In the audition room, Matthew Horner, dressed in a suit, sat in front of the camera. Across from him was Charlize Theron, who was auditioning for the lead female role.
Previously, Charlize Theron had already performed a scene alone, and now, this scene—designed by Doug Roman—was primarily to assess the chemistry between the actress and Matthew Horner, the lead male actor.
From a personal standpoint, Matthew naturally hoped Charlize Theron would pass the audition, as he didn't know the other auditioning actresses well, but he was very familiar with Charlize Theron, even considering her a friend.
The scene designed by Doug Roman didn't require any dialogue; it simply involved Matthew sitting opposite Charlize Theron.
Originally blonde, Charlize Theron's hair was now dyed black, and she wore a sharp women's suit. She sat quietly across from Matthew, not uttering a single word.
Yet, without speaking, her powerful aura and unique charisma radiated.
Matthew could clearly perceive that the charisma Charlize Theron exuded at that moment wasn't typical of ordinary women; it even gave off a vibe that no man could dominate her.
At one point, Matthew found her so dazzling that it seemed as if the entire audition room had become her domain. He had to abandon his relaxed demeanor, his body and face gradually tensing up like a cheetah ready to strike, to confront Charlize Theron.
Aziva Gossman and Doug Roman exchanged glances, both seeing a look of surprise in each other's eyes.
The two before the camera—a man robust and wild, and a woman beautiful and radiant—demanded attention.
Yet what mattered more was the aura they both displayed.
They were already familiar with Matthew and had noticed his natural suitability for playing robust characters like John Smith. Casting him was the perfect choice.
However, finding a female lead with a similarly strong presence who could hold her own against Matthew's intense aura was not so easy, especially one who could directly confront and match Matthew's fierce presence without falling short.
Previous auditionees like Penelope Cruz and Jessica Biel, while typical actresses, lacked the wild and powerful aura akin to that of a man.
But in Charlize Theron, Aziva Gossman and Doug Roman saw what they were looking for: her piercing gaze, sharp expressions, and a very androgynous charisma combined to portray her as both fierce and enchanting.
Sitting across from Matthew, her wildness gave off the impression that she was not just any woman but a female warrior, seemingly indomitable by anyone.
Opposite her, Matthew Horner appeared even more fierce and wild, giving Aziva Gossman and Doug Roman the impression that if anyone in the world could handle and subdue her, it would be him!
Aziva Gossman gave Charlize Theron a final look and nodded slightly. Her sharp eyes and nearly six-foot stature, combined with broad shoulders and long legs, made her an ideal fit for action roles.
Doug Roman, gently stroking his chin stubble, watched the two people in front of the camera. Without speaking or moving, their mere presence in the room was like a blockbuster scene of Mars colliding with Earth.
The two not only generated a subtle chemical reaction but also created a special balance of aura.
Aziva Gossman nodded slightly to Doug Roman, who then said, "Okay, let's end the audition here."
Upon hearing this, Matthew was the first to stand up from the sofa and then walked towards the camera.
Charlize Theron sat for a while as if she was still emerging from her intense role, then slowly stood up.
"Miss Theron," Doug Roman said, "that's it for today. We'll notify you of the audition results within three days."
Charlize Theron nodded slightly, seemingly not yet completely out of character.
Matthew sat down on a chair behind the camera, and when Charlize Theron looked over, he discreetly nodded to her. She didn't linger and quickly left the audition room.
The performance given by the two during the audition wasn't a spur-of-the-moment burst of talent, but the result of deliberate practice.
From the day after Penelope Cruz's audition, Matthew had communicated with Charlize Theron, and they had practiced together, leading to the highly compatible performance seen today.
After Charlize Theron left the audition room, Matthew didn't speak. He was well aware that the real decision-makers, Aziva Gossman and Doug Roman, might react negatively to any unnecessary comments at this moment.
"Matthew, how do you feel?" Aziva Gossman asked directly.
"Well…" Matthew scratched his head, "I just feel her aura is very strong. Sitting there, she gave me a sense of pressure. I had to focus all my energy and bring out my best state to match her."
