The Most Famous Actor in Hollywood

"Who is the most powerful group in Hollywood?"

In the studio lounge, faced with Eva Green's question, Matthew immediately answered, "It's definitely not us actors."

Eva Green, with her hair disheveled like a medieval witch from the rumors, curiously asked, "According to you, which group is it?"

The sound of filming starting echoed through the set. Matthew glanced over as Johnny Depp began sprinting in front of the green screen, followed by a group of chasers, all dressed as oddly as Captain Jack Sparrow.

Eva Green also looked in that direction. Having been part of the film crew for two days, she deeply felt the difference from when she filmed "Kingdom of Heaven." Matthew and Johnny Depp were considered the top tier on set, highly respected by director Gore Verbinski, who had even heard that the two had once joined forces to coerce the crew into changing the script, forcing both Verbinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer to compromise.

She was quite sure, Matthew and Johnny Depp were definitely A-listers in Hollywood.

Perhaps their influence alone wasn't enough, but these two were clearly close, backing each other on most issues.

As the filming paused, Eva Green resumed the earlier topic, "Once actors reach the A-list, no one can ignore them."

"That's true," Matthew nodded lightly, acknowledging Eva Green's point, then added, "But ultimately, Hollywood is centered around producers. If you have to find a dominant group among Hollywood's professionals, aside from the big investors, it's the Producers Guild that's the strongest."

He reminded her, "In Hollywood, entities like the actors' guild, directors' guild, writers' guild, and cinematographers' guild, their strikes target the production guilds, and they negotiate with the producers' alliance."

Eva Green, who had studied at New York University, immediately grasped Matthew's point, "The Producers Guild represents the interests of the capital side."

"Bingo..."

Matthew snapped his fingers, "We are all being exploited by capitalists."

This made Eva Green laugh, saying, "Matthew, if you are part of the impoverished class, then what does that make actors like me? The proletariat?"

Matthew also laughed, "The proletariat can come and go without a blemish."

Footsteps suddenly approached from behind them, and without turning, Matthew knew Keira Knightley was coming.

"A blacksmith and a witch."

The British accent reached them before she appeared, "What do you talk about together?"

Eva Green glanced at Keira Knightley and as a crew member approached, she stood up and said to Matthew, "My scene is about to start filming, let's chat later."

Matthew nodded slightly, "Talk later."

Eva Green, dragging her medieval dress, walked towards the set.

Keira Knightley watched her leaving, pulled up a chair, and sat next to Matthew, asking, "You're interested in such an ugly woman?"

"Ugly?" Matthew shook his head, "Keira, you have no taste."

"Isn't she ugly?" Keira Knightley snorted softly, "Her eyes are almost all white, terrifying. The corners of her eyes and mouth droop severely, her skin is too pale, clearly a sign of indulgence. Plus, she gives off a very dark vibe, obviously not a good woman."

Matthew, rather helplessly, admitted, "Alright, I concede, Keira. Eva isn't as pretty as you."

Keira Knightley snorted again, lifting her face with a hint of pride, "You don't need to flatter me, it's pointless." She specifically reminded him, "Don't forget, we agreed on the plane back from the Dominican Republic that we'd just be friends!"

Matthew turned to look at Eva Green entering the set, "That's why I'm preparing to pursue Eva Green."

"You'd go for a woman with such a dark aura?" Keira Knightley seemed disdainful.

"Why not?" Matthew looked at Keira Knightley with a scornful gaze, "At least she has one thing better than you."

Keira Knightley habitually bit her lower lip, muttering, "I really didn't notice."

Matthew's gaze dropped, "Keira, her bust is bigger than yours!"

Hearing this, Keira Knightley stood up suddenly, raising her voice, "Matthew Horner!" She drew her prop sword, pointing it at Matthew, "You jerk, draw your sword, I want a duel with you!"

"Are you sure?" Matthew extended a hand, pushing away Keira Knightley's sword, "Keira, can you even use a sword?"

A few crew members nearby noticed the commotion but then went back to their tasks as Matthew and Keira Knightley often messed around on set, and they were used to it.

