Birth of an actor

"You actually have this DVD? That, I'm so surprised."

When William gave Alan Rickman a copy of the drama DVD "Dangerous Liaisons" with a slightly old cover-recorded by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1989-and asked him to sign it, Alan Rickman right-handed Rubbing the DVD cover nostalgicly, he said.

"Dangerous Liaisons" is an epistolary novel created by the French writer Laclos in 1782. Through 170 five letters, it describes the almost immoral relationship between the sexes and the lewd life of the nobles at that time. The two protagonists, Melt The Marchioness of Yi and the Viscount Valmont are by no means noble characters, but they are noble in appearance, licentious and despicable in heart, and take pleasure in playing with others. This book has been controversial for more than 200 years, and it was banned in the 20th century. At the beginning of the [-]th century, people began to focus on it again, and then it took nearly [-] years to recover its status, and it was revered as a literary masterpiece in the history of French literature.

In 1985, the Royal Shakespeare Company adapted "Dangerous Liaisons" into a play, Alan Rickman played the Viscount Valmont, Linda Sai Duncan played the Marchioness of Melteuil, from 1985 to 1987, from the West End of London to New York Broadway has staged more than 500 shows in a row, and the shows are almost sold out. It has also been affirmed by the Oliver Award, the highest award in the British theater industry, and the Tony Award, the highest award in the American theater industry.

In 1988, British director Stephen Frias adapted "Dangerous Liaisons" into a movie, but the studio required the film to use an all-American team. Alan Rickman had no choice but to pass by the movie version of Viscount Valmont. The version of "Dangerous Liaisons" was a great success and won seven Oscar nominations and three trophies including Best Adapted Screenplay that year.

Although the movie version of "Dangerous Liaisons" was very successful, it is clear that Alan Rickman's drama version of Viscount Valmont is more popular with professional drama critics and fans than the movie protagonist John Malkovich, and the Royal The Shakespeare Company also believed that the comedy version of "Dangerous Liaisons" was better than the film version, so in 1989, the Royal Shakespeare Company specially recorded the drama DVD of "Dangerous Liaisons", which was sold in limited quantities worldwide, only about [-] sets.Not to make money, but to show the world which version of "Dangerous Liaisons" is the most classic.

It is almost the same to say that "Dangerous Liaisons" is William's drama enlightenment tutor. It is from this drama that he began to like Alan Rickman, and he fell in love with drama-of course not the live version, Alan Rick in 1986 When Mann played Viscount Valmont on Broadway in New York, William was less than ten years old. Going to Broadway at his age can only watch children's plays. There is no need for children's seats with such a taboo subject as "Dangerous Liaisons". , It was Madeleine Bradley and Jenny Roderick who watched it together, and later bought the DVD because they liked it too much, so William had the chance to see the classic.

It's a pity that because of the high cost of recording and the low sales profit, apart from the super classic plays that have been sung for many years, such as "Cats" and "Phantom of the Opera", how many other hit plays in London's West End and New York's Broadway are only available. The curtain goes down with the tour, and then there are only a few stills and a great word of mouth, word of mouth among critics and fans who were lucky enough to see the live version.

"This is my enlightenment play." William replied: "Although I like your movies very much, I like your plays more than movies. I also have "Hamlet" recorded by the Riverside Studio in London. I heard that you Is "Winter Season" going to start in New York next year? I saw the promotional poster at the Round Abbott Theater, and I will definitely be there to watch it."

Alan Rickman was very, very surprised.

He started making movies and TV shows in the 80s, but his love and persistence in dramas started in the 50s, when he was just in elementary school. Compared with the identity of a movie actor, Alan Rickman, who has a higher pursuit of art, of course Prefers to be recognized as a theater actor - in the UK Alan Rickman can easily achieve this, because the British people are more familiar with his plays, but in the United States, he played the 1988 Die Hard The villain Hans in "Way" became an instant hit, and then he received the Sheriff of Nottingham, the villain in "Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves". Since then, Alan Rickman has received annual overseas letters from the United States Letters, everyone talks about his "Hans" and "Sheriff of Nottingham", very few people talk to him about drama, to be honest, it often makes him a little dumbfounded, you know, making movies is his As a side job, drama is his main job.

"You didn't study drama, did you?"

"That's weird." Alan Rickman said in his unique thick and elegant tone: "I have seen a few of your shoots, your performances, the way you bite the words, the exaggeration of your body movements, Even the pronunciation, there is a little bit of theatrical vestiges."

"Probably, it's because the first performance I came into contact with was also drama? Without the training of the drama club in middle school, I couldn't accumulate enough performance experience and win a movie role." William would not tell Allen bluntly Rickman, he was there to watch every shooting of the other party, and secretly learned to imitate it.

