Martin Scorsese Unites Hollywood Legends in One Frame In His Latest Short Film: The Audition

The legendary actors of Hollywood, Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Brad Pitt, come under one frame, under the direction of Martin Scorsese. Interestingly, these icons of the cinematic world haven’t come together for a feature film. The Audition is a rather high-budget short film made to advertise casinos in mainland China. Produced by Melco Crown Entertainment, the ad campaign focuses on the opening of Studio City, a casino in Macau in a very witty manner with the help of these incredible actors, and the sharp directorial vision of Scorsese.

The short film depicts the comedic chemistry between De Niro, DiCaprio, and Pitt. It is undoubtedly a treat for the fans to see the trio in one frame, and the cherry on top of this is that the film humanizes these celebrities and provides innocent fun while commenting on the quirks of their celebrity status. You will get to witness De Niro, DiCaprio, and Pitt competing for the same role in Scorsese’s next film while they subtly promote them in the most entertaining way possible. The touch of humor in the storyline keeps the audience engaged throughout, thanks to the short film writer, Terence Winter.

Although it’s an advertisement, “The Audition” certainly differs from the usual traditional commercials. Since it is prohibited to advertise casinos in mainland China, Scorsese very cleverly presented the ad in a short film format, where the actors involved advertise several resorts so naturally that it doesn’t feel like a promotion at all. The smooth narrative and incredible acting develop a connection with the audience. The trio takes us on a tour through the resorts as they squabble in the casinos and dining halls, showing off the lavish luxury that awaits any customer with the wallet for it — though it’s worth noting that the Studio City casino seen is a 3D rendering, as the casino itself had yet to complete construction.

With an ensemble crew including Winters as scriptwriter, Brett Ratner being the producer, and Oscar nominees Rodrigo Prieto and Kevin Trent on cinematography and editing duties, respectively, the 16-minute short film was made in just two days. The lavish scenes portrayed in the film justify its whooping budget of $70 million. The star-studded cast of “The Audition” also took home a massive paycheck of $13 million. After watching the ad film, all the effort and money invested looks worthy.

The Audition is available to watch on YouTube.