Chương 30: Impression
After the audition, Lucas stayed at a budget-friendly motel near the Fox Searchlight headquarters. It only takes a short drive, located on Century Park East, close to Century City shopping – there, Rodeway Inn.
Lucas settled in the place for now, as he is required to audition for the role of "Aron Ralston" for a full week.
Around noon, Lucas stepped inside the Fox Searchlight headquarters, and the young, beautiful receptionist already knew Lucas but still recorded his info before letting him in.
Lucas walked, and as he approached the hall, he saw that there were already a few actors present.
Lucas sat in his seat, pretending to read the scripts. In reality, he didn't need to read them, having practiced extensively in his "Mind Workshop," even simulating the painful experience of his right arm getting stuck in a boulder.
Every three hours, Lucas entered his "Mind Workshop." Initially, he thought he'd spawn randomly, but to his surprise, his virtual body remained stuck in the narrow canyon, right arm trapped in the boulder. It seemed the workshop saved his progress, restricting him to that location.
Around morning, contemplating in his virtual realm, Lucas considered amputating his own right forearm. Equipped with tools, including a camera and a two-inch knife blade similar to the real Aron Ralston's multi-use tool, he pondered this drastic decision.
Lucas recalled his performance as Aron Ralston in his Mind Workshop, trapped in the narrow canyon:
In the role of Aron, Lucas tried to calm himself, understanding that emotions couldn't fully help his situation. However, as he gazed at his stuck right arm, a subconscious declaration slipped out, "You need to cut your arm, Aron."
Aron, realizing he spoke aloud, immediately shook his head and protested, "No! I can't! I don't want to lose my arm!" The scene portrayed Aron seemingly becoming insane, engaging in a dialogue with himself, "You have to!"
When Lucas reminisced about it, he couldn't help but smile wryly.
Noticing a figure approaching, Lucas turned his gaze toward the person with curiosity. As he identified who it was, a sense of solemnity washed over him.
It was his competitor for the role, the one who could pose an incredible challenge—James Franco, the rising star.
Noticing Lucas looking at him, James Franco nodded in greeting before taking a seat next to Lucas.
"James Franco... A rising star in Hollywood," Lucas thought, reciprocating the nod.
"Widely known for Spider-Man 3, he frequently ventures into indie films, even directing and starring in one himself," Lucas pondered as he discreetly observed James Franco before focusing on his own thoughts.
James Franco sensed the occasional gazes from fellow actors in the hall, but he was accustomed to it and didn't mind. After all, being a star, he was used to the attention.
Quietly reading the script in his hand, James Franco appeared casual, yet he felt confusion seeing a blonde young man also auditioning for the role.
The project sheet specified an age range of 25-35, requiring hair and eyes matching Aron Ralston's character. The young man nearby had blonde hair, blue eyes, and appeared younger, though tall for his age.
After discreetly scrutinizing him, James Franco returned to reading the script in silence.
Unaware that James Franco was also observing him, Lucas continued reading. As time passed, it was finally Lucas's turn to audition, and he stepped inside the audition room.
Lucas spotted director Danny Boyle and Donna, who was scribbling in her notepad. Another man was engrossed in conversation with director Danny.
Danny turned to Lucas, saying, "Oh, Mr. Lucas. You came back."
Lucas nodded, stating, "I'll not waste the opportunity that the respectable directors have provided me."
Danny and Donna chuckled, shaking their heads. Danny remarked, "You're getting ahead of yourself, young man. You act as if we've already picked you."
Lucas just smiled.
Danny continued, "You better perform well, Mr. Lucas. This guy next to me is the one you need to imitate, Mr. Aron Ralston," introducing the man with the short, scruffy beard.
Lucas took a closer look and only then realized it was the man who survived entrapment by amputating his arm.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Ralston," Lucas greeted respectfully.
Aron nodded and said, "I heard that your performance somehow impressed the gentleman and the lady here. I hope I can see the performance myself to see if you can really embody my character."
Danny nodded and added, "The scene you're about to act is difficult, Mr. Lucas. It's the moment when Mr. Aron descends the canyon and then has his right arm stuck by the rock."
Lucas nodded, and Danny pointed at the setup mimicking the narrow canyon built with weathered plywood.
