"How is the situation there?" Walking into his office, Anthony Mingla habitually grabbed his bald head, and then asked Steve Andrews and Dex Roman who were waiting there.

"It's still the same. Weinstein is quite leisurely. He went to play golf with Disney CEO Michael Eisner this morning." Andrews spread his hands.

Mingla immediately frowned. It took almost a week for the audition. If Weinstein could not bow his head, it would become very difficult.

"We must think of a way, and we can't continue like this." Mingla sighed, and a look of weakness appeared between her eyebrows.

He suddenly regretted agreeing to do so. If he continued to slander Weinstein, maybe he had agreed now? But in just a few seconds, Mingella adjusted her mentality and had done it. There was no need to regret it anymore, let alone show it in front of Andrews and Roman. They also proposed this for themselves.

"What do you think?" He said, reaching out and grabbing his head again. Although his head is basically bald, there is still a circle of hair on the back of his head and temples. However, if he doesn't find a way to solve the problem in front of him, he is afraid that the few hairs will fall out.

The two people in front of him exchanged glances, and Andrews spoke first: "There is another way. So far, among these new actors, we have selected five of the most suitable ones. You can make a gesture of inviting them to talk alone, and then let someone spread the news."

"Oh?" Mingla was a little puzzled.

"Weinstein is like this because he doesn't believe we will really enable a new actor to play the leading role of "The Genius Ripley", so what we have to do now is to make him confident that." Roman added next to him.

"And Weinstein is also unable to confirm your determination. William Hoberg first went there once a day later, and now he runs there every day." Andrews said immediately.

William Hoberg is one of the executive producers of the crew and sent by Miramax. As an investor, it is normal for Miramax to send people to supervise and participate in the production.

"It just so happened that you jumped up and shouted 'Cut' during the audition that day, and it has spread throughout Hollywood, which can make your behavior more convincing." Roman added again.

When Mingla heard this, she couldn't help but blush. He didn't expect that he would lose his composure if he was just watching the audition.

The young man performed the scene where Ripley met Freddy after murdering Dick. This scene was quite difficult, and Mingla didn't pay much attention at the beginning. But with the other party's performance, he watched it in without realizing it. Later, he even jumped up excitedly and shouted "Cut" to correct it.

It’s not that the young people act perfectly. In fact, many places are a bit too fierce, with some traces of stage plays. But he grasped the emotions of the characters very appropriately, acting introverted and outward, and it is easy to infect people who are watching seriously. So Mingla finally forgot that he was auditioning, got up and shouted "Cut" and wanted him to correct the reshoot.

This perspective shows that this young man has great potential, but his qualifications are too shallow. Mingla then deliberately looked through his information in detail. Sean Tang, 23 years old, from San Francisco, started to be an actor in September this year, and only played a supporting role in the popular TV series "Friends". What's interesting is that he first had a role in "Everyone Loves Raymond", but was abandoned by the crew, and ended up going to the crew of "Friends", which helped them get the best ratings in the new season.

It's a pity. Mingla occasionally has this idea. If he had acted in a few more steps before this, even if he hadn't had a role in a big production or a high reputation movie, he would have carefully considered the potential he showed.

Let's go back to the topic. Although it was very embarrassing at the time, it proved in disguise that Mingla was really choosing the male lead for her movie among the new actors, so Andrews and Roman had a very operational opinion.

"That's it." Mingla said after thinking for a while.

Dongdongdongdongdongdongdongdongdongdong, the knock on the door sounded, Mingla, who poured himself a glass of water and took a sip, immediately said, "Please come in."

As the office door was opened, a young man walked in, with his brown hair, dark eyes and mixed-race facial features, which was the Sean Tang whom he admired quite a lot.

"Sit, Sean." Mingla greeted at the sofa.

"Thank you, Mr. Mingla." Sean owed slightly, then sat down. He was not as restrained as other young people, nor was he in a hurry to show himself. He was neither humble nor arrogant, and he was very fond of people.

"Don't be too nervous, you can call me Anthony," Mingla sat down on the sofa next to him. "You've had a great performance in the audition, and I can't help but applaud it."

"Just like it, you know I can worry for a long time after I go back." Sean smiled slightly.

Mingla couldn't help laughing, and her favor became more and more: "I've read your profile, Sean, you've just started being an actor, aren't you?"

"Yes, I came to Los Angeles in May this year and have been doing other jobs. In September, I had a fight because the bank refused to exchange checks. I was attracted by an agent and became an actor." Sean briefly said about his past few months.

"Did you still have any acting experience before this? For example, a stage play?" Mingla asked.

“Yes, I’ve performed on stage plays at school,” Sean said just as simple. “I know it’s not enough, so I’ve been attending performance classes at USC during this time.”

Mingla pondered for a while before continuing to ask, "So, what do you think of the character Tom Ripley."

