Upon hearing Helen Herman's words, Matthew immediately recalled the news he had read in the newspaper: "Girl, Interrupted," in which he had a role, had received several Oscar nominations, including Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress.
The cast and crew would definitely be walking the red carpet at the Academy Awards ceremony next month.
Could it be that Helen Herman had communicated with them again?
Thinking of this, Matthew was filled with anticipation and quickly asked, "is it 'Girl, Interrupted'?"
"What are you thinking?" Helen Herman had a rough idea, "I was talking about the red carpet for a movie premiere, not the Oscars red carpet!"
Matthew was so focused on the Oscars that he couldn't help but let out a dry laugh.
Helen Herman stated plainly, "I spoke with Jack from the 'Gladiator' crew… the producer with the longer beard… and it's basically confirmed that you can attend the film's North American premiere."
"That's great!" Matthew didn't hide his excitement. "Gladiator" was a massive commercial production with an investment exceeding 100 million US dollars, so its premiere was bound to attract significant attention.
He instantly cast "Girl, Interrupted" and the Oscars out of his mind and asked, "When is it?"
"The end of April!" Helen Herman was clearly prepared. "Before I return to Los Angeles, I'll consult with the 'Band of Brothers' crew.
You don't need to worry about the schedule."
Matthew nodded, "That's for the best."
Helen Herman continued, "I had a conversation with Erik Bork on the phone. The 'Band of Brothers' crew might have a media event soon, and he'll try to get you to be one of the actors interviewed."
She glanced at her watch and stood up, "If he needs you, you have to cooperate with him.
This isn't entirely up to him."
Finally, she cautioned, "If it does work out, be careful when giving media interviews.
Don't speak carelessly, and be sure to cooperate with the crew."
"Don't worry," Matthew assured her, "I know what's important."
Helen Herman was about to leave. "I'm heading to Warner Bros. Studios in London now.
If anything comes up, I'll text you."
After seeing his agent off, Matthew finished breakfast and decided not to go out again.
He simply returned to his room, took another nap, and spent the remaining time reading books and newspapers.
The next day, filming resumed, and Matthew became busy once more.
Due to the director and filming location, the crew's director was changed to David Frankel, and most of the filming involved content from episodes seven and nine.
Then, Matthew saw Tom Hardy on set, and the two of them had several scenes together.
"I didn't expect to see you again," Tom Hardy seemed to have just gotten a haircut, his short stubble combined with a slightly arrogant expression made him appear overbearing, "We'll be acting together."
He leaned in closer, "I'm going to steal all the spotlight!"
The next scenes to be filmed were from episode nine.
Matthew's character, Ronald Speirs, had already been promoted to the fourth company commander of Easy Company, and the new recruit played by Tom Hardy was his orderly.
Matthew merely nodded slightly, without saying a word, as this person had left a poor impression on him.
He took off his helmet, handed it to a crew assistant, then slung his Chicago typewriter over his shoulder, picked up the prop silver tray, and walked to the door of the set, ready to begin filming.
Tom Hardy sneered, walked past Matthew, and entered the room.
An actress also entered the set. Unlike Matthew in his military uniform, the blonde actress was only wrapped in a nightgown.
This was one of the few intimate scenes in the entire script.
However, the male actor was not Matthew, but Tom Hardy.
"That girl is really pretty…"
Outside the set, many onlookers were watching the lead actress, and Michael Fassbender was no exception.
He asked James McAvoy, "You're well-informed, do you know anything about her background?"
James McAvoy crossed his arms, looking over there, "Are you interested in her, Michael?"
Michael Fassbender scratched his chin and asked, "Don't you think she's very pretty?"
"That's because you've been on set for too long!" James McAvoy pouted, "The crew is full of men.
After a while, even Whoopi Goldberg would seem beautiful!"
"Why are you talking so much nonsense!" Michael Fassbender slapped him hard on the shoulder, "Do you know her background?"
From early November last year to February now, spending so much time on a crew almost entirely composed of men, many of the male actors were restless in both mind and body.
"I think her name is Elizabeth Custer," James McAvoy was indeed well-informed, "A British actress who just started in the industry."
Michael Fassbender looked at the actress's graceful figure beneath her nightgown, "If I had known there was such an actress, I would have tried to be Matthew's orderly."
"Attention, all departments!" Director David Frankel's voice rang out, "Filming will begin in five minutes."
The actress quickly walked through the door. Matthew received a signal from the director at the camera position opposite him and closed the door.
However, one side of this built-up room had no wall, so he could still see what was happening inside.
The two actors openly took off their clothes.
The woman only took off her top, but Tom Hardy stripped completely naked.
Matthew was no rookie; he understood that this was commonplace in the acting industry, and before reaching the level of a star actor, it was difficult to demand the crew to clear the set for filming.
