The audition venue for <Romeo and Juliet: A Modern Story> was packed with young men, not any other female presence.
William couldn't hide his disappointment. He'd envisioned a lineup of potential Juliets, each embodying the tragic heroine in their own unique way.
"Could it be that the female lead has already been cast?" he asked Yamon as they wove through the bustling crowd.
"Exactly," Yamon replied. "Director Baz Luhrmann has decided on Natalie Portman for Juliet. Shakespeare's Juliet is fourteen, and guess what? Portman just turned fourteen this year. The timing couldn't be more perfect."
William's eyes widened slightly. "Natalie Portman?"
"Of course, you know her, right? She starred alongside Jean Reno in Luc Besson's <Léon: The Professional> last year. The North American box office might've been modest, but the movie made a hit in Europe. However, you won't see Portman today; she'll fly in after the role of Romeo is selected to audition."
Perhaps because the film wasn't commercialized enough and the age was too old, Romeo and Juliet: Modern Version directed by Baz Luhrmann didn't become as famous in China as Luhrmann's later works, like <Moulin Rouge!> and <The Great Gatsby>.
William, whose past life hadn't studied European and American films deeply, couldn't immediately recall if Natalie Portman played Juliet. He only knew that Portman would become hugely popular later, reaching global fame after winning an Oscar.
If Juliet was played by Portman, William was even more determined to secure the role of Paris—it would surely be an unforgettable experience working with a future Oscar winner.
William was mulling over this when a name from Yamon's mouth brought his attention back: "DiCaprio? That Leonardo DiCaprio? He's playing Romeo?"
Yamon was surprised by William's reaction and raised his eyebrows in confusion. "Do you know DiCaprio? Or are you a fan of his?"
"No, I don't know him," William subconsciously concealed. "I mean, I'm just not his fan. His performance in <This Boy's Life> is very good, and I heard he's going to play the French poet Rimbaud in a new film directed by Horan. I didn't expect him to be cast as Romeo."
"I've heard that <Total Eclipse Love> is almost finished, so DiCaprio is free to compete for new roles," Yamon replied. "But you're mistaken. The role of Romeo hasn't been completely decided yet. It's said that Christian Bale is also interested in the role. They are both child stars. DiCaprio's works have exploded in the past two years, but Bale starred in Spielberg's <Empire of the Sun> when he was only 13. It's really hard to say who Luhrmann will pick in the end."
As he spoke, they reached the door of the waiting room, and Yamon said he would greet the producer first. William pushed the door open himself.
…
Almost immediately, the blonde young man, who was sitting on the bench at the door with his long legs, turned around, looked at William seriously, and then smiled instantly. "There's another Romeo who isn't inferior to me; this is really interesting!"
William immediately recognized the identity of the blonde youth—Leonardo DiCaprio, the future Hollywood A-lister.
At this point, DiCaprio was still only a second- or third-tier actor on the rise, and he hadn't yet had the opportunity to play in an A-level masterpiece that would be released the following year.
However, DiCaprio's appearance was already at its peak. At twenty-one, he was even more striking than two years later. His tall, slender figure, blue eyes tinged with gray-green, slightly arched eyebrows, handsome and delicate facial features, smooth skin, and golden hair falling just under his ears—all contributed to his star aura. When he smiled, his charm was undeniable.
"No, I'm not Romeo," William responded, quickly switching to a subdued theatrical tone. "I'm a relative of Romeo's friend Mercutio, Count Paris." He introduced himself in the role for the audition—also so as not to attract too much attention from the two Romeo contenders at the start. William winked at DiCaprio, then looked at the other person in the room and greeted him politely but not overly warmly, "Good morning, DiCaprio and Mr. Bale."
Compared with Leonardo DiCaprio, Christian Bale's presence was slightly weaker—not that Bale wasn't handsome or inconspicuous. In fact, his facial features were deep and eye-catching. Perhaps due to being a British actor, he exuded a classical temperament that stood out in Hollywood, where handsome men were a dime a dozen. Bale's style was rare in the industry. Still, DiCaprio's radiant and enthusiastic energy often made him the first person people noticed.
People with different personalities had different ways of dealing with the same thing. For example, William took the initiative to greet both actors, while Bale, who had been reading his script, simply nodded politely, lowered his head again, and said nothing.
DiCaprio, however, couldn't stay idle and walked over to talk to William. "You're the fifth Count Paris I've seen in the past few days."
William blinked. "What about the other Earls of Paris?"
DiCaprio rubbed his chin with his right hand, looked William up and down, and said, "They were all like you, wearing fancy suits to audition, but they didn't look as glamorous as you. Two of them even practiced lines with me—uh, they don't even memorize their lines fluently.
