Chapter 11: Bullying

Winona Ryder recognized him with just one glance—it was the same man she had seen in the office corridor at noon. Remembering her assistant's words, she turned to look at Angelina Jolie, who was also looking back at her with undisguised disdain. The sharp glances collided, instantly sparking fireworks.

"Slut!"

Both Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie had the same thought.

Matthew stood opposite Winona Ryder, witnessing the entire scene and hearing the verbal conflict between the two stars. He guessed that the discord between them might only intensify.

Suddenly, he noticed Winona Ryder's gaze returning to him, and he had a bad feeling about it.

Winona first looked at Matthew, then at Angelina Jolie again, suspecting something. Rumors had been circulating that Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp were heading for divorce—could there be a third party involved? This third party…

Her eyes shifted back to Matthew. Given Angelina Jolie's promiscuous reputation, it seemed highly likely.

"James!" Winona Ryder suddenly turned her head back. James Mangold, who was discussing with the photographer, looked up immediately. "What's up?"

Winona Ryder nodded slightly and walked over to him, pointing at Matthew, "Change that actor."

Although directors generally hold significant power on set, James Mangold was well aware that Winona Ryder, the producer, had much more authority than he did, and he, as the director, couldn't even involve himself in post-production, effectively serving just as a shoot coordinator.

"This…" James Mangold hesitated for a moment, considering the scene was already set.

Matthew looked over, hearing enough of their conversation from his position.

He then glanced at his agent, Dennis Kurt, who was on his first shoot and unsure of what to do next. Was he about to be squeezed out just like that?

Dennis Kurt stood on the outskirts of the set, also catching the conversation. He quickly stepped back, hiding behind a utility worker.

Clearly, Winona Ryder had an issue with that fool, and he didn't want to get dragged into it.

He had learned that apart from the rarely-present producer, Georgia Kennedy, the most powerful person in the "Soul Transfer Maiden" crew was Winona Ryder.

Engage with Winona Ryder over a trivial extra? He wasn't that foolish.

Dennis Kurt ignored Matthew's pleading look, contemplating whether to pull out early. As for Matthew, he might as well fend for himself.

Seeing Dennis Kurt hiding out of sight, Matthew knew he couldn't rely on him and immediately shifted his gaze to Angelina Jolie. Given the situation at noon, and the ongoing discord between her and Winona Ryder, could she possibly speak up for him?

Angelina Jolie sat on a long sofa, turning her head towards Winona Ryder. Like most actors, her emotions were plainly visible on her face, her displeasure almost written there.

Although unsure why Winona Ryder suddenly made such a demand, she faintly felt it was aimed at her.

She even noticed the desperate looks from the young driver.

However, Angelina Jolie decided not to intervene. She indeed had a significant disagreement with Winona Ryder, but to cause another scene over a minor extra was simply not worth it.

She had given him a chance, fulfilling the verbal agreement. Any mishap now was just bad luck.

"I'm the lead actress!"

Winona Ryder spoke confidently as the most powerful person on set, and to avoid leaving a bad impression of being unreasonable, she pointed at Matthew with a strong excuse, "Putting such a handsome caregiver behind me will divert the audience's attention from me!"

This was a legitimate prerogative of the leading actress, valid anywhere.

"You, come here!" James Mangold immediately waved at Matthew, directing him, "Don't participate in this scene."

Reluctantly, Matthew had no choice but to exit the shooting area.

Winona Ryder spoke a few more words with James Mangold, then entered the set, deliberately giving Angelina Jolie a look. The latter's face looked upset.

As preparations continued on set, Matthew shifted from a participant to an observer. He spotted Dennis Kurt's corpulent figure and approached him.

"What now?" He stood by Dennis Kurt.

Dennis Kurt quickly moved a couple of steps to the side as if Matthew was infected with a contagious disease.

"I have urgent matters to handle in another crew." He glanced at his watch. "It's about time, I'll go ahead. You wait here till the end of the day to see if the crew has other arrangements."

Matthew didn't even get a chance to reply before Dennis Kurt turned and quickly walked away.

