After having a simple lunch at noon, Ben and Amanda returned to the office on the third floor to resume the auditions. A few actresses were still waiting in the corridor, some checking their reflections in compact mirrors, others nervously scrolling through their phones. The tension hung in the air like a fog.
Amanda stepped out, clipboard in hand, and called, "Next."
The first person to walk in was a red-haired girl who looked strikingly young, around seventeen or eighteen at most. Her pale complexion and wide, clear eyes gave her an almost ethereal presence as she stepped cautiously into the room.
"Hello," she said softly.
Ben leaned forward slightly, a flicker of recognition stirring somewhere in his mind. There was something about the girl's face that tugged at a memory. Amanda, sitting beside him, noticed the subtle shift in his posture and arched an eyebrow. She understood immediately—this girl had caught Ben's attention.
The red-haired girl seemed slightly uncomfortable under their gaze, and for a fleeting moment, there was even a trace of disappointment in her eyes. Still, she introduced herself with quiet confidence, "Hi, I'm Jessica. Jessica Chastain."
Ben tilted his head, observing her carefully. Jessica Chastain. Interstellar. That's why she seemed so familiar. Red hair, pale skin, and youthful features—yes, she looked very much like the renowned Hollywood actress from his previous life.
He picked up her personal file from the table, flipping through it slowly, feigning indifference.
"The information says you're currently performing in a theater," he noted.
"Yes," Jessica replied, her tone modest. She didn't elaborate that it was only a small community theater, nor that the performance wasn't particularly formal.
Ben looked at her again and said flatly, "You should know, the lead role we're casting for is in a film with an extremely small budget. It may not even make it to theatrical release. There's a high chance it'll go straight to video."
Jessica didn't flinch. She wasn't naive—she had already guessed that the director in front of her, rumored to be a nobody, paired with a just-launched talent agency, couldn't be promising much. Still, this was more opportunity than she'd been offered before. Even a tiny role in a low-budget film wasn't something she could afford to ignore, let alone the lead role.
Most actresses in Hollywood, even some A-listers, struggled to truly understand a script. But not Jessica. Despite her youth, she had a sharp intellect and strong academic background. In her future, she would attend Juilliard and earn a Robin Williams scholarship—a clear top-tier talent. Even now, her insight into the text showed.
The script told the story of three film students investigating an urban legend in a small town—a witch believed to haunt the woods. Their goal was to make a documentary. But they vanished.
Ben studied her face. Then he said, more gently, "However, for someone like you, this could be a turning point. An opportunity that changes the trajectory of your life."
Without another word, he slid a script across the table to her. "Take a look."
Amanda watched the exchange with a neutral expression, but inside, she took note.
Ben rarely showed this much consideration during auditions. Clearly, something about Jessica intrigued him—and as long as the lead actress came from within Star Talent's roster, Amanda didn't mind letting him make the call.
Jessica took a deep breath, accepted the script with both hands, and began to read.
The plot was simple. At a glance, even dull. No explosive action scenes, no melodrama. Just atmosphere, tension, mystery.
Jessica's brow creased slightly as she read. This was the script? The structure was flat, even dated. Nothing about it struck her as exciting. If anything, it felt... dull.
Still, she looked up and said, with the kind of practiced optimism every actress learned to wear, "Very good script."
Ben chuckled softly, amused by the forced compliment. "If you're asked to play this role, can you act as yourself? No performance—just the way you were in school."
Jessica blinked. "Sorry?"
"I don't want acting," Ben clarified. "The character is a film student. I want you to simply be that girl. No polish, no character arc. Just… your normal student self. Can you do that?"
Jessica's heart jumped. This wasn't a trick question. He was offering her the role.
"I—I can totally do that," she stammered, her voice bubbling with excitement. Her hands clutched the script tighter. She could barely believe it. Lead role. Her.
Even if it was a small, obscure project, a lead role was a lead role. She had spent her short career being scenery, appearing for seconds at a time as a blur in the background. This was different. This was real.
Ben leaned back, nodding to himself. The choice was made.
Jessica still looked stunned when he asked, "By the way—you're still in school, right? Will you need to ask for leave?"
She nodded quickly. "Yes. But I can arrange it. I don't think it'll be a problem."
In the U.S., this wasn't unusual. Schools—especially private ones—often celebrated students who booked roles, especially in films. Some even used it as a marketing point.
Actors also need to accumulate qualifications. The heroine of a movie cannot be compared with the role of many secondary characters.
