Chapter 92: Brotherhood Above All
The filming of the series continued, but after completing his battlefield scenes, Matthew Horner no longer needed to serve as a background extra. Following the crew's instructions, he arrived at the press hall near the main entrance of Hatfield Airport, ready to participate in a media interview alongside three other actors.
The night before, the crew's publicist had briefed them thoroughly, specifically outlining topics to avoid during the interview. Matthew, intent on following the crew's guidelines, wouldn't deviate from the script.
The three actors joining him for the interview, though not well-known to Matthew beyond mere acquaintance, were main actors who had trained with Damian Lewis.
Among the character actors, Matthew was the only one present.
Led by the crew's publicist, the four actors entered the press hall to a flurry of excitement. Countless flashes went off, accompanied by the chaotic sound of shutters clicking.
Although heavyweights like Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg were not in attendance, the presence of Damian Lewis and the four actors, all dressed in WWII-era 101st Airborne Division paratrooper uniforms, drew considerable media attention.
This press event was a crucial part of the crew's initial promotional activities.
After a group photo, the publicist directed the actors to four different areas within the hall to interact directly with the journalists.
Damian Lewis, known for his role as the legendary Captain Richard Winters, attracted the most media. The other two main actors, though slightly known in the industry, were less familiar to the media than Matthew. Most of the reporters present were from the entertainment sector, and some recognized Matthew as the man once rumored to be romantically linked with Britney Spears.
Consequently, apart from Damian Lewis, Matthew drew the second-largest crowd of reporters.
The publicist hadn't anticipated this turnout and quickly assigned an experienced assistant to Matthew's side to prevent any potentially problematic statements under the press's scrutiny.
"Don't speak out of turn," the middle-aged assistant advised softly from behind Matthew, "Wait for my cue on tricky questions."
Matthew nodded seriously, without uttering a word.
Soon, a large group of reporters gathered around, but thankfully, the staff managed to keep the scene orderly.
"Each person may ask one question!" a crew member announced loudly, "Think carefully before asking Mr. Matthew Horner."
The first questions came from media partners already briefed by the crew.
"Mr. Horner!" a reporter with a Warner TV badge asked, "We heard that you underwent rigorous training before filming began?"
"Yes!" Matthew responded with a stern face, channeling Ronald Spiers, the military character he portrayed. "We had to master combat skills, learn to use weapons, endure the elements, and carry 40 pounds of gear on five-mile forced marches…"
These were rehearsed lines, though fabricated, Matthew delivered them smoothly. "At one point, we could only sleep three hours a night, and even then, you couldn't really sleep because you'd be shivering in your tent. But having gone through all that, I felt a profound sense of achievement."
The crew's publicity efforts dictated what the media and audience would see, which wasn't necessarily the truth but what was deemed promotable.
Having worked with several crews, Matthew understood this dynamic and was not averse to playing his part as an actor, which often involved fabricating stories.
"The training brought us actors closer together!" he continued as instructed, "So when we actually began filming, our camaraderie bonded us like a real band of brothers!"
Behind him, the middle-aged assistant subtly nodded in approval. The crew typically communicated the general message but didn't script exact questions and answers, as that could appear too contrived. Often, actors needed to improvise.
Matthew Horner, this relatively unknown actor, was performing better than expected.
After last night's briefing with the publicist, he had prepared thoroughly.
Despite his lack of experience in dealing with the media, the support from the crew ensured he wasn't nervous.
Another journalist, from Warner's Empire magazine, asked, "Could you tell us about your character?"
"I play Ronald Spiers, the fourth company commander of Easy Company," Matthew replied, maintaining his military demeanor.
An Entertainment Weekly reporter followed up, "Did you have any unique experiences or insights during filming that you could share?"
The reporters, all from media outlets affiliated with HBO, asked polite questions that aligned well with the crew's publicity objectives.
"I never knew what it was like to feel adrenaline surge until now," Matthew answered thoughtfully. "The chaos of filming, with people falling around you and bombs exploding nearby, gave me a glimpse of what soldiers must have felt in the heat of battle. Our eyes filled with fear; we knew it wasn't real, which is exactly why we were truly afraid. How did those soldiers endure it?"
"And," he added, "the camaraderie among soldiers in war certainly builds a force capable of overcoming the enemy. Brotherhood is above all."
After finishing, he glanced back subtly to see
the assistant giving him a discreet thumbs up; reassured, he relaxed slightly.
The assistant tucked away his thumb, nodding continuously as he watched Matthew handle the press with aplomb. Initially puzzled why the crew had chosen a non-main actor for the press event, he now understood the preparation behind it. This actor named Matthew Horner was as adept at spinning tales as any seasoned public relations professional.
What a talent! The assistant mused that if acting didn't pan out for Matthew, he could very well become a publicist or work in media relations.
Appreciating the rarity of such an opportunity for an actor of his level, Matthew knew he had to make the most of every moment, whether in his stern military portrayal or his responses to each query.
As Helen Herman put it, every media appearance was a credential that could prove beneficial in vying for future roles.
The interview continued, but as often happens, the questions began to drift away from the series and his character. Many reporters were there because they recognized Matthew as Britney's former rumored boyfriend.
Inevitably, the inquiries veered towards gossip.
"Mr. Horner!" a reporter from a well-known tabloid called out loudly, "Do you know Britney Spears? Is it more than just a simple acquaintance?"
Matthew glanced at the middle-aged assistant, who subtly shook his head. "Sorry, I won't answer questions unrelated to the series," Matthew responded promptly.
A crew member quickly directed a question from a briefed reporter back to the topic of "Band of Brothers."
The interview lasted over half an hour. Toward the end, at the journalists' request, Matthew posed in several stoic military stances, allowing them ample opportunity to photograph his rugged features and imposing stature—a perfect portrayal of a formidable soldier.
"Look at how well the crew selects actors..." a reporter murmured, "He was born to be a soldier."
"Exactly, it'd be a shame if he didn't join the military," another agreed.
Matthew kept his expression unchanged, but internally, he scoffed at the notion a hundred times over: Join the military? Serve as cannon fodder for the U.S.? No way!
With the interview successfully concluded and the reporters dispersing, Matthew breathed a sigh of relief. The assistant stepped forward, whispering, "Well done!"
Matthew smiled back, knowing well the effort required to handle such a press crowd.
"Let's go," the assistant suggested, recognizing that he hadn't needed to intervene. Matthew had handled everything perfectly.
The four actors regrouped for a final photo session before concluding the media event.
Afterward, Matthew returned to filming. While Ronald Spiers had limited scenes, most of Matthew's time on set involved acting as an extra. Nonetheless, he remained diligent. For someone just a year into his career, every moment on camera was precious experience.
During his time with the "Band of Brothers" crew, Matthew marked his first anniversary in the industry. Over the year, he had transformed from a newcomer struggling with basic living expenses to a successful character actor in Hollywood.
He considered his progress successful; at least he was moving upward, not down.
Of course, he was still far from his goal of becoming a Hollywood star.
Matthew's filming at Hatfield Airport continued until April, wrapping up all of Ronald Spiers' scenes by late April, preparing for his return to North America.
Leaving the crew, unless unforeseen circumstances arose, he wouldn't be coming back. Moreover, he was set to attend the premiere and red carpet event for "Gladiator."
Helen Herman had secured this opportunity, and Matthew certainly wouldn't waste it. He was eager to experience his first red carpet event.
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