The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

Chapter 754: [STAGE OF TWO] (II)

AFTER they were seated, the host turned to Astrid with a friendly smile. ”Astrid, as an actor still in your rookie years, you must look up to veterans like Valentine. Was there a specific role in his filmography that left a strong, lasting impression on you?”

Astrid had expected a question like this. He did not need to think about it for long, as he had seen many of Valentine’s films. Among them, there was one that he had always liked best.

”Yes, it’s his performance in [City of Whispers].”

The host looked genuinely surprised. ”[City of Whispers]?That was a small independent film from his early years. What about that role resonated with you?”

”There’s a scene where his character, a homeless man, is offered a bribe to stay silent. Instead of a big reaction, Valentine showed the entire conflict internally. His eyes tracked the money, then he looked at his own dirty hands, and you saw the exact moment his pride won over his desperation. He refused the money with just a slow, sad shake of his head. It was a masterclass in telling a story without saying a word.”

The detailed answer surprised Valentine. When Astrid said the performance that impressed him most was from [City of Whispers], Valentine was a little taken aback. His first thought was that the younger actor was just trying to be edgy. But that thought vanished when he heard Astrid’s reason for liking it.

That simple, genuine explanation made it clear that Astrid truly appreciated his work in [City of Whispers]. This was what surprised Valentine. It meant Astrid had either studied the film closely to improve his own acting, or he was simply a sincere fan of the movie itself. Either possibility made Valentine feel unexpectedly awkward. After all, he had arranged this entire situation with a much less pure motive in mind.

The host nodded, looking genuinely impressed. ”That’s a fantastic answer, Astrid. It’s always refreshing to hear such a thoughtful perspective from a rising talent.” The host then turned to Valentine with a friendly smile. ”And Valentine, turning the tables, have you seen any of Astrid’s work? He’s certainly been making waves recently.”

Valentine offered a slightly helpless smile. ”I must admit I have only seen one of his films so far. It was [Serendipitous Summer]. It’s a good movie that handles the coming of age theme quite well. Astrid’s performance, in particular, was very strong. It did not feel like the work of a rookie actor at all. That impressed me a great deal.”

And he was telling the truth. The moment Leon had confirmed his appearance on [Stage of Two] with Astrid, Valentine had instructed him to purchase a HoloDisk of one of Astrid’s works. The one Leon happened to choose was [Serendipitous Summer]. Just as he said, it was a solid film. It was not a groundbreaking masterpiece, but it was well made.

What truly stood out was Astrid Townsend’s performance. His role did not have the showy, emotional climax that the female lead’s did, but the quiet nuance and control in his acting had genuinely captured Valentine’s attention.

Astrid, for his part, resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow. He didn’t know if Valentine was being genuine with his compliment or if it’s just an act. Either way, he knew he’s expected to look flattered. So he did. He even added a touch of shyness to his performance to sell the reaction.

Valentine found Astrid’s reaction quite amusing. He knew the other was acting, because it was nothing like how he had been when they first met. Not that he minded. It was actually very entertaining to watch.

”Wonderful. Now that we’ve gotten to know our guests a little better,” the host said, his voice shifting to a more energetic tone as he faced the audience and then Astrid, ”It’s time for one of my favorite segments. Astrid, this is your opportunity. You can ask Valentine anything at all about his craft or career. Dig into his process, ask about a specific role, or seek advice for the path ahead. What is the one thing you’ve always wanted to ask the Valentine Davis?”

What did Astrid want to ask? He wanted to ask how Valentine and the Emperor had become lovers. But of course, he could not ask that. This was a professional setting, so he had to keep his questions professional too.

Since he had already developed his own acting process, one built from the experience of his past life, he had never really thought to ask others for advice. But for the sake of appearances, he knew he probably should ask a question about acting.

”How do you get into a role?” he asked. ”Do you follow a specific process to prepare?”

Valentine leaned back in his chair, considering the question. ”It depends on the role, but there is a general process. First, I read the script many times, not just for my lines, but to understand the entire story and my character’s place in it. Then, I try to find the character’s core motivation. What do they want more than anything? Everything they do comes from that single driving need. For the physical part, I might change my posture, my walk, or even how I hold a pen if it helps me be that character. The last step is to make all those choices feel instinctive, so the performance seems natural and not forced.”

Well, that’s quite insightful.

Astrid said with a polite smile. ”I will be sure to remember that.” He then asked another question. ”Were there any roles you found particularly difficult to get into character for?”

”Funny you should ask that,” Valentine said, his tone turning more reflective. ”It’s actually my role in [City of Whispers]. The character’s sense of despair and isolation resonated with me in a way that was almost too real. I understood him too well, and it became difficult to separate his pain from my own. There were days on set where I almost lost myself in that role, and it took a conscious effort to pull back and remember where he ended and I began.”