"Was it your new boyfriend that Loki took away?"
Standing on a platform decorated to look like a ship deck, Chris Evans had his hands in his pockets, looking down at the green screen below as if it were really an ocean. "I heard you two are pretty close?"
"Agent Barton?" Scarlett walked over from behind and stood beside him. "Love is child's play. I owe him a favor."
She turned and walked back as she spoke, "We should head inside. It'll be hard to breathe here soon."
Chris Evans glanced around at the green screen below and followed behind her, asking, "Is this a submarine?"
"Cut! That's a wrap!"
With Duke's voice echoing, the scene between Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans came to an end.
Starting the next day, the crew returned to Warner Studios in Burbank to shoot scenes involving Thor. Compared to the more substantial roles of Black Widow and Captain America, Thor's screen time either took place during group scenes or combat sequences. As for Chris Hemsworth, who played Thor, the thing he did most often during filming was posing in front of a green screen.
There was no doubt that all of Thor's ultimate moves had to be achieved through post-production CGI.
Even the scene of Thor standing atop the Empire State Building releasing his ultimate power was filmed in front of a green screen. The set department had built a full-scale replica of the Empire State Building's spire in the studio.
That said, standing at six feet three inches tall, with makeup and costume effects, Chris Hemsworth truly gave off a majestic, god-like aura in front of the camera.
This kind of model-like filming wasn't very difficult. In just over two days, Duke had wrapped up all of Thor's solo scenes.
Right after filming ended, before removing his makeup, Chris Hemsworth came over to Duke.
"Do you have time this weekend, Director?"
Hearing the question, Duke thought for a moment about his schedule for the weekend, then gently shook his head. "I've accepted an invitation from a friend to attend a film premiere."
But seeing Chris Hemsworth's face reminded him of Charlize Theron, who had invited him to the Snow White and the Huntsman premiere.
Sure enough, Chris Hemsworth said, "I was hoping to invite you to a premiere as well."
"Your new movie?" Duke turned off the director's monitor and asked, "Snow White and the Huntsman?"
"Yeah." Chris Hemsworth nodded.
Duke gestured for Scarlett Johansson, who was walking over, to wait a moment, then said to Chris Hemsworth, "I've already accepted Charlize Theron's invitation."
Upon hearing this, Chris Hemsworth scratched his head with a slightly sheepish smile and said, "I totally forgot about Sally. See you this weekend, Director."
"Mm, see you this weekend." Duke waved goodbye.
Originally scheduled for release next summer, Snow White and the Huntsman had finished production in July of this year. However, Universal Pictures lacked confidence in the film, fearing that the intense competition of next summer's box office would drown the movie in a sea of blockbusters. So, they deliberately moved the release up to October of this year a relatively quiet period.
What puzzled Duke was why Charlize Theron, given her current status, would still choose to play a villainous role like this.
Once upon a time, Charlize Theron, despite her fame, didn't hold much real standing in Hollywood. The roles she played never demonstrated strong box office appeal. Hollywood is a pragmatic place. Even with her Oscar, her fashionable presence, and perceived sophistication, her position in the film industry remained awkward.
She wasn't even considered an A-list actress. Her salary and the roles she took made that very clear.
But now it's different. Charlize Theron was undoubtedly an A-list Hollywood star. Though not quite on the level of someone like Julia Roberts, who symbolized an entire era, she had joined the twenty-million-dollar club and no longer needed to take on such roles.
"Why did you accept this role?"
Inside the VIP lounge of the premiere theater, Charlize Theron explained to Duke, "The reason is simple Universal Pictures offered me twenty million dollars."
Hearing that, Duke nodded in understanding. Charlize Theron was indeed a member of the twenty-million club, but she couldn't command that amount for every film. The industry wasn't doing well, and stars were losing their pull with audiences. There were very few productions in Hollywood still willing to offer a twenty-million-dollar salary.
Charlize Theron looked at Duke and said in a tone that suggested a reminder, "I think you're forgetting something I'm about to turn forty. How many forty-year-old women can still be the lead in a commercial blockbuster? I have to plan for my future."
"Sally..." Duke sighed softly. "If there's anything you need help with, just ask."
Unlike male Hollywood A-listers who only become more desirable with age, female stars cannot escape the laws of nature. Even someone like Julia Roberts, who represented an entire era, wasn't exempt.
From a Hollywood reality standpoint, Charlize Theron may be shining now, but once she passes forty, her position will become delicate. Whether there will still be production companies willing to offer her such a high salary is truly uncertain.
