When someone decides to pursue a career in acting, they don't usually set a rigid path like, "I must be a TV actor" or "I'll only do films." Most aspiring actors, especially when starting out in Hollywood, take whatever work they can get. Be it TV, commercials, films, or even modeling—everything is fair game when trying to pay the bills and build a reputation.
While stage actors and models don't typically earn a significant income, successful TV actors can make impressive amounts. However, despite the financial rewards, the status of film actors remains a notch above that of TV actors in the eyes of both Hollywood insiders and audiences.
One major reason is the "typecasting trap." TV actors often get stereotyped by their roles, making it harder for audiences to see them in different characters. This limitation can stifle their opportunities in the film industry, where versatility is more valued.
Another key factor is the nature of the medium. Films prioritize box office performance, critical acclaim, and awards, which place heavy emphasis on the actor's image, acting skills, and ability to carry a story independently. Conversely, TV shows—often written and adjusted weekly based on ratings—grant actors less creative freedom, as their character arcs are largely dictated by the writers.
So after the TV series actors are familiar with each other on the small screen, they always try their best to squeeze on the big screen.
But if you want to succeed on the big screen, chance, luck and strength are all indispensable.
This disparity fuels the ambition of many TV actors to transition to the big screen. But making that leap requires a perfect mix of opportunity, talent, and luck.
Now, William's opportunity had arrived.
Yamon Goffman was practically buzzing with excitement as he spoke rapidly. "Thanks to your role in <90210>, producers know who you are and have a good impression of you. I landed you auditions for two feature films! I'm confident you can snatch at least one of the roles.Although these two characters don't have many scenes, it's an opportunity to be on the cinema . Once you get your first movie, the second and third will follow!"
William, still flipping through the scripts, responded thoughtfully. "<The Adventures of New Tom Sawyer> and <A Modern Romeo and Juliet>? What roles are they offering me?"
"Huckleberry Finn in the first, and Count Paris in the second," Yamon replied enthusiastically. "You've read the originals, I assume?"
"Yes, and I've even played Romeo in a school play before," William said, smiling faintly. He wasn't dismissive of the roles, especially since both projects were based on classic literature.
While he doubted these adaptations would achieve blockbuster-level popularity, for his first step into the big screen, appearing in an adaptation of renowned stories was a great start.
At the very least, he'd already be familiar with the plot and characters.
William flipped through the script, his interest piqued. "Huck and Paris," he mused aloud, "one is a free-spirited street kid, adventurous and mischievous, and the other is one of Shakespeare's most tragic figures—engaged to Juliet, rejected, and ultimately killed by Romeo. These two characters couldn't be more different. It would be interesting if I could both at the same time would be fascinating."
Huckleberry Finn, an iconic supporting character in Mark Twain's <The Adventures of Tom Sawyer>, is the very embodiment of freedom and rebellion. With an unknown mother and an alcoholic father, Huck grew up wandering the streets without discipline, often sleeping under the stars or in an empty barrel. His unkempt clothes were castoffs from adults, and his meals came from fishing or foraging. Yet Huck's unrestrained lifestyle made him the envy of every child in town. Sharing a love for adventure and mischief with Tom, Huck became his best friend, joining him in disrupting schemes, helping townsfolk, and ultimately earning the gratitude of Widow Douglas, who adopted him after he saved her life.
Though Huck began as a secondary character, Twain later made him the protagonist of <The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn>, a timeless and deeply human portrayal that has captivated readers for over a century.
Count Paris, on the other hand, is even more famous. He is a almost the most tragic character in <Romeo and Juliet>. His love for Juliet leads him to seek her hand in marriage. Tragically, Paris did not know that his fiancé had secretly made a lifelong agreement with Romeo, and had no intention of marrying him.
On the eve of their wedding, Juliet fakes her death with a potion provided by Friar Laurence. Both Paris and Romeo believe she has truly passed away. In his grief, Paris encounters Romeo at Juliet's tomb and challenges him to a duel to protect the peace of his wife in the afterlife, only to meet his untimely death at the hands of his rival.
"The audition is next week," Yamon said, clenching his fists with excitement. "The studio likes your look and your acting, but we need to prepare thoroughly. No sloppiness. This is a chance we can't afford to miss."
After a pause, he looked at William again and frowned:. "Stop staring at the script. You can take it home and study later. Right now, we're heading to Rodeo Drive—you'll need a proper outfit for the audition."
At the mention of Rodeo Drive, William's face turned bitter
…
The Bradley family went bankrupt so early that the most expensive clothes in William's closet, the children's and boys' clothes, had long since become ill-fitting.So he had to buy something.
With a minute of "silence tribute to his wallet", William and Amon drove to Rodeo Drive.
Rodeo Avenue in Los Angeles and Fifth Avenue in New York are two of the most famous streets in the United States, where almost the world's top luxury brands have flagship stores. "
William knew that he would have to spend at least $3,000 from head to toe to buy a suit at a designer store on Rodeo Drive, which was still just the price of ready-to-wear, not haute couture.
- This consumption is a bit too extravagant for the current Bradley family.
