The richest actor in Hollywood.

In the dressing room, Matthew had just finished his makeup when Bella Anderson walked in with Helen Herman.

"I just came from the 'I Am Legend' crew," Helen Herman said, looking at Matthew. "The news I told you last night was correct. Francis Lawrence has voluntarily left the crew."

Matthew turned to Helen Herman and asked, "Just because the supporting actress wasn't Paula Patton?"

Helen Herman nodded slightly. "Yes." She continued to explain, "Francis Lawrence threatened Akiva Goldsman with leaving the crew, but Akiva Goldsman wasn't moved. His threat turned into a voluntary resignation from his directorial position."

"This director is bold and principled," Matthew shrugged. "I wouldn't dare use that move to threaten Akiva Goldsman."

Matthew always remained clear-headed. Although he was a box office star now, he neither invested nor was appointed by the production company, so the crew didn't necessarily need him.

In simple terms, he knew that even if Will Smith replaced him, the project would still likely succeed.

Helen Herman said bluntly, "Even though some of Francis Lawrence's principles are annoying, overall, Matthew... he sticks to his principles more than you do."

"Really?" Matthew asked rhetorically, then said, "My principles have always remained unchanged!"

Hearing this, Helen Herman understood the implication and couldn't argue back because Matthew indeed hadn't changed.

Matthew changed the subject, asking, "Does Akiva Goldsman have a replacement director in mind?"

"There are a few candidates," Helen Herman checked her watch and continued, "I recommended someone to them."

"Weren't you negotiating Anna's contract?" Matthew asked curiously. "Who did you recommend?"

Helen Herman first answered the first question, "Anna's pay has been basically settled at $100,000, and then I recommended a director candidate." She then revealed the name, "Have you heard of Guillermo del Toro?"

"Sounds like a Latino," Matthew hadn't heard the name before.

"A Mexican director," Helen Herman said simply. "His latest released work is 'Hellboy.'"

Matthew suddenly understood, "So it's the director of 'Hellboy.'"

He had seen that movie and knew there was a sequel, indicating it was a successful film. The director's skills likely weren't a problem.

Helen Herman seemed to know what Matthew was thinking and said, "Guillermo del Toro is more experienced than Francis Lawrence, having directed four or five films. Besides 'Hellboy,' his notable works include 'Blade II,' making him a distinctive commercial director."

Matthew nodded and asked, "Will Akiva Goldsman consider him?"

"He's already on the crew's consideration list," Helen Herman thought for a moment and said, "I only recommended him to mend the rift caused by negotiating your pay. Whether Akiva Goldsman will use him is not for us to decide."

In the previous pay negotiations, her strong stance didn't overly affect Akiva Goldsman's relationship with Matthew, but it inevitably caused some issues with her as an agent.

An agent must secure high returns for their client while also maintaining good relationships with major producers.

The dressing room door was knocked, and a crew member informed Matthew that filming was about to start.

Matthew was the first to leave the dressing room and head to the set, followed by Helen Herman and Bella Anderson.

Today, the crew would shoot the last few scenes. If filming went smoothly, all scenes could be completed before noon, marking the end of the filming stage of "300."

Filming continued against the backdrop of the green screen. Matthew went directly to the set, where Eva Green had been waiting for a while.

Matthew greeted Eva Green and looked around. Perhaps because today was the last day of filming, bearded Jack and David Ellison were present in the studio, watching from the sidelines.

Director Zack Snyder walked over and stood in front of Matthew and Eva Green.

He first looked at Matthew and then at Eva Green, ensuring their makeup and costumes were in order, before saying, "Matthew, Eva, in this scene, you need to show the deep affection between Leonidas and Queen Gorgo. This scene captures Leonidas's final thoughts before his life-or-death battle with Xerxes."

"I understand," Matthew nodded.

Eva Green also said, "We're ready."

This wasn't an empty statement. They had deeply discussed and rehearsed this scene several times in the crew, even role-playing without removing makeup, including this field scene of emotional exchange.

Zack Snyder stepped out of the set, and Eva Green lay on the green screen while Matthew got ready. An assistant director placed the clapperboard in front of the camera lens and called for action.

Matthew sat beside Eva Green, and she turned to look at him. He gazed back at her, their eyes filled with deep affection, like a genuinely loving couple.

After just a second of intense eye contact, Matthew extended his hand, gently brushing Eva Green's pale cheek. Eva Green grabbed his hand, seemingly reluctant to let him go.

Then, Matthew's expression shifted from reluctance to determination.

Behind the director's monitor, Zack Snyder watched the live-feed images, clearly seeing every subtle change in Matthew's expression. "300" was on its last day of filming, and he was certain that Matthew's acting had noticeably improved through several films.

Although still far from the level of Al Pacino or Daniel Day-Lewis, Matthew had become one of the relatively better commercial actors in Hollywood.

From his perspective, Tom Cruise's acting in the "Mission: Impossible" series wasn't necessarily better than Matthew's in this film.

Before starting "300," Zack Snyder had concerns about Matthew taking on a nearly solo commercial film like "I Am Legend," fearing that without solid acting, he couldn't carry it.

But as filming progressed, those worries faded. As long as Matthew maintained his performance and state from the past month, he should handle most scenes in a solo film without major issues.

Zack Snyder knew well that both his directing skills and Matthew's acting had improved since "Dawn of the Dead."

On the director's monitor, the scene reached its end. Zack Snyder quickly called out, "Cut! That's a wrap!"

On set, Matthew was the first to stand up and then helped Eva Green up. She nonchalantly adjusted her costume, which revealed most of her chest.

"My scenes are all done," Eva Green said softly to Matthew. "It feels like time flew by."

Matthew nodded in agreement, "Yes, time flies when you're together."

Eva Green gave him a look, unsure how much sincerity was in his words.

Matthew lowered his voice and invited, "Do you have time tonight? Come over and enjoy the night view of Los Angeles and Beverly Hills with me?"

Eva Green thought for a moment and agreed, "I have time." She paused, "You still have one more scene to shoot. I'll wait for you in the dressing room after removing my makeup."

"Okay," Matthew replied, "I'll come get you when I'm done."

Eva Green then left the set, fully aware that her scenes were finished, and so was her temporary relationship with Matthew Horner.

Matthew watched Eva Green go. Compared to Jessica Alba and Scarlett Johansson, his relationship with Eva Green was more straightforward, driven purely by physical attraction and enjoyment. Eva Green was indeed uninhibited but neither feigned innocence like Jessica Alba nor used him for publicity like Scarlett Johansson.

Relatively speaking, she was a daring yet simple woman.

The crew took a half-hour break, moving to another green screen set. The floor was covered in green screen, with many mannequins dressed as Spartan warriors lying around, all facing away from the camera.

In this short break, the makeup artist adjusted Matthew's look. In this scene, Leonidas had already been shot with arrows, though Matthew had no arrows on him; they would be added in post-production.

Before filming, Zack Snyder reminded Matthew again, "You need to shout with a sense of heroism."

Matthew knew what this last shout of Leonidas before his death required. Once Zack Snyder called for action, he stood before the camera, drew his sword, and roared.

"Haah! Haah—"

"Cut!" Zack Snyder stopped the filming, shouting, "Matthew, the feeling is off. Again."

Matthew shouted again, and Zack Snyder called cut again, repeating five or six times without achieving the desired effect.

What seemed like a simple scene was often the hardest to shoot.

After about ten takes, Matthew's voice was almost hoarse, feeling like his mouth was on fire, and his shouts had a rasping, desperate quality.

"OK!"

This was the effect Zack Snyder wanted. He finally called it a wrap, ending the filming of "300."

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