To quickly transform someone with no boxing foundation into a skilled boxer was naturally impossible. However, achieving a resemblance and avoiding any glaring mistakes in performance would more or less achieve the effect Lyman desired.
On the following day, the three actresses arrived at a private club in Los Angeles. The second floor had been converted into a boxing gym, and the basic training facilities were well-prepared.
Several coaches had spoken to Lyman over the phone the previous day, ensuring they wouldn't be late.
They started warming up early.
So, when Hilary entered, she was greeted by a bustling training scene.
Not long after, Lyman arrived as well.
He gathered everyone together and said, "All three of them need to undergo strength training and body sculpting. They'll also be taught the basics of offensive footwork and evasion. We might be a bit short on time—only two weeks—so don't worry about becoming extremely proficient. Just make sure you look the part."
He then turned to one of the men and asked, "Mr. Hekato, is that achievable?"
The man referred to as Hekato was one of only two men there, but he was far from ordinary. He had recently been named the world's best coach by The New York Times' sports section. He excelled in training boxers.
This time, Warner had specifically brought him in after learning about Lyman's requirements.
"No problem. If it were proper training for a boxer, it would take at least two years. But now, if they just overcome their physical disadvantages, two weeks isn't too far off," Hekato replied.
The other coaches were all female boxers with a solid background. They were responsible for some actual sparring and helping the actresses find the right feel.
After a brief discussion, Coach Hekato started giving orders and getting everyone into action.
Lyman had other matters to attend to, so he left first.
...
The first day of training was quite overwhelming for these three young women.
With no boxing foundation and even a significant gap in their physical fitness, facing intensive strength training, primarily focusing on knee joints and multi-joint coordinated force, was no joke. Even the simple push-ups and pull-ups were demanding.
After ten sets, their waists, abdomens, and calves felt like they didn't belong to them anymore.
Actresses like Sandra Bullock, who had even poorer physical fitness, were whimpering in pain as the coach assisted them with pull-ups.
Fortunately, there was a half-hour break between each training session to catch their breath.
However, such grueling days were beyond what most ordinary women could endure.
By the second day, Sandra didn't show up for training; she gave up.
But Hilary was different. She was naturally stubborn and wouldn't accept defeat easily. She had endured so many hardships over the years—what was this in comparison?
Back when she had just started her acting career and wanted to secure a role in "Boys Don't Cry", she had cut her hair short. To better fit the role, she even used bandages to bind her chest, completely immersing herself in portraying a young man.
She maintained this appearance for half a year, even during the film's production, never letting her guard down. She lived her life truly based on the real experiences of Brandon Teena in the film.
There was even a scene where she had to jump from the third floor while harnessed to simulate a leap from a high place. Despite her injuries and fear of heights, she jumped directly without hesitation. When she landed, she couldn't control her fear and fell awkwardly, spraining her ankle. And yet, she didn't complain. She even filmed the scene twice more before approaching the director to discuss going to the hospital.
Her current specialized training was no different. After practicing at the club during the day, Hilary returned home in the evening and continued her training.
Due to excessive training, blisters formed on the soles of her feet, which eventually forced her to halt the frenzy.
When Coach Hekato informed Lyman about this, even he was surprised.
To be honest, when Lyman laid eyes on Hilary for the first time, he recognized her as the original female lead from "Million Dollar Baby".
He had watched the original film several times and was unlikely to make a mistake, especially since her facial features were nearly identical.
However, he didn't immediately finalize the casting choice. Lyman knew that films were never restricted to a particular actor.
His realization came during the filming of "Miscreant".
Even the well-known movie star Tom Cruise, when he had the right conditions, a strong opponent to play off, and a good role, could deliver a performance charisma distinct from merely being cool and handsome.
Also, in the previous life, Clint Eastwood directed the movie, and after going through many changes, the character selection deviated significantly. Eventually, it became a fixed image of a movie character in Eastwood's mind.
Naturally, Lyman wouldn't easily finalize the casting choice unless someone was truly suitable. At that time, Hilary, like many Hollywood actresses, was overly focused on her body and how she appeared on screen. She was too slim, and despite her tall stature, she looked like she hadn't gained any weight. How could that work?
However, listening daily to Coach Hekato's reports on the training progress, Lyman truly began to appreciate this young woman.
She was genuinely tough on herself; he had only seen this kind of tenacity in Heath Ledger. A stubborn determination.
As for Ashley Judd, while she persisted in training with gritted teeth, her results weren't as outstanding as Hilary's.
In the days that followed, "Million Dollar Baby" continued to be prepared systematically. While the two actresses were undergoing specialized training, Lyman wasn't idle either. He brought Thomas and others to several boxing gyms around Los Angeles to scout locations. However, he found none of them suitable, so he rented a warehouse and recreated a boxing gym setting.
During this time, Lyman discussed the screen quality he wanted to achieve with Thomas and made some minor adjustments to the details of the shots.
December arrived, and as Warner Bros.' "The Matrix Revolutions" began to see a decline in box office earnings and seemed to lack significant market dominance, "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy concluded with its final installment, "The Return of the King", taking over.
On the 16th afternoon, the premiere day of the movie, Peter Jackson called Lyman to see if he could attend.
The two had met at last year's Oscars and had remained in contact.
Given that he wasn't very busy at the moment and didn't mind attending such events, Lyman readily agreed.
It's worth mentioning that Peter Jackson had filmed many scenes for the third installment while shooting "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers". By grouping numerous scenes together, he had filmed them all in one go, which allowed him to quickly produce another film.
Keep in mind that Jackson wasn't known for his speed in making movies, especially when compared to someone like Lyman, who was lightning-fast.
As night fell, around 7 o'clock, the red carpet was laid out in front of the Loews Theater, and reporters on both sides were ready, waiting for the grand opening of this movie event.