Matthew suggested, "How about this, during the break later, we duel in the center of the set, how about that?"

"You

 let someone tie your hands and feet." Keira Knightley knew, even combined with Depp, she couldn't beat this rascal, "I'll duel you!"

Matthew, uninterested in continuing the topic, gestured downward, "Alright, dear, sit down, everyone's watching."

Keira Knightley glanced around, put away her prop sword, and sat down huffily.

"It's been so long," she said to Matthew, "and you still provoke me with that kind of talk."

Matthew thought for a moment and said earnestly, "I apologize, Keira." He changed the subject, "I heard you're vying for a Chanel endorsement?"

Keira Knightley shook her head, "It's not certain yet."

"May my legend always remain fresh in people's minds," Matthew quoted Coco Chanel, asking, "Which Chanel product? Chanel No. 5?"

"Not that," Keira Knightley shook her head again, "It's Coco Chanel."

Although Matthew wasn't very knowledgeable about fashion, he knew Coco Chanel wasn't as prestigious as Chanel No. 5, "That's still very good, with a Chanel endorsement, you're closer to the A-list."

Keira Knightley emphasized, "I haven't got it yet." She hesitated for a moment, then said to Matthew, "I have a competitor, I don't have an advantage over her."

"Who is it?" Matthew played along.

"I used to be her stunt double." Keira Knightley didn't specify, vaguely stating, "Many people think I'll never be as good as her."

Matthew had a guess, "Hmm?"

Keira Knightley didn't continue, instead pointing towards the set, "The assistant director is coming, it's your turn to film."

Seeing that Keira Knightley didn't want to continue, Matthew didn't press further. After the assistant director came over to remind him, he got up and entered the set, ready to join the filming.

The set was primarily made up of green screens, with only the section beneath their feet built from wood and resin to resemble the body of a ship. Matthew had to engage in a chaotic fight scene as the backdrop, battling Davy Jones.

Of course, Captain Jack Sparrow was essential.

Though Will Turner was one of the dual protagonists in "The Curse of the Black Pearl," earning acclaim second only to Jack Sparrow, Matthew had to admit, after the first film, Jack Sparrow had become the core of the series.

Matthew's character was very popular, far surpassing the former Will Turner, but he couldn't deny, without Johnny Depp's neurotic portrayal, "Pirates of the Caribbean" might have been just a summer flick, forever unlinked to "personality."

In this scene, Matthew and Johnny Depp faced opponents, all adorned with motion capture sensors.

The appearance and movements of Davy Jones and his crew, as well as the shots of the soul-devouring ghost ship "Flying Dutchman," were entirely completed with CG, first by capturing the actors' movements, then by CGI technicians.

This made filming quite cumbersome, often pausing due to issues with the motion capture sensors, with Matthew filming in short bursts, rarely a scene lasting over ten seconds.

Later, they used the existing set to film some climbing scenes for the third installment "At World's End." He simply left the set, letting stunt performers handle it.

After returning from the Dominican Republic, the crew began filming "Dead Man's Chest" and "At World's End" simultaneously, completing scenes for both films whenever the camera angles matched, reflecting director Gore Verbinski and Walt Disney Studios' consideration beyond saving time and effort.

The action scenes between Will Turner and Davy Jones started in the morning and continued intermittently until nearly three p.m. Due to British actor Bill Nighy's physical limitations, filming paused temporarily, resuming the next day.

Matthew's day of filming temporarily came to an end. He greeted Keira Knightley and Johnny Depp, returning to the makeup room to remove his makeup and leave.

Just as the makeup artist had finished removing his makeup, there was a knock at the door, and then Bella Anderson pushed the door open.

If it wasn't something urgent, Bella Anderson wouldn't come at this time. Matthew looked at her, asking, "What's up?"

Bella Anderson nodded, yet didn't speak.

Matthew told his personal makeup artist, "Mia, I'll take care of the rest."

Mia, skilled at reading the situation, responded and, along with two assistants, left the makeup room.

Bella Anderson closed the door and stated directly, "Helen just called. Harvey Weinstein was looking for her today."

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