Just because I wrote "Zhu Xian," the school beauty sent me razor blades.

"The only candidate for Reed is from this list."

Snapped.

A document was slammed heavily onto the table.

The meeting room fell silent instantly.

Lin Yuan looked down at it.

The list is very long.

Behind each name lies a dazzling resume.

Box office performance.

Awards and honors received.

Representative works.

Even the worst one has a considerable reputation in Hollywood.

and.

All the actors were white.

Lin Yuan looked up.

Why?

The investor representative sitting opposite leaned back in his chair.

The tone left no room for negotiation.

"Because he is the second male lead."

"At the same time, he provided most of the film's narration."

The other person tapped the table with their finger.

"Andy has no choice but to go for a celebrity."

"This is the first concession we've made."

"Now Reed has to choose from these actors."

"At least."

"It must have sufficient commercial value."

Michael frowned.

The producer sat beside him but didn't speak immediately.

Because this time.

The investor representatives were not there to offer advice.

The company behind him provided nearly half of the entire project's budget.

If they withdraw their investment.

The preparatory meetings for "The Shawshank Redemption" were immediately halted.

The venue has already been agreed upon.

Actor's schedule.

Staff members.

Everything needs to be readjusted.

The investor representative looked at Lin Yuan.

"This isn't directed at you."

"This is a normal business judgment."

"This is your first time in Hollywood."

"Perhaps you don't understand yet."

"A movie with no action scenes, no romance, and most of the story taking place in prison is inherently difficult to sell."

"Andy has no celebrity."

"We can't live without Reed."

"This is the bottom line."

No one spoke in the meeting room.

Lin Yuan picked up the list.

I looked at it carefully for a few seconds.

The investors' representatives' expressions softened slightly.

He thought Lin Yuan had taken it to heart.

But the next second.

Lin Yuan stood up.

Walk to the wall.

There was a paper shredder there.

The investor representative was taken aback.

"What are you going to do?"

Lin Yuan put the list in.

The machine makes a sound.

The paper was swallowed up little by little.

Then it turns into fragments.

The meeting room became completely silent.

Everyone was looking at him.

The investor representative's expression froze.

A few seconds later.

He suddenly stood up.

"What are you doing!"

Lin Yuan turned around.

His tone was calm.

"Delete the incorrect answer."

"Wrong answer?"

The investor representative was so angry he laughed.

"Among these people are three actors whose films have grossed over a billion dollars!"

"Two more Oscar nominees!"

"You've never even seen them!"

Lin Yuan nodded.

"So I didn't say they weren't good actors."

"I was just saying."

"They are not necessarily Reed."

The investor representative slammed his hand on the table.

Do you know who financed this movie?

"Know."

"Then you still dare to do it?"

Lin Yuan looked at him.

"The person who provides the money can decide the budget."

"We can discuss the schedule."

"It allows for market assessment."

"But we can't decide who Reed is."

The investor representative stared at him.

His complexion grew increasingly grim.

"very good."

He nodded.

"Since you insist on it so much."

"Then I'll give you one day."

Lin Yuan remained silent.

The other party continued:

"Within today."

"Choose a Red who satisfies us."

"otherwise."

Investment is suspended.

The producer's expression changed.

"etc."

"This matter can be discussed further."

"There's nothing to talk about."

The investor representative picked up his coat.

"We have already made enough concessions."

"Now."

"It's time to see your sincerity."

Done.

He left with his men.

boom.

The meeting room door closed.

The room felt incredibly oppressive.

The producer looked at Lin Yuan.

I held back for a few seconds.

Finally, he spoke up.

"Forest."

"Weren't you a bit too impulsive just now?"

"That list is not an order."

"At least we can talk."

Lin Yuan returned to his seat.

"What are you talking about?"

"How do you choose the least incorrect answer from a list of wrong answers?"

The producer was speechless for a moment.

Lin Yuan picked up the script on the table.

"If we choose the wrong person today just to save money..."

"Every shot after that."

"Every scene."

"Every edit."

"We all have to pay the price for today's compromises."

"Reid is not a character that can be easily replaced."

He was wrong.

"The whole movie is wrong."

The producer rubbed his temples.

"But what about the money?"

"I have no money."

"This movie can't even get started."

Michael, who had been silent, stood up.

"Continue with the audition."

The producer looked at him.

"Michael?"

Michael picked up the shredded fragments of the list.

He casually tossed it into the trash can.

"The money is gone."

"We can look again."

Lin Yuan glanced at him.

Michael also looked at Lin Yuan.

Neither of them said anything more.

But the attitude is already very clear.

The auditions continued.

10:00 AM.

The first actor entered the room.

He is very famous.

Wearing a well-fitting suit.

When they walked in, even the staff members instinctively sat up straight.

His performance was flawless.

His voice was deep.

His expression was weathered and worn.

His eyes held a calm that seemed to have seen through everything.

He portrayed Red as a clever, worldly-wise old prisoner who knew all the rules of the prison.

The audition is over.

The producer was the first to nod.

"good."

The staff left behind by the investors also looked satisfied.

"This is the person we've been looking for."

"Experienced."

"He has presence."

"There is a market for it."

Everyone looked at Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan only asked one question.

Is he afraid of freedom?

The meeting room fell silent.

The producer was taken aback.

"What?"

Lin Yuan looked at the recording that had just ended.

"Reed just now."

"clever."

"calm."

"Looks like he knows everything."

"But is he afraid of freedom?"

No one answered.

Lin Yuan turned off the recording.

"Red can get anything in prison."

"cigarette."

"tool."

"What I want."

"Everyone needs him."

"In Shawshank."

"He is very capable."

"He even understands life better than many people."

Lin Yuan paused for a moment.

"But once they leave the high walls..."

"He doesn't even know what he's supposed to do tomorrow."

"It's not that he doesn't want freedom."

"He's afraid of being free."

"That person just now portrayed someone who has seen through prison."

"But he didn't portray a person who had already been tamed by prison."

The producer fell silent.

The second actor entered the audition room.

the third.

Fourth place.

Someone deliberately lowered their voice.

Make yourself sound more weathered.

Some say that narration is like reciting a philosophical statement about life.

Some actors have portrayed Red with remarkable insight.

It was as if nothing in the prison could escape his eyes.

They are all fine.

It can even be described as excellent.

But Lin Yuan never nodded.

I went there at noon.

We'll continue this afternoon.

The atmosphere in the audition room grew increasingly somber.

The investors who stayed behind also started to get impatient.

"There are already more than twenty."

"Not even one?"

Lin Yuan did not answer.

Because if it doesn't work, it simply doesn't work.

Rhett Butler is not someone you can portray simply by frowning and using a deep voice.

He was not a wise bystander from beginning to end.

He was someone who had grown accustomed to high walls.

One person says that hope is dangerous.

A person who still remembers what hope is in their heart.

Five o'clock in the afternoon.

The last actor left.

The producer closed the document.

"it's over."

There are no other candidates today.

The investor's staff member gave a cold laugh.

"Then the answer is quite clear."

"Choose from the people who came in the morning."

Lin Yuan ignored him.

Just then.

The assistant pushed the door open and came in.

There's another person outside.