291-295

Chapter 291: Richard the Courier

After the successful proposal, Richard and Bundchen agreed to hold an engagement party next year when they have time. But the thought of having so much work next year made him want to strangle Anthony.

Originally, his plan was to make two movies a year, working and playing at the same time.

But Anthony came to deliver scripts every day, persuading him to be diligent, saying that diligence leads to wealth. Considering that his account balance was only a few hundred million, Richard didn't refuse to earn more money.

The next day, accompanied by Old Hall, he met with the director of "Collateral," Michael Mann, who was also the producer of the film. He was a sixty-year-old gray-haired man, a well-known veteran filmmaker in the industry, most famous for his high-quality films like "Heat" and "The Last of the Mohicans."

After meeting, the old man didn't say anything, just held his arms and quietly looked at him, as if appreciating a piece of art.

Richard didn't mind being treated as a piece of art, after all, he was handsome. He slowly read the character profile the old man gave him.

It had to be said that director Michael Mann was very serious about the film. He was a film director, but he still took the time to write the protagonist's personal profile, which could also be considered a character biography.

It started from the protagonist Vincent's childhood, what kind of family he was born into, what kind of childhood he had, what kind of personality he developed, what grade he was in when he had his first love, when he started to like jazz music, when he joined the killer organization, what professional skills he had, and so on. It was about five or six thousand words long.

This kind of work should have been done by the actor, but the director did it instead. It would be easier for the actor to act, but the character setting was predetermined, and the performance would be restricted, with less freedom.

After reading the protagonist's biography, Richard had a deeper understanding of the character. He was a cold-blooded killer who had an unhappy childhood and even killed his own father. He was a very evil person with a world-weary complex.

This character was a distinctive villain, and it would be difficult to play him well, but if he did, he might have a chance to win an important film award.

"If you were to play Vincent, are you confident you could do it well?" Michael Mann asked.

"Act according to what's written here?" Richard pointed to the folder. "If I act according to this, I can't do it."

"Is there a problem with the profile I wrote?" Director Michael Mann frowned.

"No problem, I just have a question, Michael, do you know any real professional killers?" Richard asked with a crooked smile.

Director Michael Mann was about to ask 'Have you met any?' when he suddenly remembered that this guy was a real agent, so it wouldn't be strange if he had met professional killers. Well, he had met an expert.

"Richard, please speak directly if you have any questions." Director Michael Mann gestured.

"Just a small question, about the character's image design when he first appears. Vincent has dyed silver hair, a silver-gray suit, a handsome and cold face, and appears in a crowded subway station with a toolbox in his hand. Silver hair is very non-mainstream, band members or people who cosplay game characters would dye their hair like this. The silver-gray suit is relatively formal, and his expression is cold, not numb like the office workers around him. This kind of image appearing in the subway station is like a laser light, the police will definitely notice him if they see him. And you described Vincent as an ordinary person who won't be remembered or recognized in any occasion or place. On the one hand, he wants to hide and appear ordinary, but on the other hand, he appears in a low-income area like the subway station dressed flamboyantly. It seems contradictory, that's my understanding." Richard said slowly.

Director Michael Mann frowned, "Then what do you think Vincent's entrance should be like?"

"Michael, you designed the character's image like this, maybe I understand your idea a little bit. The subway station is crowded, you want to show the difference between a professional killer and ordinary people, but also want them to look like ordinary people. I agree with this consideration. Professional killers are not ordinary people, they disregard life, treat killing as a job, and lack basic respect for life. But at the same time, they want to be ordinary people, one is to avoid loneliness, and the other is to use it as a cover."

"Good, both screenwriter Pete and I had this consideration. If you were to design it, how would you make this killer both an ordinary person and stand out from the crowd?" Director Michael Mann asked for advice.

Richard pondered for a moment, "Temperament. In 'Léon: The Professional,' Mr. Reno played the killer very well. He stood in a crowd, blending in with the people around him, looking no different. But if you stare at him carefully, you'll find his difference, cold and calm, and giving people an extremely dangerous feeling. Vincent is not Léon, but they should have a similar temperament. When the camera is not focused on him, he is no different from the people around him, with similar clothes, hairstyle, and walking posture. When the camera falls on him and his face, you can see that he is a person who disregards life, out of place with the people around him."

Director Michael Mann smiled, "You said it very well, Richard. Can you perform it on the spot?"

"..." Richard twitched the corner of his mouth, it was really difficult for him.

"Not at the moment. I just got the script yesterday and I'm completely unprepared. If you give me enough time to prepare, I'm confident I can play Vincent well."

Director Michael Mann shook his head, "Richard, you said it well, but I can't choose you."

"Oh? What's the reason?" Richard smiled.

"First of all, this is our first meeting, and I don't have a good impression of you. I spent a lot of time and consulted a lot of information to write this character profile, but you criticized it as worthless. If we work together, we will definitely have a lot of disagreements during filming in the future."

"That makes sense. What's the second reason?"

"Secondly, your appearance is relatively delicate, and you would be recognized at first glance in a crowd. Obviously, you're not suitable for Vincent." Director Michael Mann said.

Richard nodded slightly, it was indeed because he was too handsome.

"Director, I heard that Mr. Tom Cruise is also preparing for the audition, do you think he is suitable?"

"Em~, he has the same problem as you, but I'm also willing to give you both a second audition. If you're still interested in this role, Mr. Brad, next weekend at the No. 3 subway station on West Hollywood Street, I'm willing to talk to you again."

"Okay, director, see you next weekend."

After finishing the conversation, he didn't stay any longer and went straight back to the company to find Anthony and the others to discuss how to become an ordinary person.

