From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Later, people often wondered why Hollywood movie companies liked to shoot sequel movies? Why, even when comic-adapted superhero movies disappointed at the box office, did sequels keep coming one after another? Why, even after the complete decline of superhero movies, did movie companies continue to release brand new works?

The reason lies here:

Whether it's Warner Bros. or Disney, including Universal Pictures and Sony Columbia, the part where they truly make money has never been the movie box office, but rather movie merchandise and theme parks. Movies are merely a promotional link in a massive industrial chain close to the market.

The situation is the same now. "Magic Cinderella's" performance is far below expectations, but Disney is still fully promoting it, launching the second round of publicity non-stop.

That's why Anson had a surprise visit to the set.

However, Anson still underestimated Disney's determination, with a full day's work schedule.

Before Anne could speak, the suite door was pushed open again. The person who had just left returned, looked at Anson's profile, and didn't care whether he interrupted the conversation.

"Sorry, I just forgot to say that Anne is very willing to talk about her next work, August 11th, right in August, the movie is about to hit the big screen."

"Of course, there's also the next next work we're discussing. She's very willing to share some information with you."

Anson raised an eyebrow slightly—

Sure enough, as expected, the publicity for "Magic Cinderella" was just an introduction. The real gimmick was yet to come.

Anson, "Oh, that's a good thing. Our readers are very happy to be able to get this news one step ahead."

But that person didn't wait for Anson to finish speaking, and closed the door again and left.

Just like that... left...

From beginning to end, that person had never looked Anson in the eye, so Anson's "Superman glasses" were still perfectly functioning as a mask.

Anson looked at Anne, with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

Anne only felt a headache, and chuckled helplessly, "What he just said was 'The Princess Diaries 2'."

Anson suddenly understood, "Oh, the movie is actually ready to be released!"

Anne took a long breath, "Yes, we all hope it won't clash with 'Spider-Man 2'."

Anson laughed directly, "Don't worry, our target markets are different. So, there's another one after that? It seems your schedule is completely full."

The smile on the corner of Anne's mouth pursed slightly, like butterfly wings, almost disappearing in the sunlight, "I wish it wasn't so soon."

Anson keenly captured the sigh and bitterness in Anne's words, "What happened?"

Anne waved her hand subconsciously, "No, it's nothing, just some of my own random thoughts."

Anson didn't continue to ask, but instead leaned back slightly, raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, "Just to clarify, I'm not a paparazzi."

That anxious clarification made Anne regain her smile. Her mind relaxed slightly, and she looked at Anson quietly, her thoughts churning in her mind.

On an impulse, the words naturally came out.

"I don't know, I just feel..."

Anne was slightly stunned, the thoughts in her mind echoed, but she heard her own voice whispering to herself.

"It feels like I'm trapped."

"The huge success of 'The Princess Diaries' far exceeded my imagination. Hollywood is like a mysterious fairy tale book, opening up in front of me."

"It's not just the box office, the influence outside of that is all-pervasive. Can you believe it, some people really think I'm a princess from some country."

"Princess Mia."

"I don't even know how to respond. I finally understand why people always call movies the art of dreaming. It's too real."

"But the problem is also here."

"Now in Hollywood, my image is that of a princess, a Barbie doll wearing a princess dress, because that's what the audience thinks. All the producers, all the directors, and even other actors have fixed me in the image of a princess."

Anne gently exhaled, listlessly tugging at her skirt, the curve of her mouth revealing a hint of bitterness.

"So, the only roles I can get now are princess, princess, princess."

"'Magic Cinderella' is a princess, 'The Princess Diaries 2' is a princess, and the one I'm currently discussing is still a princess role. It's not even a vase role, not a student, not a girl, just a Barbie doll pretending to be a princess."

"I know, I know, these words seem arrogant and ungrateful. In Hollywood, there are countless actors who are buried, ignored, and overlooked. They don't even have the chance to be seen, but I'm here picking and choosing."

"But..."

The words stopped abruptly.

Anne sat there blankly, giving Anson a big smile.

However, the bitterness and sadness hidden in the smile quietly revealed themselves.

Anson shook his head, "I don't think that's arrogance, it's a normal consideration."

"When we are trapped in an image, it also means that the focus of an actor's career is lost. A character actor cannot have a real career."

"You are the same, and so am I."

"Once, we thought that we only needed to seize an opportunity to get on the big screen, and all our dreams would come true, just like in a Disney fairy tale, the prince and princess lived happily ever after, and that was the end."

"But only after it's truly completed will you realize that this is just the first step. Life is long, the future is far away, and things are far from easy to achieve."

"Otherwise, Macaulay Culkin would not be forever trapped in the body of Kevin from 'Home Alone.' Even now, he still hasn't been able to get rid of it."

"Some people will say that at least he succeeded once, which is a dream that half of Hollywood actors cannot achieve; but the problem is that he succeeded once, and then needs to face a long and difficult failure, which makes people wonder if life would have been better if he hadn't experienced that success."

"Life... is like a box of chocolates, you never know what flavor you're going to get."

Obviously, Anson was joking, the last sentence was a legendary classic line from "Forrest Gump."

Anne immediately understood, "Ha! 'Run, Forrest, run!'"

She also joked, but the smile didn't stay on the corner of her mouth for long before drooping down again, falling into thought, but there was only endless nothingness in her brain.

Anne sighed softly.

"So, is this what growing up is like? We all have to face the complexities and difficulties of life, going around in circles, trapped in the same place, but never finding the answer."

"If life could always be simple, if we didn't have to grow up, that would be great."

Anne raised her eyes to look at Anson, revealing a hint of helplessness and fragility, but inadvertently noticed the faint sadness and bitterness in Anson's smile.

She couldn't help but freeze.