For example, Tom Hardy and the blonde actress were currently filming this intimate scene in full view of everyone.
After Tom Hardy and the blonde actress finished undressing, they lay down on the bed, one on top of the other.
"Episode nine, scene four, take one…" the script supervisor shouted loudly, "Action!"
Inside the room, Tom Hardy and the blonde actress immediately started moving, and some indescribable sounds echoed on the set.
Matthew stood two meters from the door, holding the prop tray, waiting for instructions from the assistant director.
The assistant director gestured towards them, but the camera lens didn't turn.
Matthew, walking slightly faster than usual, approached the door, pushed it open, and saw Tom Hardy rolling off the bed, revealing his and the actress's pale bodies.
Matthew kept his eyes straight ahead, fully immersed in Ronald Speirs's character.
Tom Hardy stood before him and saluted… However, his face still carried a hint of arrogance and disdain, just as it had when he faced Matthew before filming began.
"Cut!" Director David Frankel yelled, stopping the filming, and said to Tom Hardy, "Your expression is wrong!"
Matthew stretched his shoulders and glanced at the blonde actress.
Perhaps he had been on a crew almost entirely composed of men for a bit too long, as he felt the actress was quite attractive.
The actress seemed to notice Matthew, put on her nightgown, and nodded at him.
Matthew also gave a slight nod, but that was all.
His subconscious gaze at the actress was merely an instinctive reaction.
"Tom Hardy!" David Frankel then pointed out Tom Hardy's mistake, "You're an orderly.
Was that the attitude of an orderly towards a superior just now?"
After saying just that, David Frankel instructed, "Back to positions! Reshoot!"
Matthew retreated outside the door and closed it, while Tom Hardy and the blonde actress lay back down on the bed.
Filming quickly resumed, and then was halted by the director again at the same point!
Tom Hardy's character had a big close-up shot, specifically when Ronald Speirs, played by Matthew, had just entered.
David Frankel pointed at Tom Hardy and said, "Your facial expression and attitude!"
Tom Hardy nodded, then turned to look at Matthew, his eyebrows instantly furrowing.
"That bastard who hangs out with Michael Fassbender…" Before his thoughts could fully form, he saw Matthew on the opposite side shaking his head as he exited the room, seemingly disdainful of him.
Tom Hardy's brows furrowed even tighter, and a more obvious arrogance once again appeared on his face.
Having not been in the industry for long, and with no talk of brilliant acting skills, Tom Hardy was repeatedly halted by director David Frankel in subsequent takes due to the same mistake.
Matthew was also quite helpless; a continuous NG due to a single expression.
Tom Hardy, who was similar in age to him, seemed to have some mental issues, but Matthew didn't say much.
This was the director's job; a minor actor shouldn't interfere.
After several interruptions in filming due to the same problem, David Frankel became somewhat angry and shouted at Tom Hardy, "What are you thinking?!"
He pointed at Matthew and yelled, "He is your superior! The iron-blooded company commander with numerous rumors!
He saw you having an affair, what attitude should you have towards him?
Why do I see arrogance in the shot?"
"Sorry." A flicker of anger crossed Tom Hardy's eyes as he looked at the director, but he suppressed it.
After all, he wasn't a fool, and quickly vowed, "I promise, it won't happen again."
David Frankel shouted, "Reset! Filming in three minutes!"
Filming began again. Matthew continued to maintain the grim, unchanging expression of an iron-blooded soldier, pushed open the door, and walked in.
Tom Hardy rolled out of bed, stood up, and immediately saluted Matthew… "Cut!"
Everyone could hear the anger in David Frankel's voice. "Damn it! What are you thinking?!
Don't you understand respect? Don't you know a new recruit should respect his superior?
Don't you think you should show at least some shame when caught in this situation?"
He was considered a relatively experienced director, and he could vaguely tell that the actor's mindset was problematic.
This was a very simple shot, which he had originally expected to finish in fifteen minutes, but it had now been almost an hour.
David Frankel patiently continued to direct the crew, but then, due to the same problem, he called a halt to filming six more times, and Tom Hardy's performance got progressively worse; he couldn't even manage the most basic self-correction.
"Damn it!" His rage was almost fully ignited. "Do you even know how to act?!"
This actor was completely amateurish. What was the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama thinking? Recommending such an idiot?
Tom Hardy was also somewhat angry; he felt he was performing very naturally, yet the director kept saying he had problems… David Frankel suppressed his anger and called over the on-set producer, Erik Bork, whispering, "Replace him! This actor doesn't understand acting at all! He can't even adjust himself! He's too amateurish!
He belongs as a background extra on the street!"
Erik Bork quickly shook his head, "That… might not be a good idea."