From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

“Ah… a disaster, a complete disaster…”

Chris slightly raised his head, trying to find Anson’s figure, but failed. He twisted and turned like an "Alien" about to burst out of someone’s chest. With great difficulty, he flipped over and lay on the ground, then wriggled forward like a caterpillar, grunting and groaning as he came to the living room, flipping and rolling.

With a *glug glug* sound, Chris plunged headfirst into the ochre sofa, burying his face as if trying to suffocate himself.

Honestly, Anson felt a bit of novelty—

The original owner of this body wouldn’t have felt anything special, which was normal, but he was a soul that had returned from 2023. Comparing the heroic image of Captain America in his mind with this caterpillar that hadn't yet emerged from its cocoon, the visual and mental impact was even more shocking than the audition just now.

After all, David Klein and Darren Star were both behind-the-scenes figures. Their names were well-known, but their faces were unfamiliar.

The year 2000 was more interesting than he had imagined—

The future Captain America was still an unknown nobody, not even having started his acting career.

Because of encouragement from his high school drama teacher, and with the full support of his parents, Chris chose to drop out of high school and go to New York to pursue his dream.

While completing acting courses at a drama school, he also took a friend's advice and interned at a casting company, and began attending auditions.

However, almost two years had passed, and Chris still hadn't gotten any acting opportunities. So he packed his bags and came to Los Angeles to seek his fortune.

In two months, Chris would be nineteen years old. His acting career was still a vague fantasy. It was inevitable that a teenager would feel frustrated, exuding an aura of hopelessness, yet still carrying the *chuunibyou* spirit of adolescence, which was amusing.

Anson's lips curled up slightly. “If you want to suffocate to death, you might need to try a little harder.”

Chris brought his hands together at his side and used his core strength to lift his head, but immediately slammed heavily back into the cotton batting of the sofa.

Ah!

The spring hit his face, and Chris let out a muffled groan. “What about your audition?”

Anson thought seriously about how he should answer—

That the result was already determined before the audition even started, with a 100% chance of success?

That the audition itself was currently unknowable, but the shell had been replaced with a different core?

Chris didn't hear an answer and assumed that Anson's audition hadn't gone well either. He reluctantly raised his head and sighed, “Was it Laura or Natalie who interviewed you?”

Auditions for TV series and movies are divided into two types: one is handled by the production company, and the other is handled by a professional audition company. The latter is more common.

So, despite the different works being auditioned for, actors often see the same interviewers, who become familiar faces over time.

Of course, this is just the basic situation. There are other models, so it can't be generalized.

Chris didn't think much about it and let out a long breath. “Jesus Christ, that's great then. I sincerely hope you get some good news. Honestly, I really don’t want to see Laura or Natalie’s faces again. Are all the series auditions being outsourced to their company now?”

The gates of Hollywood were slowly opening before him. It was a mysterious world he had only heard about but never seen.

Anson was a little curious. “What TV series were you auditioning for?”

“CBS.” Chris tilted his head, like a dejected teddy bear. “But it mainly depends on the production company. The TV station generally doesn’t interfere with casting.”

Huff.

Letting out a long breath, Chris was like melting cream ice cream. “I won’t go to the play this afternoon. Tell James.”

“Play?” Anson hadn't fully gotten into character yet. Digesting eighteen years of memories in a short period of time wasn't an easy task.

Chris didn't notice Anson's strangeness, completely immersed in his own frustration. “James’ play, three o'clock this afternoon. Didn’t we say we’d go support him?”

James Franco, this was roommate number two.

Unlike Chris, James was a bohemian, arrogant young man. From high school to college, he had won countless opportunities and tried many different things. Finally, at the end of his freshman year, he defied his parents' wishes, dropped out of UCLA, and embarked on a career as a professional actor.

James, who would soon be twenty-two years old, had been working in Hollywood for several years. Last year, he co-starred in the NBC series "Freaks and Geeks" with Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, and others, opening up his career.

Many years later, "Freaks and Geeks" unexpectedly became popular, praised by countless people as a comedy that perfectly restored the memories of the 1980s; but when the series was broadcast, it was criticized for its chaotic broadcast schedule and scattered narrative, and was canceled by NBC after twelve episodes.

For James, this was a blow, but he didn't care.

On the one hand, he took on the role of the villain in the teen romance film "Whatever It Takes"; on the other hand, he and Seth Rogen were tinkering with an experimental play.

This afternoon, the play was about to premiere.

As roommates, they were naturally on the invitation list.

Anson glanced at Chris. “Are you sure?”

Chris: Snore snore.

Anson couldn't help but chuckle. “Chris, I'm very sorry that you had a bad day…”

Chris, “You don't sound sorry at all.”

—If you knew you'd be Captain America in the future, you wouldn't be sorry either.

But obviously, Anson wasn't going to spoil it. “You should think about it. James and Seth are cooking up a drama, their agents definitely won’t sit idly by.”

“Maybe they invited the media; maybe they invited producers, audition directors, other actors; maybe there will be opportunities there.”

Chris rolled his eyes, showing a plastic smile in response.

Anson was serious—

Moreover, even if nothing happened, the two weirdos, James and Seth, who would create countless sparks of inspiration in the future, were curious. What kind of work would they cook up, like "Pineapple Express"? Or like "This Is the End"?

“Chris, it’ll be fun.”

“No, it won’t. You’ll just see a bunch of sycophants gathered there, flattering each other.”

“That’s what’s fun.”

Anson's answer stunned Chris, and then he saw Anson say seriously, “Honestly, what other chance is there to see a bunch of glamorous bastards gathered together, pretending to be sincere and acting out Hollywood clichés, clearly dozing off the whole time but having to stand up and applaud, pretending to enjoy themselves? We can watch the show from the sidelines.”

Chris couldn't help but laugh. “Haha, Anson, you’ve turned bad.”

Anson shrugged lightly. “It’s about time.”

Chris continued to lie on the sofa, rolling and struggling repeatedly—

Bang.

He lost control of his balance and flipped over.

But Chris did a carp jump and stood up, then jumped three feet high, looking calm, pretending nothing had happened.

“What do you think we should wear?”

“Bikini.”

“…… Screw you.”

Dear readers, the new entertainment author begs for collections! The new book period is getting more and more difficult, the competition is fierce, everyone must not raise books, because the current recommendation positions are directly linked to the number of readers, so, raising too much is easy to raise dead! Qi Mao thanks you here!