From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Silence, hesitation, tension.

Reese didn't speak, and Anson didn't press, a brief quiet spreading.

Then, Reese broke the deadlock, "Are you always so confident?"

A similar question, this is the second time.

Anson smiled, "Welcome to Hollywood."

In Hollywood, is there anyone who isn't narcissistic? Or, to put it another way, narcissism is an important key to finding a place in this arena of fame and fortune.

Anson looked at Reese and brought the topic back, "I thought you could understand my situation."

Reese Witherspoon, a child star, appeared on the big screen at the age of fifteen; but this blonde kept a clear head, she didn't plunge headlong into the glamorous world of Hollywood, but after being admitted to Stanford University, she took a step back and focused on her studies.

It wasn't until her junior and senior years of college that she gradually returned to acting, and in 1999, she rose to fame with "Election", a satirical light comedy that earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy.

2001's "Legally Blonde" became a key turning point in her career. In this movie, she played a blonde Barbie girl in a pink suit, breaking stereotypes and proving herself at Harvard Law School.

This role made Reese a new generation of America's Sweetheart.

Like Anson, Reese once made a guest appearance on "Friends", receiving cheers for her wonderful performance, and she had friction with Jennifer Aniston for different reasons, which is also a kind of funny fate.

However, the real similarity between the two is not here.

In "Legally Blonde", Reese played a role that broke the stereotypical blonde bimbo image; but the most ironic thing in real life is that people still regard Reese as a blonde bimbo actress, and the phrase "America's Sweetheart" limits Reese's acting challenges.

Therefore, Reese has been looking for a breakthrough.

Reese clearly knows the limitations of continuing to break into the industry with a simple blonde image, and she can never surpass the classic blonde images of Marilyn Monroe and Kim Basinger, nor can she surpass the typical America's Sweetheart images of Meg Ryan and Julia Roberts. Her acting career will soon come to a dead end.

In the past year or two, Reese has been constantly invited, but all of them are blonde bimbo roles or the repeated routines of romantic comedies, which has made her feel anxious.

On the one hand, she needs to worry about Ryan's career, and on the other hand, she needs to worry about her own career.

Exhausted.

It was against this background that the script for "Walk the Line" appeared.

Different from the main character Johnny Cash, who wanders on the edge of darkness, the character of June Carter is basically a positive image, and at the same time can show the actor's understanding and interpretation of the character.

Reese actively tried to seize this role.

But, the co-star is Anson?

Reese herself is married to a vase-like handsome guy, and she clearly knows how much damage the stereotype of "vase X vase" can create. Preconceived notions may make the two face three or five times the prejudice, or even harm.

At this time, looking at Anson, Reese seemed to see Ryan—

Although she was very, very unwilling to admit this.

Reese met Anson's gaze, and gently let out a breath, "Understand, completely understand, can't say 100%, but at least 99%."

Even at this time, Reese still had the mind to joke, teasing a little, her tone relaxed.

"However, precisely because I understand, I am even more resistant to such cooperation."

"How people see you is how they see me."

"Before the movie is released, people make stereotypical judgments about the movie in advance, either thinking that this is a garbage movie with no highlights and will not go to the cinema at all; or thinking that this is a relaxing romantic comedy, and after entering the cinema, they find that it is not, and then become angry."

"No matter what the result is, it is fatal to the movie."

"The film critics are the same."

"They have been controlled by stereotypes before entering the cinema. No matter how hard you try, and no matter how hard I try, they will not recognize our performance, and may even treat the movie as a joke, like watching a circus performance."

"I don't want this movie to become a joke."

Reese is a smart person, which can be seen from a series of decisions she made in the past; and it can also be seen from her subsequent career development path.

Later, Reese realized the constraints of stereotypes, she began to become a producer herself, selecting roles that suited her and creating her own image.

On the one hand, Reese was later nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress again for "Wild", which was a work she read the novel, found the original author to buy the adaptation rights and strongly promoted the film production.

On the other hand, Reese relied on dramas such as "Big Little Lies" and "The Morning Show" to gain a wave of word-of-mouth, ratings, and awards, and has become a representative of Hollywood's middle-aged actresses who firmly control the right to speak.

To some extent, Reese's later position and initiative in Hollywood surpassed those of Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Aniston, and others.

She is definitely not just a blonde bimbo.

Hollywood has never lacked smart people, but not every smart person can climb to the top of the pyramid.

Accurately speaking, what Lucas is doing to help Anson now is the same concept as Reese's future career path.

The same is true in front of me.

Anson gently raised his chin, revealing a thoughtful expression, "So, you don't have confidence."

Reese didn't understand, "What do you mean?"

Reese's face stiffened, "What do you mean?"

Anson looked calm, "In the first half of the year, I cooperated with Kate on a work, it was a romantic comedy, but obviously, Kate never worried that our cooperation as two vases might cause the audience's disgust. Or lead to attacks from film critics."

Smart people do consider things carefully; but sometimes, they may consider things too carefully.

Reese's words stuck in her throat, "…Kate is not…no, don't change the subject, the project we are discussing is different from others."

Obviously, Reese was a little flustered, and there were flaws in her words.

But Anson rarely didn't press her, "Maybe. Maybe you are right, maybe the things you are worried about will happen, but you still haven't given up."

"So, are you here to persuade me to withdraw from the project?"

"Sorry, you know that's impossible."

"So, what is your real purpose? I don't believe you followed me for several days with just an impulse and obsession without completing any ideas."

"Hey, Ms. Witherspoon, you are not that stupid."

A smile lingered on the corner of his mouth, gently raised, and a hint of confidence flowed in his eyes.

Silently, the initiative has been transferred.