Chapter 279: The Flying High Heel

"When was the last time we met? A few years ago?"

The bar was quiet, with few customers besides Matthew's group. Dwayne Johnson, his muscles prominent, looked at Matthew and asked, "Was it two or three years ago?"

Matthew lifted his glass, gestured to Dwayne, and then to Diane Kruger, Justin Basa, and Johnny Wart, toasting with everyone before responding, "I can't remember the exact year, Dwayne. I only remember that it was for the auditions of 'The Mummy Returns.'"

Dwayne pursed his lips and nodded, saying, "You passed the audition, and I got eliminated."

Matthew chuckled, "So we were rivals even back then, huh?"

Dwayne laughed heartily.

In fact, when Matthew first saw Dwayne in the crew, he tested him. Dwayne was unaware of the behind-the-scenes happenings during those auditions and always thought he was eliminated because of his acting skills.

Over the past few years, Dwayne had appeared in several films and, with his reputation from the wrestling world, had gained some fame in Hollywood.

Dwayne didn't dwell much on the past auditions, clinking glasses with Matthew and boldly saying, "If I had won the audition back then, maybe our roles would be reversed now."

Matthew nodded, "That's possible."

He couldn't recall Dwayne's initial days in Hollywood, but he knew that Dwayne had climbed to the top ranks, and his disaster movie also showed his ability to carry a film's box office.

Of course, Alexandra Daddario's performance in the film also played a significant role.

As the host, Matthew couldn't just talk to Dwayne; he conversed with Justin Basa too. Justin was the most promising talent from Angel Management Agency, apart from Matthew, with a good chance of becoming a third-tier star.

Justin Basa was sophisticated and played the protagonist's assistant in the film. Having worked together for so long, Matthew had a good impression of him. Justin was straightforward and hadn't caused any trouble due to the agency's resource allocation issues.

"Johnny..." Matthew raised his glass and clinked it with Johnny Wart, saying, "Cheers, Johnny."

Johnny, perhaps because of the age difference, spoke very little.

Matthew continued, "Johnny, I've known Julie for a long time."

Hearing his troublesome daughter's name, Johnny's expression seemed to darken, casting a suspicious glance at Matthew as if thinking Julie was involved with Matthew.

"Johnny, don't misunderstand," Matthew noticed Johnny's expression change and quickly added, "Julie helped me a lot to break into Hollywood. She introduced me to my first role."

"I see," Johnny nodded.

Matthew then chatted with Diane Kruger, the German actress who had starred in "Troy" the previous year as Helen, the beauty who sparked the Trojan War. The film was set to release during this summer's blockbuster season.

"Troy" was scheduled for the second weekend of the summer blockbuster season, just one week after "Van Helsing."

Matthew had seen the film and remembered Brad Pitt was the lead actor. After a conversation with Orlando Bloom, who had mentioned his significant role as a prince in the movie, it was clear that Bloom, featured as both the absolute protagonist and an important supporting actor in the first two big releases of the summer, would be the envy of many.

Unfortunately...

Matthew shook his head, finding it strange how some actors landed minor productions that unexpectedly became blockbusters, propelling them to fame, while others with abundant top-tier resources ended up declining.

The group didn't stay long at the bar since their relationships weren't particularly close and they had work the next day, so they soon returned to their rooms.

The crew's filming continued in Washington, but plans could change at any moment since many locations were popular tourist spots. If the number of visitors was too high, the crew would adjust the filming schedule accordingly.

A worn-out van was parked on the lawn, and Matthew, Justin Basa, and Diane Kruger, all made up, gathered behind the van where the crew was ready, and director Joe Tedduba came to discuss the scene.

"Diane!" he addressed Diane Kruger first, "You'll take the Declaration of Independence from Matthew, notice his lack of attention, and then slip off your high heels to run away."

"Okay," Diane looked at the lawn, now nicely softened by the crew, "No problem."

Joe Tedduba then turned to Justin Basa, "You'll sit in the van and talk to Matthew."

"Understood," Justin, aware his role was just the protagonist's sidekick, responded.

Finally, Joe Tedduba instructed Matthew, "Diane runs away, she's already a good distance off, you pick up her dropped high heel and throw it at her!"