It's a pity that Edward and Colonel Brandon didn't have any rivalry scenes in "Sense and Sensibility", and according to Alan Rickman's taste in filming, he doesn't know when he will have the opportunity to play against each other again.

——William at this time never imagined that an opportunity is waiting for him in the not-too-distant future, and he just needs to reach out and he will get it.

"You are a very talented young man, Will. You have grown amazingly in just three months, and you are also the most likable young American actor I have worked with. Good luck to you in the future." Alan Rick Man held out his hand.

William shook hands excitedly: "Thank you." After a pause, he added: "Can you also write those few words on the cover?"

Alan Rickman's chest vibrated, and his laughter was low: "Okay, no problem."

……

"Your expression was so intoxicated during the kiss scene, I can't believe your taste is Emma Thompson's."

When William bid farewell to everyone on the set and dragged the suitcase into the car, Lance, who had already been waiting in the back seat, asked slowly.

Lance Roderick asked for a leave of absence from school today to see William off—actually, it will have to wait until tomorrow, because William’s flight ticket is tomorrow morning, and Lance has a property nearby, so William will go first It is more convenient to rest there and ask the driver to take him to the airport than to book a taxi after staying in a hotel.

"Of course I empathized in that scene, imagining something else as a substitute, otherwise I really wouldn't be able to feel affectionate towards Gray's fiancée."

Lance recalled some past memories, and asked with a strange expression: "Are you fantasizing about burgers?"

——The drama club of Calgate Middle School is very famous in New York, not only because the repertoire of the drama club’s performances ranks first among all American middle schools, but also because Karl is the most famous private boys’ school in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, New York When Gate rehearses plays with more female roles, he often does not cooperate with his sister school, Brearley School (a private girls' high school in Manhattan), but is played by members of the drama club.

——In the eighth grade, the Calgate drama club rehearsed "Romeo and Juliet". Everyone, including the drama teacher, booed William to play Juliet instead, but he refused to do so. He insisted on playing Romeo, and then the drama club found him A six-foot-tall, 180-pound Juliet... Before each rehearsal, William complained to Lance in the cafeteria that he lost his appetite when he saw "Juliet", but when he was actually rehearsing, he made everyone feel affectionate. People were dumbfounded. Lance once asked William how he got into the show. William's answer at the time was: "I think of him as a beef burger with double cheese, so naturally I can't love it."

"...No." William coughed, "It's paella."

Lance pulled out his thoughts from the memory: "Hungry?"

"Ah."

Lance pressed the button next to the seat and said to the driver through the intercom: "Go to that Spanish restaurant I often go to."

"Okay, sir."

——They were sitting in an extended Cadillac. In addition to the distance of several meters between the back seat and the driver, there was also a door panel with a TV, phone, and wine freezer, so the only way to talk to the driver was through the intercom.

On the way to the restaurant, thinking about leaving England, William actually felt a little reluctant to part with the country he had lived in for several months.

Although the weather in the UK is too changeable and the food is not very good, the customs are very fascinating. Compared with the United States, it is a completely different scenery. William is thinking about coming here for more study tours and vacations in the future.

Just as he was about to chat with Lance about his experience in England, William turned his head and found that the other party was still wearing sunglasses.

William: "..."

Since accepting the contract of "Sense and Sensibility" and being closely watched by many tabloid reporters in the UK, William has become very conscious of being a public figure. Even if he goes downstairs to buy a cup of coffee or fast food, he will Clean yourself up first before going out, and try to avoid being photographed by reporters in sloppy clothes.

However, compared with Lance, who showed the purses and heritage of the old bourgeois everywhere, William's clothes were still too casual.

Seeing that Lance was wearing a light-colored three-piece suit, the two diamond cuff buttons on the cuffs of his shirt were bejeweled, and the latest Prada sunglasses of the season were on the bridge of his nose. His whole body was more stylish than a boy's brother, and William couldn't help itching.

He reached out and took off Lance's sunglasses, and pushed them to his forehead: "Don't wear sunglasses in the car, others will think you are visually impaired."

Lance didn't care about William's honest behavior of taking the sunglasses as his own. He and William shared a lot of things since they were young: William helped him play games, he played with William's car models, and William helped him beat the school A gangster extorting property, he helped William deal with difficult suitors, he helped William with his homework when he was sick, and William stayed in Roderick's mansion to take care of him at night when he was sick... The relationship between William and him is not brotherhood , better than a brother.

Lance just squinted his eyes, which were a little uncomfortable due to the sudden change of light, and said casually, "I won't be going back to the United States this Christmas."