"Makeup, darken your face a bit, and add a beard, it will be hard to recognize you." Naomi suggested.

"That's also a way, but not the best option. A killer should learn to hide, and so should a star. Every time I go shopping, I get recognized. If I don't want to be recognized, besides makeup, what else can I do?"

Richard asked.

"There's no way, this is all your fault. Who told you to point fingers at the director's work the first time you met him? You used to be very polite to directors and producers when you were a small actor, are you getting arrogant now?" Anthony leaned on the sofa and said, holding a teacup.

"This is not arrogance, but rather positioning myself correctly. I've worked hard for so long, just so I can speak my mind. If, with my current status, I still have to be cautious around directors, would my boxing fans and fans agree if they knew?"

"Richard, you're right. The status of us actors and directors is equal. Since we've discovered a problem, why can't we speak up? If the director accepts it, that's good. If not, we can just not cooperate early on, it's good for both sides." Naomi smiled.

"Okay, you all make sense. But I don't know how to become an ordinary person without makeup. Maybe we can find a makeup artist or a real killer to talk to, maybe we can get some inspiration from them."

"That's a good suggestion."

Afterwards, Richard contacted several makeup artists, and they suggested that he wear a uniform. Generally, when people see someone in a uniform, they first look at the uniform, not the face. Even if they see a face that looks like a star, they would choose to doubt it.

The second suggestion was to pretend to be disabled, and people would only look at the disabled part. The first two suggestions were similar, to divert attention.

The third suggestion was from an old agent, to have more contact with ordinary people.

Generally, stars have a star aura because they rarely interact with ordinary people. They often stand in front of the camera, and this temperament is cultivated over a long period of time. Other professionals also have similar situations. If you want to become an ordinary person, it's best to have more contact with ordinary people and engage in ordinary people's work.

Richard felt that the third suggestion captured the key to the problem. A drop of ink, in order to become like water, must blend into it, otherwise other methods would only treat the symptoms, not the root cause.

From the next day on, Richard found a job at the FedEx branch office, delivering express mail in the downtown area, and not being recognized.

"Are you sure?" Ms. Bundchen looked at him strangely.

"What's wrong? I used to be an ordinary person in the Bronx. In the past five or six years, I've been practicing boxing and filming every day, gradually becoming detached from the masses. Sometimes I feel lonely, maybe I shouldn't isolate myself from the people." Richard sighed.

"You talk as if you're the President of the United States. Okay, go ahead, I'll cheer for you at home." Ms. Bundchen clenched her fist and smiled.

"Thank you, darling." Richard hugged her, kissed her, and left the villa.

Ms. Bundchen smiled slightly and took out her phone to make a call.

"Scarlett, what are you doing? Oh, nothing. Do you want to watch Richard deliver express mail... Haha, it's true, for several days in a row. If you want to watch, come over... Okay, I'll wait for you at home."

Ms. Bundchen found a handheld camcorder at home. When Scarlett arrived, Ms. Bundchen called the driver, got in the car, went to the city center, followed Richard's express delivery truck, and quietly filmed his daily work.

"Bundchen, do you really just want to film his daily work?" Scarlett asked, looking at the camcorder.

"Of course, I want to see how he's doing." Bundchen smiled.

"Okay, I thought you were going to film evidence of him cheating."

"I'm not that bored. Ah~ look, Richard failed. He was recognized on his first delivery, and people even pulled him to sign autographs and take photos. Hahaha, Richard's face turned dark." Ms. Bundchen laughed loudly.

"Richard is really something. Is it necessary to do this for a role? He's such a big star, he can get any role he wants." Scarlett leaned on the car window and laughed.

"Aren't you actors very focused on professionalism? Isn't it good that Richard is showing professionalism?"

"Okay, I understand. He wants to win an Oscar. I heard this was a vow he made publicly on set a few years ago." Scarlett laughed.

"Does Richard have a chance? His acting is pretty good, I like watching his movies."

"It's useless if you like him, the members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences need to like him. They don't like to give film awards to very famous stars, and they certainly won't give professional awards to actors who switch careers, especially someone like Richard. Richard is a professional boxer, a gold medal agent, tsk, and also a rich man. If I were a judge, I wouldn't vote for him. We're all human, why should he be so outstanding? He's already a boxing champion and a gold medal agent, and now he wants to win an Oscar for Best Actor, he's too greedy." Scarlett shook her head.

"That makes sense. Last year and this year, I was a judge for two modeling contests. Every time I see someone say they're modeling part-time and their dream is to be a supermodel, I really dislike that kind of person. Doing it part-time and still wanting to be a supermodel, unless their dad is a billionaire." Ms. Bundchen laughed.

"If Richard switched careers to become a model, could he become a supermodel?" Scarlett propped her chin up and smiled.

Ms. Bundchen frowned, "It seems like it wouldn't be difficult for him."

"Haha, ah, quick, film there, Richard is surrounded by people." Scarlett shouted excitedly.

On a pedestrian street ahead, Richard was recognized. Someone shouted "Richard," and then dozens of people surrounded him. In no time, tourists from half the street gathered around, asking for his autograph and photos. There were even a few girls screaming, wanting to hug him and confess their love loudly.

"That's too exaggerated, it's just a man. Bundchen, do you want to go pick up Richard?" Scarlett laughed.

"No need, there are bodyguards around, Richard can handle it."

Half an hour later, Richard finally emerged from the crowd. He was sweating profusely, riding a small motorcycle, and sped away. Two reporters tried to catch up with him for an interview, but were stopped by two bodyguards.