Matthew nodded, "Alright."

Joe Tedduba checked with Diane, "The shoes are on right?"

"Yes," Diane smiled, "These special shoes are quite uncomfortable."

"Hang in there for a bit," Joe Tedduba said before leaving the set.

Matthew glanced at Diane's high heels, specially made by the props department from leather, intended for him to throw at the fleeing female lead in this scene.

The shooting started promptly.

"I'm telling you! Listen!" Matthew approached Diane, who was sitting on the ground, holding the cylinder containing the Declaration of Independence, "I'm letting you hold onto your Declaration of Independence!"

He handed her the cylinder, bending down seriously, "Promise me no more nonsense, thank you!"

Diane hugged the cylinder, looking up sneakily at Matthew.

Matthew paced back and forth, discussing with Justin at the front of the van how to handle the Declaration of Independence.

His somewhat neurotic demeanor, combined with a determined face, looked odd but Director Joe Tedduba had previously mentioned that he liked this feel.

Having starred in several films and consistently practiced since 1999, Matthew's acting skills, though not outstanding, had become increasingly adequate for commercial entertainment movies, especially those roles somewhat akin to his own traits.

The script of this film had been revised one last time, mainly to modify the protagonist's role and add more action scenes, ensuring they matched his persona and appearance.

For instance, in this scene, the original script had the female lead attempting to escape but being physically stopped by the protagonist.

In the revised script, to showcase the protagonist's skills and add a touch of humor, it changed to the protagonist picking up the female lead's dropped high heel and throwing it to knock her down.

As Matthew and Justin discussed according to the script, Diane, under the cover of her long skirt, quietly slipped off her high heels. Seizing the moment Matthew moved further away, she grabbed the cylinder containing the Declaration of Independence and sprang up from the lawn, running with long strides.

"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Matthew turned around and shouted, "That won't do! Stop right there!"

Diane showed no sign of stopping, quickly running five or six meters away.

Matthew didn't waste more words. Just as he was about to chase her, he saw the high heel Diane had dropped, picked it up, and threw it at her.

Whether by Matthew's luck or Diane's misfortune, the flying high heel hit her squarely on the head.

"Ow—"

Diane screamed in pain, collapsing onto the grass.

"Cut!" Director Joe Tedduba called a halt to the shooting

, loudly announcing, "That take is good! We'll cancel the next two close-up shots!"

Then, he shouted, "Doctor! Doctor!"

Matthew, unconcerned with the rest of the crew, rushed over to check on Diane, who hadn't gotten up yet. Originally, this shot was supposed to end with him throwing the high heel, followed by two close-ups: one of his throwing action and another showing the shoe hitting Diane—a less impactful hit than what had just occurred.

Unexpectedly, he had accidentally hit Diane on the head.

Though the high heel was specially made and couldn't cause serious injury, Matthew hurried over, full of apologies, asking, "Diane, are you okay?"

Diane, rubbing the back of her head, turned and said, "I'm fine, just fell over. Luckily, the grass is soft."

As she tried to get up, Matthew quickly helped her up, asking, "Do you need to see a doctor?"

Diane shook her head, "I'm fine." She brushed grass off her clothes, slightly annoyed, "Wasn't it just a casual throw? How did it hit me?"

"I don't know," Matthew replied apologetically, "I just threw it without aiming..."

He didn't attempt further excuses, earnestly adding, "I'm really sorry, Diane."

Seeing Matthew's sincere apology and realizing it was an accident, Diane responded, "It's okay now."

Matthew awkwardly smiled, "I caused you to fall; how about this, when you have time, I'll treat you to dinner as a formal apology."

Before entering the film industry, Diane was a model and immediately became wary, politely declining, "It's okay, I'm really fine."

She pointed to her outfit, "I need to go remove my makeup."

As Diane left, Matthew didn't linger and headed towards his makeup trailer.

With this scene wrapped up, his filming in Washington was complete. Tomorrow, he would head back to Los Angeles to attend the upcoming Oscars ceremony and participate in the promotional hype planned by Helen Herman and Sean Daniel.

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