From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

At the time, I was hesitating, unsure whether I should enter the meeting room, because Anson and Lucas still seemed to be engaged in deep conversation. Although I was very curious about their secrets, I knew this was Hollywood, and some secrets are best left unknown.

However, judging from the director's expression, things seemed to have cleared up, and I should go in to take over the work and prepare for the subsequent filming.

After all, because of Anson, we had delayed the filming schedule again, yes, for the one thousand and first time.

Just as I was pacing back and forth, I looked up and saw Anson coming out, locking onto my position, and striding towards me.

‘Ah, Cody!’

Cody was telling a story, but as soon as this sentence came out, there was a chorus of boos around him. No one believed him, and one or two people turned their thumbs down at Cody.

“Nonsense!”

“How is that possible! How could Hollywood actors remember our names?”

“I know, I know, those talk shows often say that actors remember, but that's just for show and public relations. No one takes it seriously.”

“Cody, wake up, stop dreaming.”

“The credibility of the story has been greatly reduced.”

“Haha, your fabricated story has exposed your lies!”

“Pfft! Cody, please don't talk nonsense in front of professionals, because we all know what's really going on.”

The crowd was bustling, chattering, and booing incessantly.

In front of these Hollywood veterans, Cody's "lie" seemed to be exposed.

However, the person involved looked aggrieved, a mouthful of air stuck in his throat, unable to defend himself.

“Really, what I'm saying is true.”

“At that time, Anson rushed out of the meeting room and saw me right in front of him, and he called out my name, ‘Ah, Cody!’”

But no one believed him.

Cody was extremely depressed, looking up at the sky, spreading his hands, feeling extremely frustrated that no one believed him even when he was telling the truth.

“Next time you guys go to Anson's crew and see for yourselves. If I'm lying, I'm a dog. He really called out my name, and more than once during the filming.”

Unfortunately, no one believed him, and they all showed perfunctory expressions.

“Okay, okay, let's just say that's how it is, so what happened next? Did the filming go smoothly? Anson spent so much effort studying the role, and the filming won't be a mess in the end, will it? That would be a huge embarrassment.”

Cody sighed speechlessly. What was with that perfunctory attitude? What did "let's just say that's how it is" mean? That tone of coaxing a child was really ridiculous.

But in the end, Cody still controlled himself. Anyway, time would prove everything, and those prejudices, those discriminations, those arrogances, they would all reveal their true colors—

Cody believed in Anson.

In fact, Cody, recalling his embarrassing first day on the set, was vaguely looking forward to it. These guys in front of him would also repeat his mistakes in the future, making fools of themselves in front of Anson. At that time, he would laugh at these poor guys to his heart's content. Involuntarily, he was actually looking forward to it a little.

So, Cody didn't continue to argue.

“Anson called me over because he needed to take a shower and change clothes to prepare for the performance.”

“Anson's original words were that, despite being nervous, Johnny had been looking forward to this day for a long time, and excitement and joy prevailed; moreover, Johnny had finally forgiven himself and found a new mission through music. He was ascending to Folsom Prison with enthusiasm.”

“The reason why this live performance at Folsom Prison will be etched in history and last forever is not only because of the prison environment, but more importantly, Johnny's belief and state of mind, so he needs to show a butterfly emerging from its cocoon.”

“Do you believe it? At that time, to be precise, on that day, Anson truly emerged from his cocoon.”

“That concert…”

As he spoke, Cody's mind once again evoked the memory of the filming at Folsom Prison that day, and those emotions and shocks surged up again, involuntarily immersing him in it.

The onlookers who had been straining their ears could no longer hold back and nudged Cody with their elbows, “Hey, don't savor it alone, tell us all about it.”

“Yes, yes, how was it? How does it compare to the performance at the Grammy Awards?”

“Honestly, the Grammys can't be surpassed, right?”

“Putting everything else aside, Anson's live appeal is indeed shocking. The Grammys almost blew my mind.”

The crowd was bustling and lively.

The words ended here, abruptly drawing to a close, completely catching people off guard.

The people in the small room could hardly believe their ears, and looked at Cody, protesting and complaining.

“That's it?”

“Damn it, what about the climax then? What about Anson's performance and the crew's filming? This later part is the focus of the story, right?”

Crackling and popping, Cody became the target of public criticism, with arrows, stones, and shells all thrown at him.

Cody, however, seemed particularly calm.

Gently shrugging his shoulders, Cody said, “Yes, this is the focus.”

“But since it's the focus, then you should wait until the movie is released to confirm it yourself. This is the charm of the movie, don't you think?”

Tsk!

Boo!

Get out, get out, muttered complaints.

Complaints, boos, jeers, attacks, everything exploded, and the party finally looked like a party again, becoming noisy again.

The scene in front of him made the smile on Cody's lips lift slightly, and a hint of smugness appeared in his eyes.

The circle surrounding Cody dispersed, and the turbid and scorching air became refreshing again. Curiosity was curiosity, but they were all Hollywood professionals. Filming movies, watching movies, and making movies had become a job, greatly reducing their attraction.

So, when Cody kept them in suspense, they didn't buy it.

In the end, only two or three friends were scattered nearby.

Someone noticed the expression on Cody's face and kicked Cody's calf, “Are you serious? Is the movie worth looking forward to?”

Cody did not hesitate, “Of course.”

“Wow.” He couldn't help but sigh, “It seems that this filming really made you look at Anson in a new light.”

Cody, “Practical actions are always more powerful than words.”

Could it be… is “Walk the Line” really worth looking forward to?

Considering that after the film project was indeed established, the whole of Hollywood was buzzing with discussions, whether it was Anson and Reese's partnership, or Mangold and Kitcher's combination, coupled with the script's fate of being circulated in Hollywood for more than ten years, the prospects for this film were really bleak.

But now, peeking into a corner from Cody's perspective, could "Walk the Line" have a chance to make a comeback?