From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Universal Studios in Los Angeles has a project where visitors can tour the entire filming base. Tour guides use lighthearted and humorous language to describe the behind-the-scenes stories of classic movies filmed here, creating an immersive experience.

However, words are ultimately just words.

Now, the Universal Studios filming base has evolved into an amusement park. Visitors can only use the various filming sets to imagine and fill in the blanks. The tour guide's explanations and behind-the-scenes stories are difficult to provide a true experience.

But here, on the street of Memphis's Union Avenue, the experience is completely different.

It's not just a filming location; they can completely witness the birth of magic, how it breaks the shackles of time and space from the real world and travels to half a century ago, re-presenting the life of Johnny Cash.

The sense of experience is one hundred percent.

Originally, Hunter was chattering away incessantly, but at some point, he became completely silent, completely focused.

Outside the recording studio, there was a busy and noisy scene.

Inside the recording studio, there was silence and stillness.

Even Larry couldn't help but quiet down, looking at Anson in his black clothes. The recording studio, without any sound, seemed even more like a tomb.

Anson was adjusting his breathing to get into character, so much so that Dallas completely held his breath, his mind filled with mixed thoughts. He always felt like he might make a mistake at any moment, mess up the filming in the next step, become the eternal sinner of the crew, and end up being kicked out, his acting career, which hadn't even truly started, would be declared over.

The more he thought about it, the more nervous he became, the more flustered he became.

What to do?

His gaze darted anxiously towards Anson, but he didn't dare to look directly into Anson's eyes.

However, Dallas noticed an anomaly—

Anson, what's wrong?

Anson was sizing up the recording studio, his movements restrained, his arms and feet moving slightly within a small range, as if afraid that his actions of observation would be noticed, exposing his insignificance and nervousness. He scanned inch by inch with his eyes, exploring greedily and eagerly, even the air in the recording studio seemed full of novelty.

The emotions of nervousness and excitement mixed together made his shoulders and neck stiff, and his black shirt seemed to stick to his skin—

Was that… sweat?

Dallas was a little suspicious of his eyes, not understanding what was wrong with Anson.

Inadvertently, Dallas noticed Anson's peripheral vision drifting over, like a fox standing on an ice surface, cautiously pricking up its ears to observe its surroundings, any slight movement would make all the fur on its body stand on end.

At the end of his gaze, he slightly touched Dallas, but before there was time to clash, Anson had already retracted his gaze, pretending to continue observing the recording equipment in front of him.

Dallas became even more confused, he didn't understand Anson's words and actions.

What exactly is he doing?

Finally, Anson turned around, seemingly ready to start filming.

Anson stiffly and restrainedly bowed to Dallas, nodding lightly. He also realized that he should look directly at Dallas to show politeness, his eyes quietly drifting over, finally looking directly at Dallas.

But Dallas found that he couldn't see Anson's eyes head-on. Anson's gaze was raised slightly, as if he was staring at Dallas's brow—

Or perhaps his forehead.

Dallas's eyes moved upwards, trying to find something on his forehead, could it be that his forehead hid a third eye that he didn't know about?

The atmosphere in the recording studio gradually cooled down and settled, filled with a kind of cold and awkward feeling, although not serious or obvious, but still uncomfortable.

Dallas didn't understand what was happening.

"Ready!"

Mangold's voice came from the intercom, and the wandering and scattered thoughts instantly gathered together.

Dallas could clearly hear the sound of his heart hitting his chest, fast and heavy, almost about to explode, and his mouth was dry.

However, Mangold didn't notice Dallas.

"Anson, are you ready?"

All eyes were on Anson—

"No."

Anson said.

The whole scene froze, and then Anson added, "Can I run away now?"

At this time, people realized that Anson was joking and couldn't help but chuckle.

Mangold's mouth twitched slightly, revealing a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes, and then he became nervous again.

Although Anson was the actor that Mangold and Kitscher had painstakingly begged for, and also the actor recognized by Johnny Cash; but talking on paper is one thing, and actual cooperation is another.

The movie hadn't even started filming yet, and the back-and-forth tossing around during this time had been dizzying. As a result, the first scene was chosen to be such a difficult scene. Mangold had no confidence in his heart and was not sure what kind of result they would see after entering the working state.

Looking at Anson's nervousness at this time, Mangold still couldn't relax—

Whatever Anson said, Mangold tried his best to satisfy. In Mangold's view, they should trust Anson and give Anson enough respect and affirmation. This was the core of crew cooperation; but if Anson messed up from the beginning, Forest Film would not blame Anson, but blame Mangold for not fulfilling his responsibilities as a director.

Various thoughts filled his head, and Mangold was now also pretending to be calm.

Anson is nervous? Why is he nervous? It should just be a facade, right?

If Mangold knew that Anson's nervousness was real, he didn't know if he would stop breathing.

To be honest, Anson was indeed nervous.

First, he needed to show Johnny Cash's slightly green side.

In the 1950s, gospel music had unparalleled influence and inspired later soul music. Johnny himself was a devout believer, so he liked gospel music and was enthusiastic about singing gospel music, and he always consciously imitated the singing styles of those famous singers.

Mahalia Jackson, Sam Cooke, Clara Ward, and so on and so on.

However, the problem is that imitation often loses one's own edges and colors, and even if the imitation is lifelike, it will ultimately be impossible to surpass the original singer.

Originally, Sam Phillips was an innovator. He believed that the gospel music market was already too crowded and it was difficult to show his own characteristics; In addition, he himself had different ideas about music, so he had no interest in Johnny's singing at all.

Here, Anson needs to figure out the singing style of gospel music, and peel off his personal characteristics according to Johnny's youthfulness, presenting a mediocre and boring but not unpleasant singing.

This is difficult, five or ten times more difficult than the Grammy Awards stage.

Singing well is difficult; singing badly is even more difficult; singing neither good nor bad is the real problem.