"Haha, he was recognized 6 out of 7 times, Richard must be very discouraged." Ms. Bundchen laughed loudly.

"If it were me, I wouldn't be discouraged. Being recognized means I'm popular enough."

"You're only 18, what's the rush? Guess if Richard can last until the afternoon today?" Ms. Bundchen asked with a smile.

"He can, Richard is not an ordinary person." Scarlett said.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 293: Sleeping in Again Tomorrow

In the crowded subway station, a man in a silver-gray suit walked towards them.

"Director, how was my performance?" Tom Cruise asked with a smile.

Director Michael Mann put down the handheld camera. "Not bad."

"Haha, Michael, you know, Tom delivered express mail for a day for this role." Tom Cruise's agent, Brian, laughed.

"Mr. Cruise also delivered express mail?" Director Michael Mann's mouth twitched.

"Also?" Tom Cruise asked in confusion.

"Mr. Cruise, I mentioned before that Mr. Richard Brad is also preparing for this role, and it just so happens that he, like you, also used this method to experience the role."

"Oh, how was Richard's performance?" Tom Cruise frowned and smiled.

"I have his audition video here, you can take a look."

Director Michael Mann opened the video he shot yesterday and showed it to Cruise. The screen showed a crowded crowd, men, women, old people, teenagers, wearing suits or casual clothes, all kinds of people.

There was also sound in the video, "Where's Richard?"

Tom Cruise also stared at the screen, trying to see if Richard was there.

"Richard is there!"

A hand reached out from the screen, pointing to the middle of the crowd. Richard had already appeared in the shot, but he didn't attract anyone's attention. As the camera slowly moved and focused on him, Tom Cruise also saw him.

Richard didn't disguise himself, his appearance was still very handsome. But when people didn't notice him, he was in the crowd, inconspicuous, without anything that could actively attract attention.

When the camera landed on him, the whole world was his.

His handsome and cold face, tall and strong figure, sharp and indifferent temperament, and those restless eyes, all vividly displayed the image of a killer who blended into the crowd but was also detached from it.

The image he presented was so powerful that anyone who saw it would be deeply impressed.

If someone said that he was a killer, those who had seen killers would not deny it, and those who hadn't would have a deep impression in their hearts. This was what a real killer should be like.

Tom Cruise frowned.

"How did he do it?"

"He has met real professional killers." Director Michael Mann said.

"Michael, are you going to choose Richard? Just based on this?" Agent Brian frowned.

Director Michael Mann looked at Tom Cruise, feeling a bit conflicted.

Tom Cruise was a world-class movie star. In the film industry, there were only a handful of actors who could compare with him. No director didn't want to work with him.

But in terms of this scene, Richard's performance was more powerful and profound. If shot well, it might create a classic killer image. Tom Cruise's performance was also good, but it lacked some flavor.

If he hadn't seen Richard's performance, he would have chosen to work with Tom Cruise without hesitation. After seeing it, if he didn't use Richard, he would feel very regretful.

"Sorry, Mr. Cruise, Richard is more suitable for the role of Vincent. I hope to have the opportunity to work with you next time."

"Director Mann, I respect your choice." Tom Cruise twitched the corner of his mouth and turned to leave.

"Tom~" Agent Brian shouted, then turned back and said discontentedly, "Michael, Cruise is a world-class actor, his acting skills, fame, and box office appeal are all better than that boxer. Are you sure you want to do this? I remember you said before that you really wanted to work with Cruise."

"Yes, Mr. Cruise is a good actor, and I want to work with him, but Richard is obviously more suitable for the role of Vincent. His performance is more powerful."

"I don't care about that. If we want to cooperate, it has to be this time, otherwise there won't be a next time. I hope you can seriously consider it."

After saying that, Brian also left the subway station.

"Michael, will you change your mind?" Assistant director Waxman asked.

Director Michael Mann smiled slightly, "I'm over sixty, and I can't make many more movies. I cherish every work in my hands, and I don't want to leave any regrets."

"They're very likely to suggest to the production department to change directors. Spike Lee and Martin Scorsese are also on the shortlist of potential directors." Waxman reminded him.

"It doesn't matter, even if they replace me, I won't have any regrets." Director Michael Mann smiled, got in the car, and left the subway station.

Back at DreamWorks Pictures, he edited the two videotapes and called Steven Spielberg, one of the three founders of DreamWorks, who had a lot of say in film projects.

Spielberg happened to be at the company and was curious when he heard about the auditions of the two big stars.

Director Michael Mann brought the videotapes to the office and played Richard and Tom Cruise's audition videos twice.

"Richard is also starting to focus on acting skills?" Spielberg laughed.

"For this role, he delivered express mail for five days, and it's said that he even met with killers." Michael Mann laughed.

Spielberg smiled, "He's so optimistic about this role, does he want to compete for the Best Actor Oscar?"

"Yes, this role also has the potential to compete for the Oscars."

"Okay, this movie is yours, and it's your right to choose who to cast as the lead. The production department won't interfere." Spielberg said.

Director Michael Mann felt reassured. He left the office and immediately announced the audition results. The film crew decided to cast Richard as the lead actor.

---

"Richard, congratulations, you got the role, and there's a 20 million dollar salary." In the office, Anthony handed over the folder and smiled.

"Congratulations my ass, getting the role means I have to play it well, and I'll be busy again for a while."

The story of this movie took place in downtown Los Angeles, so the filming would be done in Los Angeles, and the shooting time was also very close, at the beginning of next month.

"Isn't this the role you wanted? If you play it well, you might have a chance to get nominated for a major award."

"Hopefully."

He had seen Tom Cruise's information, originally Cruise was supposed to play Vincent.

