Downcast Director

The Amsterdam streets, just after a rain shower, were filled with a damp smell. The heavy heat made the air thick and sticky, while the restless unease made people want to do something but lacked the energy to do so. The Victorian-style buildings on both sides of the street exuded an old-fashioned charm, with moss, rust, and red bricks. The lingering dampness between the brick walls seemed to cross the Atlantic, bringing a touch of Manhattan's flavor into London's Knight Street.

In the Hello New York Youth Hostel near the intersection of 103rd Avenue, travelers from all over the world, disrupted by the sudden downpour, lingered in the lobby on the ground floor, looking for like-minded companions. A group of young people sat in the corner sofas, chatting and laughing, while a few artistic youths shared the books they were currently reading at the long table by the window. Three people stood seriously discussing how to repair the coffee machine and brew aromatic coffee again.

Rodrigo Cortés slumped in a red recliner, holding a copy of "Social Animals" in his hand, but he hadn't turned a page in nearly ten minutes, clearly lost in thought.

This time, he came to the United States specifically to find suitable actors for "Buried." He and the screenwriter, Chris Sparling, both knew how crucial a talented actor was for the project.

His first target was Ryan Reynolds. After watching Ryan's performance in "The Nines," where he played three roles, Rodrigo greatly admired Ryan's natural yet profound acting. If Ryan could star in "Buried," he believed they could produce an outstanding work.

However, he also knew that Ryan was now considered a second-tier actor in Hollywood. His performances in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" and "The Proposal" last year had garnered him considerable popularity, and his career was on the rise. Inviting Ryan to star in an independent film produced by an unknown company, with an unknown director and screenwriter, was almost wishful thinking.

So, on the one hand, he solemnly wrote an invitation letter and sent it to Ryan's agent through the actors' union channels, then waited for a response. On the other hand, he posted a notice at the actors' union seeking other suitable actors.

Two weeks had passed, but he still had no results. There was still no word from Ryan; although many actors had come for auditions, there were thirteen in total, their performances were mediocre, far from his expectations. Some auditions were so embarrassing that he couldn't bear to watch.

Although Rodrigo knew that "Buried" was not a very attractive project, such results were still disappointing.

New York was an expensive city. Even though he lived in a youth hostel, two weeks had consumed most of his budget. At this rate, he could only wait in New Jersey. As a director with little experience and few credits, his options were limited. However, New Jersey was inconvenient, with over ninety minutes of travel time to the city each time, and the resources were also lacking.

At this rate, the start date of "Buried" was likely to be indefinitely postponed.

"Hey, buddy, why the long face?" A playful voice interrupted Rodrigo's thoughts. He looked up and saw a black man with dreadlocks, wearing a colorful short-sleeved T-shirt, smiling brightly, and coming over to fist bump Rodrigo. "What's up? Project not going well?"

Rodrigo shrugged, forcing a bitter smile. "Hollywood is tougher than I imagined." He had been staying here for two weeks, with little progress on the project, but he had made some friends. The man in front of him was named Charles, an Italian who was traveling the world as part of his global journey, currently stopping in New York.

"You should try Broadway," Charles said with exaggerated expression, his vivid gestures making Rodrigo smile involuntarily. "Take it easy, take it easy. Life is tough, but who knows if what awaits us is an uphill or downhill battle, so don't think it's the end of the world."

The cheerful and relaxed words, coupled with lively gestures, brought out Rodrigo's inherent Spanish enthusiasm and freedom. He mimicked Charlie Chaplin's classic penguin pose, shoulders high, elbows on the waist, hands spread out, head tilted, and spoke in a deep voice, "We must learn to let go."

Both men burst into laughter. At that moment, a voice came from behind the counter, "Rodrigo? Rodrigo? Another auditioner is here." Hearing this, Rodrigo and Charles both turned their heads to see a smiling man.

