"Calm down, Howard West," said director Del Toro. "Let's talk this through."
"That's right, Mr. West," Netflix's Vice President of Content, Sarah Kelly, also said. "You didn't attend the audition today. You don't know what Mr. Li Wei's—"
"I've heard enough," Howard West said, picking up the bourbon in front of him, taking a sip, and setting the glass back down on the table. "Acting is a serious discipline. Are you trying to tell me that some football kid who's never had any formal acting training is a better actor than Johnny Depp, who has over thirty years of experience? And that he has more commercial appeal?"
Sarah Kelly's expression didn't change, but the two people from the PR department behind her exchanged a look.
"Howard—" Del Toro began.
"I'm not finished," Howard said, raising a hand to stop him. "I am the second-largest investor in this film. I don't wish to be interrupted until I've had my say."
