From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

“At the very least, we should give the script a chance.” This was Anson's thought.

However, as an agent, Edgar's considerations were completely different, “That's their goal. They bypassed the agent and secretly found you, just to persuade you to give the script a chance.”

Anson, “You have to admire their courage and perseverance, don't you? Persisting with a project for a full ten years. I know this project may be terrible, but persisting for ten years and refusing to give up is still admirable. After all, we are not immortals who don't eat or drink. Ten years is not that simple.”

Edgar remained noncommittal; he wouldn't be moved by such a thing.

Anson, “Captain, maybe you should look at it from a different perspective.”

“We have been seeking a breakthrough, not necessarily a transformation, but an opportunity to break the pretty boy label, an opportunity to show my ability as an actor…”

Edgar frowned, “But I don't think this is a good opportunity.”

Anson laughed directly, “But this is the first opportunity that has come to our door.”

“This is a biographical film, and the actors they are considering are Joaquin Phoenix, and me. Actually, they don't have that much faith in my acting skills, more because they believe in my musical talent, but no matter what, they really don't treat me as a pretty boy.”

“I think this is an opportunity.”

Seeing that Edgar was about to speak, Anson raised his hand to stop him this time.

“The opportunity I'm talking about means opening the door to Hollywood. You can spread the word that I am reading the script and seriously considering acting in it. You know what that means.”

Edgar is an agent, and he is more professional than Anson in this regard, understanding it immediately.

On the one hand, this action indicates that Anson is willing to challenge different types of roles.

On the other hand, it also shows that not only commercial films are considering Anson, but also some people in Hollywood believe that Anson has more possibilities, especially after "Elephant" won the Palme d'Or.

The most important point is that, for a project like the Johnny Cash biopic that has been rejected for ten years, some people see finding Anson as a desperate attempt, proving nothing and not worth promoting; but in the eyes of some people, it represents Anson's broad mind, not minding the situation of the project at all, but openly embracing all possibilities.

Opportunities are often hidden within this.

Edgar narrowed his eyes slightly, his brain working at high speed.

Anson was not in a hurry, quietly looking at Edgar, waiting for Edgar to digest it for a moment, putting on an open discussion posture, this calmness and confidence were convincing.

Edgar still didn't speak, and then Anson continued unhurriedly.

“As for Sony Columbia, I'm not worried.”

“Business is business. One project is one project.”

“The reason why ‘Spider-Man’ can cause so much commotion is because of the weight of the project itself. The investment, scale, strategic value, etc., are all there; other projects will definitely not be like that.”

“The executives are fighting like whales there, and the Johnny Cash biopic may not even enter their field of vision.”

“What's more, to take a step back, even if it gets involved, this is part of the Hollywood game.”

“Look, we have already confronted Sony Columbia once, and they and half of Hollywood should have seen it, which means that future cooperation with any film company may face more complicated situations.”

“I'm not saying that we should meet the difficulties head-on and challenge the entire Hollywood, but that we don't need to panic and give up eating for fear of choking.”

“Right?”

These words were spoken slowly and calmly, without ups and downs or resounding words, like casual chat, but the confident and unhurried tone was even more convincing.

Edgar was slightly stunned and looked at Anson again, “Are you trying to fool me?”

Anson laughed directly, “By the way, by the way. I just don't want to reject their sincerity, at least I should give the script a chance. As for the others, it's just incidental.”

Edgar looked a little helpless, but still calmed down and thought about it carefully.

“Then let's take a look at the script first.”

And he, will use this time to inquire further, to see what exactly is going on with this project, why hasn't it been promoted for ten years?

… …

Is Anson really that kind?

Of course not.

If any director and producer come to his door casually, and Anson opens the door, then he doesn't have to do other things for the next few months, the scripts may fill Anson's villa; then he will read the scripts in a daze, but still can't satisfy everyone's wishes.

In the end, those people will curse and attack Anson, denouncing Anson for being hypocritical and cold-blooded, and so on.

Kindness is a valuable trait; but unlimited kindness may become a weapon for others to hurt themselves.

Anson knows this very well.

The real reason why Anson is willing to give the two James a chance is:

James Mangold.

Or, to put it another way, James Mangold's film "Walk the Line."

After communication, and after dialogue, Anson finally awakened his memory and realized which project the two James were discussing with him.

"Walk the Line."

A biographical film about Johnny Cash, a biographical film focusing on the love between Johnny Cash and June Carter.

So, how should this movie be described?

In his previous life, this film starred Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon.

Although the film's narrative is chaotic, the entire film revolves around Johnny Cash alone, to the point that all other characters are reduced to tools, focusing on him going crazy all the way, eventually leading to the emotional logic and narrative context of the entire film always being in a state of collapsed out of control.

Completely dominated by bloody and drama, gradually losing the director's soul in sensationalism and self-admiration, Mangold's directorial talent is almost not shown.

But Mangold still keenly grasped the character's state and the actors' performance, the lens perfectly presenting the character's struggle and division, and finally achieving the actors' brilliance.

Joaquin and Reese went all the way forward during the entire awards season, winning a series of acting award nominations, and both entered the final battle of the Oscar acting department.

In the end, the film ended with Reese Witherspoon winning the first and only Best Actress Oscar of her career.

However, for a long, long time, Reese and Gwyneth Paltrow of "Shakespeare in Love" were complained about as "water queens" lacking strength certification, and they never really gained recognition like those acting factions.

It is precisely because of this that the impression left by "Walk the Line" later was wonderfully distorted to, "That work where Reese Witherspoon got the water queen."

A significant label, blinding people's eyes, but no one cares about how the movie really is, so that the movie is gradually forgotten in countless biographical films, even inferior to the mediocre and boring "The King's Speech".

Anson does not agree with this.