A female star who wants to appear glamorous in front of others always needs financial support.
As Duke was speaking with Charlize Theron, the film's female lead, Kristen Stewart, walked into the VIP lounge. She glanced over at them, the sharpness in her eyes completely unhidden.
Charlize Theron curled her lips into a cold smile and said to Duke, "Darling, you're forgetting one more thing who says Snow White has to be the main character in this movie?"
Duke looked at young Kristen, then back at Charlize Theron, and couldn't help but shake his head slightly. Perhaps after another decade or more of experience in Hollywood, Kristen Stewart might be able to stand toe-to-toe with Charlize Theron. But as of now, whether it's her image or acting skills, what does she have to compete with Charlize Theron?
Even without seeing the film, Duke could easily imagine that Kristen Stewart's Snow White would become a joke in front of Charlize Theron's Queen.
Duke had also heard from Nancy Josephson that Charlize Theron was the top star of this production. She had laid out a series of conditions to Universal Pictures, including using some behind-the-scenes maneuvering to push out the original female lead, Lily Collins. Although Lily Collins' image and reputation weren't great either, replacing her with Kristen Stewart was undoubtedly an even bigger downgrade.
The director of the film, Rupert Sanders, was directing a movie for the first time and had no means of standing up to Charlize Theron. What she did was simply a manifestation of a first-tier Hollywood star's influence.
Of course, Universal Pictures itself also had concerns about Lily Collins. The rumors about her plastic surgery were flying all over the place, which wasn't good for the film, and industry insiders knew that she was essentially a manufactured product.
Afterward, Duke and Charlize walked into the screening room to watch this repackaged dark version of Snow White.
After watching just over half of the film, Duke confirmed his earlier thoughts "horrendous" wasn't enough to describe Kristen Stewart's scenes opposite Charlize Theron.
He even felt like the production team must have had some grudge against Kristen Stewart. Otherwise, how could they be dumb enough to cast her as Snow White and Charlize as the Queen jealous of her beauty?
Watching this divine mess of a movie, Duke was utterly speechless. It was the most ridiculous teen idol flick he had ever seen.
Just how stunning was this loser version of Snow White supposed to be? To put it simply even Godzilla wouldn't have the temper to deal with her! She was like an upgraded version of "not even dogs would bother."
Having Snow White crawl through dog holes and wallow in mud was understandable it was a dark fairytale after all but when there was finally a warm, flowery scene, and the camera zoomed in for a close-up… her skin looked terrible! Was the director trying to seduce Kristen Stewart or something? Like, "If you won't cheat with me, I won't give you soft focus or any beautifying filters!"
Especially the scene where Snow White dies from greed and lies on the table afterward the director should've just given a nod to it, but no! He had to shoot an extreme close-up showing her forehead darkened and nostrils flaring wide. It was basically murder.
And Chris Hemsworth could still bring himself to kiss her. Truly a real man "my brother abuses me a thousand times, but I still love him like first love."
From the producer to the director to the actors every single one of them was a freak.
That producer was truly something else. Aside from the three leads, no one knows where he found such an elite batch of weirdos for this film.
Snow White as a child? Already unattractive! The Queen's bowl-cut brother? Also unattractive! The sunken-cheeked, pancake-faced prince? Again, unattractive! Even the extras looked like a pack of grimy, snarling, dirty messes!
When Duke saw a group of older women with twisted Medusa-like hair claiming they scarred their faces to avoid the Queen's jealousy, he just wanted to yell—"Could you have a little shame, please!? Do you really need to be this confident!? You're totally safe, seriously!"
In his wild guesswork, Duke figured that Charlize probably laughed maniacally inside every day during filming—"A bunch of short, ugly, broke peasants, and you dare to compete with me in beauty? Just wait till the film releases you're going to get roasted to death!"
Then there was the aura problem both Charlize and Kristen had coronation scenes, but how could Kristen possibly outshine red-carpet queen and Oscar-winner Charlize?
Who was the real lead here? That was the question.
This film amplified every single one of Kristen Stewart's flaws to the max.
And Duke had also guessed a possibility—with Charlize Theron's current status in Hollywood, bullying this crew was a walk in the park. She wouldn't even have to try hard to make Kristen suffer on set. Working with the producers to give Kristen a hard time during filming wasn't difficult at all.
After watching Snow White and the Huntsman, how many people would actually believe Charlize Theron was meant to make the female lead look good? It was clearly the opposite.