He wore a white undershirt, layered with a dark blue plaid shirt. Below, he had black jeans paired with ginger-colored high-top boots. The sleeves of his shirt were roughly rolled up to his wrists, and his golden-brown short curls hung casually. The corners of his mouth gently turned upward, outlining a rebellious arc, as if beneath his gentlemanly exterior, there was a raw and rugged masculinity that could burst forth at any moment. 

Just a glance, and Rodrigo couldn't even take the time to carefully examine the man's features and face. That unique aura came rushing in, making him involuntarily think of Marlon Brando's toughness in "On the Waterfront," with a touch of Montgomery Clift's elegance from "A Place in the Sun."

He was Paul Conroy, the male lead of "Buried."

He seemed to have walked straight out of the script. His demeanor and posture perfectly matched every requirement Rodrigo had for the character, astonishingly so! Rodrigo could feel his heart starting to beat frantically. Two weeks of waiting had finally brought him a glimmer of hope. The urgency and anxiety blossomed like fireworks, and the blood in his body rushed towards his heart.

"You... you're that rich kid!" Charles' astonished voice pulled Rodrigo back to reality. He looked at Charles with confusion, but saw Charles extend his hands enthusiastically, giving the man in front of him a big hug. "I mean, 'The Pacific,' that... what's his name?"

Charles firmly held the man's hands, wracking his brains to remember. The man didn't seem in a hurry, just smiling and standing there, not interrupting Charles' thoughts. "Hammer! Yes, Eugene 'Hammer' Sledge!" Charles finally recalled, bursting into laughter.

"I guess I can put my gun away," the man's response made Charles laugh even more joyously, but Rodrigo wore a puzzled expression. The man seemed to notice Rodrigo's gaze, released Charles' right hand, and took the initiative to introduce himself, "Good afternoon, I'm Renly Hall. You must be Mr. Rodrigo Cortés, right? Nice to meet you."

Rodrigo shook the man's right hand, but couldn't help but scrutinize him. He felt disappointed, very disappointed.

Because Renly was too young, really too young, he looked barely in his early twenties, like a fresh-faced college student. This was far from the character setting of Paul in "Buried Alive"—Paul should be a middle-aged man in his thirties, with a family, two children, and facing more struggles in life.

The glimpse just now was just an illusion, caused by various factors such as lighting, angle, and distance. Rodrigo could barely conceal his disappointment. He had thought that the long wait had finally paid off, and even if it wasn't Ryan, it was still an actor with potential. But it seemed that his expectations were too high.

"Yes, I'm Rodrigo," he said, trying to hide his inner disappointment, but his tone unavoidably dropped, the change in attitude was too obvious, even Rodrigo himself felt it was somewhat inappropriate, so he quickly turned to Charles, changing the subject, "What's going on? Do you know him?"

"This is Eugene 'Hammer' Sledge! Recently, in 'The Pacific,' he practically carried the whole show by himself. Let me tell you, his performance was truly! outstanding!" Charles's exaggerated words attracted the attention of many around them, but Charles didn't care at all, still speaking earnestly, "Believe me, this is an actor who can bring surprises! Believe me, you'll be glad to have him in your movie project."

Rodrigo understood. The news about "The Pacific" had dominated important sections of the news pages in recent times. He wasn't someone who turned a blind eye to the world, so naturally, he wouldn't have missed it. However, he didn't have much interest in war themes, nor was he interested in Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, or "Band of Brothers." So he hadn't watched "The Pacific" and naturally didn't recognize the characters inside.

As for Charles's praise, Rodrigo reserved judgment. A young guy who looked barely twenty? A genius actor wasn't something you could find everywhere. Moreover, if this guy was really that good, shouldn't he be gaining momentum after "The Pacific," with a flood of invitations? How could he choose a project like "Buried," a no-name, no-background, no-reputation production, even more absurd than getting a nod from Ryan to accept the invitation? 

In the blink of an eye, Rodrigo had made a judgment in his heart. He gave a polite smile. "It seems today is my lucky day."