So I think if you've got good line skills, you've got a good chance of succeeding. Friendly reminder, I'm not talking about the popular versions sold to ordinary readers in bookstores, but the kind of Old English version that libraries collect. To tell you the truth, those lines are pretty hard to get through."
William smiled, feeling reassured. This was actually his strongest point: "Thanks to the strict rehearsals from my former drama teacher, who asked us to memorize the entire original play before rehearsing <Romeo and Juliet>.
It's that kind of classical English, not the modern version. Thankfully, those lines are still deeply imprinted in my mind."
William thanked Leonardo for the reminder.
Leonardo DiCaprio waved his hand. "Don't thank me. I reminded everyone of Count Paris." He winked playfully at William.
William: "..."
…
The audition for Romeo had finished long ago. DiCaprio and Bale were just sitting in the room waiting for the results. Shortly after, the agents appeared at the door, whispering to the two movie stars.
Christian Bale left with a frown, while DiCaprio was full of joy. Before leaving, he didn't forget to greet William: "If you succeed in the audition, I'll invite you to drink once the camera starts."
William had barely had time to say "goodbye" before Leonardo DiCaprio's figure disappeared.
He hadn't mentioned being under twenty-one, and he was far from old enough to come and go freely…
Was his appearance too mature today? If so, it might work against him during the audition for <The Adventures of New Tom Sawyer> in a few days. His overly mature appearance could be detrimental for a role in a children-oriented movie.
William couldn't help but touch his chin. The skin was smooth and clean—no stubble at all.
His thoughts wandered back to DiCaprio's suggestion about going to a bar. It was a brilliant offer, to be honest.
Los Angeles had plenty of exclusive venues that were off-limits to minors or non-members. With DiCaprio leading the way and perhaps a fake ID, William might gain early exposure to Hollywood's more hedonistic side.
—It was definitely not something he was eager to explore, absolutely not. Just youthful curiosity, that's all.
…
William wasn't sure how many actors Baz Luhrmann had interviewed for the role of Count Paris, but he knew he was the last.
Luhrmann's expression looked satisfied as he spoke: "You have excellent command of the lines and a noble accent, Mr. Bradley. Are you a professional theater actor?"
He flipped through William's résumé. It was surprising not to see any formal theater experience listed.
"No, I'm not a professional theater actor," William replied. "But I've had years of professional accent training, which I continued until two years ago."
"I see," Luhrmann said, nodding in realization. "That explains why you don't have any British experience on your resume, yet there's a hint of a London accent in your speech. Can you deliver lines without slipping into American colloquialisms?"
"I believe so," William replied confidently.
Baz Luhrmann nodded again and continued reviewing William's resume.
Count Paris, Romeo's rival in Shakespeare's play, doesn't appear often. He has only four scenes in the original text: one where he seeks Juliet's hand from her father, Capulet; another when Capulet agrees to the proposal; a third in the church, announcing the wedding date to the Friar with Juliet; and finally, his fatal confrontation with Romeo at Juliet's tomb.
For William, who lacked formal theater experience, excelling in line delivery and embodying Paris's aristocratic aura and temperament would be key to securing the role.
During the audition—where he performed Paris's final scene at Juliet's tomb—William focused on portraying Paris as a dignified young nobleman. He strove to appear as graceful and refined as possible, as if he truly belonged to the aristocracy.
Judging from Luhrmann's reaction, William felt he had made an impression. But the director's praise left him slightly ashamed and embarrassed.
William thought to himself: 'Lance never even visited England, yet his accent was flawless. He could pass as a native Londoner.'
Luhrmann leaned over to discuss with the producer and the Screen Actors Guild representative seated next to him.
To ensure fairness and transparency, most Hollywood castings include representatives from three parties: the director or screenwriter, the investors, and the Screen Actors Guild. Union representatives monitor the process for irregularities and occasionally provide casting input. Ultimately, the producer and director have the final say.
One of the representatives, a brown-haired woman in her forties, glanced at William, her voice deliberately lowered: "This young man is slender and graceful, with a literary, vintage aura. His voice is charming—like the sound of strings being played. I can't imagine anyone better suited for Paris."
The male representative from the Screen Actors Guild nodded in agreement.
William 'eavesdropped on their conversation and clenched his fists to steady his excitement. He worked hard to maintain a composed expression, though his heart was beating uncontrollably.
"Do you have any other work schedules between July 15 and 31?" Luhrmann asked.
"No, I'm free during that time," William replied, his tone couldn't hide his excitement.
"Then congratulations, Paris is yours," Luhrmann said with a smile, extending his hand. "The crew will discuss the contract with your agent in the coming days. Filming begins mid-July—don't be late."
"Thank you! I'll be there on time," William said, his hands trembling as he shook Luhrmann's and the other representatives' hands.
He had done it... His first movie role!
/////