Birth of an actor

"In "Sense and Sensibility", the older sister Elena represents rationality, and Marianne represents sensibility, but their personalities are not static. In the ending, the rational sister has a romantic ending because of a rare emotional outburst, while the always emotional sister I also had a rational understanding of love, became mature and reaped happiness. The touching part of the characters in Austin's works is here. Everyone has two sides, and the boundary between them is very complicated and subtle. In your film In the novel, I also saw the duality of the protagonists, the mixed temperament of sorrow and joy in their lives..."

Following William's narration, Li An's expression became more and more relaxed, and even a little surprised.

Li An hated speculators, but after he was sure that William was not a speculator, he immediately had a good impression of William.

Amy Pascal, in a beige dress, kept eyeing William.

Emma Thompson coughed suddenly: "It's been almost 10 minutes since Bradley entered the door. I think we should start auditioning?"

William stopped his narration.

Ang Lee asked William: "I think you have read through the script?"

"I can recite everything I'm familiar with." William's tone was not ostentatious, but confident.

Li An raised his eyebrows in surprise, then flipped through the script and found a scene: "Then Edward wanted to express his sincerity to Elena, but Elena asked him to abide by the marriage contract with Lucy, you must remember it? Show us the story."

"Edward?" William hesitated for a moment, "But the one I'm going to audition for is Willoughby."

In "Sense and Sensibility", there are three main male protagonists, one is Edward Ferrars, the home of sister Elena, the other is Willoughby, the first love of sister Marianne, and the third is Bran, the final home of Marianne. board the colonel.

Amon Goffman said when he handed over the script to William that Colonel Brandon has been confirmed to be played by British actor Alan Rickman, and Edward's actor is about to be decided, and only Willoughby's actor William will compete Therefore, William has done the most homework for the role of Willoughby, but unexpectedly, Ang Lee asked him to try Edward?One of the two male protagonists called Colonel Brandon?

Emma Thompson chimed in: "How about he try the scene where Willoughby visits the Dashwoods after saving Marianne, and Marianne and Marianne fall in love over discussing Shakespeare's sonnets?"

Ang Lee looked at Amy Pasval, and then at Emma Thompson: "But the actor who played Edward—"

Emma Thompson said: "Edward, we have already discussed, by--"

"Why don't you let this young man try Edward?" Amy Pasval interrupted Emma Thompson, and said calmly but with great momentum: "We haven't fully decided on Edward's candidate yet, are we not?" Do you know where I stand, Emma, ​​and Lee, I think you should agree to my proposal?"

Ang Lee said euphemistically: "Looking at the various auditions will help us make a correct decision."

Emma Thompson's face was a little ugly, but she didn't say anything else.

Because of the 65th Oscar for Best Actress and the 66th Oscar for Best Actress nomination, Emma Thompson can be said to be the most well-known British actress in Hollywood in recent years, but what is not well known is that Emma Thompson Ma Thompson is also a talented woman and loves Jane Austen's works. It has been five years since she adapted "Sense and Sensibility" from a novel into a screenplay, and she has always wanted to put it on the screen.

But Jane Austen's works have always been popular in film and television remakes, not to mention "Pride and Prejudice". The slightly unpopular novel "Sense and Sensibility" was pushed back 20 years. Only the UK has a 1971 film version, and In the 1981 BBC miniseries version, Emma Thompson has been selling the completed script to many film companies for two years, hoping that the script can be shot, but first, although the production companies know that Emma is a good actor, but There are doubts about her screenwriting ability. The second is that even "Howard Endor", which helped Emma win the throne of actress, did not perform well at the box office when it was released in North America.

Of all the film companies in Hollywood, only Columbia executive Amy Pascal finally gave Emma an olive branch—Pascal is the lady in the beige dress, currently the vice president of Columbia, and one of the most powerful women in Hollywood .

With Pascal's support, the investment, distribution, and release of "Sense and Sensibility" are no longer a problem. Even the casting, Pascal let Emma participate in the whole process, and respected the screenwriter's opinion very much.

Emma Thompson was quick to draw up her vision for each of the Sense and Sensibility roles, especially Edward Ferrars, whom she favored to be played by British popular love Hugh Grant.

When the casting list was handed over to Columbia, although Amy Pascal admitted that Emma Thompson's casting was very accurate, she was not satisfied in her heart-the list of starring actors was all British actors, and there was no American.

A film invested by an American studio, shot by an American company, distributed and shown in the United States, but all actors are British, is this an American film or a British film?Although Hollywood and the British Isles are closely connected, and the actors of the two countries are as close as one family, there are still differences of nationality. Even in the United States, there are Jewish funds or directors who prefer Jewish actors from time to time, and anti-Semitic funds also exclude Jewish actors. things happen.Of course, these things will not be put on the surface, they are just unspoken rules that everyone knows well.

