From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Acting is a form of interaction, unless it's a one-person show.

The back-and-forth between actors is often the source of chemistry.

Therefore, on set, you can often see the camera focused on one actor, while the other actor stands behind the camera, helping with lines, correcting the line of sight, and helping to complete the performance. Even if they don't appear in the shot, actors need to cooperate with their acting partners to complete the performance.

Occasionally, big-name actors refuse to help with lines; occasionally, actors are busy filming other scenes or busy with makeup, and temporarily cannot help with lines. The crew will also send other actors or staff to help with the lines.

Here, how to play off someone is also something to be particular about—

There are good opponents, bad opponents, and perfunctory opponents.

In theory, it's not difficult.

Because this is a theater, Peter Parker can't interrupt the performance. He just mouthed a greeting, and that was all.

However, the reality is not so simple.

In this scene, Peter Parker also experiences a psychological transformation.

In order to fulfill his superhero duties, Peter's daily life is a mess, and he watches his own life fall apart bit by bit.

On this day, Peter finally had enough.

Peter is determined, he believes he deserves happiness, he is ready to give up Spider-Man's superpowers and return to the life of an ordinary college student.

Of course, there is also the most important point, he mustered up the courage to pursue Mary Jane.

Peter wants to tell Mary Jane that rejecting her was a stupid decision, that he has always had a crush on her, always liked her, and has never been able to forget her.

He believes he should bravely pursue happiness.

So.

Peter came to watch the performance without telling Mary Jane in advance.

This is a surprise.

But behind the surprise, there is shyness and unease, trepidation and tension.

On the one hand, he doesn't know how Mary Jane will see him, and he doesn't know how to get Mary Jane back to his side.

On the other hand, he is full of hope, ready to start a new life, his university, his love, his life has just begun.

A little bit of contradiction, a little bit of pulling.

In this scene, Peter also experienced an important turning point.

So, when Mary Jane notices Peter, not only is Mary Jane stunned, but Peter is also surging with emotion—

In the previous life, Tobey Maguire's handling here seemed rigid and foolish, without layers or edges, purely a simple joy and encouragement.

The advantage is that this makes Peter Parker still look pure, like a middle school student.

The disadvantage is that after so many tests and training, Peter still hasn't grown up, and the character arc is a mess.

Anson doesn't want this.

Of course, today the camera lens is completely focused on Kristen, and Anson has no chance to perform for the time being. Anson is purely helping with the lines.

But this doesn't mean Anson can just muddle through.

Playing off someone can be a rehearsal for one's own character research, or it can be a practice for scene partners to find inspiration and spark.

What's more, seeing this scene, the fourth wall in and out of the play has been completely broken, and Anson also finds it interesting.

A little bit of excitement, a little bit of trepidation; a little bit of happiness, a little bit of tension, which makes the smile on Peter's lips fully bloom. But soon, Peter notices Mary Jane's panic, and at this moment, her brain is blank—

The performance may become a disaster.

Peter also doesn't want Mary Jane's performance to be ruined. He quickly straightens his back slightly, stares at Mary Jane, reveals a gentle power in his eyes, and exchanges with Mary Jane's eyes intently.

Then, word by word, Peter silently reminds with his mouth shape.

"I. Am. Happy."

This is Peter, and also Anson.

In a mess, Kristen notices Anson's mouth shape, and without realizing it, the curve of her mouth rises slightly again.

At the same time, in the stage space, a man's voice comes, "Are you not happy that I said that?"

Finally, Kristen comes back to her senses, and her thoughts slowly return to the ground.

She glanced at Anson, a smile slightly raised at the corner of her mouth, and without delay, turned her head to look at the real scene partner on the stage, looking at the actor's panicked and pretending-to-be-calm expression, and the stage manager in the wings, desperately holding his head in his hands, the arc of the corner of her mouth became lighter and lighter.

"Yes… I… I'm happy…"

With a slight stutter, Kristen has returned to the play, not only Mary Jane, but also the state of Mary Jane performing on stage.

Like nesting dolls, one layer inside another.

Because there are too many levels, Kristen is also a little dazed, and for a while, she can't even remember the lines—

The whole scene seems particularly absurd.

"…You said that."

Kristen still squeezed it out little by little, like squeezing toothpaste, squeezing out all the lines.

On the stage, the male actor should already be covered in cold sweat, exhaling a long breath without concealing or being able to conceal it. The stage manager in the wings softened his knees and staggered, almost kneeling down.

"In fact, I must admit that it's more than just a little bad…"

This scene, falling into Kristen's eyes, twitched the corners of her mouth slightly, holding back a laugh with some effort.

Subconsciously, Kristen turned her head to look forward again, easily found Anson in the crowd, looked up, and exhaled lightly, with a look of relief.

The corners of Anson's mouth also twitched slightly. He almost broke his composure. He quickly lowered his head and used his left hand to control the corners of his mouth, pressed the smile down, and immediately looked up, signaling with his eyes:

Focus. Stay focused.

After a brief panic, Kristen has completely calmed down. Noticing Anson's expression, she instead put on a complacent posture, leaned slightly against the back of the chair, and lifted the toes of her left leg, which was supporting her weight, vividly showing her entire arrogant posture.

Lifelike.

"Cut!"

Sam Raimi's voice rang out again, ending the filming.

This time, without waiting for Sam to speak, or for Kristen to speak, the group of extras behind the monitor could no longer control themselves.

Haha. Hahaha.

Collective burst of laughter.

Sam: ???

It's simply inexplicable. Sam turned his head to look around, looking at these guys with a confused expression. That serious expression immediately cut off all the laughter.

The atmosphere of the crew had just become cheerful, and in a blink of an eye, it was like falling into an ice cellar.

Sam seemed to not care at all, unhurriedly stood up from behind the monitor, expressionlessly scanned the audience, and broke the deadlock just before the air was about to solidify and suffocate.

"Perfect."

After speaking, Sam stretched out both hands, thumbs up.

Only then did they notice that the smile on the corner of Sam's mouth also rose slightly.

It turned out that everyone had just been tricked by Sam.

Wailing and cheers rose and fell, the entire crew became noisy, and cries of protest calling for the director rang out everywhere, with everyone feeling lingering fear and covered in sweat.

Sam looked at the wailing in front of him with a satisfied expression.