บท 72: Downcast director

The recently rain-soaked streets of Amsterdam were permeated with a damp scent. The sultry heat made the air dense, and the restless unease made people feel like they ought to do something but lacked the energy to do so. The Victorian-style buildings lining the streets exuded an antiquated charm, adorned with moss, rust, and red bricks. The lingering humidity wafted between the brick walls, as if traversing the Atlantic from Manhattan to London's Knightsbridge.

Near the intersection of 103rd Avenue, at the Hello New York Youth Hostel, travelers from all corners of the globe had their plans disrupted by a sudden downpour. They congregated in the lobby on the ground floor, seeking kindred spirits. A group of young people sat on a corner couch, passionately discussing a range of topics, laughter filling the air. A few artistic souls occupied a long table by the window, sharing their latest reads. Three individuals stood by the coffee machine, earnestly debating how to repair it and produce fragrant coffee anew.

Rodrigo Cortés slouched in a crimson recliner, holding a copy of "Social Animals", but for nearly ten minutes, he hadn't turned a page. Clearly, he was lost in thought.

This time, he had come to the United States specifically for "Buried", to find suitable actors. He and the screenwriter, Chris Sparling, both understood just how crucial a talented actor was for this project.

His primary target was Ryan Reynolds. Having witnessed Ryan's multi-faceted performance in "The Nines", he deeply appreciated his natural yet profound acting. If Ryan could star in "Buried", he believed they could create a remarkable piece of work.

However, he was equally aware that Ryan was currently a second-tier Hollywood actor. His roles in last year's "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" and "The Proposal" had garnered significant popularity, his career in rapid ascension. Inviting Ryan to participate in an independent film produced by an unknown company, directed and written by lesser-known individuals, seemed like a pipe dream.

Hence, he took a serious approach by composing an invitation letter, sending it through the actor's guild to Ryan's agent, and awaited a response. Simultaneously, he released a casting call through the guild, hoping to discover other suitable actors.

Two weeks had flown by, yet he still hadn't received any results. Ryan's side remained silent as ever. Although numerous actors had auditioned, totaling thirteen, their performances fell short of expectations, lacking the depth he was looking for. Some auditions were so awkward that they were difficult to watch.

Although Rodrigo understood that "Buried" wasn't the most alluring project, this outcome was still disheartening.

New York was an expensive city. Even residing in a youth hostel, two weeks had exhausted a significant portion of his budget. At this rate, he could only wait in New Jersey. As a director with limited credentials and experience, he didn't have many options. However, New Jersey's inconvenient location, with over ninety minutes of travel into the city each time, coupled with its limited resources, proved less than ideal.

At this rate, the filming commencement for "Buried" seemed indefinitely postponed.

"Hey, buddy, why the long face?" a playful voice interrupted, shattering Rodrigo's thoughts. He looked up to see a man with dreadlocks, dressed in a vibrant short-sleeved T-shirt. His face was adorned with a bright smile as he approached Rodrigo and fist-bumped him. "What's up? Not having the smoothest time with the movie project?"

Rodrigo shrugged with a bitter smile. "Hollywood is much more challenging than one can imagine." He had been here for two weeks, making little progress with the project, but he had made some friends. The person before him was named Charles, an Italian who was pursuing his global adventure, currently stopping over in New York.

"You should give Broadway a shot," Charles exclaimed with exaggerated expression, his lively demeanor making Rodrigo chuckle involuntarily. "Take it easy, my friend. Life is tough, but none of us know if what lies ahead is an uphill or downhill journey. So don't think that this is the end of the world."

The cheerful and carefree words, coupled with vivid gestures, released Rodrigo's inner Spanish enthusiasm and exuberance. He imitated Charlie Chaplin's iconic penguin pose, raising his shoulders high, elbows supporting his waist, arms spread wide, head cocked, pinching his throat as he said, "We must learn to let go."

Both of them burst into laughter simultaneously. At that moment, a voice called out from behind the counter, "Rodrigo? Rodrigo? There's another auditionee here." These words made both Rodrigo and Charles look up, spotting the smiling man.

