes fit well. His acting is a bit raw but sufficient."
"Of course, it depends on what Tim thinks!"
Denise would not clash with the director over a minor role since she represented 20th Century Fox, and everything was driven by box office success.
Tim Burton's opinion was decisive, especially since it was only a supporting role, and the impact on the box office would be minimal.
Tim Burton grinned, "Caroline, are you worried he will steal the lead's thunder? Don't worry, you've seen the lead's look; it's unconventional!"
"Let's see if there's anyone more suitable who shows up," Tim Burton didn't care much about a few supporting roles; the main focus was on the leads.
The female lead was Winona Ryder, who had collaborated on the fantasy comedy 'Beetlejuice' last year, and he was also satisfied with the male lead's audition.
Arthur left the office after a ten-minute audition, having waited three hours. It wasn't easy being a small fry in Hollywood!
Looking up at the sun, he pondered, "It's already noon. I wonder how Jennifer Aniston is doing?"
At that time, neither Arthur nor Jennifer Aniston had a cell phone; those early mobiles were way too expensive!
Arthur patted his stomach, needing to find a place to eat. On the way to the parking lot, a middle-aged woman approached him.
"Arthur Smith?"
"May I ask who you are?" Arthur didn't recognize the sudden stranger.
The woman smiled and handed Arthur a business card before explaining, "I'm a Hollywood agent!"
Reading the card, it introduced herself as Tracy Jacobs from ITA.
[Note: Tracy Jacobs has not joined ICM.]
"What can I do for you, Ms. Jacobs?"
Arthur had guessed it. Hollywood had countless talent agencies, and agents would often sign promising talents they spotted on the streets. Whether they were worth cultivating would depend on their subsequent performance.
"It's lunchtime. How about finding a place to eat and talk?" Tracy Jacobs suggested.
"Sure," Arthur replied, pointing to his car, "I'm not familiar with this area. Let's drive around and find a fast-food place."
Tracy Jacobs nodded.
Arthur drove around and found a Taco Bell, a Mexican-style fast-food chain.
After finishing lunch, Tracy Jacobs spoke, "I think you can guess my purpose. I see a lot of potential in you."
"How about it? It's hard without an agent, right?"
Arthur nodded, "Indeed. There are so many youngsters in Los Angeles. If I can attract an agent's attention, I guess I have a good look. Most newcomers like me don't have agents at all!"
Newcomers like Arthur were often signed merely as a trial. It didn't matter much, as it was usually an initial two-year contract.
Tracy Jacobs smiled, "Discovering new talent is our job. Your image can be packaged very well. Your look fits roles in teen dramas or romance films. What's your plan for school?"
"School? I've already taken a break. I'm currently working on a screenplay, aiming for film and television production in the future."
"Film and television production?" Tracy Jacobs studied Arthur. Taking a break was normal--many dropped out entirely. But what did a 20-year-old just out of school mean by film and television production?
"Yes, I'll see if your agency can help pitch it."
"What genre?"
"Campus comedy!"
"Oh, sure. Once you have the script, I can help recommend it," Tracy Jacobs shrugged.
"Last year's writers' strike got writers many benefits, but getting an original script selected for development is tough!"
"I understand. I'm prepared for that," Arthur knew it would be hard. This first pot of gold was particularly elusive, so he needed to build a reputation first.
"Good. You should trust me. Johnny Depp, the lead in 'Edward Scissorhands,' signed with me last year. He had gained some fame from the TV show '21 Jump Street,' but he was still just a TV actor. This year, I got him the lead role in Tim Burton's movie. Now, everywhere you look, there's 'Batman' advertising. Tim Burton's fame is growing!"
Although Tracy Jacobs was a mid-sized agent, she had an eye for discovering new talent.
"Understood. From my perspective, 'Edward Scissorhands' is a fantastic romance film with great appeal to critics. I believe that once it's out next year, the leads' fame will skyrocket!" Arthur flattered her.
"Alright, come to ITA tomorrow at 10 AM. We'll have a detailed discussion and then sign the contract!"
"Okay..."
*****
https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.
After returning to Northridge, Arthur went straight to his study to continue writing in his notebook, which had been his routine for a week already.
Arthur was adapting the popular R-rated high school comedy from his past life, "American Pie." As a student at California State University, Northridge, he was quite familiar with these types of stories.
The screenplay included scenes, content description, and dialogue. Arthur's script outline was about four to five pages long, and the finished script was roughly 100 pages.
Assuming one page per minute, the movie would likely be around 100 minutes long!
In the past week, even with what felt like cheating, Arthur had only managed to write a little over 20 pages. He needed more practice.
The thing was, current computers still used transistors, and there was no typewriter at home. Even if there were, Arthur wasn't proficient with it.
Handwriting was the fastest option, but it was admittedly difficult to adapt to a time 30 years in the past!
"Phew, it's almost dark," Arthur said, standing up and stretching as he saw the dusk outside.