"Maybe I could alter the pants from my old suit," William suggested hesitantly at the sight of the price tag. "Slim fits are okay, right? I could pass it off as a modern style."
Yamon shot him a look of pure disdain. "Are you serious? A proper suit should make you look strong and commanding, like Stallone or Schwarzenegger. Tight clothes will just scream 'financial crisis' to everyone in the room. Hollywood's full of sharp eyes, my friend. Don't risk it."
The loose silhouettes and padded shoulders of men's fashion at the time emphasized authority and masculinity. While William's aesthetic preferences leaned toward subtler, sleeker designs, he understood that being "too different" without the social clout to back it up could backfire. Standing out as a trendsetter required status; otherwise, it was simply seen as eccentricity.
"Fine, I'll listen to you" William conceded reluctantly.
"Didn't <90210> just pay you over $20,000?" Yamon asked, arching a brow. "That should easily cover you for at least six months, right?"
William sighed. "Madeline's been juggling too many part-time jobs. I convinced her to drop one of her evening shifts to ease her workload. And when we went to that art exhibition, she fell in love with a painting—I'm planning to surprise her with it as a Christmas gift. Plus, from October to April, I'll need to focus on college applications, which means fewer acting gigs. I have to manage my spending carefully."
Yamon resisted the urge to roll his eyes, and tried to squeeze out a "I'm so moved" expression—although it looked more like menstrual cramps—expression: "Big investment, big return, Hollywood rules are like this, my boy, if you pay thousands of dollars to make a beautiful dress now, it will get you back a check for at least tens of thousands of dollars." "
"It's me who didn't think it through." William admitted, "Listen to you." "
"You're just too ...," Yamon Goffman struggled to squeeze out what he wanted to say: "Filial piety. Seriously, Will, even though I'm Jewish, there are very, very few Jewish boys your age who can support the burden of the family. "
"Isn't that why you stuck around and insisted I sign with you?" William asked with a wry smile. "Because 'a dutiful person won't betray their partner.' Or something like that?"
"I'm glad you remember." Yamon Goffman laughed and quickly threw himself into his role as an agent: "But I support the part you just said about the university. "
His tone grew serious: "Unlike the academic traditions in the UK, Hollywood actors, especially young ones, rarely have degrees. Having a solid education can make you stand out to directors, writers, and producers. However, given that it will be difficult for you to spare time for long shoots until Easter next year, I am going to get a few more plays for you this summer, do you have any comments on this? "
"Nope." William shook his head: "That's what I'm going to do. "
…
And before all of that, as Yamon said, prepare a high-end audition outfit for the role of Count Paris.
From Giorgio Armani to Gucci and from Dior to Givenchy, William finally found himself the right outfit in his Versace storefront– high-end fabrics, well-cut and, most importantly, of the enw season.
At first, Yamon didn't trust William's eye for choosing clothes, but when William came out of the fitting room, he was convinced, and continued to praise during the whole process of checking out and leaving the store: "Although the style you chose is not the most popular this year, it feels surprisingly good with it! It's all about being a star in Los Angeles, where street photography is everywhere, and the taste of celebrities in private clothes and red carpet looks are equally important in the eyes of the public. "
Yamon Goffman imagines the future as if William had become the A-list star that makes headlines every day, and he has become Hollywood's gold agent...
Yamon's instincts were spot-on. In the ten minutes William spent waiting for Yamon to fetch the car, he attracted more than a few admirers—and even collected several business cards from talent scouts.
After getting into the car, William showed the business cards to Yamon.
Yamon was stunned for a moment when he saw one of them, and then laughed wildly: "This, this company… is the second largest manufacturer of adult films in Hollywood. And the main consumer group is, it seems that in the gay community. Your kid is quite popular, poof… haha!" "
William's face darkened, and he snatched the business card from Yamon's hand, tearing it to shreds in an instant. He was reminded of his own shameful past that he'd rather not revisit.
Yamon rarely saw William's annoyed and angry appearance, and thought it was very fresh: "But speaking of which, this kind of company generally pays actors very well."
A nostalgic expression appeared on his face: "When I was young, it was the vigorous era of the progress of the sexual liberation movement, and the adult stars at that time lived much more nourishing than now, many people were very famous, not only earned more, but also accepted the cheers of fanatical fans openly in public, and the income and exposure opportunities were not inferior to the second-tier movie stars at that time, in the eyes of many boys and girls, adult film stars were even as worthy of worship as rock musicians...…"
William smiled: "Which adult star did you most admire?" "
Amon blurted out without thinking, "John Holmes." "
"Oh." William dragged out his voice meaningfully.
John Holmes was an American adult film superstar of the 70s, the most prolific of all stars, shooting more than 2,500 adult movies in his lifetime, and every American man should have heard his name even if he has never seen his movies.
"...," Yamon, who was careless and leaking his mouth, showed a embarassing expression.
William, who caught a glimpse of his expression, closed his mouth smugly.
'This kid is sharper than a fox' Yamon thought, half-annoyed, half-impressed. 'And sneakier too. But at least he's my fox.'
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