In front of a luxury hotel near Disneyland in California, Matthew stood among some reporters, saying some inexplicable words, "It's like that, out of reach and hard to give up."
He showed a charming smile, "So, I yearn to set off towards that horizon like Will Turner and Jack Sparrow!"
Such artistic words, of course, could not have been thought up by someone with Matthew's cultural background, but were carefully prepared by the crew.
Matthew was also just learning on the spot.
On the other side, Johnny Depp's modulated voice came over.
"We are evil demons, big bad guys. Come and drink heartily, enjoy the pirate life! Big bad guys! Oh!"
Facing numerous media reporters, such madness and unreliability, besides Johnny Depp, no one else in the crew could do it. "Which boy hasn't had a dream when he was young? In this dream, he is an omnipotent pirate captain, with a scimitar at his waist, commanding a sailboat with a skull flag, freely searching for adventure and excitement on the high seas? At that time, he might have even lost an eye after years of battle, which would be convenient for not having to painstakingly close the other eye when using a monocular telescope."
Johnny Depp's demeanor, coupled with these words, attracted reporters to continuously take photos.
Across from Matthew, a tall male reporter asked loudly, "Matthew Horner, do you think Pirates of the Caribbean can succeed?"
"Of course it will succeed!" Matthew said this first, thought for a moment, and then continued, "Don't you think the film is whimsical, full of incredible imagination and creativity? The intoxicating scenery of the Caribbean Sea, the endless charm of Port Royal, the heroic spirit of the Black Pearl cutting through the waves, the vast melody like the ocean..."
He said emphatically, "I believe this film has all the elements for a successful commercial film; it would be impossible for it not to be a box office hit. 35xs"
The first part was the answer prepared by the crew, and the last sentence was added by Matthew himself. He estimated that the film was unlikely to flop, so the chances of this statement becoming a joke were naturally very small.
If he himself didn't show confidence, that would be the real joke.
Compared to Matthew and Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley had far fewer reporters around her. The reporters who came to interview had followed from the Disney theme park theater and had all seen the film.
They all knew very well that while the film's posters and promotions featured three main characters—one woman and two men—it was actually a structure of two male leads and one female supporting role.
As soon as the interview time was up, Disney staff immediately came over, separated the reporters, and led Matthew, Johnny Depp, and Keira Knightley into the hotel's banquet hall.
Unlike previous premieres that ended with a press conference, Disney Pictures did not follow the usual Hollywood procedure. Instead, after the premiere, they gathered the crew to host a thank-you reception for the guests, reporters, and critics who attended the premiere.
Upon entering the banquet hall, Matthew still stayed with Keira Knightley. In most cases, he was quite committed to the contract.
"Cheers!"
Led by Jerry Bruckheimer, Matthew raised his glass with the crew and finished the thank-you drink.
Matthew took the glass from Keira Knightley's hand, along with his own, and handed them both to a server. Seeing that Keira Knightley seemed to be in a bad mood, he asked, "What's wrong, Keira? Are you hungry?"
It was already ten o'clock at night.
The two had only eaten a meager amount since noon.
Keira Knightley shook her head, "I'm fine."
How could she say such a thing? Dissatisfied with her role in the film? Depressed because her character was far less brilliant than Matthew's and Johnny Depp's?
Matthew, after all, knew Keira Knightley somewhat. After a brief thought, he roughly guessed some things but didn't know what to say. Just then, Helen Herman walked over.
"Miss Knightley," Helen Herman said politely, "May I borrow your boyfriend for a moment?"
The speaker was in the know, so Keira Knightley naturally wouldn't refuse. She said, "Please go ahead."
"Something wrong?" Matthew asked.
Helen Herman nodded, "To introduce you to a few people."
Matthew followed Helen Herman and soon arrived in front of two men. One was short and stout, wearing glasses, and the other was tall and thin.
Helen Herman first introduced the short stout man, "Matthew, this is Mr. Roger Ebert, the critic." Then, she introduced the tall thin man, "This is Mr. Richard Roeper, Mr. Roger Ebert's partner."
Afterward, she introduced Matthew to the two men.
After shaking hands and exchanging greetings, Matthew said very politely, "You two are North America's top critics; it's a great honor to meet you."
He didn't know Richard Roeper, but Roger Ebert's name was too famous.
The few people exchanged a few polite words. Perhaps it was the critics' demeanor, or perhaps they considered themselves film experts, but Roger Ebert immediately commented on Matthew's performance in the film.
