Chapter 484: Different Ways of Interpretation

Chapter 484: Chapter 484: Different Ways of Interpretation

"I understand what you mean, and this will not affect our relationship," Irene responded calmly in a peaceful tone. "Casting ultimately depends on suitability and on-screen presence. I will conduct all audition assessments fairly and find the best fit for the film, so do not worry."

The Condé Nast Group’s concerns were not entirely groundless.

Consequently, to make the final casting results fairer and more convincing, as well as to completely put to rest the internal disputes within the group and give Elizabeth a satisfactory explanation, this audition really had to be taken seriously.

Ten minutes later, all preparations at the audition venue were complete.

The lighting, sound recording, and camera positions were fully adjusted, and the auditions for the female lead officially began.

Kate Hudson and Claire Danes, two candidate actresses recommended by CAA, were the first to appear.

The acting foundations of both actresses were indeed solid.

With fluent lines and stable emotions, they completed the performance of the audition clip, interpreting the caution and earnestness of a typical workplace newcomer in a standard manner.

Their performances were passable but unremarkable, ending smoothly, and they naturally dropped out of the core competition.

The true ultimate showdown officially kicked off right after.

The first to take the stage was Natalie Portman.

She had changed into a simple and clean solid-colored commuter top, deliberately masking the sharpness and coldness in her eyes, trying her best to fit the simple look of a newcomer entering the workplace.

Standing under the spotlight, she was poised and restrained, with no unnecessary physical movements, keeping her emotions controlled and balanced throughout.

Facing the intensely oppressive aura of Miranda, played by Meryl Streep, she did not panic at all and stood firm as a rock.

Her gaze was clear and restrained, knowing when to advance and when to retreat.

When Miranda sharply questioned her and completely dismissed her work, she showed no panic or confusion, nor did she feel aggrieved or lost.

She simply defended herself logically and reviewed the issues calmly.

With minimal emotional fluctuations, she exuded a rationality and clarity that went far beyond her years.

Her performance was textbook-perfect: precise delivery, delicate emotions, and flawless acting.

Every glance, every shift in tone, and every physical detail was so perfect that no fault could be found.

But watching it all, Irene accurately captured the core issue—it was too perfect, and too clear-headed.

The Andy portrayed by Natalie seemed to possess a clear understanding of the workplace.

Even when facing pressure from her boss, she did not show much discomfort or fear.

She did not look like an ordinary student who had just entered society at all; instead, she seemed to be an assistant who had worked under Miranda for years.

This was a mature urban woman who was naturally clear-headed, possessed an elite background, and fit perfectly into workplace rules—she was everything except Andy, the ordinary female college student who harbored journalistic dreams, ran toward the unknown for love, and was constantly pulled between reality and her original aspirations.

Of course, Natalie’s acting was impeccable; it was just different from the feeling the movie needed.

However, this could not be entirely blamed on Natalie.

After all, she did not have the full script, only a fragment.

She did not know the context of this scene and was only performing based on her own understanding.

It could easily be adjusted once she actually joined the cast.

Next, Anne Hathaway took the stage to audition.

With the same simple and plain outfit and the same audition clip, the moment Anne raised her hand and looked up, she instantly constructed a completely different character texture.

Her posture carried a touch of just-right awkwardness.

Facing Meryl Streep’s highly oppressive delivery, she would curl her fingertips slightly in nervousness, her eyes turning slightly red under the sharp questioning, and she would feel guilty and uneasy because of her mistakes.

In her eyes, there was panic, sincerity, reluctance, and pure enthusiasm.

Her performance was not flawless.

It lacked extremely precise emotional control and airtight delivery techniques, and some details even carried the greenness and stiffness of a newcomer.

But it was precisely this imperfection that accurately hit the core essence of the character Andy.

She portrayed the true state of an ordinary girl: entering the vanity fair for the first time, naive yet stubborn, clumsy yet sincere, harboring simple ideals, helpless in a high-pressure workplace, yet refusing to compromise easily.

This down-to-earth realism and pure "silliness" were completely missing from Natalie’s perfect performance.

As the two audition performances concluded, the venue fell into a brief silence.

Irene did not announce the results on the spot; the casting director told them to go home and wait for further notice.

Immediately after, auditions for other roles began.

The candidates for the other supporting roles were basically highly aligned with the perfect list in Irene’s mind.

Most of them passed their auditions smoothly on the first try, without the need for secondary screening or repeated adjustments.

Only for a few minor supporting roles did Irene make casual yet precise adjustments.

For example, for Steve, the male friend in the film who helps Andy get the ’Harry Potter’ manuscript and works as an editor at a publishing house, Irene’s impression of the original actor was already vague.

She could not remember his name or specific traits, nor did she feel the original choice was irreplaceable.

Therefore, from the profiles of age-appropriate male actors recommended by CAA, she directly selected a young actor with a handsome appearance, clean temperament, and natural acting skills to replace him.

This both fit the character setting and was more visually appealing on screen, doing no harm.

In addition, supermodel Gisele Bündchen was officially confirmed for a cameo role as a fashion model in the film.

Behind this, there was also a sweet little interlude.

At that time, even though Gisele Bündchen was already a top figure in the fashion modeling industry, she was a complete newcomer in Hollywood.

Even though Leonardo was busy with filming, he took his girlfriend’s feelings into consideration.

He specifically took the time to call Irene personally, sincerely expressing his desire to cooperate.

He detailed Gisele’s schedule and all arrangements for coordinating the shoot, fully supporting his girlfriend’s crossover into acting and expanding her career boundaries.

Even though he had no time to accompany her to the audition himself, he still acted as the ultimate thoughtful and decent boyfriend, paving the way and helping his girlfriend’s career throughout the process.

This level of dedication made Irene wonder how the two of them had ended up breaking up when they were clearly such a perfect match.

The entire audition process lasted from early morning until evening, with the setting sun slowly shifting through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the studio as a succession of actors took the stage to showcase their acting skills and interpret their characters.

After the auditions ended successfully, the cast was basically decided, though the battle for the female lead still seemed to have some uncertainty in the eyes of others.

Only Irene knew deep down that from beginning to end, the best candidate for Andy had never changed.

That evening, after work, Sophia and Irene went home together.

In the car, Sophia suddenly brought up the performances of the two prospective female leads today.

Sophia naturally knew that Irene preferred Anne Hathaway, and she also knew that Natalie Portman’s parachute-style entry had annoyed her younger sister.

However, as the Producer of the film, she had to be responsible for her role.

She simply wanted her sister not to view Natalie Portman with prejudice, thereby missing out on more possibilities.