[Chapter 245: Scarlett Johansson]
Linton had no idea what went down at CAA. Of course, even if he did, he wouldn't have cared -- it was just the clown.
He was now scheduled to host the final round of auditions for the crew, to select the four main supporting roles in The Man from Nowhere.
After the first two rounds, four candidates remained for each of the four supporting roles, and they were all set for the final audition.
He didn't have any special demands for the three villain roles, as long as the candidates had similar looks and acting chops.
But the role of the little girl, So-mi, was crucial -- she had to carry the emotional core of the audience. This casting had to be handled carefully, because it would strongly impact the film's quality. They needed a little girl with solid acting skills, someone lovable and smart to bring this role to life.
As he looked carefully through the files of the four girls who made it to the final audition, he actually spotted two familiar names.
Scarlett Johansson, who would later achieve fame as the Black Widow, was not yet 9 years old at that time. She was a little older than the limit but still eligible. However, Linton wasn't sure if her acting skills would meet their needs yet.
Amanda Seyfried, one of Hollywood's most beautiful actresses by the early 2000s, was only 8 then and had great qualifications. The deciding factor was still how well she performed in the audition.
Linton personally oversaw the final auditions and quickly picked the three candidates for the villain parts.
...
For the crime syndicate boss, he chose Dennis Hopper, with whom he'd previously worked on Speed -- his performance was solid.
He cast Willem Dafoe, who later became known as the Green Goblin in Spider-Man, as the villain who betrayed the boss and seized power.
For the younger villain's brother, he picked Hugo Weaving, who later played Agent Smith in The Matrix series.
All three actors gave remarkable performances during auditions, winning unanimous praise.
His main focus was on choosing So-mi.
He was impressed by the first two girls' auditions, and now it was Amanda Seyfried's turn.
...
The little girl had that classic baby face -- long blonde hair and big expressive eyes. She looked sweet, lovable, like a charming doll, instantly easy to adore.
Amanda seemed a bit nervous facing the camera.
"Relax," Linton smiled, "There's no Tyrannosaurus rex here."
The girl burst out laughing, her tension quickly fading.
"Please introduce yourself," Linton said.
"My name is Amanda Seyfried, I'm 8, from Pennsylvania," the little girl said steadily with a sweet smile. "I started performing in community theater at the Bolby Theater in my hometown Allentown when I was six, and I've been in many school plays..."
Linton nodded slightly -- Amanda had made a good first impression.
He continued, "Ms. Seyfried, please act out a scene where you are afraid. The scene is that a bad guy breaks into your house and you have to hide without being found."
"Okay."
Amanda's voice was soft. She thought for a moment, then crossed her arms, curled into a ball on the floor, trembling. Her lips were tightly shut, and tears seemed poised to overflow from her big eyes.
At that moment, footsteps sounded outside the door. Amanda sobbed quietly, quickly covering her mouth with her hand...
Linton liked this young actress Amanda and marked her profile.
...
Next was Scarlett Johansson.
The girl was stunning, with long golden hair, big eyes, thin lips, fair skin, and captivating eyes -- her looks made her instantly likable.
Unlike Amanda, Scarlett was braver and not at all shy before the camera.
"Please introduce yourself," Linton asked.
"My name is Scarlett Johansson, I'm 9, from New York. I started community theater at 4, joined my school choir, performed often, and have shot commercials..."
Linton nodded -- the first impression from Scarlett was just as strong as Amanda's.
Then he said, "Ms. Johansson, please act out a scene where your mother is kidnapped by villains. Show me your reaction."
Scarlett nodded, thought for a couple minutes, then asked for a pen to use as a prop. She returned to the door.
She jogged a few steps, then stopped suddenly as if she saw something terrifying. Her body trembled, pupils dilated.
Her innocent little smile faded, replaced by fear and panic.
Bang! The pen dropped to the floor.
This young actress Scarlett Johansson gave a very strong impression, even stronger than Amanda.
Strictly speaking, both had similar looks and acting skills, both meeting Linton's strict standards.
However, Scarlett's initiative to use a prop elevated her performance and appeal.
Linton circled her profile twice.
But he didn't decide alone. After discussing with Blake, Yuen Woo-ping, two assistants, the director of photography, and others, the final choice was Scarlett Johansson.
...
"Since they passed the final audition, Blake, your production team should start salary talks with their agents immediately. Sign contracts quickly so they can join rehearsals and training."
"Got it. We'll have contracts ready within three days at the latest."
"We need to control payroll while meeting deadlines."
"I promise it won't go over budget," Blake said confidently.
...
Dennis Hopper, Willem Dafoe, and Hugo Weaving were only moderately famous then, but the team signed contracts with them all within two days.
Dennis, famed for Speed, earned $400,000.
Willem and Hugo were each paid $250,000.
Scarlett Johansson, being a newcomer, was paid only $30,000.
Since Scarlett was a minor, under the Entertainment Act, her mother Melanie Sloan had to accompany her during filming and be treated as crew.
Scarlett could film no more than six hours per day and was barred from dangerous work that could risk her health. The crew also had to hire a tutor for her studies.
Though these added expenses were significant, they were negligible compared to the lead actors' salaries.
Linton did not meddle with minor roles and extras, as the production team had already cast them, with confirmations from the William Morris Agency.
Whether there were any personal favors or behind-the-scenes deals, he couldn't care less.
If everything were perfectly clean, it'd be dull. The crew deserved some unspoken perks.
He just ensured the pay stayed within budget and agreed to all terms. The contracts included a clause banning drug use during production.
*****
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