The success of a film encompasses various elements, but upon reflection, what struck Lyman the most was the film's music score.
Let's begin by discussing the maestro responsible for this film's score, Howard Shore.
He was Canadian, and in his early years, he served as the live music director on shows like SNL, a late-night talk show.
His most distinctive feature was his lack of a specific style.
This was precisely what drew Peter Jackson to him.
Back when "The Lord of the Rings" was in its initial stages of production, both John Williams and James Horner were considered as alternative choices for the film's score.
For those who might not be familiar with these maestros, let's use some metaphors to describe them.
John Williams, known for works like "Schindler's List", "Star Wars", "Jurassic Park", "Saving Private Ryan", and "Harry Potter", had a grand and majestic musical style, much like a monk practicing Shaolin Kung Fu.
James Horner, known for works like "Titanic", "Braveheart", and "A Beautiful Mind", had a tender and romantic musical style, akin to a Wudang martial artist trying to become one with nature.
Meanwhile, Howard's favorite was the eerie and cunning, having composed for films like "Seven", "Shutter Island", and "A Beautiful Mind", representing the sinister side.
His specialty lay in creating gloomy atmospheres, and he excelled in releasing the inner tension through intricate compositions and arrangements.
When it came to "The Lord of the Rings", Howard found himself in his element, fully expressing his enigmatic and versatile nature.
It was akin to a practitioner of a righteous sect learning the techniques of an evil one, using world music, grand symphonies, and percussion to craft a magical ambiance.
As the film reached its conclusion, with Frodo leaving his homeland and heading to the Elven lands in the western continent, the camera slowly panned out, and the somber background music resurfaced, delivering a perfect curtain call.
...
Outside Beverly Hills, within a small villa, Ashley Judd was in her bedroom, grooming and applying makeup. As an actress, these were essential routines when heading out, and today happened to be the crucial day of decision.
The rising young director and the leading lady for Warner Bros' new project had combined to create a situation that demanded her utmost attention.
Although the media's focus had shifted from the preparations for "Million Dollar Baby" to the release of "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King", with a simultaneous opening in 3,703 theaters across the United States, earning an astonishing $34.1M in a single day and a worldwide gross of $57.6M, breaking the single-day box office record set by "Star Wars: Episode I" in 1999 on a Wednesday.
For her, however, none of these numbers held any significance.
What truly mattered was that the two weeks of training as mentioned by Director Lyman had come to an end, and it was time to finalize the casting decisions.
Would she ultimately secure the role?
She felt somewhat uncertain because she had also observed Hilary Swank's performance. She was well aware that to claim this role, she had to surpass the formidable peak represented by Hilary.
As expected, when she returned to Firefly Films in the afternoon, the young director's words cut like a sharp blade.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Judd, but the leading lady's role has been cast, and it's Hilary Swank."
Ashley let out a slight sigh. She had mentally prepared herself for this rejection, but hearing the news still left her feeling disappointed.
Her past few years had been challenging, or rather, for an actress, it was an uphill battle to achieve fame. Without roles to play, it was downright fatal for an actor.
Moreover, in Hollywood, opportunities for women were truly limited. It was either decorative or a supporting role, and even when a significant role came along, it was often missed perfectly.
However, Ashley actually admired that girl.
She was about to stand up, preparing to politely bid farewell, when the young director spoke again.
"Wait a moment. There's another role in this film, a less prominent one, playing Maggie's sister. Are you interested?"
"I am... Thank you, Director."
Ashley turned around, wearing a grateful expression on her face.
She wasn't picky; having a role to play was good enough.
...
To be honest, Lyman had been observing the performances of these two.
In terms of acting skills, both of them were actually quite good. The comparison lay in who was more dedicated.
After two weeks of training, Hilary not only managed to gain weight successfully but also started to resemble a female boxer more with her image and demeanor, while Ash Jade lagged behind a bit.
However, considering their tremendous effort, the remaining roles in the film could be arranged accordingly.
With most of the main actors sorted out, Lyman checked his watch and then turned to Johnson, saying, "Remember to inform their agents and have Warner Bros start negotiations for their salaries to get them on board as soon as possible."
After giving his instructions, Lyman left the audition room, went to his office to pick up a draft of the storyboard, and prepared to head home.
In the company's lobby, near the elevator, stood a short-haired lady who immediately turned to look upon hearing the sound of leather shoes hitting the floor. She was none other than Hilary, the actress who had just finished her audition.
"Hello, Director Lyman," she greeted with an immediate smile.
Lyman nodded at her and said, "Keep up the good work and think deeply about the role. Don't disappoint me."
"I will," the girl replied, clutching the script in her hand tightly. She was afraid that she might lose this precious opportunity if she made even a minor mistake.
They entered the elevator together and descended to the ground floor.
Upon exiting the elevator, Lyman waved his hand and said, "That's it for now. We'll talk more when the production starts."
With that, he walked towards the nearby parking lot.
Hilary watched Lyman's figure gradually disappear from her sight, her emotions still quite stirred by the audition.
She hadn't forgotten to inform her agent about the news and tell her mother.
To be honest, it all felt like a dream. These past few weeks and the casting process had been nothing like she had imagined.
It wasn't just a role that could be skipped or considered optional. It wasn't about being selected based on looks or fame. She had secured the role of Maggie solely through her hard work.
There was a time when such a scenario had only been a distant dream when she had just entered the entertainment industry.
The longer she stayed, the more she realized how challenging it was.
Putting down her phone, she looked at the script in her hand, her heart still pounding vigorously.
Not far away, a black Bentley passed through the exit gate. In a fleeting moment, Hilary seemed to catch a glimpse of a familiar figure, and a faint smile slowly crept onto her lips.
What a unique director, wasn't he?
And then, her agent arrived.
He was even more excited than Hilary. As he stepped out of the car, he repeatedly confirmed the accuracy of the news.
It was only after Hilary had assured him for the thirteenth time that he finally accepted the reality.
Oh my God, this was truly crazy.