Margin Call second weekend did much better than expected: 5 million dollars domestic, and on the third weekend was a great 3.5 million dollars. The reviews were growing, with an 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes: Smart, tightly wound, and solidly acted, Margin Call turns the convoluted financial meltdown of '08 into gripping, thought-provoking drama.
The reviews were glowing for Kevin Spacey as usual, but there was moderate attention for the newcomer Ryan Stone due to his upcoming film Looper by the respected Rian Johnson.
On Reddit forums, a new one called r/r.stoned, there began an interesting topic on the origin of the burgeoning actor.
Matthewlucky78: He must be a nepo baby. First film with Stanley Tucci, Kevin Spacey, and Jeremy Strong. And then a second film with Bruce Willis and Emily Blunt. If he isn't, what guy did he blow?
↪CinemaSpecs67: Maybe he got lucky and is talented. Not everyone has to be an industry plant.
KevinWalker32: I still remember Ryan's performance in the bathroom crying. I thought he was going to take his own life.
↪ SmokeyMirros: One less Wall Street dipshit in the world. Who's going to pay for my gas? He probably only goes into baths if it's 70 degrees and 7 inches deep like my shaft.
The rest of the Reddit forum went into mindless chatter that was either negative toward the debut actor or hopeful for his next project. The phone rang, and it was his good friend Zach.
"Hello."
"Is it really Spock? Can you say, live long and prosper, pretty please? I'm a huge fan," I laughed at the end of the sentence.
Zach raised his voice into an even higher one, "Ha; is this Ryan Stone who was hailed as one of the Top 10 new actors to look for by US Weekly? Please, tell me Bruce punched you Die Hard-style in the face."
"No, no. I would die if he punched me. Although it would be a high honor, I would at least die hard, though."
"Oh please, I forget you're so young sometimes. Anyways, I come calling with good news. As you know, the movie did much better than projected, and we got requested to go on Conan." I could sense Zach's smile right now.
"Really? What's the true story?" I asked.
"Kevin fell terribly sick, and we were the only ones available to do it. And it would be the two of us, tomorrow. The two young actors. I hope it comes off well. This would be my first time on Conan."
"Conan, really? Damn, I have to tell my mom. I'm going to be on TV," I said.
"For 5 minutes. 10 minutes if he likes us."
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow. I look forward to seeing American Horror Story, streaming is the future."
"Filming has been crazy but exciting. I'll talk to you later, I'm on the call list."
"Goodbye, Spock."
"Goodbye, Stone."
"Spock & Stone. Sounds like a law firm," I said.
"More like a detective duo. Adios."
The phone call ended with a chime that echoed in my small Sunset Boulevard apartment that smelled like socks. I reread the CMBYN book, and I kept on saying certain lines like "Is it better to speak or to die?" and "I like the way you say things" over and over again. I would receive the script, but it's important to me that I kept Elio's spirit pure and true. A weaker actor would play Elio as overly poetic, but a great performer would make him feel alive and hyperaware of every gesture.
One of his favorite books was The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt in which Theo Decker grapples with grief as an adolescent from New York City to the sunny, empty suburbs of Las Vegas where time froze. Ansel Elgort, a good actor, was trying to appear damaged. It needs to be natural.
I would receive the script next week and was looking forward to reading it. As I fell asleep, my dreams fell into fragments of my past life and regret felt so heavy it seemed almost life-like—a color you could paint across your skin until the world stepped over you, pissed on you, and forgot you were ever there.
_______
The Warner Bros. Studios lot seemed out of place for Conan O'Brien's spirit: all concrete against someone built from physical awkwardness and old-fashioned slapstick comedy. The two security officers asked for ID, and when I showed it to them they smiled and said, "Good luck. Conan likes to pull pranks."
"Oh, thank you. Hopefully he won't put slime on me." I walked through the hallway as the two security guards chuckled.
A young PA approached me with a coffee in one hand and a clipboard in the other, "Hello Mr. Stone. Let's get you into the dressing room."
The dressing room was as big as my apartment, filled with big overhead lights and empty coffee cups on the stand. The segment producer introduced himself and apologized for the last-minute notice but was glad that I could make it.
The makeup artist said that I had a good face for TV, whatever that means. Zachary soon strolled in and asked if there was a bathroom nearby, and she pointed to it. Soon, as the producer and coordinator exchanged their goals for the 6-minute segment: talk about working with Spacey, Tucci, etc., Star Trek and Spock, and finally next projects: American Horror Story and Looper.