He wore a white undershirt paired with a deep blue plaid shirt on top. His lower half consisted of black jeans, and he sported a pair of ginger-colored high-top boots. The shirt sleeves were roughly rolled up to his wrists. His short, slightly wavy chestnut hair casually hung, and the corner of his mouth gently curved upwards, outlining an arc of rebelliousness. Underneath the facade of a refined gentleman, a primitive and rugged surge of hormones seemed to roam wildly, as if ready to break free from its constraints. This subtle restlessness made the hot air even more tense.

In just a glance, Rodrigo hadn't even had time to carefully observe the man's features and face, yet that unique aura struck him. It unconsciously conjured memories of Marlon Brando's roughness in "On the Waterfront" but added a touch of Montgomery Clift's refinement from "A Place in the Sun".

He was Paul Conroy, the male lead of "Buried".

As if stepping right out of the script, the charm and demeanor he displayed perfectly matched every requirement Rodrigo had for the character. It was awe-inspiring! Rodrigo could feel his heart pounding wildly. Two weeks of waiting had finally led him to the dawn of hope. The urgency and anxiety burst forth like fireworks, and his bloodstream surged toward his heart.

"You... you're the heir from the affluent family!" Charles' astonished voice snapped Rodrigo back to reality. He looked at Charles with confusion, only to see Charles extend his hands with excitement, giving the man before him a hearty hug. "I mean, "The Pacific", that... what's his name?"

Charles tightly held the man's hands, racking his brain to recall. The man didn't seem impatient, just smiled as he stood still, not interrupting Charles' thoughts. "Yes, "Sledgehammer"! Yes, Eugene Sledge!" Charles finally remembered, bursting into hearty laughter.

"I guess I can put away my shotgun," the man's reply made Charles laugh even more joyously. However, Rodrigo wore an expression of perplexity. The man seemed to notice Rodrigo's gaze, let go of Charles' right hand, and introduced himself. "Good afternoon, I'm Renly Hall. You must be Mr. Cortés, right? Pleasure to meet you."

Rodrigo gripped the man's right hand and couldn't help but start scrutinizing the person before him in detail. He felt somewhat disappointed, or more accurately, extremely disappointed.

Because Renly looked too young, really too young, appearing to be just in his early twenties, the image of a green university student. This was far from Paul's character as described in "Buried". Paul was supposed to be a middle-aged man in his thirties, someone who had established a family, had two children, reached a certain stage in his career, but was facing various hardships in life.

The momentary glance had been an illusion, caused by factors like lighting, angles, and distance. Rodrigo could hardly conceal his disappointment. He had thought that the long wait had finally paid off. Even if it wasn't Ryan, it could have been an actor with untapped potential. Yet, clearly, his expectations had been set too high.

"Yes, I'm Rodrigo," he said, attempting to mask his inner disappointment, but his tone inevitably dropped, and the change in his attitude was too apparent. Rodrigo himself felt it was somewhat inappropriate, so he quickly turned his head to Charles, steering the conversation away. "What's going on, exactly? Do you know him?"

"This is Eugene Sledge! The recent "The Pacific", which has caused countless discussions. It's almost a one-man show by him. Let me tell you, his performance has been absolutely fantastic!" Charles' exaggerated words drew the attention of many around them, but Charles paid no mind, speaking earnestly, "Believe me, this actor can bring surprises! Trust me, you'll be glad to have him in your movie project."

Rodrigo understood. The news about "The Pacific" had dominated the headlines during this period. He wasn't oblivious to the world around him, so he hadn't missed it. However, he didn't have much interest in war-themed material, and he wasn't particularly interested in Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, or "Band of Brothers". Thus, he hadn't watched "The Pacific" and naturally didn't recognize the characters from it.

As for Charles' praise, Rodrigo reserved judgment. A youngster who looked no older than twenty? Acting genius was not something you found just anywhere. Moreover, if this guy was truly exceptional, shouldn't he be in high demand and flooded with offers after "The Pacific"? How could he possibly choose "Buried", a project with no fame, no background, and no reputation? It was even more absurd than Ryan agreeing to the invitation.

In the blink of an eye, Rodrigo had made his judgment. He put on a polite smile and said, "It seems today is my lucky day."