In order to take care of the face of the former Oscar queen, Columbia tried to contact Hugh Grant. Unexpectedly, Hugh Grant's agent directly asked for a remuneration of 500 million U.S. dollars. Four Weddings and a Funeral" and Hugh Grant, who is popular all over the world, is indeed worth so much salary now, but the problem is that the total investment of "Sense and Sensibility" is only 1994 million US dollars, and every participating actor has voluntarily lowered his salary. The salary of the director Ang Lee, the second actor Alan Rickman, the second heroine Kate Winslet and the heroine Emma Thompson's total salary is only 600 million.

Emma Thompson proposed to negotiate with Hugh Grant in private, asking the other party to play a friendly role and reduce the salary, but Columbia Company seized the opportunity and organized this audition under the pretext of looking for better quality and cheaper actors.

Emma Thompson understands that the Columbia company is going so far as to hold such an audition just to single out one or two native American actors to join the crew. Although she is the leading actor and screenwriter of the film, she now has a higher voice than the director Ang Lee. But it was not good to turn down producer-distributor Amy Pascal.

That's why auditions for "Sense and Sensibility" take place.

Seeing that everyone acquiesced to this proposal, Li An said to William again: "As for the scene I just told you, please act it out."

As far as William knew, when the plot reached this scene, Elena and Edward's feelings were suppressed to the extreme, on the verge of breaking out, which can be said to be the most difficult part of the script to be acted out. It is a problem for him to act this part, but also an opportunity, so William readily responded: "No problem."

…↓The following is the plot of the movie. For the convenience of narration, descriptive language is used…

Henry Dashwood, owner of Norland Manor, is dying.

Mr. Dashwood has a total of four children. The eldest son John was born to his dead ex-wife, and his second wife gave birth to three daughters, namely Elena, Marianne and Margaret.

According to the British law at that time, daughters had no inheritance rights. After Mr. Dashwood died, all his property would be inherited by his son John, while Mrs. Dashwood and her three daughters could not even own a residence except for a small amount of living expenses.

When Mr. Dashwood was dying, he asked John not to drive his wife and daughter out of Norland Manor, but to take good care of them. John agreed. Step by step, the living expenses for the stepmother and younger sisters were reduced, and they were even prepared to drive them out of Nolan Manor.

Fanny's younger brother, Edward Ferrars, the heir of the Ferrars family, came to live in Nolan Manor. He was a handsome and kind young man. He fell in love with Elena, the eldest sister of the Dashwood family. Also very fond of him.

But Fanny was very dissatisfied with this marriage. She hoped that her younger brother could marry a noble lady with a large dowry, instead of Elena who had neither money nor social status.

Under Fanny's obstruction, Edward returned to London, and Mrs. Dashwood and her three daughters also left Nolan Manor and rented a cottage to live in.

In the new home, the Dashwood family met Mrs. Jennings, a warm neighbor. Mrs. Jennings not only introduced Colonel Brandon to Marianne and wanted to match them, but also paid close attention to Elena's marriage.

Mrs. Jennings is a hospitable and wealthy person. She often invites others to visit her home, especially the Dashwood family. Elena met her cousin Lucy at Mrs. Jennings's house, and learned from Lucy that They discovered an amazing secret—it turned out that Lucy and Edward had known each other five years ago, and they were engaged to each other in private.

Elena suffered a major blow, and she was distraught and in pain. At this time, Edward showed his sincerity through various actions: He actually loved Elena, and the engagement with Lucy five years ago was just his. Young and frivolous and impulsive.

Although she understood Edward's intentions, Elena controlled herself with reason, and she said that Edward should keep his promise and marry Lucy...

……

After going through all the words in the script of "Sense and Sensibility" in his mind, after only a few seconds, the lines and the expected performance of this scene have been deeply engraved in William's mind.

This episode is about Elena and Lucy sitting in the reception room chatting, Edward came to visit, only Elena in his heart, Edward longed for a response from the other party, but Elena reminded Edward that he and Lucy had already The fact that he is engaged, and hints that if he is a real gentleman, he should fulfill his marriage contract with Lucy.Edward left sadly.

William retreated to the door and began his own act.

…↓The following is the plot of the movie. For the convenience of narration, descriptive language is used…

Edward's private engagement with Lucy was finally exposed. Edward's mother, Mrs. Ferrars, asked him to contact the engagement, otherwise his inheritance rights would be revoked. Edward refused to break the contract. He insisted on marrying Lucy, so Mrs. Ferrars decided to marry Lucy. All the property was given to Edward's brother Robert.

Elena met with Colonel Flandon and expressed her concerns about Edward. Colonel Flandon generously expressed that he could give Edward a job as a priest in his parish, so Elena made an appointment with Edward. Meet.

——The audition arrangement was originally that every actor had to act against the air, but before William pushed behind the door and began to perform, Emma Thompson held the script in her hand and opened the audition scene, she wanted Play for William.

"The maid said: 'There is a Mr. Edward Ferrars looking for you, Miss Darthwood.'" Emma Thompson read the script, acting as the narrator and the interlocutor for William: "Elina said: 'Please ask him Come in.'"