There was no record of him winning any awards or nominations for this role in the information.

No awards also meant that the movie's reputation was average, so the box office certainly wouldn't be too good either. Richard felt a lot of pressure, hoping it wouldn't be a flop.

"Richard, it's hard to win an award with just one role, I have two other good ones here..."

"Get lost!"

Richard glanced at him unhappily, and before Anthony could take out the script, he left the office swiftly and decisively.

"Sigh, if only the company had two Richards." Anthony sighed regretfully.

---

Back at the villa, Richard was in his study, engrossed in his character study.

In the past two years, he had filmed several commercial movies in a row - two "Fast and Furious" movies, "xXx", and even a supporting role in "X-Men". These roles didn't require much effort and were considered to be within his comfort zone.

However, "Collateral" was different. It was a profound killer, a true villain, and very challenging. Reaching an Oscar-worthy level of performance would be difficult.

He repeatedly researched, rewrote his character biography, and discussed every scene his character appeared in with director Michael Mann. Afterward, he would rehearse with Naomi. Naomi's new movie "The Ring" had just been released, so she had some free time, and Richard naturally sought her out.

"Richard, you went to deliver packages and even went head-to-head with Tom Cruise for this role, but after reading the script, I don't see anything particularly outstanding about this character," Naomi said with a smile, looking at the script.

"It's not outstanding, but it's not bad either. My image and temperament limit my range of roles. There aren't many roles suitable for me anymore. When I encounter one that's not bad, I should seize the opportunity and try to perform it well. The final result is up to the audience," Richard said.

"Alright, let's rehearse. I hope you can win the Oscar for Best Actor soon, hahaha~"

"If you didn't laugh, maybe I would seriously thank you," Richard said, putting his arm around her waist.

"Okay, I won't laugh. Let's rehearse. If you don't perform well, don't blame me for criticizing you." Naomi picked up the script, her expression turning serious.

"Okay, Teacher Watts."

---

After half a month of preparation, "Collateral" began filming at a subway station in downtown Los Angeles.

"Scene 1, Take 1, action!"

Filming started. The extras in the subway station started moving under the assistant director's guidance. Richard, dressed in a gray suit and carrying a black briefcase, slowly walked out of the crowd.

At the beginning, it was a wide shot, and the camera had no focus, so Richard couldn't be seen. As he slowly approached, the focus gathered on him - handsome, cold, and full of danger. Staring at him made people feel uneasy.

In front of the monitor, director Michael Mann watched the screen with his arms crossed, his eyes always on Richard. This was a slow-motion shot with many close-ups, making it difficult to act. He planned to spend three days filming it.

However, Richard's performance surprised him. During the last audition, Richard's performance was impressive, but upon closer inspection, it was still rough with many flaws.

This time during filming, he originally intended to point them out on set to suppress Richard's temper, but the result surprised him. The problems he had identified before were gone. Richard's performance was more skilled and stable, clearly having prepared carefully in advance.

Director Michael Mann sighed inwardly. So talented and so hardworking, no wonder he became a big star.

"Cut!"

"Richard, this scene is a single continuous shot. Your momentum needs to be maintained from beginning to end, without any letup. Let's do it again from the beginning."

The first take went too smoothly, and director Michael Mann felt something was wrong, so he wanted a second take to see if Richard's performance could break through.

Richard returned to his starting position and went through the motions again.

This scene was of the killer Vincent leaving the airport and meeting his contact at the subway station. It was the first scene of the first act, so it needed to be impactful, giving a sense of preemptive strike.

"Cut, next scene!"

After two takes, director Michael Mann felt it was enough. Any more intensity would be overkill.

In the next scene, professional killer Vincent bumped into a man in black carrying the same briefcase in the crowd. The two looked at each other, and the briefcases fell to the ground.

"Are you okay?" Vincent asked.

The man in black smiled. "I'm fine, don't worry."

"Are you sure?" Vincent asked.

The man in black nodded.

Vincent bent down and picked up the black briefcase that the other man had dropped.

"Hope you enjoy your time in Los Angeles," the man in black shouted with a smile.

Vincent strode out of the subway station.

"Hold on, Mr. Reeves, you're smiling a bit too much," director Michael Mann reminded. He was very satisfied with the actor Richard had found for this cameo. Keanu Reeves came to cameo as the gang's contact. Two top handsome guys acting together, there was no better shot than this.

"I understand, director. I'll definitely hold back my laughter next time," Keanu Reeves said with a smile.

Richard looked at him unhappily. "Acting is a serious matter, what are you laughing at?"

"I don't know. I just want to laugh when I see you with a straight face. I don't think we're suitable for playing opposite each other," Reeves said with a smile.

"Then can you play this role well? If not, I'll replace you," Richard said, annoyed. He was a cold-blooded killer and had to maintain his authority, but Keanu kept laughing, making it difficult for him to cooperate.

"Yes, I can. Don't worry, I'll definitely play it well." Reeves immediately restrained his smile and put on a serious face, then put on his signature black leather jacket, looking like he was straight out of "The Matrix."

Director Michael Mann looked at him, then at Richard. "Mr. Reeves, you're a Los Angeles native, and your character is just a contact for the killer organization, not a killer. You don't need to have the same tense expression as Richard. You can relax a bit, to a degree you can control."

"Okay, I understand." Reeves nodded slightly.

The second take began. Once Reeves got serious, his acting was quite good, and the scene was completed after two takes.

"Richard, you must be under a lot of pressure for this movie, right?" Reeves said with a smile.

"Why do you say that?"

