Your comments, reviews, and votes really help me out so much and they make me super motivated to keep working on this story! Thank you! Pat**on : belamy20
Just as dawn was breaking.
Rob drove to Beverly Hills to pick up Cassius.
Since accepting the Green Lantern audition, Rob had become Cassius's exclusive driver.
"Whoa!"
Rob's eyes lit up upon seeing Cassius.
"You're so energetic today; looks like you slept well last night!"
"Indeed, I slept well!"
Cassius glanced at Kristen's sports car parked nearby.
Rob followed Cassius's gaze and instantly revealed a smile that all men understand.
He looked at his increasingly plump body and the weathered face in the rearview mirror, deciding to go home and try tonight too!
Middle age is tough; he hadn't "developed that plot of land" at home for a long time.
On the way to the Warner lot.
Rob chattered endlessly, reviewing key action points and line emotions, as nervous as an old father sending his child to the college entrance exam.
"Bro, remember those key turning points!"
"Be realistic when getting beaten, be unexpected when having a flash of brilliance, and that part talking to grandma—"
Rob turned his head while holding the steering wheel, spittle flying.
Arriving at the soundstage.
More suited executives from Warner had arrived, including COO Richard who had previously opposed, currently whispering with Greg Silverman.
Director Martin Campbell was behind the monitor, expression serious.
Ryan Reynolds had also arrived, doing final warm-ups with the action director.
He nodded to Cassius upon seeing him enter, smile standard as ever, but the competitive look in his eyes was stronger.
Cassius could feel that as soon as he walked into this area, he attracted many obscure scrutinizing gazes.
The [Aura] halo operated silently, giving him a spotlight effect even in ordinary sportswear, like walking a red carpet.
He went to change into the custom training suit.
When he walked out again, he clearly felt more gazes on him.
Both Greg Silverman and Director Martin took a few more looks at him.
"He looks very natural, as if he's already in character!"
Greg whispered to Martin.
Martin nodded without speaking, but a trace of approval flashed in his eyes.
First up was shooting Ryan Reynolds' version of the Hal Jordan segment.
Ryan's performance was a standard Hollywood hero template!
Confident, brave, with just the right amount of humor, clean action moves, handsome posture.
He excellently portrayed a test pilot "born to be a hero."
Several conservative executives nodded frequently watching.
Cassius watched quietly in the waiting area, evaluating internally.
Ryan's acting was fine, even very good.
The problem lay in the script itself; Hal Jordan's growth arc was still too weak, lacking a truly touching core.
But judging solely on actor performance, Ryan submitted an A-grade answer sheet.
Cassius's turn.
First segment: Awakening in Chinatown.
The clapperboard sounded.
Cassius instantly entered the coder state, carrying the lethargy after staying up late and absent-mindedness towards the surroundings.
When the robbery happened, the panic and hesitation in his eyes were very real.
Until pushed to desperation, the jade pendant resonated with the ring fragment, energy exploding out of control!
"Cut! Very good!"
Director Martin called cut, watching the monitor playback, saying to Greg beside him: "Look at his reaction, that helplessness and horror of sudden power surge is more convincing than pure special effects."
Cassius knew himself that the performance just now relied more on his own acting attributes and previous preparation.
The [Aura] halo seemed to make his mindset steadier when standing before the camera, less easily disturbed by the outside world, and more certain during performance.
Second segment: Instructor Conflict.
This was the real test after losing the [Body Language] halo.
Action scene filming started.
Instructor Sierra played by Dave attacked fiercely.
According to design, Cassius dodged wretchedly, blocked, got hit, got thrown out—
Without halo enhancement, he had to rely completely on his Level 3 Body Language attribute and muscle memory from the past few days to complete those complex dodging and struggling movements.
A bit stiff at first!
After all, having experienced god-level status, his current mortal level made him feel a bit clumsy.
But he adjusted quickly. The Level 3 foundation was solid after all, plus the body memory formed from previous intensive training.
Although the movements lost that extreme smoothness and precision, they gained a stumbling clumsiness instead, appearing more realistic!
The comedic effect was unexpectedly more natural!
"Cut! Very good! That's the feeling!"
Director Martin was increasingly satisfied: "More realistic than that overly perfect wretchedness during yesterday's blocking! Keep it up!"
Cassius climbed up from the ground.
A blessing in disguise; being genuinely clumsy unexpectedly fit the character perfectly, acting out the essence!
Ryan Reynolds watched from below, frowning slightly.
Cassius's movements didn't look as amazing as yesterday's blocking, but the real embarrassment and struggle, as well as the cunning and unyielding spirit belonging to a small character, were inexplicably more eye-catching.
He felt the pressure not decreasing, but increasing!
The final segment!
Cassius sat in a simple set built with green screens symbolizing a Chinatown herbal shop.
Opposite was an elderly Chinese actress playing the grandmother.
No intense action, only calm dialogue.
When the grandmother said "When the heat is right, the flavor is naturally correct," Cassius needed to show the subtle transition from confusion to thoughtfulness, then to sudden enlightenment.
The effect of the [Aura] halo truly highlighted itself!
He didn't need to deliberately act out an epiphany.
When he immersed himself in the character, recalling the coder's struggle, the panic of accidentally gaining power, the frustration of training, and then being awakened by simple philosophy at this moment.
A natural calmness and certainty emanated from him.
His eyes became clear and focused, as if truly seeing the road ahead.
His entire presence was infinitely amplified in front of the lens, firmly grasping everyone's attention.
He didn't shout or scream, no exaggerated expressions, but the internal slow and firm sense of power was clearly transmitted through the screen to everyone behind the monitor.
The segment ended.
The soundstage was quiet for a few seconds.
"Cut!"
Director Martin's voice broke the silence, carrying a hint of undetectable excitement.
Greg Silverman took a deep breath, looking at COO Richard beside him.
Richard had no expression on his face, but the previous contempt in his eyes had disappeared.
Cassius broke character, feeling a layer of fine sweat on his back.
For that drama scene just now, he invested real emotions. The [Aura] halo made his emotional output more stable, easier to maintain a calm and focused state.
The test shoot ended; results wouldn't be announced immediately.
Those Warner big shots needed to watch the preliminary special effects composite dailies, then close the door for a few rounds of potentially table-slapping meetings to decide.
After Cassius's performance, Director Martin personally walked over to pat his shoulder, saying only one sentence: "Cass, performed very well!"
The appreciation in his eyes couldn't be hidden.
Greg Silverman also nodded to Cassius, though he didn't say much, his eyes revealed satisfaction.
Before leaving, Ryan Reynolds shook hands firmly with Cassius: "Whatever the result, buddy, you showed me another possibility. Good luck!"
Cassius smiled and said nothing.
If he really got to play Green Lantern, it could be considered saving Ryan!
Otherwise, Ryan couldn't escape the Waterloo of his past life!
Just didn't know if that guy would think so!
Just as Cassius changed back into his clothes, Rob rushed over anxiously: "Don't relax! There's a tough battle tonight!"