A few minutes earlier.
Since the auditions had started, Woody Harrelson, Morgan Freeman, Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher and Mark Ruffalo had sneaked in to witness the individual performance. There were other stars on the cast of course but they were the only one who were curious to watch it. Despite what people thought, they had a say in who would get the role and they wanted someone good. They were all professional with a huge experience and they knew better than anyone that the film will be as good as their weakest members. It was not uncommon for a movie to be shut down by critics because of the bad performance of one actor.
As the first guy did his audition, all of them were silents, busy analysing everything they were watching. With all of their experience combined, they could top every university education who teach acting in the country. Once the first guy finishes, they start giving their opinion on the matter.
"It was okay I guess." Said Mark.
"On the mediocre side of okay I would say." Correct Jesse.
"Oh stop it Jesse, it was not that bad" Say Woody laughing.
"I know that we are pressing for time but I hope we can find better." Said Isla.
They knew that since the time was short they would end up with someone not that great but they still hoped to have at least one competent person in the three guys cast today. When the second guy approached the scene, Isla's face turned into a grimace. She did not like the way the guy interacted with the young assistant. Looking at his arrogant pacing, the four other actors here did not appear particularly shocked by it. They were all arrogant in their own way albeit some much more than others.
Looking at his performance, he was clearly much better than the first one. To the profesional gathering here it was noticed more clearly than someone new like Nathaniel. He gave an exemplary performance and in the end even Morgan gave a nod of approval.
"That was way better, at least someone with skill." Jesse approved.
"I agree, he is good." Mark and Woody confirmed.
"Yes but he's kind of a dick." Isla said with hostility.
"He's certainly that too." Say Woody laughing.
They chatter died down when the third guy came to the scene. Looking at his performance, they could not help to shake their heads. It was sloppy and he even had to start again because he failed the trick. After finishing, the guy almost ran out of the studio.
"Well, that was embarrassing." Say Woody, laughing.
"You're right about that, I'm kind of sorry for him" Say Mark.
"At least we have a good one among the batch." Said Jesse.
"A good and really dickish one" Say Isla still does not sell on the idea.
"Beggars can't be chooser Isla." Mark consoled.
They were going to leave when they noticed another young man coming to the stage.
"Wait, there is a fourth one?" Ask Mark, surprised.
"They told me that there were only three people coming to the audition today. Where did he come from?" Demand Jesse with a frown.
"I don't know but he looks young. I would say nineteen at the most." Woody says, looking at the blond teen walking.
"He is hot" Said Isla almost unconsciously when she noticed him smiling at the cute assistant giving him the spoon needed for the trick.
"Well looked at you. Do I need to remind you that you are married?" Said Woody cheekily.
"It's not because I'm not eating at the dinner anymore that I can't look at the menu." Answer Isla unapologetically.
They keep talking about the boy when he was in discussion with the director when Morgan noticed something weird. Looking more closely with narrowed eyes, his face instantly showed signs of disbelief.
"Look at his right hand." Morgan talked for the first time since coming here.
Surprised by the weird demand, they all focused their eyes on it and immediately they understood what Morgan was talking about.
"WTF?"
"What the… ?"
"How the hell is he doing that?"
The four immediately cursing in awe and disbelief. The five of them for the need of the movie had been coached by a renowned magician and their knowledge increased dramatically under their care. They were not considering themselves magicians by a long shot but they learned much more than ordinary people would in their lifetime. They could even perform some tricks themselves albeit easy ones. But none of those tricks that their coach taught them could top what Nathaniel was doing right now.
He was making the two spoons that he was holding turning in his hand. The thing that shocked them was that he was making the two spoon twirl between his fingers rapidly, moving to the tomb at the pinky. Moreover sometimes one or the two spoons would disappear before appearing again elsewhere a few seconds later. The truth was that the last few days that he immersed himself in magic, his fingers were constantly holding things that he was busy making disappear. If only they knew that Nathaniel was qualifying what he was doing as 'simple' it would blow their minds.
"Is he a full fledged magician?" Ask Jesse with disbelief.
"I don't know. Maybe he is just good with his hands?." Said Mark with a bitter smile.
"Hush, he's going to start". Interrupt Isla.
Focusing on the stage, the two men stopped talking as they could see that she was right. Everything was ready and they were just waiting for the director to start which happened a few seconds after that. Curious, they looked at his performance with much more attention than the last three auditions. Once finished, they immediately start talking among themselves.
"It's a pity." Mark was the first one to talk.
"Yeah, it was some basic acting skill right there." Agreed Jesse.
"He has natural charisma, he even managed to catch me in the tricks yet I know everything about it." Isla said.
"He has the magic angle pretty much covered. Too bad his acting skills are so bad." Woody say feeling sorry.
"I'm going to talk to him." Morgan finally set his mind.
"What?"
"Why?"
Immediately, the people around question him.
"I'm intrigued and curious. There is something weird with that young man and I want to find out what. Who is coming with me?" Morgan asked with a smile.
"Me!' Answer Isla first.
"Me too." Woody added.
"Ok, i'll come too." Mark follows.
"I'm also coming, I don't understand your curiosity for a random youth but I hope it will be fun." Jesse finished.