"There are rumors in the industry that Tom Cruise, Russell Crowe, Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, and many other talented and famous actors were all vying for this role, a role with a good chance of winning an Oscar for Best Actor.

In the end, you got it. If you don't perform well, or fail to get an Oscar nomination, hehe, what do you think the rumors will say?" Reeves said with a schadenfreude smile.

"I don't care about rumors. I just want to act well. We'll talk about other things after the movie is released. Even if I fail, what does it matter? Can't I fail once after being so successful?" Richard maintained his killer aura with a straight face.

"Hehe, if you don't succeed, I'll join others in laughing at you."

"Whatever, but I reserve the right to punch people."

"Okay, you're tough!"

Reeves left after filming his scene, and Richard also returned to the set to continue filming.

The subway station scenes took two days to film due to the large number of extras and the scale of the set.

After finishing the scenes there, the crew moved to the streets to film the road scenes.

This movie is about a professional killer who gets into a taxi and forces the taxi driver to drive him around to commit murders. In the end, when the killer is about to kill the taxi driver's dream lover, the taxi driver fights back and kills the killer.

All the scenes in this movie take place after dark, with several streets in Los Angeles as the main setting. The story unfolds over twenty-four hours as the killer travels and kills along the way.

The role of the taxi driver is played by Jamie Foxx, a black actor with solid acting skills.

During the first scene, Richard was almost overshadowed by his performance.

Foxx's acting was very natural. He played the taxi driver as if it were his true self, with every expression just right and no trace of acting.

Richard admired this aspect. He had always been pursuing the most natural performance, minimizing any trace of acting.

However, achieving this was difficult.

One reason was lack of experience, and the other was character limitations. The roles he played were mostly cool-looking, often requiring him to strike poses in front of the camera for dramatic effect.

At the same time, those characters were not commonly seen in real life. If they were common small roles like taxi drivers, waiters, or delivery people, he could imitate their actions to perform.

For roles without a reference for imitation, he could only rely on imagination and the script's settings to act, making it even more challenging.

However, Richard didn't give up because of the difficulty. Every classic character was created by actors. What others could do, he could do too, and even better.

"How long have you been driving?" Vincent asked in the taxi.

"12 years!" driver Max said.

"Really?"

"Yes!"

"Do you have any plans for the future?" Vincent asked, looking at the rearview mirror in front.

"Umm... you know, it's just a small business.

Chapter 294: Sleep and It'll Be Fine

The next day, Richard continued filming. The protagonist, Vincent, went around the city killing people according to the list, and the taxi driver wanted to stop him but was powerless.

After filming for a few days, Richard got used to Vincent's character, and the filming went smoothly.

"How's the movie going?" Jude Law came to visit the set.

"It's going well. It should be finished in about half a month. How come you have time to come here?" Richard handed him a cup of black tea.

"I just passed by and heard you were filming here, so I came to visit," Jude Law said with a smile.

"Is your filming finished?"

"Yes, it wrapped the day before yesterday, and I flew back to do the dubbing for my character."

"Your movie is good. I've read the script."

Jude Law's new movie was called "Cold Mountain," adapted from the novel of the same name, directed by Anthony Minghella, who he had worked with on "The Talented Mr. Ripley."

When the film project started in May, director Minghella also sent him a script and asked if he was interested. If he was, he could come for an audition.

The script for "Cold Mountain" was good, and the male lead's character was well-developed. However, the film's production company was Miramax, and the producers were the Weinstein brothers, so he declined.

In the end, many people competed for the male lead, and director Minghella still chose the familiar Jude Law.

"I heard your movie is also very good and has a good chance of winning an Oscar," Jude Law said with a smile.

"Who told you that? The movie hasn't even finished filming yet. How could there be such rumors?" Richard raised an eyebrow. Ever since he got the script for "Collateral," many people had asked him the same question, as if everyone knew about it. This wasn't a good thing.

"Haha, the rumors are widespread. I just came back two days ago and already heard about it. They also said you're very confident about winning an Oscar."

"It must be a joke. I don't know if those people are encouraging me or making fun of me. It's just boring," Richard shook his head.

"You're famous now. Every move you make will attract attention, whether it's good or bad. You can be more confident. I believe you'll make it to the next Oscar shortlist. Maybe we can compete then," Jude Law said with a smile.

"I don't want to think about that too much. Thinking too much will affect my performance," Richard shook his head.

"You're right!"

After chatting for a bit, Jude Law left. He still had to go to the recording studio to work.

Richard went back to the set and continued filming.

What Jude Law said earlier, along with the rumors in the industry, put a lot of pressure on him, making him even more focused during his performance.

"Cut!"

"Richard, don't be too tense. Relax your expression a bit."

"Okay!"

Richard adjusted himself and continued acting.

"What are you going to Ol Rodeo for?" driver Max asked.

"That's none of your business," Vincent said with a cold face, then suddenly smiled. "Some people, when they can't achieve their own wishes, will impose it on you and make you help them achieve it."

"How do you know?" Max asked.

"My father was like that," Vincent said faintly, looking ahead.

"My mom had it even worse."

"I don't know. My mother passed away when I was very young. My father hated everything I did, no matter what. He was an alcoholic, abusive, and sent me to foster care. Later, he took me back, just like that," Vincent said expressionlessly.

"Then what?" Max asked.

"I killed him," Vincent's expression remained unchanged. "I was twelve years old that year."

Max looked in the rearview mirror, his eyes filled with horror as he stared at him.

"Hahaha~"

Suddenly, Vincent laughed neurotically. "I'm just kidding. He died of liver disease."

"Good!"

