"This is little Haley Joel Osment." Julia Taylor gave Ronald a picture of a spirited little boy who looked very smart at first glance.
Ronald turned the photo over. On it was the performance resume of this little boy who was less than six years old. He had acted in a Pizza Hut commercial. It also stated the reason why he was selected because the casting director at the time asked him to
Describe the biggest thing he has ever seen, and little Harry answered that it was an IMAX movie.
This kind of cleverness, coupled with a very cute face, has become a stepping stone for child stars. Now he is also an advertising star seen by people across the United States.
"Very good, Forrest Gump Jr. can do the job..." Ronald watched some video clips of Harry Jr. for a while and felt that it was very suitable to play the son of Forrest Gump and Jenny, "But Forrest Gump Jr.
What about Young Forrest Gump?”
Ronald was talking about the plot at the beginning of the movie, when Forrest Gump and Jenny were both very young, and they were childhood sweethearts when they were in school. This little Forrest Gump must be seven or eight years old, and he must be a bit dull. Obviously, Julia Taylor gave him
Looking at little Harry's photos doesn't mean he is recommended to play the role of little Forrest Gump.
"Nothing, Ronald, nothing... The kids in Los Angeles are so..." Julia Taylor thought about how to describe it, "They are all so knowledgeable. Forrest Gump and Jenny are both kids from rural Alabama. Their eyes are
, body movements, expressions, are completely different from those of popular children in big cities, and... it is difficult for young actors to train their accents. If you need some southern accent, then it must be those in the deep south.
Only children from different states can do that..."
Julia Taylor tapped her pencil. There were a lot of resume photos of child actors sent after auditions were announced. Basically, they were all unusable.
"Open the casting, where do you think it would be better to put it?" Ronald had no choice. These two characters are at the beginning of the movie, and they must be recognized by the audience, otherwise the movie will not attract the audience's attention.
, it must have failed at the box office...
"By the way, I have to choose someone who looks a bit like Tom Hanks and Robin Wright..." Ronald made another request. In short, the face shape and body shape should not be too far apart.
For example, Hanks’ rectangular face and Robin Wright’s wild child temperament are indispensable.
"Okay, I went to the open casting call in Memphis, Tennessee, to look for a young Tom Hanks with light-colored eyes and a weird personality..." Julia Taylor also understood that this casting must be a true character,
After looking at the national map on the wall, I pointed to the heart of the Deep South, Tennessee. The nearby Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Colorado, Georgia and other places all speak with Southern accents.
…
"The first audition for Forrest Gump, Harry Joel Osment Jr., Tom Hanks..."
In the afternoon, Ronald found Tom Hanks and asked him and Harry Joel Osment Jr. to audition for a scene in which the father and son read together.
The central narrative of this movie revolves around Forrest Gump. All the supporting characters reveal a certain aspect of Forrest Gump's character to some extent. His son Little Forrest Gump is a smart man. After Forrest Gump knows that he has a son,
The first reaction was that he was afraid that he would suffer from the same IQ problem as him. Knowing that little Forrest Gump had the same IQ as his mother, when he was very high, he was also afraid that he would not be able to communicate with his smart son. This mixed with all kinds of subtle sadness and happiness.
, the emotions of fear and joy are expressed through a small number of body and facial expressions.
The young actor who plays Forrest Gump is the one who presses the emotional switch of Forrest Gump. So it is very necessary for them to audition together.
"Simon reached out and wanted to help himself, but..."
The young actor Harry Joel Osment's voice is very crisp, and he does not have the childish speech organization skills of an ordinary five-year-old child. This is the result of his parents' deliberate education, so that he can read words effectively.
A six-year-old has considerable abilities.
Tom Hanks immediately glanced sideways at little Harry, and then looked back. Ronald and the child's father below both saw that little Harry Joel Osment didn't know the words below...
...But Hanks's movements of raising and closing his eyes showed the complex emotions very well, which shocked Ronald. This performance was very charming and just right.
"Instead..." Little Harry's father reminded below that his son was not really six years old after all, and it was still difficult to read this kind of reading material.
This happened two or three more times. Tom Hanks always respected the young actor's performance and never acted out of Forrest Gump's character's mood.