That's precisely why Hollywood's low-cost independent films continue to attract countless aspiring actors. Even with limited budgets and uncertain distribution, these projects offer something invaluable—a legitimate screen credit, a chance to be seen, a stepping stone. A lead role, no matter how small the production, holds far more weight than a dozen fleeting appearances in background roles.
"Alright then," Ben said. "Go home and get familiar with the script. The crew starts filming next Monday."
Even, if Amanda and Helen didn't feel that it was too hasty, he could start the machine now and guarantee that the shooting would end as quickly as possible.
"As for the salary, Amanda will talk to you later."
Jessica gave a small, breathless laugh. "Okay. Thank you. Thank you so much."
"By the way, the content of the script needs to be kept secret and cannot be disclosed to anyone."
Jessica Chastain suddenly felt that the script in her hand became heavy, and she was afraid that if it was accidentally leaked out, she would lose the opportunity to perform as the heroine.
As for the salary, it is no longer in her consideration.
Every day in Hollywood, there are a lot of actresses, in order to be able to become the heroine, pay their salary, or post themselves, only those famous big-name stars really care about the salary.
"Thank you, thank you, I will definitely keep it a secret."
Ben smiled lightly and said, "You won't regret your choice today."
Jessica Chastain nodded vigorously, carefully put the script into the lady's bag, and then said goodbye.
As she left the room, Amanda waited for the door to close before glancing at Ben. "She's raw," she said. "But I get it. There's something there."
Ben gave a small nod. "She's real. And that's exactly what this film needs."
Amanda didn't speak until Jessica had left the room. Then she said quietly, "You want to highlight the existence of the heroine in the film."
"That's right," Ben said without hesitation. "It doesn't matter whether the film itself mainly sets off the heroine or the other two male protagonists. However, I really don't see any potential in the actor you selected. It's better to bring out the heroine. Besides, when the film is released, both the media and the public who feel fooled will need someone to vent to."
The distribution company of the film obviously wouldn't be blamed. As an investor, director, and editor, Ben would not allow himself to be the target. That left only the leading actors.
In the craftsmanship of his previous life, this was always the case—push the director and actors into the spotlight to absorb the blow. This time, he had erased the director credit entirely. He couldn't afford to play games with the audience at the start of his career.
"Although negative reputation is also a kind of fame, once the situation spirals out of control, their acting careers could be ruined. They'll have no choice but to leave Hollywood in disgrace."
Amanda's beautiful green eyes fixed on him calmly. "And what about Jessica Chastain?"
"How are you going to whitewash her to the media and the public?"
Amanda's voice grew colder, "You're not afraid that after the film is released, faced with the abuse of countless people, she'll be the first one to turn on you?"
Ben had conveniently left that part out during the audition. A seventeen-year-old girl couldn't possibly endure a full-blown media assault. It would crush her.
"The momentary abuse will pass," Ben said lightly. "At worst, she goes on a trip. When she returns, the media will have forgotten all about her."
Even superstars weren't constantly in the spotlight. In a city like Hollywood, where headlines changed every hour, she'd be forgotten soon enough.
"What's more, a young girl who doesn't hide her age will always enjoy some sympathy. She can focus on her studies, get admitted to a good university, maybe even win a scholarship. I think USC would be a very good choice."
Amanda rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "But do you think it's easy to get into USC?"
The USC admissions process was notoriously difficult, especially the interview process, which was almost brutal. Given Jessica Chastain's background, getting in wouldn't be simple.
Ben remained unfazed. "The University of Southern California may indeed be a stretch for Jessica."
"But if she has a recommendation letter from a famous alumnus, I doubt the school would turn her away."
In American society, celebrity endorsements could work wonders.
Amanda's expression shifted as she processed the implications. "You mean yourself? You still don't know what that means."
"Of course not," Ben replied smoothly. "But senior George is not only a famous USC alumnus, he regularly gives lectures at the school."
George Lucas. A legend. And one who often returned favors.
If Jessica had a recommendation from Lucas himself, no interview panel could refuse her.
Amanda let out a small sigh. "Wow. The favors you owe him just keep piling up."
Ben raised his hands. "If I don't mooch off my senior, who will? Besides, better me than someone outside the USC family."
He was confident that when The Blair Witch opened—even if it did only half as well as in his previous life—it would still pull in tens of millions. Helen would be the first to step in with damage control. She was, after all, the head of Star Talent and Jessica, who would be famous due to The Blair Witch Project, would be a gem under her hands.
And George, who would also benefit financially, wouldn't hesitate to help.
Ben had only one real goal: find a future star, one with charm and affordability, to lead his film. With the lead cast finalized, Amanda and Ben began to wrap up the remaining casting decisions.