Soon enough, their time was there and they stood behind the large black curtains. Zach drank some water and I fidgeted with my jacket buttons as the stage manager stood nearby watching the timing cues. He counted down with his fingers: 3, 2, 1.
Conan, in his high-pitched voice, said, "We have two young sprite actors in a new hit indie film about Wall Street executives that make too much money. And no, they're not my bosses."
The audience laughed and Conan's voice grew louder, "Please don't fire me. I need a Spock to save me. His project releasing later next year is about a haunted rich LA mansion. And no, that's not my boss's home."
Conan continued, "The other actor debuted with this film and his next project with Bruce Willis and Emily Blunt will premiere at Sundance early next year. Please welcome Zachary Quinto and Ryan Stone."
Conan O'Brien stood up—his lanky, 6-foot-4-inch frame often described by himself, self-deprecatingly, as a "spaghetti body." He moved his vibrant red hair to the side as he shook both Zach's and Ryan's hands.
Zach and Ryan emerged from the curtains and waved to the audience as they politely clapped at their arrival. Zach and Ryan both sat on the blue chairs in front of the nighttime Pacific coastline near LA.
Conan said, "How's HOLLYWOOD treating ya?" He lunged out of his chair and moved both of his arms side to side.
Ryan flatly said, "Not great. Backstage, Jordan Schlansky told me to F off and go back to New York."
Conan and the audience laughed, "Well, I'm not surprised. He's more of an elitist than your character in the film."
Ryan said, "But then I told him I'm going to Italy next summer and he thought I was an angel. I mean come on Schlansky, yeah that's definitely Italian."
Zachary Quinto chimed in, "As an honorary Italian, I can tell you that is not an Italian name."
Ryan stood up and put his hands into a fist, "Sono il vero erede dell'Impero Romano. Jordan will go to the Inferno, I promise you."
Conan chuckled as Ryan turned into a blonde devil, "Why are you going to Italy, sightseeing?"
Ryan smirked and loudly whispered into Zach's ear, "Why is this guy so curious?"
Conan replied, "Andy! Remind me of my job again."
Andy Richter fixed his glasses and said, "A bad hooker."
Ryan said, "That explains why he keeps touching his crotch under the desk."
The audience roared as Conan fake-panicked when he went under his desk to hide from the shame. When he came back only the audience could see the back of his head as he slowly turned toward them, "Spock please save me!"
"You're too expensive, you got to first lower your price." He had a faint smile.
"Please, we are running out of time. What was the original question? Oh yeah, Italy." Conan returned to his original position and was delighted with the ease of the conversation.
"Unfortunately or fortunately, I'm going to Italy for a part in a new project. I'm honestly really looking forward to it."
Conan yelled, "You heard it guys! We have an EXCLUSIVE! Ryan Stone in Italy!"
Zach said, "Yeah that will break into a bestseller."
Ryan fake-jabbed Zach's elbow. Conan said, "What's the role? Can you share?"
"It's an adaptation of a novel called Call Me by Your Name. I will, hopefully, play Elio who is intelligent and dealing with first love with an older guy."
"Oooo! Is the role of the older guy available? I would love to play it."
"I'm sorry Conan. If you played him, people would walk out of the theater and demand a refund; it would cause a riot. A huge riot."
"A big riot like the one in New York called Occupy Wall Street. How do you think your film addresses it or how would you?" Conan asked, genuinely curious, but then realized he made a faux pas: mixing politics with entertainment.
Ryan paused for a moment and took a second to answer it. "My father lost his union job at Five Star Electric because crews were cut. My mom, bless her, worked overtime and did everything she could, and I remember I stood there angry that I was slowly losing them and I could not do anything."
Ryan paused for a moment and the audience reflected on their own struggles. He continued, "So I understand their frustration. But true change is in voting and electing the right officials. Anyway, what would I know? I'm just a dumb actor who got punched by Bruce Willis."
The audience giggled and Conan stood up and pointed, "Ladies and gentlemen, Zachary Quinto and Ryan Stone everyone!"
The audience stood up and a wave of applause echoed across the studio. A stark difference from the polite and confused applause given to these emerging stars earlier.
Zach whispered to Ryan, "You killed it, man." He pointed to the crowd, "That's for you."
"That's for us."