He didn't give a long-winded speech; he knew that the people present understood the character better than he did. He simply provided a brief summary:
"Deep inside each of us lives a 'Charles.' He carries our desires, our fears, and our unaccepted selves.
In the story of 'A Beautiful Mind,' within Nash's mind, this internal character of Charles is given a face and a name. Ultimately, Nash learns to coexist with him rather than eliminate him, which is the key step in his journey toward a truly 'Beautiful Mind.'
At the same time, Charles's existence ensures that schizophrenia is no longer just a cold medical term; he allows the patient to become someone who can be perceived and even pitied."
After speaking, Landon took a thick notebook out of his backpack. He handed the notebook, which he had worked on for the past week, to Ron Howard with both hands.
"This is the Character Biography I've created; it represents the effort I've put into this role."
Ron Howard took it and flipped through it along with the four judges.
In addition to a detailed Character Biography, the notebook was filled with dense annotations:
A soul woven from desire, yet understanding Nash better than any real person... He is the indulgence Nash dares not have, the humor he cannot express, the rogue deep within his heart who can never graduate... A perfect narrative deception, a gentle trap into which the audience and Nash fall together... Beyond that, there were psychological motivation analyses for the character in every scene, a mapping of character relationships, and even delicate designs for expressions and movements.
Even more surprising was that it also included several Storyboard Sketches!
The five people slowly flipped through the notebook, the surprise in their eyes gradually transforming into admiration.
Talent is certainly important, but such a rigorous professional attitude and thorough preparation are equally precious in Hollywood.
Finally, Junie Lowry said to Landon with a smile, "Landon, please go back and wait for notification. We will contact your Agent within three days."
Landon bowed politely and then pushed the door open to leave. This audition, originally scheduled for half an hour, had ultimately lasted an hour and ten minutes.
Just as Landon closed the door, the actors who had not yet auditioned—including Paul Bettany—all turned their gazes toward him.
Those looks were a mix of nervousness, scrutiny, and ill-concealed pressure.
In stark contrast to their gloomy expressions was Tracy, who immediately came forward to meet him.
Her face held an irrepressible look of ecstasy—she knew the rules of this circle all too well. An interview time that far exceeded the plan usually meant only one thing: the production team was extremely interested in you!
Tracy didn't ask much; she just gave Landon's arm a firm squeeze and said in a low voice, "Let's go."
The two quickly departed, and Landon got into Tracy's car.
It wasn't until the engine started and they drove away from the studio that Tracy asked impatiently, "How was it? Tell me everything!"
Landon recounted the detailed process of the interview, including the directors' reactions, the additional scenes he performed, and the final moment when he presented his notebook.
The more Tracy listened, the brighter her eyes became. Finally, she let out a long sigh of relief, a brilliant smile blooming on her face as she slapped the steering wheel hard.
"That's great! Landon! Don't worry! As long as there's no problem with your performance, you'll definitely be chosen!" Tracy was very confident and didn't offer much explanation. She paused and added,
"There's a magazine interior shoot tomorrow; I'll send the details to your phone later. At that time, I'll have Zoe go with you. From now on, Zoe will be both your Makeup Artist and your temporary assistant. I'll drop you off first; remember to get some good rest."
Sitting in the passenger seat, Landon looked at Tracy, who was dressed in an Office Lady suit that perfectly showcased her curvaceous and exquisite figure, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of heat.
He couldn't help but think back to some questions he had during the audition, but Landon didn't want to ask Tracy directly.
Everyone has their secrets; he believed Tracy wouldn't harm him, and she would eventually be honest with him one day.
About half an hour later, the car arrived downstairs at Landon's apartment.
Landon unbuckled his seatbelt and was about to get out, wanting to leave the enchantress-like Tracy as quickly as possible, but he didn't expect her to suddenly lean over.
"Don't move, your collar is a bit crooked." Her voice trembled slightly as her fingers helped him straighten his shirt collar.
However, just like that time on the apartment sofa, Tracy suddenly leaned in and captured his lips again.
But this time, Landon wasn't caught off guard again. When Tracy was helping him with his collar, he had already been anticipating it.
Thus, the moment Tracy's red lips pressed against his, he paused for only a split second before responding quickly.
He cupped the back of Tracy's neck with his palm, and the two of them kissed passionately.
As their lips and teeth touched, Tracy's body gradually softened, shifting from passive acceptance to a quiet response.
In the already cramped space of the car cabin, the heat slowly intensified.
Their rapid breaths intertwined, blurring the boundaries between them, as an indescribable atmosphere spread through the air.
Landon's hands were no longer satisfied; his fingertips slowly slid down her shoulders, moving downward and then forward, arriving between the peaks and valleys, slowly feeling the fullness in his palms.
The two of them didn't know how much time had passed, but they finally separated slowly as their breathing became labored.
At this moment, Landon was still playing with that infinite beauty.
Tracy's cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were veiled in a soft light. As she looked at his palm, her gaze held surprise, mock-reproach, and even more so, an inexhaustible and indescribable love.
Landon's breathing hadn't settled yet; looking at the haze in Tracy's eyes and feeling the delicate touch of that infinite beauty with his fingertips, a silent tremor spread through his heart.
However, in the end, both of them used immense self-restraint to suppress the situation that was about to spiral out of control.
This battle between Agent and artist had not yet reached the moment to decide a victor.
"Go... go back," Tracy said hoarsely, with a hint of breathlessness, as she swatted away his playful hand and turned her face away to straighten her messy collar and hair.
Landon took a deep breath and even sniffed his palm, earning himself a sharp pinch on the waist from Tracy. He suppressed the agitation in his body and pushed the car door open to get out.
Standing by the roadside, he looked at the woman inside the car with her flushed face and flowing eyes, and a sense of loss rose in his heart.
In the driver's seat, Tracy saw him standing outside the car looking somewhat "forlorn" and suddenly laughed again—a smile filled with the unique charm and a hint of triumph of a mature woman.
She gave him a goodbye gesture, her eyes seemingly saying, "Just you wait."
Then, Tracy started the car and slowly drove away.
Landon watched the red car merge into the traffic and eventually disappear at the end of his vision before slowly turning around and walking toward the apartment building with a sense of melancholy.