"You should say it next..." Harry Joel Osment Jr. finished reading the children's book and reminded Hanks in turn.
"Oh, what should I say next?" Hanks decided to give it a try and asked Harry.
"You should say next..." Little Harry took good care of Hanks who "forgot his words" and lay in his ear and said the lines that Forrest Gump should say.
"Oh, I just want to say, I love you..."
"I love you too, Daddy..."
Afterwards, the two deviated from the script and had a few improvised conversations. The chemistry between the "father and son" was great, and both Ronald and Julia Taylor nodded frequently.
Tom Hanks also liked this young actor very much and expressed his approval to Ronald and Julia.
"Tom, I think this movie is different from all the movies I have made before. There are actually many stories that span a long time, and all plots must be driven by your narration. You are in this movie
Here, it’s not about working for me, but the two of us working together to create..."
This chapter is not over, please click the next page to continue reading! After Ronald watched this audition, combined with some of the previous audition scenes performed by Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, this idea became more and more
Clearly, when he took the opportunity to be alone with Hanks, he made new demands on him.
"Uh, OK..." Tom Hanks didn't understand what Ronald meant, but when the director said this, it was undoubtedly the greatest respect for him. He agreed first, and then listened to Ronald's detailed requirements.
"This is not what I said. You can make a successful movie no matter how you act. I think you have already done a better job of bringing the mentality into the character. So during the filming and early audition process, if you feel that anything is inappropriate, please tell me everything."
Tell me right away.
Don't worry about any progress or getting along with other actors. This is all my job. You just need to tell me how you feel at any time. Even if you don't understand it yourself but don't feel it intuitively, just tell me...
"
"OK, I'm very grateful to you for saying that, and I will do what you ask..."
Hearing what Ronald said, Tom Hanks felt proud but also a little nervous. He drank some coffee and suddenly remembered something, "No, do I need to participate in the entire audition?"
"Little Forrest Gump (younger version of Forrest Gump), you must participate. Julia will go to Memphis, Tennessee for an open audition. When the last few candidates are selected, go and feel it and tell me which one you think is most like your younger self.
, not only the appearance, but more importantly the inner temperament...
Also, you have to understand that no one can perform Forrest Gump to your level. It is impossible for us to find such young child actors. Therefore, you are their model. Do you feel that your performance is like the younger version of you?
Forrest Gump, that’s him..."
"That's a lot of responsibility..." Tom Hanks also figured it out. Ronald was right. Only by finding a little Forrest Gump with a similar acting temperament to his own can the film be matched.
It seems that this dividend-earning project is really difficult to handle...
"How about I hire you as an associate producer?" Ronald smiled and offered the conditions.
"Oh..." Hanks also didn't expect that half of this kind of treatment is the kind of treatment only stars who have truly proven themselves at the box office can get. He now fully understands that everything Ronald said must be taken seriously.
Already.
…
"Today, it is reported that a unit of the LAPD has begun a criminal investigation into a big-name celebrity. The specific details of the investigation and the name of the celebrity have not been disclosed. The LAPD refused to comment on the matter and assured all Los Angeles residents, whether civilians or
Big stars will be treated equally...
Insiders who did not want to be named disclosed to this newspaper that the star's status has been described as "untouchable". They also said that based on the progress of the investigation, the LAPD will decide whether to make the matter public in the next few days.
…”
After the audition, he returned home. Richard hurriedly came to Ronald's house with several gossip tabloids. These newspapers were often full of sensational and fabricated reports, but this report was actually very rational and unconventional, a bit like newspaper news.
The source is obviously the same, so such groundless accusations have some credibility.
"You mean MJ? No way? He just refused the blackmail. What criminal problems can there be?"
"Today, this investigation is being circulated in the agent circle. I need to confirm with you again that there is no explicit involvement with MJ?"
"No, not even on the dark side. He went to find a real estate developer to rent a house by himself. I just pointed the way..."
"That's good..." Richard was worried.
"Relax, there isn't such a big risk, right? Which department of the LAPD is investigating? The criminal investigation department, the commercial investigation department, or the major crimes department?"
"Child Anti-Sexual Exploitation Group..."