"Will Turner is the film's highlight, second only to Jack Sparrow; there's no denying that." He looked at Matthew and continued, "You completed your scenes very well, especially the action scenes. Overall, you shaped the character very three-dimensionally and vividly. Now it seems that Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer's choice to cast you as Will Turner was indeed a very wise decision."
"Really?" Matthew deliberately showed suppressed ecstasy on his face, as if being praised by Roger Ebert was an extraordinary thing, and his voice even carried excitement. "Mr. Ebert, do you really think so?"
Roger Ebert smiled slightly, expertly hiding a hint of self-satisfaction, and said, "Of course! Your character has a certain charm!"
Matthew laughed, his smile seeming genuine.
But just as his smile bloomed on his face, Roger Ebert added, "There's one thing you need to pay attention to! Your flaws in the film are also very obvious."
Matthew immediately put away his smile and earnestly asked for guidance, "Mr. Ebert, you are a benchmark in the world of critics. Could you please point out my shortcomings?"
Seeing Matthew so humble and polite, Roger Ebert cleared his increasingly uncomfortable throat and said, "Compared to most young actors, your portrayal of Will Turner is indeed wonderful, but most of that brilliance comes from the action scenes, not from your own performance..."
Hearing him say that, Matthew really wanted to ask, aren't action scenes also film acting?
But considering Roger Ebert's formidable reputation, there was no need to offend him directly. Moreover, he was just starting out and needed to maintain good relations with such critics to encourage them to speak as many good words as possible.
Roger Ebert's words never stopped, "You need to further hone your acting skills!"
This statement actually pointed out Matthew's biggest problem at the moment. He himself was aware that compared to Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow, his Will Turner would be completely overshadowed if not for the bonus points from the action scenes.
However, acting, being something vague, hard to define, and without clear measurement standards, is not easy to improve. Matthew's self-practice has never truly stopped, but the improvement has not been very obvious.
Roger Ebert is America's top critic, perhaps he knows a lot.
Matthew thought of this and couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Ebert, I've also been troubled by improving my acting skills, but I haven't found a good way."
Perhaps Matthew's half-true, half-false attitude and words gave Roger Ebert the impression of a hardworking and ambitious actor. He said quite seriously, "Go to the independent film scene. Take on some small productions and deep roles there to hone your acting skills, and temporarily abandon flashy commercial films."
After hearing the first sentence, Matthew dismissed Roger Ebert's subsequent remarks as idle chatter. It wasn't that Roger Ebert's method was unreliable, but rather that it completely contradicted the path he and Helen Herman had set.
If he had wanted to go to the independent film scene to hone his acting, he would have done so long ago, and wouldn't have waited until now.
However, Matthew did not show what he was thinking. His face still maintained an attentive expression. There was no need for him to get into an unnecessary argument with Roger Ebert over such a small matter.
Leaving a good impression on Roger Ebert would actually be more beneficial to him.
Matthew waited until Roger Ebert finished speaking, his tone unchanged, and said, "Thank you! I think I know what to do."
"Hmm!" Roger Ebert seemed to appreciate Matthew's attitude. "Young people like you, who understand reason, are rare these days."
"You flatter me," Matthew said politely.
After chatting a few more sentences about the movie, Matthew and Helen Herman excused themselves and left together.
"Do you really want to go to the independent film scene?" Helen Herman asked.
Matthew shrugged, "What do you think?"
Helen Herman no longer pursued the question. With commercial lead roles available, how could someone like Matthew Horner, who was so keen on fame and fortune, possibly go to the chaotic and depressing independent film scene to develop?
The two walked towards Keira Knightley's side. Helen Herman changed the subject as they walked, "The female lead, Elizabeth Swann, doesn't have a strong presence. is she angry?"
"I don't know either," Matthew shook his head slightly, "Probably a little."
Originally full of expectations, but after the film was released, she found that her role was just a beautiful vase with little impact. If it were him, he would probably be a bit depressed too.
Helen Herman said, "The characters in the film are a bit imbalanced, completely centered around you and Johnny Depp. Keira Knightley's role is too minor. I think it's necessary to adjust our previous plan based on the audience's reaction to the characters. If Keira Knightley's reception is poor, her staying with you would be a burden, and we'd better drop her early."
Matthew thought for a moment and said, "Let's wait until the film's reputation comes out."