The Box Office King of Hollywood

In the chilling December air of England, under a persistently gloomy sky, occasional raindrops fell, chilling to the bone. Matthew wrapped himself tightly in his coat. Along with other actors who had trained together, he followed the assistant producer to a massive hangar that housed makeup, costumes, and props departments. With the help of professionals, they began to get into their characters' looks in preparation for shooting.

Today's shooting didn't involve Ronald Speirs, Matthew's character, but he wasn't just a bystander; he had already donned the standard paratrooper gear.

Compared to Michael Fassbender and Michael Coolitz, who played veterans from Easy Company, Speirs wasn't initially in Easy Company but was a lieutenant in Dog Company.

Thus, Matthew's character would join the shooting later.

However, he wouldn't be idle. Like other actors who were trained yet had no part in the current scenes, he was needed to populate some of the large-scale scenes.

This was specified in the contract he had signed.

Compared to the purely temporary actors, those like him who had completed training were more convincing as soldiers.

Even before the shooting started, Gary Goetzman had informed them that they would also serve as German soldiers in some wide shots, battling against Easy Company.

With complete support from the production crew and indications from their talent agency, they naturally agreed.

This was also a common practice in Hollywood productions. In scenes requiring large numbers of people, not just actors but also idle crew members from other departments were pulled in to participate.

After makeup, Matthew, dressed in a paratrooper uniform and carrying a Chicago Typewriter, followed other actors out of the hangar. They were led by staff along a narrow road to a meticulously prepared set.

The set was arranged to look like an airport poised for battle, with model airplanes lined up on the runway and anti-aircraft gun positions at intervals. Temporary actors dressed in British military gear manned these guns, poised as if ready to fire.

The setting looked like a battlefield on the verge of action.

In the not-so-large set, hundreds of actors and crew members gathered.

Matthew, blending in with the group, followed a staff member to a model airplane where they were to act as a backdrop.

With thicker tactical camo makeup on their faces than the principal actors, they didn't need to worry about being recognized on camera; the distant shots and face paint would obscure their true features.

"Look!"

James McAvoy suddenly signaled to Matthew with his eyes, "Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg are here."

Matthew didn't need the hint; he saw the Hollywood giants too, discussing with director Phil Alden Robinson and lead actor Damian Lewis.

"This movie... after it's done..."

Perhaps the presence of a superstar like Tom Hanks excited James, "Could we become big stars?"

Matthew patted his shoulder, "You're thinking too much; we are small actors in a big production."

James gradually calmed down, shrugged, and didn't say more. He understood that participating in this series was crucial for enriching their resumes and would serve as capital for securing new roles in the future.

The staff arranged their group of seven in this location and instructed them not to wander off. The assistant director would come by later before they started filming. With some time before shooting began, Matthew chatted with James and looked around, curiously observing the entire set.

The set was busy, yet orderly. Among the many faces passing by, Matthew spotted several familiar ones, likely from films he had seen pirated versions of. One particularly familiar face was that of an actor who played a significant supporting role in the later "Mission: Impossible" movies with Tom Cruise, though Matthew couldn't recall his name.

An assistant director approached and briefed them on what to do during the shoot. Their roles were merely background actors, so the demands weren't strict.

"Don't face the camera directly!" he pointed to where the cameras were set up, "Act like soldiers would before going into battle."

The assistant director soon left, and each of the seven interpreted the instructions differently. One lay down to read a letter; another checked his pistol. James McAvoy pulled out a cross and began to murmur prayers. Matthew decided to disassemble and check his Chicago Typewriter.

This was not just a prop but a real Thompson submachine gun, albeit unloaded.

"Clear the set!" a voice boomed from a loudspeaker, "All departments, clear the set!"

In just a few minutes, everyone not involved in acting was cleared from the set.

Matthew ignored any other commands. Like a true soldier, he meticulously checked every part of his Thompson, immersing himself in the role of a sergeant about to enter battle. This fit the image of someone using a notorious, jam-prone firearm.

When exactly filming started, Matthew didn't know; he was entirely absorbed in his role, and like Ronald Speirs himself, ignored others and focused on his task.

After reassembling the

 gun and checking each magazine, James crouched beside him, offering a prop cigarette without tobacco, which Matthew lit with a lighter.

Pistol, canteen, magazines, grenade pouch, gas mask, even the raincoat, he checked them all.

Finally, as he wiped down his dagger with a small towel, James pulled at him, "It's time to move to a new location!"

Matthew packed up his gear and followed James to another part of the airport, asking, "Is everything shot here?"

"Five shots..." James answered, "All done!"

They followed an assistant director to an open area on the left side of the airport, joining other actors in paratrooper attire to form the backdrop for a scene featuring Damian Lewis.

Since Ronald Speirs wouldn't make his official appearance in the first episode, during the initial phase of shooting, Matthew and James, playing later recruits in Easy Company, simply served as background.

After more than a month of specialized training, they appeared more soldier-like in wide shots than the temporary actors.

For the next few days, Matthew's shooting schedule was filled with these kinds of scenes, and he also saw the production's top-billed actor—David Schwimmer, known as Ross from "Friends."

Matthew hadn't watched the series, only hearing about it from James.

However, Matthew was deeply impressed by the character Schwimmer played, Captain Sobel, who was frequently mentioned by the veterans in the original book as having a significant impact on Easy Company later on.

The memoir mentioned, "Captain Herbert Sobel created Easy Company, not only because his rigorous emphasis on physical fitness and tactical training saved many lives but because the collective disdain for him united them."

Matthew even connected this character with Tom West, considering that the presence of such a controversial figure was what united the otherwise clashing British and American men under the scheme of a German and a Brit to get rid of the draconian instructor.

As for himself, Matthew never disclosed his actions to anyone and wouldn't admit they were related to him.

Back in London, as Helen Herman had instructed, Matthew kept a low profile and focused entirely on his role and the filming. Being just a minor character actor, as long as he didn't encounter any bizarre individuals like Kate Jeffrey, he wouldn't attract attention.

After Jeffrey's departure, the set had stabilized a lot, with Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg's presence ensuring discipline. James mentioned that Jeffrey's father had tried to see Tom Hanks but was politely turned away.

During the shoot, besides fulfilling his role, Matthew keenly observed the main actors' performances and the director's requirements, all valuable experiences for him.

The first episode took twenty days to shoot, and without pause, the crew immediately began filming the second episode.

This time, Matthew wasn't just a background actor. His character, Ronald Speirs, officially appeared in the series.

In the makeup room, fully dressed and with tactical paint applied to his face, Matthew, carrying his Chicago Typewriter, headed to the set.

The location was a disused airfield transformed into a war-torn French village with strategically placed cameras in temporary buildings to capture indoor and street scenes from various angles.

Upon arriving, Matthew saw a large number of background actors dressed as soldiers, including James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender.

"Hey, Matthew!"

An assistant director called him over, "Come here, this side!"

Matthew hurried over and stood by a collapsed brick wall, waiting briefly before Damian Lewis and another principal actor joined him.

His first scene was a dialogue with the lead actor.

The assistant director helped position them, and the director checked the setup through the camera. Aware of his role, Matthew remained silent and followed directions.

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