In the evening, Arthur ran into Jennifer Aniston, who had just finished work, on the street.
"Arthur, how did the audition go today?" Jennifer Aniston ran up to Arthur.
Arthur shook his head. "I don't know. They told me to go home and wait for a response. But, an agent did want to sign me!"
"Well, that's the first step," Jennifer Aniston said, walking alongside Arthur.
"How about you? How did you do?" Arthur inquired.
"Ugh, it felt awful," Jennifer Aniston said, hanging her head. "Based on my experience, it's definitely not going to work out!"
"Well, you're still young. There's plenty of opportunity in the future," Arthur comforted her.
"I was auditioning for a TV role, and I still didn't get it," Jennifer Aniston sighed.
Arthur smiled. "How about we find a place for a drink?"
Jennifer Aniston nodded.
They walked to Arthur's house, and Jennifer Aniston found that Arthur's place wasn't far from her rented place. "Oh, you live here?"
"Yeah, you should come over sometime. I live alone," Arthur said, smiling as he drove his car out of the garage.
The two drove to an entertainment center near Northridge University. Arthur reminded her, "A lot of students come here to hang out, about our age!"
"Yeah, it's lively since it's summer vacation," Jennifer Aniston said, noticing quite a few people as they entered a club.
Arthur laughed. "Just a bunch of slackers hanging around!"
Jennifer Aniston laughed and rested her hand on Arthur's shoulder. "You've got quite the mouth."
"Two beers, please," Arthur ordered at the bar, then asked Jennifer Aniston, "Want anything to eat?"
"German hot dogs and mashed potatoes," Jennifer Aniston said.
"And some fried calamari and fruit salad," Arthur added, handing over $10. "Keep the change as a tip."
"Cheers," Arthur said, raising his large 500ml beer glass and clinking it with Jennifer's.
"By the way, Arthur, which agency are you signing with tomorrow?" Jennifer Aniston asked.
"Oh, ITA (International Talent Associates) in West Hollywood. It's a small agency," Arthur replied nonchalantly. "These small agencies basically train talents for the big agencies, just waiting to be merged or poached," he added.
Jennifer Aniston nodded. "My father mentioned that CAA's packaging deals have helped it expand rapidly, merging with many agents over the years."
After the food arrived, Arthur picked up a piece of calamari and asked, "Hey, Jennifer, your father is an actor in 'Days of Our Lives,' right? Didn't he help you with some connections?"
'Days of Our Lives' was a long-running American soap opera.
"I came to Los Angeles last year to make it on my own," Jennifer Aniston said, shaking her head. "Now that my father knows about my situation, he looks out for roles for me..."
After leaving the club, the cool evening breeze made them feel quite refreshed.
"Hey, look! It's 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,'" Jennifer Aniston said, linking her arm with Arthur's and pointing at the movie poster at a nearby cinema.
"Directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Harrison Ford and Sean Connery," Arthur said with a tone of admiration.
"I heard Harrison Ford got paid $10 million for this sequel!"
"$10 million?" Jennifer Aniston's eyes sparkled. "I saw in the news that Arnold Schwarzenegger got $12 million for 'Total Recall.'"
Arthur smiled and put his arm around Jennifer Aniston's shoulder. "Relax, two actors have already reached that price. In 1978, Clint Eastwood got $12 million for 'Any Which Way You Can,' becoming the first actor to earn over $10 million."
"A few years ago, Sylvester Stallone got $12 million for 'Rocky IV'!"
It was the golden age of action movies, and the highest-paid actors were usually action stars.
"Want to buy tickets?" Arthur asked, pointing at the theater.
"How about 'Rain Man'? It's still playing, and this showing just started!" Jennifer Aniston suggested, pointing at the Tom Cruise poster for "Rain Man."
Arthur agreed and bought two tickets for "Rain Man."
"Rain Man," starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise, had been released late last year and was a box office and critical success.
At the Oscars earlier this year, it won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Original Screenplay awards.
The North American box office had already surpassed $100 million. Last year, only five movies hit that mark, with a total annual box office of $3.5 billion!
In the 200-seat theater, there were only about 30 people, making it feel quite spacious. "Rain Man" was winding down its run.
"Tom Cruise is really good-looking," Arthur admired. "1986's 'Top Gun' made him a household name!"
"I heard Tom Cruise's new movie 'Days of Thunder' is casting," Jennifer Aniston said with envy.
Arthur smiled. "We probably wouldn't even get internships there. Tom Cruise is too popular right now!"
"I'm not aiming that high. I've been auditioning mostly for TV roles," Jennifer Aniston said, glancing at Arthur.
"You've got a good look. Maybe you should try for films," she suggested.
"It's not that simple; there are plenty like me in Hollywood," Arthur shook his head, then added, "But I'm pretty agile. Maybe I could aim for action roles."
"But you don't have all those muscles?"
"Tom Cruise doesn't either, and I'm a lot taller than him..."
"Hahaha!"
*****
https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.
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