Approaching the narrow canyon setup, Lucas observed the props, with a rock strategically placed between the narrow canyon.
Then, Lucas reminisced about the time he descended the realistic narrow canyon in his Mind Workshop.
Lucas prepared himself as the directors and Aron observed him through the monitor since Lucas was currently being recorded by the studio's camera.
They watched as Lucas stood at the precipice of the mimicked narrow canyon. Beneath it lay safety crash bags and airbags in case the actors accidentally fell.
Lucas observed the studio lights casting harsh angles on the plywood sculpted to mimic sandstone, yet to him, it was Moab, a sun-baked gateway to adventure.
The descent began. Lucas's movements were precise and practiced. His feet found purchase on predetermined footholds, hands skimming the roughened rock face. The canyon walls pressed close, a comforting hug of solitude.
Danny, Donna, and Aron observed Lucas's performance in the role of Aron Ralston. They could discern from his movements alone that Lucas had some experience exploring canyons, which impressed them slightly.
While descending, they truly felt that Lucas embodied the character of Aron, evident in his expression that conveyed an apparent enjoyment of the descent.
Indeed, as Lucas, in the role of Aron, delved deeper, a sense of exhilaration washed over him. He became Aron, the explorer, pushing boundaries and testing limits.
The echo of his own voice, bouncing off the canyon walls, resembled a triumphant chant. He felt alive, present, with every muscle humming with the thrill of discovery.
Observing Lucas's performance, the real Aron exchanged glances with Danny and remarked, "I don't know why, but I can see myself in the young man."
"Haha, I can see that. He does look pretty handsome, after all," Danny chuckled, and Aron laughed softly.
Then, on the monitor, they witnessed the scene take a different turn.
As Lucas, or Aron, was savoring the descent into the narrow canyon, a shift occurred. A tremor, subtle at first, like the earth taking a breath. The seemingly immovable rock beside his hand groaned. Ignoring it, he continued descending until he heard the rock falling. When he raised his head, he saw the rock about to collide with him.
Danny and the others saw the rock or props about to hit Lucas's head. They thought they'd need to repeat the audition and offer suggestions, but it turned out unnecessary.
In the role of Aron, Lucas raised his hands to shield his head from the "rock," yet it smashed into his left hand. His eyes glinted, recreating a moment he had experienced in the Mind Workshop. Although not as real as his Mind Workshop, Lucas effectively portrayed the role.
As the rock appeared to crush his left hand, Lucas registered the danger and promptly yanked his left hand back. However, as the rock ricocheted, it struck his right hand before hitting his whole right forearm.
While Danny, Donna, Aron, and a few staff watched Lucas's performance on the monitor, they couldn't help but be impressed by how convincingly he portrayed the experience of facing a heavy rock.
While the real Aron watched Lucas on the monitor, he couldn't help but recall the memory when the rock seemed to play out exactly as Lucas's performance. His heartbeat quickened momentarily, remembering such a horrible event. However, he also noticed that Lucas was able to replicate the memory, including the moment when the rock fell on his head, and attempting to block it with his hands, which seemed somewhat ridiculous.
Aron chose to set it aside as a coincidence.
Following that, they observed Lucas, with his arm pinned by the rock, displaying an expression of disbelief on his face.
It seemed like he couldn't believe what had happened; he pressed on, a knot of unease tightening in his gut.
"Fuck!" Lucas grimaced and growled while looking at his pinned right arm.
Observing Lucas's performance, Danny stroked his chin. He sensed some polishing in his acting, but overall, he felt incredibly impressed. After all, it was Lucas's first performance and hadn't been rehearsed yet. He even experienced a bit of goosebumps, feeling like he discovered a diamond in the rough that just needed polishing.
"It seems the young man has his own interpretation of the character. What do you think, Mr. Ralston?" Danny asked Aron Ralston beside him.
"I... I really like how he conveys my character in this performance," Aron Ralston said with a faint smile.
Danny and Donna nodded. Donna wasn't surprised that the real Aron was easily impressed, considering his lack of experience in the filming industry. Donna scribbled her evaluation of Lucas's performance. Similarly, like Danny, she felt that Lucas could display more than his current performance, but overall, she was impressed too.
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