Behind the monitor, director Michael Mann looked at the images from the camera and said to screenwriter Beatty, "Richard's acting is getting more and more natural. He's very suitable for playing this kind of evil and violent character."

Screenwriter Beatty nodded slightly. "The villains he plays have more spirit, it's a bit like he's playing himself."

"I hope he can keep it up. If he can persist until the end, there's still hope for him to compete for an Oscar," director Michael Mann sighed.

"You've also heard that rumor?" screenwriter Beatty said with a smile.

"Yes, it doesn't seem well-intentioned," director Michael Mann said.

This rumor also put pressure on him, so he was very strict with every shot and the actors during filming. The script was good, and the two leads, Richard and Jamie Foxx, were also good. If he couldn't film it well, it would be his own problem.

"Cut!"

After finishing a scene, the director started reviewing the footage, identifying any problems, such as lighting, sound, camera angles, or acting issues, and making adjustments.

"Richard, pay attention to the emotional transition here."

"Jamie, pay attention to your coordination in the front."

Richard and Jamie Foxx made some adjustments and returned to the camera.

---

Chapter 294: Sleep and It'll Be Fine

December arrived, and "The Lord of the Rings 2" began its pre-release promotion. Richard took time out of his schedule to attend a few promotional events. Due to the positive reception of the first movie, many viewers were eagerly awaiting the second one, making the promotion relatively straightforward.

On Friday, "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" premiered in Los Angeles, and Richard attended the premiere with Gisele.

On its opening day, the film was shown in 3,622 theaters across the United States, earning $65.01 million at the box office over the weekend. Despite many other blockbusters released in December, such as "Catch Me If You Can" and "Chicago," none could compete with "The Lord of the Rings 2" at the box office.

Richard had a larger role in the second film, and his performance was more polished, making Aragorn even more popular. He received a lot of praise for this role.

However, he didn't have time to pay attention to it. After finishing the movie promotion, he devoted himself entirely to the filming of "Collateral."

While he was doing promotion, the crew focused on filming Jamie Foxx's scenes. When he returned, the crew returned to the main storyline shooting mode.

However, after a few days of delay, Richard inevitably couldn't find his rhythm. The first scene got stuck, and they couldn't get it right even after five takes.

"Cut!"

"Richard, this won't do. You need to be more engaged, otherwise, there's a sense of disconnection between the scenes," director Michael Mann shouted.

"Director, this is my mistake. I need to adjust," Richard said apologetically.

"Okay, take a half-hour break and continue filming," director Michael Mann waved his hand, signaling the crew to prepare again.

Richard rubbed his face and apologized to the crew members. With a half-hour break, today's work would drag on late. It was his responsibility, so he asked Anna to buy some coffee and fried chicken for the crew.

Today's scene was Vincent going on a killing spree in a nightclub. While escaping, Vincent and Max had an argument because Vincent killed a Los Angeles police officer.

This scene wasn't particularly difficult, but he wasn't in the right state. He had acted it out several times but couldn't find the feeling. Forcing himself to act without the feeling would feel awkward.

Now he needed to get back to his original state.

Walking to an empty corner, he closed his eyes and leaned against the wall, replaying the lines and plot of this scene in his mind, rehearsing it repeatedly.

When he was in good shape, he could act however he imagined. When he wasn't in good shape, his expressions, lines, and movements couldn't blend well. What he acted out was different from what he had in mind. This was a case of the spirit being willing but the flesh being weak.

Many actors encountered this situation, and Richard was experiencing it now. He went over the plot in his head a few times but still felt it wasn't good enough, and he became very frustrated.

He took off his jacket, put on a hat, and started running hard on the street.

It was past ten o'clock at night, and there weren't many pedestrians on the street, mostly just cars passing by in a hurry.

He ran from Sante Street to the Los Angeles Shopping Center, then from the food court back to the set, covering about five kilometers in over twenty minutes.

He was sweating all over, and his mind gradually calmed down.

He changed clothes in the nanny van, and the makeup artist reapplied his makeup.

"Richard, how are you feeling?" Jamie Foxx asked with a smile.

"Not bad, I'm getting a bit of a feel for it," Richard said with a smile.

"Take your time to find the feeling, no rush."

The sixth take began, and Richard fully immersed himself in the performance.

"Why did you kill Fanning?" Max asked.

"Who's Fanning?" Vincent looked out the back window to see if any police cars were following.

"Fanning is the cop. Why did you kill him?" Max said angrily. "He has a family. His children have lost their father. He trusted me."

"Oh, I should have let him go because he saved you?" Vincent said with a smile.

"Why not?"

"Sorry, it's my job," Vincent said nonchalantly.

"Cut!"

"Good job!" director Michael Mann shouted.

Richard breathed a sigh of relief. They finally got it.

Once he found his rhythm, the acting went smoothly.

It was past two in the morning when the crew wrapped up for the day.

Back home, Richard hugged Gisele and fell into a deep sleep. The next day, he continued filming.

Filming on set usually started difficult and got easier, and towards the end, they were in the zone, filming at least four or five scenes a day.

On the 18th, the "Collateral" crew wrapped up filming, and Richard felt a bit unsatisfied.

"Richard, you have a lot of potential in acting. If you can focus all your energy on movies, there will definitely be an Oscar for you in the future," director Michael Mann raised his glass and said with a smile at the wrap party.

"Michael, I understand what you mean. I'll work hard," Richard clinked glasses and smiled.

"Richard, it was a pleasure working with you. I hope we have another chance next time," Jamie Foxx said with a smile.

"I think so too, Jamie. You're a great actor," Richard also clinked glasses with him.

After two months of continuous filming, while also taking care of other matters, he was busy every day.