The crew began filming in silence, and Matthew stood alone at the periphery, the crew seemingly distancing themselves from him, with no one informing him of what to do next.

"Is this Hollywood?"

Matthew chuckled to himself. No wonder many said the entertainment industry was the most hierarchical. He was experiencing

 it firsthand!

In someone else's shoes, they might just leave, but Matthew, having endured hardships since childhood, could compromise for survival but wouldn't easily give up!

Though no one explicitly told him to stay on set or asked him to leave, everyone seemed to have forgotten this insignificant extra.

So, Matthew decided not to leave voluntarily, standing at the outskirts, observing the filming, his eyes often on Winona Ryder, pondering how to create opportunities for himself.

Just as he finally found an opportunity, he wasn't ready to leave dejectedly.

Filming continued intermittently, with the director frequently calling cuts. Winona Ryder indeed wielded considerable power on set, Matthew often saw her consulting with the director. In contrast, Angelina Jolie simply followed the director's commands.

The disparity in their status within the crew was clear.

During filming, however, it was reversed—Winona Ryder's performance was mediocre, while Angelina Jolie displayed explosive talent. Matthew, being a layman, couldn't judge acting skills, but with Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie acting together, although the former suited his aesthetic more, his eyes involuntarily followed Angelina Jolie.

Matthew thought this might indicate some issues, especially Angelina Jolie's claims about Winona Ryder wanting to cut her scenes.

After a while, he wondered why Winona Ryder, with such power on set, chose Angelina Jolie as the secondary lead.

But after thinking, he realized—Dennis Kurt, the opportunist, had mentioned that the production company, Sony Columbia Pictures, along with another producer, likely chose Angelina Jolie.

The afternoon swiftly passed, and except for bathroom breaks, Matthew stood waiting alone, unnoticed by the crew until they were almost ready to wrap up.

"Cut!" Director James Mangold called a stop to the day's final shot. "This take is good!"

He then gathered the main actors for a brief meeting to set the tasks for the next day. The rest of the crew began packing up, preparing to leave.

"What!"

At that moment, Angelina Jolie's angry voice filled the studio, "My two scenes tomorrow are canceled? Why?"

James Mangold explained, "It's necessary for the overall movie…"

Angelina Jolie didn't listen to him, turning to Winona Ryder, "You dare cut my scenes!"

Winona Ryder's response was calm, "It's a normal adjustment in filming."

Everyone in the crew looked their way, but without surprise—it seemed such incidents weren't rare.

Matthew watched, his mind racing.

"I'll call Georgia Kennedy!" Angelina Jolie, now powerless against Winona Ryder, threatened to report to Sony Columbia. "I'll tell them about the situation in the crew!"

Winona Ryder, confident in her actions, responded indifferently, "Go ahead, call anyone you like."

She turned to James Mangold, "Proceed with the new plan tomorrow."

Angelina Jolie looked ready to explode but had no outlet for her anger. Winona Ryder was clearly bullying her, yet she couldn't think of a countermeasure.

"Let's go!" Angelina Jolie called her assistant and strode towards the makeup room.

Matthew stood still, watching Winona Ryder and the departing Angelina Jolie, indecisive. He believed what he had seen and felt he could fight for another chance. He wasn't delusional about securing a significant role, but a minor speaking part might be possible.

Should he approach Angelina Jolie or go directly to Winona Ryder? Unsure of which choice to make.

While there were downsides to either decision, being at the very bottom of Hollywood's hierarchy and society at large, he had nothing to lose and no capital to work with. Without unconventional methods, he might face a long wait.

His experiences in the crew today only underscored how rare opportunities were.

Who to choose? After two minutes of consideration, Matthew made his decision.

In his limited memories of Hollywood, Angelina Jolie was renowned in the future, while his only impression of Winona Ryder was as Captain Jack's ex-girlfriend, not even knowing what she looked like…

"It seems I have to become an opportunist too."

With a sigh, Matthew walked towards the direction Angelina Jolie had left.