"ah?"
Richard talked about some of the rumors surrounding MJ. Apart from the fact that he is a vampire, that he died in a Pepsi advertising accident, and that the current MJ is a stand-in (which also explains why his appearance has changed so much), he
The love for children is indeed known by many people in the circle...
However, Ronald still didn't believe that MJ would do this. He just discussed it with Diane. From now on, it is best for little Roger not to stay at other people's homes. If he wants to spend the night at a friend's house, he must be accompanied by someone, which he knows very well.
Just friends.
…
"Ah, tell me, what pop music is better to use in this movie? The story of Forrest Gump happens to be the memory of that generation's growth. I think it needs some representative songs that were very popular at the time...
…I don’t really care about copyright fees, but I have to choose the most suitable one…”
Ronald finished dinner and started working again. While daydreaming, he started preparing to purchase the copyright for the soundtrack.
This movie is also different from other movie episodes, many of which are directly related to the plot. For example, the young Elvis stayed at Forrest Gump's house and learned his signature style inspired by Forrest Gump who was wearing leg braces.
Hip-shaking dance. This song is "Hound Dog" that made Elvis Presley famous.
Later, in order to realize her dream, Jenny went to a bar and sold herself naked with a guitar. The songs she sang had to be songs by the superstars of the folk rock era at that time. Ronald was more inclined to the lyrics and music of Bob Dylan. His girlfriend at the time was also
"Blowin' in the Wind" by Jeanne's idol Joan Baez
For another example, Forrest Gump's hometown is in Alabama. After retiring from the army, when he returns to his hometown, he should be the song that every Alabamian loves, Lynyrd Skynyrd.
The band's famous song, Sweet Home Alabama.
Forrest Gump came back from the Vietnam War and met Jenny again. She was now working with the Black Panther Party of the hippie civil rights movement. How could she miss the famous hippie movement-oriented song "San Francisco"?
The first two sentences are, if you go to San Francisco, don't forget to wear a flower in your hair. Audiences who have experienced this will remember that wearing flowers was a very famous dress for hippies.
And when Forrest Gump goes to the Vietnam War battlefield, he must have a few representative songs...
"That must be the Creedence Clearwater Revival..."
The people in the copyright and music departments all laughed. This CCR song is representative of the Vietnam War. Many Vietnam War veterans feel that their "Fortunate Son" is simply synonymous with anti-war songs.
This song bitterly satirizes the sons of big men who do not have to go to the battlefield. Even if they are drafted, they do not have to go to the front line. Children from poor families are driven to the battlefield to serve in front-line service positions.
Their other song "Who'll Stop the Rain" is an overall indictment of the horrors and threats posed by the Cold War and local wars to all mankind.
"Ah, actually John Fogarty, the lead singer of CCR, personally taught me this song..." Ronald recalled that when he went to San Francisco to study editing, he met the folk king in a bar who was prohibited from singing the songs he wrote. Music
The biggest unlucky guy in the circle.
"What?" Everyone looked at Ronald. Bosses generally don't brag.
"Don't you believe it? Bring me my guitar..." Ronald smiled, took the acoustic guitar, and played and sang the song "Who'll Stop the Rain" again using the tricks taught by Fogerty.
Stop the Rain)".
"Oh oh..."
Although he was a bit unfamiliar, Fogarty, the songwriter and singer's personal guidance, still made Ronald sing a bit like him. After it was over, he was flattering for a while.
"Please help me check. How is Fogarty's copyright resolved now? If possible, I hope I can ask him to sing it again..."
Several days later, good news came from Julia Taylor. The audition was arranged very successfully. There were male and female child actors of school age from as many as ten states, and they all rushed to Memphis, Tennessee. This is someone who can become famous in one fell swoop.
Chance.
"Very good, thank you for your hard work. If you find any suitable material, please send me the audition materials..."
Luo Jian was also very happy. The preparation for Forrest Gump was considered smooth in his filmmaking history.
Ronald and Diane finished breakfast and were about to go out when a big news suddenly appeared on the morning news.
"The LAPD obtained a search warrant allowing them to search the Neverland Ranch owned by King of Pop Michael Jackson."