"I have read many comments. They have to do some problems with Ripley's bisexuality, thinking that this is one of the roots of his tragedy. For example, falling in love with Dick and not getting a response, so I killed him impulse. But I personally prefer to put aside these and analyze this character from the perspective of human nature. Ripley is not a bad person. Like many ordinary people, he loves vanity and yearns for a rich life, but he cannot control his greed, jealousy and dissatisfied with the status quo. In addition, Dick and his friends have never seen him directly, and only regard him as a follower or even a clown. This leads to a tragedy. If you want to play this role, then how to express his contradictions step by step will be the most important point..."

As Sean started the talk, the two talked for more than 30 minutes before the end, which was the longest among the actors auditioned.

After he left, Mingla couldn't help but sigh again with regret. This young man was really good and did his homework well. On several occasions, he couldn't help but want to talk in depth, if not...

Mingla shook her head and stopped thinking about this, but is it really that way?

------------

Listening to the melodious tune, Anthony Mingla looked around in the restaurant, but after a long time, she couldn't find the person she wanted to find. Every weekend, the restaurant was always full. He couldn't help but walk to the bar in depressed mood, and then he heard the sound he wanted to hear.

"I thought you were going to wait there for more than ten minutes before coming here." The middle-aged man in the high chair sitting in front of the bar turned around and smiled.

"Why are you sitting here, John?" Mingla looked at the other party in surprise, "Didn't you book a table?"

"No, I just want to sit here." The middle-aged man shook the cup in his hand, "It's more comfortable here."

Mingla laughed and sat down next to him very simply, then called the waiter for a drink.

"How are you doing recently? I heard you seem to be a professor at USC." Mingla asked after tasting the dark brown whiskey.

"It's just a few lessons from time to time." The middle-aged man named John shrugged, "But that's not bad. The environment in Southern California is good, the atmosphere is loose, and it's very comfortable."

Although it was very good, the tone was a little bleak when I came to the next few sentences.

Mingla remained silent and reached out to pat his shoulder. She was about to comfort him, but she heard him say again: "I'm going back, Tony, go back to England."

"Go back? It's good, it's good to go back and relax." Mingla said with a smile.

"No, old man, I don't plan to come to Hollywood again," the other party shook his head. "I've seen it, here... it's no big deal."

"Hell, what are you talking about?!" Mingla's eyes widened, "You are John, the screenwriter, directed, and produced all-rounder John Harrington!"

"So what?" John Harrington looked at him. "You go to the street and ask me if you know Anthony Mingla, the best director of the Oscar, or John Harrington, who almost burned MGM studio with a fire?"

Mingla sighed: "Listen to old guy, one failure is nothing. You know, I am preparing for the movie version of "Genius Ripley". As long as you want, you can go to the crew to be an assistant director. You can start over. As long as you stay for a few years, you will definitely have a chance to take charge of the director."

"Thank you, old man, but... how many years can I survive?" Harrington smiled, "Don't forget, I'm British, not every UK can succeed here."

Mingla stopped talking, and he thought of Weinstein. If he was an American like Spielberg, would Weinstein still play those tricks? Yes, as long as it can bring benefits to investors, they will pursue you, but the glass ceiling also exists everywhere.

"Okay, stop talking about this," Harrington waved, "I'm asking you out today to say goodbye, or to say something lighter."

Mingla barely squeezed out a smile and talked to Harrington about other topics. After drinking a few glasses of wine, she recalled the two of them in the past.

"By the way, what are you going to do after returning to the UK?" Mingla asked this question after eliminating the simple food in front of her.

"If I can, I want to go to the Royal Academy of Arts and Drama, even if I am an ordinary lecturer. Seeing the young actors constantly discovering themselves and showing their talents, it feels no worse than standing behind the camera." Having said this, Harrington laughed, "Do you know, I met such a young man at NanCanada University. He is smart, patient, and good at analyzing problems. Although his acting skills are still a bit immeasurable, his potential is immeasurable. By the way, do you still remember the performance method we designed with Leald? One face made two different expressions, and the kid actually made it with transparent glue on the facial muscles."

"You guy, you must have encouraged the other party to do it." Mingla laughed.

"I didn't. I just mentioned it, but I didn't expect him to practice it. To be honest, it's hard to have a down-to-earth young man like him who dares to try it." Harrington said, looking up and pouring the leftover wine in the glass.

"But last time you said that the students of USC are too keen on becoming famous." Mingla shrugged.

"That's the past," Harrington waved his hand, "Besides, Sean is not a student of USC. He is an actor, a young actor, and come to USC to listen."

"Shawn?" Mingla's heart moved for no reason.

"Yes, Sean Don," Harrington nodded, "About 20, I came from San Francisco and only started being an actor in September this year..."

"Brown hair, of oriental blood, about 6 feet tall, very modest and calm." Mingla took it.

Harrington looked at him unexpectedly.

"I'm recently selected the male lead for "The Genius Ripley", and he's here to audition." Mingla explained.

Harrington's face changed and he didn't say anything. He patted Mingla lightly, then got up and wanted to leave.

"Wait, John," Mingla hurriedly called him, "you think..."

"That's your movie, Tony." Harrington said without looking back.

But after walking two steps, he stopped and slowly turned around: "If I were to direct... I would let him play the leading role."
Chapter completed!