William outside the door froze for a moment when he heard Emma Thompson's voice, and quickly recovered.

He straightened his back, with his arms hanging naturally by his side, walked lightly, and walked from the door to Emma Thompson intently.

His walking posture is full of classical beauty, but his hands have been clasped all the time, which is a little unnatural, as if something is restraining him-in the script, Edward is meticulously dressed every time he appears on the stage, with all the Even his neck is tightly wrapped in a white scarf, which represents his "repressed" personality, so this gait is deliberately done by William.

"'Mr. Fellers,' greeted Eleanor."

"Miss Dashwood." William fixed his gaze on Emma's face, looked at her intently, and saluted.

"Thank you for coming so soon."

"I'm very glad to receive your invitation." After Edward was deprived of his status as heir, there were not many people who were willing to keep friends with him, so William's tone was both joyful and disturbed: "I don't know what you will think of me , I know I have no right to say more..." The trembling lips, clenching fists, drooping eyes and low tone all revealed the deep anxiety in his heart.

"I have some good news for you, please sit down."

William glanced at Emma Thompson in confusion, took a few steps, and sat opposite Emma.

Emma immediately read the next passage, and Elena relayed Colonel Flandon's kind lines to Edward.

William didn't answer the next line immediately, but lowered his head in silence for a few seconds, then raised his head again, looked directly at the imaginary Miss Elena, and asked in an unbelievable and extremely weak tone: "Brave?" Colonel Landon?"

"Yes, he wanted to show his concern for your plight."

"Colonel Brandon wants me to preside over the parish?" William looked into Emma's eyes intently: "Is this possible?"

The magic in his eyes made Emma stutter when she read her lines: "No, you can't refuse people thousands of miles away because of the unfeelingness of your family."

"No, I'm not targeting you." William's tone became deeper and deeper, and anyone could hear deep sadness from it. In order to highlight this heartbreak, he clasped his hands together, and his brown hair swayed from side to side He said, with a trembling voice: "I know that you have contributed to all this, I wish I could express it, but I'm not good at words..."

Emma continued to read the lines-Eileen persuaded Edward to accept the job, she said that Colonel Brandon was a helpful gentleman, and Edward was also of high moral character, fully qualified for the job of a pastor.

William's expression suddenly changed.

With his head held high, his uneasiness and apprehension were gone, his expression was provocative, and his voice even became louder: "Colonel Brandon must be a man of high moral character."

Li Ang's eyes lit up: William was jealous. Although the changes in tone and expression were not obvious, he was indeed trying to show Edward's jealous side.

——Although the original book and the script did not point out that Edward's current mood should be sour, but think about it, the admiring lady chattered and praised another unmarried man, shouldn't Edward be jealous?He deserves it.

'It seems that William Bradley has a good grasp of the script and the original. ' Ang Lee thought.

"Yes, Colonel Brandon is the nicest man in the world," said Emma Thompson.

William's expression immediately became extremely disappointed.

He lowered his head and rubbed his hands unconsciously: "Yes, then why didn't he tell me in person?"

"I think he thinks it's better to talk through friends."

After two seconds of silence, William finally spoke, his voice difficult.

"You are the best...friend in my life." The last two words lingered on the tip of William's tongue for a long time before he spit out. His green eyes were full of complicated emotions, and he turned into that handsome and kind , but encountered major setbacks in both family and emotional aspects of a seventeenth-century British gentleman.

Emma Thompson's heart was about to jump out of her chest, and her eyes were uncontrollably glued to the young man in front of her. The figure of Hugh Grant was far away from her heart at this moment, and the face of William Bradley gradually resembled that of Edward... Ferras overlaps.

After five seconds of silence, Emma Thompson continued her final lines: "I will always be your friend, and you keep your promises, which is more important than anything else. I wish you and Miss Stiller... forever hapiness."

William's eyes were filled with pain at this moment.

The meeting room was eerily quiet.

Ang Lee took the initiative to break the silence: "Very good, very good. William, thank you for your performance."

William took a deep breath, took a step back and evacuated from Emma Thompson, then nodded to Ang Lee and Ms. Pascal, and turned to leave the room.

A question from Amy Pascal brought William to a halt: "I want to ask you a question, Mr. Bradley, can you ride a horse?"

Ang Lee glanced at Pascal with a strange expression.

William turned around and replied: "My equestrian performance is very good. I even fed a thoroughbred horse myself when I was young."

"Is that horse still with you?" Amy Pascal asked curiously.

"No, she was sold to pay off the debt when the Bradley family went bankrupt a few years ago." William did not hide his family's poor financial situation.

Pascal nodded secretly in her heart. She thought that William's behavior at the moment was like Edward reborn—a kind, honest and sincere young man.

Seeing that no one wanted to ask him any more questions, William turned and left the room.

He didn't know if he'd get the part of Edward Ferrars, but he knew he'd given his best performance.

All the rest, let God decide.