When he finally had some free time, he didn't want to move at all, just lying lazily on the sofa in the backyard, basking in the sun.

"Hey, Richard!"

But after only two days of relaxation, Andy came looking for him, standing on the lawn in the backyard, blocking his sun.

"Andy, what's up?" Richard yawned and asked, picking up his sunglasses.

"Richard, did you forget something?" Andy frowned, crossing his arms.

"What?"

"The fight against Holyfield."

"Oh, right. I'll be there on time."

"Is that all? Holyfield is a former champion, a four-time WBA heavyweight champion, the most in boxing history. You can't underestimate him just because he's older," Andy said seriously.

"I know. I respect every opponent and didn't mean to underestimate him."

"But the match is coming up, and you're still lying here sunbathing. You look very relaxed," Andy said with a smile.

"Can't I rest for a day after working hard for a year?" Richard said, annoyed.

"Really? Why is it that every time I see you, you're always free?" Andy asked.

Richard snorted softly, too lazy to respond.

"Andy, Richard just finished training. Let him rest a bit more. He's been too tired lately," Gisele came out with a teapot and said with a smile.

"Okay, Richard. I'm just worried you're not taking this match seriously enough. Are you training at home? Do you need to call a massage therapist?"

"No need. I'll be fine after a good sleep," Richard waved his hand.

"Alright, call if you need anything. Our team is available 24/7 for you. Also, here's Holyfield's videotape. Watch it when you have time."

Andy came and went quickly, leaving the villa after having a cup of tea.

"Richard, you should take on less work in the future. You said you'd only do two movies a year, no more," Gisele said, cradling his head on her lap and gently massaging his shoulders.

"I know. It's just that Anthony is too annoying. He always comes to bother me for no reason. From now on, I've decided to follow my own pace."

Sometimes being too busy could also affect his acting. That's what happened a few days ago when filming "Collateral."

At first, he was in good shape, but after a few days off, he was clearly affected. It took him two days to get back into the groove. The feeling of being stuck in a scene without being in the right state was very painful, and he didn't want to experience it again.

"Anthony just called and said he wants to come visit and discuss something with you."

"Ignore him. He has nothing else to do but cause trouble for me."

"Okay!"

Gisele smiled and popped a grape into his mouth.

---

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 295: A Formidable Opponent

"Richard, I really have something important to discuss. Your performance in 'The Lord of the Rings 2' was fantastic, and the media's reviews are very positive. They say you portrayed a very charismatic Aragorn. We think we can try to campaign for the Best Supporting Actor award at the next Oscars," Anthony said over the phone, having resorted to calling the landline after failing to reach Richard on his mobile.

"What does that have to do with me? Campaigning for awards is your job. Why are you calling me?" Richard said impatiently.

"Well, if only BAA does the PR, the chances of success are too small. If you personally come forward and lobby, the chances will be much higher."

"No need. With my current fame, another trophy is just icing on the cake. There's no need to waste time on such trivial matters. Also, the New Year is approaching, hasn't the company gone on holiday yet? If you have time off, go home and spend time with Marshall. Don't just work all the time. Haven't you noticed that you're almost bald?"

"It's okay, I have a wig."

"Alright, suit yourself."

Hanging up the phone, Richard returned to the living room to watch Holyfield's match videos.

Holyfield was 40 years old this year, a veteran boxer. He won a bronze medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. In 1990, Tyson lost the WBA heavyweight title to James Douglas in Tokyo. In October of the same year, Holyfield defeated Douglas and won the WBA title for the first time, becoming the world champion.

Before becoming the world champion, he maintained a 28-fight winning streak. After becoming the champion, he suffered several major defeats, losing twice to the famous boxer Riddick Bowe, once to Lennox Lewis, once to Michael Moorer, and had a record of one win, one draw, and one loss against John Ruiz.

From the data, he wasn't stronger than the blue-collar champion John Ruiz.

However, he had fought against many famous boxers, defeating the old champion George Foreman, twice defeating Tyson, losing the title four times and regaining it. He fought tenaciously, which was why he became a top boxer.

When Holyfield was young, his boxing style was tough, with superb technique, quick reactions, and excellent physical fitness, often exhausting his opponents in matches.

Now at 40, he was older, and his condition had declined significantly.

Before 1990, his matches were clean and decisive, often defeating opponents within seven rounds. After 1995, he could only rely on technique and physicality to prolong the match and win by points.

After 2000, he would start panting heavily after the first four rounds and couldn't deliver any exciting matches.

After watching 12 of his opponent's most representative match videos, Richard also knew how to deal with such an opponent.

On Christmas Eve, December 24th, the last boxing match of the year was held in Las Vegas. Former WBA champion Evander Holyfield challenged the new WBA champion, Richard Brad.

"Champion Richard entered professional boxing in 1997 and fought in the light heavyweight division for five years, defeating all the top-ranked boxers in that division. He has fought 31 matches without a single defeat.

He unprecedentedly won nine titles, including WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF, setting a boxing record. In 2000, he was awarded the Super Champion title by the WBA organization. He is the first Super Champion of the new century and the youngest Super Champion in boxing history," a CNN reporter enthusiastically introduced Richard's achievements with a microphone on the day of the match.

"In January this year, he moved up to the heavyweight division. In his first fight, he defeated former WBA champion John Ruiz, creating the legend of a light heavyweight boxer defeating a heavyweight champion. In May, he defeated the challenger James Toney, successfully defending his title for the first time.

Today, he will face his second challenger, the famous boxer Evander Holyfield, who has held the WBA heavyweight title four times.

