This highlights why actors emphasize versatility in their roles.
When an actor is known for consistently portraying positive characters, audiences often struggle to accept them in a villainous role, suspecting ulterior motives or undercover agendas.
To avoid being pigeonholed in certain roles, some actors actively seek diverse characters in films, expanding their repertoire and avoiding being typecast, which could limit future opportunities.
On the flip side, some actors prefer staying within their comfort zone, which speaks to their individual career aspirations.
While reviewing the list of candidates for the male lead, Edward noticed two actors who were known for frequently starring in horror films in the Pokémon world. He had seen their movies before; they followed a traditional formula of trainers ultimately capturing mischievous ghost Pokémon—not quite what Edward was looking for.
"This one," Edward eventually selected a young actor whose age aligned with the recently married male protagonist in Dead Silence. The actor's appearance was also appropriate for the role.
Edward then moved on to casting for the Stepmother and Mary Shaw roles.
"Boss, there's something special about one of the actresses auditioning for the Stepmother role," said a bald man named Deck—a name Edward found peculiar—as he approached.
"What's special about her?" Edward asked curiously. Was it nepotism? But he was the movie's primary investor, director, and screenwriter. Who could possibly use connections to influence him?
Edward soon realized what Deck meant.
Among the audition list for the Stepmother role was a name and face he recognized: Diantha.
Diantha, the Champion of the Kalos region.
Edward pursed his lips in surprise. What on earth? Why was Diantha auditioning? She was an A-list celebrity in the Pokémon world, combining stunning looks and a Champion-level trainer. Her fame was unparalleled.
Her résumé was a long list of names of movies and TV series that Edward had watched, and even a list of songs that was too long to write down. The level of honor had already reached its maximum.
"Why would someone like her audition for a... horror movie?" Edward muttered, glancing at the document in his hand.
He noticed something peculiar: Although Diantha is a well-known actress, the roles in the movies and TV shows she starred in are relatively fixed, and she has never starred in any horror movies, was this her attempt to diversify her roles?
"How was her performance?" Edward asked Deck.
"Incredible! We asked her to audition with the scene where she's revealed to be Mary Shaw's puppet, and her shift in expressions was stunning!" Deck's face lit up with excitement, even blushing slightly.
This was Diantha a famous actress and champion. Being able to work with her is something you can brag about for the rest of your life.
Edward raised his eyebrows after hearing this. He had seen a movie starring Diantha, which was a very popular Pokémon adventure movie in this world. Her acting skills were indeed very good, and some of the dangerous stunts were shot directly by her.
"Do we have footage of her audition?" Edward asked. Deciding to take another look. After all, the role of stepmother was quite important.
"Of course!" Deck eagerly showed Edward a recording on his phone. Diantha, dressed in her signature outfit without makeup, transformed once the audition began. Her peculiar smile and piercing gaze were mesmerizing—even Edward found himself captivated.
"She's the one," Edward immediately made the decision. A skilled actor like Diantha would undoubtedly elevate the film.
"By the way, how much pay does she want?" Edward asked, remembering another important factor: the cost.
Deck beamed. "Boss, the compensation she wants is very reasonable, three million."
Edward sucked in a sharp breath. Three million?
In Dead Silence, the Stepmother didn't have many scenes. Both the Stepmother and Mary Shaw were secondary to the male lead, whose journey dominated the film alongside the puppet Mimikyu.
Still, considering Diantha's fame and talent, the fee seemed reasonable. It helped that his father had given him a generous budget—otherwise, her fee alone could have caused significant strain.
After finalizing the stepmother role, Edward moved on to Mary Shaw. However, due to the character's age, there were not many actresses who came to audition for this role. Edward ultimately chose an older actress renowned for her horror roles, He had seen the other's acting skills and found them very good.
In movies, she often plays as an eccentric fortune-teller or as a living person dressed as a ghost Pokémon.
With the cast secured, the filming can begin. Edward was eager to see the results. As long as the filming is successful, the editing is completed, and the soundtrack is inserted, etc., it can be sent for review.
By then, Dead Silence will be able to officially meet the audience in the Pokémon world.
"Let's prepare for the filming. Are the filming schedules finalized?" Edward asked. It didn't matter to the other actors, as they were all lesser-known character actors.
Only Diantha, a champion and a superstar, had a busy schedule, so the schedule had to be communicated and her part had to be filmed first.
Shooting a movie is not just a one-shot process from the beginning to the end. Many times the specific shooting order needs to be determined based on the actor's schedules, required weather, and the time provided by the filming location.
"Yes, Diantha agreed to give us five days," Deck replied cheerfully. Edward nodded. Five days should be enough to finish the stepmother scenes, especially with veteran supporting actors. They might even film an alternate ending as a bonus feature and put it on the Internet as a behind-the-scenes footage to attract attention.
"Then let's start shooting as soon as possible and wrap it up quickly," Edward said, rubbing his hands together. He was itching with anticipation, curious about what rewards his special system would grant him this time.
"Got it, boss!" Deck scurried off to coordinate with the cast and crew while managing music, props, and other logistics.
Fortunately, with help from Pokémon, the preparations were swift—tasks that might have taken a week could now be completed in a matter of days.
(End of Chapter)