After picking up Keira Knightley from the Disney studio, Matthew returned to his residence. Before entering his home, he specifically checked to see if the paparazzi, who last month had been camping out all night, had vanished without a trace. It wasn't just in the residential area; he had observed that unless by chance, the paparazzi seldom chased him and Keira Knightley anymore.
Gossip and rumors have their expiration date. The tumult over his and Keira Knightley's cohabitation had essentially exhausted the spectators' enthusiasm. Moreover, in Los Angeles, where stars get together and break up daily, they had gradually been forgotten.
Inside the house, Keira Knightley sat on the sofa, continuing the conversation from the car, and complained to Matthew, "I really don't understand what you're thinking. You pass up a leading role like 'King Arthur' to star in an unconventional zombie film."
"My dear," Matthew sat next to Keira Knightley, putting his arm around her shoulder, "Who's got you all worked up?"
Keira Knightley leaned on Matthew, humming comfortably, "You'd be the same if you trained all morning!" Then, realizing something, "Forget it, you're always full of energy, even after a day of training."
She returned to the topic, "I still can't understand why you accepted such a film."
"It's easier to make a profit," Matthew revealed part of the real reason, "The original film has a certain audience base, giving the remake a foundational viewership. Otherwise, why would Hollywood love remaking old movies?"
He explained further, "The film's production cost is only 28 million dollars, making it relatively easier to break even. Plus, I suppose I have some drawing power."
Keira Knightley, lying in Matthew's arms, exclaimed, "Some drawing power? You have a lot of it now!" Dissatisfied, she hummed, "Talking about three main characters, it's really two male leads and a supporting actress! They better give me more scenes in the sequel, or I won't sign!"
Matthew didn't respond to her comment but instead asked, "When do you start shooting?"
"In about two weeks," Keira Knightley thought for a moment, "The crew heads to England on the 20th."
"We'll have to break up before you leave for England," Matthew looked at Keira Knightley, "We don't have much time left."
"Yeah, the breakup is getting closer," Keira Knightley nodded in agreement.
Then, Matthew and Keira Knightley discussed the timing and details of their breakup.
The two were closely nestled together, yet casually talking about how to part ways, seemingly unfazed, as if they had been assimilated by the Hollywood environment.
"We don't have much time left!" Matthew picked up Keira Knightley and headed to his bedroom, "We can't waste it."
Keira Knightley seemed to agree, "I'm off for the next two days, and you shouldn't go out either."
Matthew said with a smile, "Even after we break up, you're always welcome back here."
"Great!"
Throughout early August, aside from spending two days at home with Keira Knightley, Matthew was mostly busy with preparations for "Dawn of the Dead." Since the script had the male lead as a combat expert, maintaining his regular gym routine sufficed, and he didn't need any special training before shooting began.
Regarding firearms use in the film, after Sean Daniel and Matthew discussed and found out he had received professional firearms training during "Black Hawk Down," there was no need for further training with the crew.
From his role as Captain Ronald Speirs in "Band of Brothers," Matthew had become a reassuring presence for producers and directors, known for being a dependable actor.
With shooting for "Dawn of the Dead" starting at the end of the month, the production team had a lot of work to do. Due to negotiations over Matthew's salary, most of the other actors had not yet been confirmed. After Sean Daniel gave Matthew a lot of information, he had detailed discussions with director Zack Snyder. Knowing him well, they didn't need to micromanage their lead actor, focusing instead on selecting other cast members.
Matthew was aware that thanks to his leverage as the lead actor, Helen Herman had secured several opportunities for Angel Talent Agency's actors to appear in "Dawn of the Dead" in minor roles.
For instance, he heard from the agency's receptionist that Alexandra Daddario had passed the audition to play a girl whose father turns into a zombie.
In his imagination, this could be a highlight of the film, envisioning Alexandra Daddario desperately fleeing from bloodthirsty zombies, potentially astonishing many viewers...
However, it was uncertain if Zack Snyder would design it that way.
He enjoyed his interactions with Zack Snyder and considered suggesting this idea when the opportunity arose.
Matthew remembered a disaster film starring Dwayne Johnson that featured Alexandra Daddario as the daughter, where scenes involving her in earthquakes were indeed shocking.
Additionally, the most important female supporting role in the film was still undecided.
Matthew knew Helen Herman had ideas for the role, but no actress had impressed Sean Daniel enough to secure it.
He didn't have a say in casting decisions, so after briefly paying attention, he returned to his regular routine of studying the script and training in the afternoon, while spending his evenings with Keira Knightley, cherishing their final moments together.
"Dawn of the Dead's" production team provided extensive information on zombies, including an advance copy of "The Zombie Survival Manual" not yet available to the public. After reviewing these materials, Matthew not only gained a deeper understanding of zombies but also discovered that zombies had formed a unique culture across North America and beyond.
Originally, the concept of zombies (Zombie) stemmed from Vodou, a mystical religion in West Africa's Ghana, which spread to Haiti in the Caribbean during the 16th century due to the slave trade by European colonizers.
According to the religion, sorcerers could revive the dead as zombies to serve them through mystical rituals.
This was the initial origin of the zombie concept.
The earliest Hollywood zombie film can be traced back to the 1930s.
The mentioned zombie film, "White Zombie" (1932), starred the famous vampire actor Bela Lugosi. It told the story of a Vodou sorcerer who used magic to turn people into zombies, forcing them to work tirelessly in a sugar factory to earn money for him. In this film, zombies did not eat humans or decay; they were simply pale like corpses, eliciting sympathy for their endless labor.
This distinction between Vodou zombies and modern pop culture zombies lies in the origin of the modern zombie image, later inspired in part by the rabies virus.
Thus, the modern zombie was born: viral, infectious, aggressive, mindless, and undead.
The true modern zombie image emerged with George A. Romero's 1968 film "Night of the Living Dead," spreading widely. Zombies were no longer just controlled laborers but became terrifying figures that were undead, decayed, and bit the living.
George A. Romero became the father of modern zombie films. His "Living Dead series" not only critiqued society with distinct era characteristics but also introduced gory, violent, and eye-opening zombie scenes, influencing countless zombie movies and establishing common themes that persist today.
Therefore, most zombie films follow a similar pattern, starting with an
unexplained factor that revives the dead as zombies. Zombies lack consciousness and intellect, driven solely by instinct, with their primary nature being to consume human flesh.
Additionally, zombies are infectious; those bitten by zombies quickly turn into zombies themselves after death.
Finally, zombies exist in a state between life and death, making them immune to most forms of physical harm except for headshots, which are the only way to stop them. This aspect has made many zombie films a spectacle of headshots, providing a unique thrill for viewers.
Beyond their inherent horror, zombie films often feature apocalyptic and disaster themes, focusing not on the zombies but on humans in extreme situations, exploring their choices between cooperation and survival at the expense of others.
After reading these materials, Matthew's main takeaway was that in the event of a zombie outbreak, the true misfortune would not be becoming a zombie but surviving as a human. Survivors are the real walking dead.
This routine continued for a week, and as Keira Knightley's departure for England neared, it was time for Matthew and Keira, the temporary couple, to part ways.
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