If Holyfield wins this fight, he will break his own record and win the WBA title for the fifth time. If Richard wins, he will continue his undefeated legend."

"Richard is here!" someone shouted.

Then hundreds of reporters rushed forward, surrounding Richard, asking questions. They not only asked about the match but also about his personal life, wealth, and so on.

The interview lasted for ten minutes, and Richard entered the competition lounge under the escort of his team members.

"Hey, Richard!" Holyfield came over to greet him, his shiny bald head very eye-catching.

"Evander, are you ready?" Richard bumped fists with him.

"Haha, I should be asking you that. After all, I've held this title four times. This time, I'm going to take it back. Are you confident you can defend it successfully?" Holyfield asked.

"Yes, I never lack confidence in matches. That's my motto."

"Hehe, you're really arrogant. What tactics are you going to use against me this time? Of course, I won't force you if you don't want to say. We're just having a private conversation," Holyfield said with a light smile.

"There's nothing I can't say. I plan to use a delaying tactic. You're older, and your stamina declines quickly. As long as I drag the match into the later rounds, I have a 100% chance of winning."

"I'm old? Haha, we'll see about that."

Holyfield smiled and left his lounge.

Richard shook his head and continued putting on his gear.

"Richard, are you really going to use a delaying tactic?" Coach Wesley asked.

"Yes, it's almost New Year's Day. This match is like a festive event. Making it longer and more exciting can increase viewership."

Besides, Holyfield is a veteran, a former top boxing champion, and such a boxer should be given full respect. If the fight is quick and he is KO'd in the first round, then tonight's match won't have much to watch.

The match is about to start, the warm-up performance outside is almost over, Richard dressed as Santa Claus walked to the front desk, twisted his hips with the band, and even performed a few difficult street dance moves in thick clothes, causing a cheer from the audience.

"Oh, this kid is good at pleasing the audience."

Holyfield came out first, he looked at Richard dancing on the stage and smiled.

"Evander, any chance of beating Richard?"

Don King asked.

Holyfield glanced at him, "Are you kidding?"

"No chance at all? Richard has won too much, maybe he will be underestimated. As far as we know, he has been filming for two months before the match, and it was not finished until last weekend, so you still have a chance, if you can beat him, Get the gold belt again, and you will also become a legendary boxing champion."

Don King patted him on the shoulder.

"Okay, I'll do my best."

Holyfield strode onto the boxing ring.

Richard also came to the game scene.

The live host began to broadcast the data of the two, Holyfield is 189 tall, has an arm length of 198CM, weighs 210 pounds, and has a professional record of 45 fights, 38 wins, 5 losses and 2 draws.

Richard is 186 tall, has an arm length of 198CM, weighs 198 pounds, and has 33 wins in 33 fights.

噹噹噹~

The game has begun.

Richard took a defensive posture first, and when he saw that Holyfield was defending even more fiercely, he turned from defense to offense, constantly attacking Holyfield's head with jabs, swings, and hooks.

Each punch is not heavy, but the hit rate is extremely high. In the first round, he punched 88 times, of which more than 60 punches hit the opponent's head, face, shoulders and chest.

At the end of the first round, Holyfield was panting and sweating profusely.

"Evander, how do you feel?"

the coach asked.

"It's terrible, his punches are too fast, his offense is too dense, it makes me feel suffocated, huh~ I've been playing for more than 20 years, and I've never had such a bad experience."

Holyfield leaned against the pillar, panting.

"Your technique is better than his, you can use more hugs to hold him back, force him to foul, and you still have a chance to win at the end."

The coach thought for a while and gave a solution that was not a solution.

Holyfield didn't speak. Before he met Richard, he thought Richard was a good boxer, but he didn't know anything about his strength.

Now he knows that Richard is really good, good in all aspects, whether it is speed, technique or boxing awareness, he is top-notch, and his punching power.

Richard's punching power has always been a mystery in the boxing world, and no one knows how heavy his punches are.

Some people say it's very light, he hit the opponent more than two hundred punches, every punch hit the opponent's head, but failed to knock down the opponent.

Some people also say that it is very heavy. His 33 battles and 27 KOs defeated various boxers, which is proof.

Just now Holyfield was hit more than 60 punches, some on the face and some on the head. Although it was not heavy, every punch gave him a feeling of suffocation.

Holyfield was helpless, he used to think that Richard was just relatively powerful, and he had a chance to defeat him if he worked hard.

Only after actually fighting did I realize that the two are not on the same level at all.

At this time, he also understood why John Ruiz gave up the revenge battle after losing the WBA gold belt. It should be despair.

噹噹噹~

The game continued, and Richard continued to attack, constantly harassing his opponent with fast punches and flexible steps.

Holyfield's technique is very good, he is a good training partner.

He adopted this style of play, on the one hand, he wanted to practice his skills and try to hit the predicted punch, and on the other hand, he tried to make the game look better. This is a Christmas battle, so there must be no cold spots.

Holyfield probably understood his plan, and started to attack, cooperating with him, the two punched back and forth, playing vividly and wonderfully.

The two sides fought for ten rounds. In the tenth round, Holyfield consumed too much energy, was panting, and couldn't stand still. He fell to the ground three times in one round, and the referee took the initiative to stop the game.

Richard won the match and successfully defended the WBA gold belt for the second time. His personal record was 34 wins in 34 fights.

"Richard, come on, maybe you can take boxing to an unprecedented height, from now on, I am your boxing fan."

On the boxing ring, Holyfield said panting.

"Thank you, Evander, you are a respectable boxer."

Richard shook his hand and smiled.

Click~

There was a burst of crisp shutter sounds at the scene.

(End of this chapter)