William's mood fell immediately: "Why?"

"My grandfather, the Waddington family invited me to spend Christmas in London, and I agreed." Lance shrugged: "Anyway, even if we go back to New York, we will spend the holidays alone in the quiet Roderick mansion like a tomb. Rhodes... Even if the party his father attended was on Christmas Eve, the carnival would not end until dawn."

"You can spend Christmas with me and Madeleine." William said solemnly: "I'm sure Madeleine will be very happy because of your arrival. She often talks at home that she doesn't know that you are in England How is your life, and you are worried about your unaccustomed diet and being bullied, since she was a child, she has liked you more than me, this is really jealous."

Lance smiled: "Next year, buddy, I have already promised my grandfather this year."

William raised his right hand: "Is it settled?"

Lance clapped hands with him and hugged: "It's settled."

……

The international flight from London to Los Angeles landed at Los Angeles International Airport in the early hours of the morning. William called Madeleine to report that she was safe and told her to go to bed early. Don't wait for him. He will live in Los Angeles tonight.

William shared an apartment in Los Angeles.There is still a distance between Hollywood and Santa Monica. William has received more and more contracts. It is impossible to have free time and energy for every shooting. He drives more than two hours a day between the studio and home, so he has A temporary shelter is necessary.

And sooner or later, William will move out from home. Hollywood actors rarely live with their parents as adults. Even if their homes are in the same block, they still have to live in two suites. Independence, and the other is convenient for bringing people home for the night...

William's roommate is Tobey Maguire, who is three years older than him and is also from Santa Monica. However, unlike William, Toby didn't finish high school, so he came to Los Angeles to rent a house full-time acting career.

There are very few Hollywood actors who combine school and acting like William, and more are like Tobey Maguire who dropped out of school early for their careers.

Tobey Maguire has a good apartment with comfortable rooms and a good location. It is within walking distance to Universal Studios and only 5 minutes by bicycle. There is the best burger restaurant in the city downstairs. The key is that the rent is still low. Very reasonable, it is the best cost-effective listing in the shared apartment in Los Angeles, and it is the first choice for young actors who are cash-strapped.

But Tobey Maguire’s requirements for roommates are too strict. You can’t bring the opposite sex back for the night. You need to ask the roommate’s consent before bringing friends of the same sex to stay overnight. Partying These conditions are not too much in any college town, or other urban office worker's co-rental agreement, but in Hollywood?That's a little too harsh.

Hollywood is probably the most party-heavy place in the world, with hormonal college boys and breaks for exams and classes, it's a night out here - social parties are the most regular kind and happen all year round , mostly held for famous bigwigs, providing a way for people of different identities to get to know each other, there are charity parties when the United States or other parts of the world suffer from natural disasters, and there are fundraising parties for presidential candidates during the US general election , before the Oscar or Golden Globe voting deadline, there are unspoken canvassing parties for nominees and judges. There are countless other movie launch celebrations or private parties. Or more out-of-the-ordinary parties are not uncommon.

Too many social and interest relationships have brought too much chaos in private life. Every night, I take a different opposite sex home to spend the night, and publicize that my private life is very healthy. In private, I hide in my apartment and secretly smoke marijuana. In the eyes of many star actors Normal, Tobey Maguire is clean and, after a few nightmarish flatmates, he insists on a new roommate who is also clean.

Maybe it was Tobey Maguire's bad luck. Every roommate he met before had big and small problems, and the worst one was simply scum: having three official girlfriends at the same time, taking them Going to a girlfriend-swap party, hiding drugs in the bedroom, etc., the best one is also the Internet, the water and electricity, and Toby's freshly filled refrigerator-so before William came to the door through an intermediary, Tobey Maguire Already kicked out more than five roommates he thought were terrible.

After the other bedroom was vacant for more than three months, Tobey Maguire finally waited for William, a qualified co-tenant. Since William seemed self-disciplined and polite, and obediently signed the "Roommate Agreement Three Chapters" without protesting at all. ", Tobey Maguire generously said that William, who only lives in vacations and can't live in Los Angeles for a few days in other months, does not need to pay half of the rent, but only pays one-third (except for William, anyway. Toby doesn't know who to rent the house to again).

Having been roommates for almost a year, William and Toby are very satisfied with each other, because they are equally low-key, hard-working, cherish their feathers, and know how to take care of their roommates instead of just causing trouble for each other.

Opening the door lightly, William was surprised that the light in the living room was on. You must know that it is already midnight. Baby Toby, who used to go to bed early and get up early at this time, must have turned off the light to rest.

"Will, is that you?" Tobey Maguire came out of the bathroom in a simple undershirt and shorts: "The British filming is over?"