He added, "She's like a wild leopardess. There was a moment
when she felt very dangerous to me."
Aziva Gossman nodded and looked at Doug Roman, "What do you think?"
Doug Roman's answer was straightforward, "She is Jane Smith."
The final decision was up to Aziva Gossman. He tapped his fingers slowly on the table, thought for a few minutes, and then said, "If Gwen Stefani turns out like the previous auditionees tomorrow, we'll confirm Charlize Theron for the role of Jane Smith."
Hearing this, Matthew added, "Charlize Theron just won an Oscar for Best Actress at the beginning of this year."
"Yes!" Aziva Gossman said again, "She was just a regular secondary star before, so her fee isn't very high. The Oscar for Best Actress is a big plus for our promotion and marketing."
Doug Roman agreed, "That works."
The so-called "Oscar curse" often mentioned in the media doesn't apply to Oscar-winning actresses, as they typically receive a string of film offers afterward.
Subsequently, Matthew also left the audition room. Unless there was a major unforeseen issue, Charlize Theron would definitely become the female lead in "Mr. and Mrs. Smith."
He didn't call Charlize Theron right away; congratulating her could wait until the production team made a final decision.
Matthew left the studio and drove to Century City, where he dined at a Chinese restaurant near the Fox Building. As he was about to leave, probably recognized by someone, a middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses approached him.
"Hello, Mr. Horner."
The man introduced himself right away, "My name is Robert Fernandez, and I am an art investment advisor."
Matthew gave him a look; the middle-aged man appeared quite scholarly.
"Oh," he nodded slightly, asking, "Do you need something?"
Robert Fernandez pointed to the chair across from Matthew and asked very politely, "May I sit down and talk?"
Since it was a high-end restaurant, Matthew wasn't worried about any potential issues and replied, "Feel free to sit."
Robert Fernandez sat across from him and placed a very high-end-looking men's briefcase on the chair next to him.
Matthew discreetly scrutinized him. Thanks to pointers from professional stylists over the years, he recognized many major brands and could immediately tell that Robert Fernandez's attire was quite upscale.
Robert Fernandez's suit was Armani, the leather bag beside him was Louis Vuitton, and the watch that peeked out appeared to be a Rolex…
Just by his clothing and appearance, Robert Fernandez looked very much like a successful individual.
However, Matthew raised his guard, knowing that Century City was bustling with diverse talents, including some who masqueraded as successful professionals.
Robert Fernandez smiled politely, a warm and natural expression, then took out a business card and handed it to Matthew, saying, "Mr. Horner, I am an art investment advisor for the well-known Wells Gallery in Los Angeles."
"The Wells Gallery?" Matthew frowned slightly.
He was sure he had heard the name before—it was a famous gallery.
"Yes!" Robert Fernandez kept his polite smile, "Next week, the gallery will host a large-scale art exhibition featuring works mainly from three young artists."
He then mentioned three names that were completely unfamiliar to Matthew, continuing, "These three young artists are recognized as future masters of art, and it's a rare opportunity to see their works up close."
Matthew, who had never heard those names before, said directly, "Sorry, I'm not knowledgeable about art, nor am I particularly interested."
Robert Fernandez quickly realized he was dealing with a complete novice and quickly changed his approach.
"Mr. Horner, the works of these three artists are currently very sought after in the market."
Glancing at Matthew, Robert Fernandez continued with a smile, "With the constant devaluation of the dollar, converting cash into assets that can preserve and increase in value is the safest approach."
He waxed eloquent, "The market for works by famous artists is very competitive. For example, the works of these three artists have a very high potential value. If you invest in their works now, you could sell them for five to six times the current price in three or four years."
"Really?" Matthew sounded like he was asking a question, but he was more skeptical.
Buying a painting and doing nothing but holding it for a few years to sell for several times the profit seemed almost too good to be true, akin to drug trafficking.
Robert Fernandez opened his LV bag and pulled out an invitation card, handing it over, "Mr. Horner, if you're interested, you could visit the gallery next week."
Matthew took the invitation and looked it over, saying, "If I have time, I might stop by."
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