HWI 18

Hollywood What If Chapter 18

Ed Helms. The man in front of him was a known comedian, his face was recognizable. 

However, right now, Ed Helms was still a young actor and he didn't have much experience. He looked nervous and moving awkwardly... Which complimented the role of Napoleon. 

Kazir slightly grinned. But before that, Kazir called their makeup artist Jane. 

"Jane, can you make his hair curly and bob." 

"Give me a few minutes, I'll adjust his appearance."

Ed Helms was confused. But he agreed to the woman to touch his hair. Since the director was interested to see his appearance in curly hair, Ed Helms understood that he passed the first level of the audition. 

When Kazir and Renner saw Ed Helms's appearance, he looked exactly like what Kazir had written down. 

But there was something missing. 

"Wear these glasses."

Ed Helms with glasses, curly bob hair... Immaculate. This is Napoleon Dynamite. 

As for the acting, Kazir didn't need any great acting. In fact, the whole time he watched Napoleon Dynamite in his past life, he could easily discern that the actors were amateurs. They could not act at all. That was the exact thing that Kazir need. 

"I only need one thing, Ed, just say 'idiot' like you're eating your words."

"Please give me a few seconds Director."

"Hm." Kazir nodded. 

"Idiot!"

"Then say it with anger this time, but you still have to eat your words."

"Idiot!"

"Say freaking idiot."

"Freaking idiot!"

Ed Helms was sweating. He felt like the director was making fun of him. There was no proper script at all, he just keep saying idiot. Why?

'Napoleon said 'idiot' more than five times in the whole movie.'

Kazir was satisfied with Ed's audition. As for his acting ability, Kazir needed an amateur actor. 

"Ed, before we end this audition. I want to tell you something. You do understand that this movie has a small budget and we can't give you a big salary."

"Yes, I understand it very well."

Ed Helms became nervous. Seeing the way the director talks, he could understand that his chances of getting the role of the protagonist were high. At least, the director looked interested to cast him.

"I will accept any amount, as long as I can get the male lead's role." He was serious. Dead serious. 

It was already a blessing for a small actor like him to have the role of the male lead, of course Ed Helms have to take it. 

"That's good to hear. Do you have an agent then?"

"Yes, director. I signed a contract with William Morris."

Hearing that certain talent agency, Kazir recalled something, but he didn't care much. 

"Can you dance?"

"A little bit..." Ed Helms tilted his head. 

"Contact your agent, but make sure to tell him that I will never accept a big salary."

"Yes! I will, Director!"

Ed Helms happily excited the audition room and immediately contacted his agent. 

"Are you sure you want to hire him? We still haven't seen the other actors?" Renner asked Kazir after Ed Helms left. 

"Don't worry. He fits the role."

As a person from the future, Kazir knew that Ed Helms had taken many roles in comedy movies. That fact alone showed that Ed Helms had talent in this regard. 

'I rather choose an amateur comedian than an unknown actor. At least, I know that Ed Helms has a bright future.'

They kept accepting actors and actresses to fill the roles. In the end, it took three days to finalize the roles. 

Ed Helms and his agent negotiated and Ed Helms signed a salary of 15 thousand dollars. As for the other actors, they receive a smaller amount as well. Of course, the crew would answer all of their needs such as food and hotel reservations.

"Find a cheap hotel in Idaho. You know that we can't overspend, this is the money from the investor."

To be precise, his brother. 

"Don't worry, I will contact the hotels," Renner assured him. 

Kazir and his team, together with the actors, flew to Idaho to start the shooting. His crew only had 20 people, five were interns who were finding their way in Hollywood. He was actually happy that he had free manpower.

Because the budget was from his brother, Kazir was spending it seriously. 

The place of Idaho...

Kazir and the others didn't have the time to appreciate the local scenery. After they checked in at the hotel, Kazir immediately prepared the cameras and films. 

"This is our opening credits? We will write their names on food?"

Renner and Harold asked him just to be sure. 

"That's right, we can end the day once we're done. While the actors are adjusting, we will film it."

Unfortunately, because Ed Helms was the protagonist, he didn't have the time to rest. The one who would put the food on the table was him, his hands to be exact.

Harold was in charge of props, so we started preparing and writing names on the dishes. 

Sandwich, Napoleon put it on the table, check. 

Quesadilla with words written by mustard, check.

Steak, and so on. 

These opening credits were memorable, because of course, they were food, not subtle subtitles, unlike the usual movies. 

Fortunately for Ed Helms, he didn't need to act for the first day. All he did was put food on the table while the camera was recording from a high-angle shot, where the camera was looking down at the subject. 

"Cut! Next dish!"

Except for preparing the dishes and writing words on them, the process of shooting was fast. At least on their first day, they had already taken three minutes' worth of shots. These three minutes took the first part of the movie, the opening credits.