After hanging up the phone, standing outside the Red Penguin Company, Matthew clenched his fist tightly. The first step toward his star dream, the opening to a better future, was finally about to arrive!
The call was from Angelina Jolie's assistant. She informed Matthew that next Monday he would go with an agent to audition at the Universal Studios soundstage north of Burbank. She also said it was just a quick look by the casting director, and then he would sign a temporary actor agreement with the production team.
As for the role — just a fleeting background character, an extra with no lines.
Matthew never expected to skyrocket overnight. This was exactly in line with his expectations.
He wasn't very familiar with Hollywood himself. Most of what he knew were the mainstream stories from the era of rapid information spread, like Angelina Jolie marrying Brad Pitt and the like. But because he had wanted to enter Hollywood, he had collected lots of information and memories, which still lingered.
So Matthew's current position was clear to him: a temporary actor, or in another country's words, a background extra.
No matter what kind of actor, to get a job, you need an agent.
Getting work in Hollywood wasn't easy, but becoming a nominal actor had a low threshold. Anyone wanting to be an actor, professional or extra, the first step was to have some headshots and full-body photos taken, then register height, weight, eye color, and other details at an agency, sign a representation contract, and enter the database so the agent could negotiate with production teams.
The previous occupant of this memory had already completed this step. He had registered at a small agency and even had a phone number for an agent, but that agent had never contacted him.
Matthew pulled out his phone and browsed through it as he walked toward the bus stop. There was no better option now; he could try reaching out to that agent whose number he had.
If that failed, he could try other small agencies—after all, Los Angeles was the heart of Hollywood.
Actually, the idea of finding an agent had come to him right after talking to Angelina Jolie's assistant, but yesterday he'd been busy renting a house and working at night, so he hadn't found the time.
According to the previous memory, an agent wasn't just necessary to get work, but an excellent agent could help an actor plan their future career. Matthew also wanted to attend a specialized acting school for training, which was necessary, but he was in the dark and needed professional advice like from an agent.
Hollywood had the big five agencies, but also many smaller companies surviving in the gaps between them.
The Starlight Company on Sunset Boulevard was one such small agency.
It was small and young, with only seven or eight agents who were newly licensed and had few resources. The office had just three rooms: the boss took one, accounting had the smallest room, and the rest squeezed into one large office.
"Hey, Director Kuka? It's me, Dennis. We had dinner the day before yesterday."
The caller was a chubby man wearing glasses. Even though the other side was just a small production's casting director, he still looked obsequious.
"Your film needs twenty corpses, right? I've arranged the people! Don't worry, no problem. These guys have played corpses before — you could kick them with your foot and they wouldn't move! When do we sign the contract?"
"Good! Good!"
After the agreement, the chubby man smiled so hard his eyes disappeared.
He hung up and dropped into his chair, which creaked and groaned as if about to collapse.
"Damn business!" He rubbed his stiff smile and muttered, "All these are worthless gigs!"
He always felt that working on temporary actor business at the company was beneath his talents. He had been there almost a year, and none of the films his company worked on had wide theatrical releases—mostly straight-to-video productions. TV series were slightly better, but that business was tightly controlled by the boss, leaving no room for him.
Ring-ring—
The office phone rang.
"Hello..." He picked up, "Starlight Company, Dennis speaking."
"Ah, hello." The voice on the other end sounded unfamiliar, "Are you Mr. Dennis Kurt?"
"That's me!" He thought a new business call was coming.
"I'm Matthew Horner." Dennis didn't recognize the name. "I registered as an actor with your agency some time ago."
Upon hearing this, Dennis immediately realized this wasn't business — just some daydreaming loser. "What do you want?"
His tone carried a bit of impatience.
"Well, I got a temporary actor job on a production and need an agent to sign the contract."
Dennis showed some interest. "How many?"
"One!"
That destroyed his brief spark of interest. Running around for one extra job? What kind of money is that?
"Mr. Dennis Kurt?" The caller pressed, "Are you there?"
Dennis's phone suddenly rang. Seeing it was a casting director he worked with, he put down the call and waved to a younger agent at the office.
"I have a job here. Go handle it."
The young agent took the phone.
Dennis tried to say something on his own call, but angry voices roared from the receiver.
"Dennis, what are you doing? I need cheap non-union actors! Not expensive union members! Why are there union actors in your list? If I wanted union actors, wouldn't the union send the notice? Why do I need you?"
"Sorry!" Dennis hurried to apologize. "Sorry! Maybe my assistant was careless..."
He didn't have an assistant — just pushing responsibility off.
"Tomorrow morning!" he promised, "I'll send suitable actor info tomorrow morning!"
The other side cursed some more. Dennis just listened and hung up, rolling his eyes in frustration.
"Wait, I want to confirm!"
The young agent's voice came over, "Are you saying you got a job on James Mangold's film starring Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie, The Soul Mover?"
"What?" Dennis was stunned. "James Mangold? Winona Ryder? Angelina Jolie? Girl, Interrupted?"
Such big names, and how could they be connected with a small extra he hadn't even remembered?
If he recalled correctly, this Sony Columbia film had a $40 million budget! Not just him or his extras, even the company boss hadn't accessed this level!
No way this was right! Dennis couldn't believe it.
"Yes!" The voice was very certain. "The job was introduced by Ms. Jolie herself."
Jolie? Angelina Jolie? Dennis suddenly stood up and moved with an uncharacteristic speed for his bulky frame. He grabbed the phone from the young agent across the room, ignoring the young man's angry look, and loudly said, "Sorry, I had a call just now. I'm your agent, Dennis Kurt."
The young agent wanted to protest but deflated under Dennis's intimidating glare and seniority.
"Hello, I'm Matthew Horner." The other end sounded oblivious. "Can you represent my work?"
Dennis immediately said, "Yes! Absolutely!"
For an agent, such a job was nothing, but representing it meant contact with Angelina Jolie and the Girl, Interrupted production—a level he had never touched.
Not just him, no one in the company had.
This was a golden ticket, a stepping stone to higher-level business!
Only fools would want to stay forever managing extra gigs in a small company with no future.
Thinking of the chance to build a higher-tier network, Dennis said eagerly, "Alright, Matthew, come by the office. Let's meet and talk in detail."
After hanging up, Dennis noticed the young agent still staring at him and snorted, "What are you looking at? That's my client."
He was right. The young agent glared and sat back helplessly.
About forty minutes later, the receptionist led a young man inside.
"Dennis, someone's here for you."
Following the receptionist's gaze, Matthew saw a big man wearing glasses, easily over 200 pounds.
"You must be Matthew?"
The big man smiled broadly and approached.
Matthew nodded, "You're Mr. Dennis Kurt?"
"Just call me Dennis," the man said familiarly.
He checked his watch. "Let's go talk in the café downstairs."
Matthew agreed and followed him.
Dennis ordered two coffees and asked, "Was it a job introduced by Ms. Jolie?"
"Yes." Matthew didn't hesitate to pull the tiger's skin over the flag, "Please keep it confidential. Ms. Jolie doesn't want outsiders to know."
Dennis nodded. "Tell me the details."
Matthew had prepared well and embellished the story: He came to Hollywood chasing dreams, happened to meet Jolie, and she helped him get this temporary actor job.
"Don't worry. I'll go with you Monday."
After listening, Dennis said generously, "Just focus on acting. I'll handle everything else!"