From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

The term "large-scale film crew" refers to size. A small film crew might have thirty or fifty people, but the "Spider-Man" crew's New York filming team alone numbered as many as three hundred and sixty. This doesn't even include the massive teams in Burbank, Los Angeles, building sets in the studio and those responsible for post-production computer effects.

It also specifically refers to the scale of the operation. Every week and every month, countless film crews shoot in New York, but almost no one chooses locations like the Metropolitan Museum of Art because they all know how much trouble it is to maintain order on site, requiring manpower, resources, and endless energy.

The "Spider-Man" crew applied for filming permits from the New York City Hall a full three months in advance and only committed to shooting this scene after the initial break-in period. However, the actual chaos and noise still made the entire crew spin like a top.

Pressure, countless pressures, came rushing in, all piling onto the actors—

If the filming goes smoothly, they can wrap up as soon as possible and end this torment early.

But what if they keep getting takes wrong?

In fact, the crew had already messed up three times.

Each time they messed up, the scene needed to be readjusted because Sam Raimi wanted to use natural light, but in March in New York, natural light was not sufficient. The light could subtly change every five or ten minutes, forcing the crew to repeatedly adjust the filming parameters.

They certainly didn't want the actors to look like zombies on the big screen.

Three takes gone wrong was still within the crew members' tolerance, but the pressure was indeed increasing bit by bit; moreover, the onlookers on site were not helping.

The news of the theft at Sony Columbia Studios at the beginning of the year, where the Spider-Man suit was lost, really caused a stir, drawing the attention of all the media and paparazzi. Sony Columbia's tight-lipped approach only fueled the media's interest, and paparazzi swarmed the crew, constantly leaking information.

Just as the crew was about to start filming, the news that Anson would play Spider-Man could no longer be contained, and the media exploded instantly, rushing to the scene.

Today was no exception.

The pervasive paparazzi were scattered and hidden among the onlookers, stirring up excitement and watching the show, which created unnecessary trouble for the filming.

Filming, difficult, it's really too difficult.

Cliff Robertson sat in the driver's seat of the car, closed his eyes, and obediently waited for the makeup artist to absorb oil and touch up his makeup.

"Sorry, I'm just an oil field; I look like a snow globe on camera."

Pfft.

The makeup artist couldn't help but laugh.

Cliff himself was no exception, the corners of his mouth slightly raised. After the makeup artist finished, he opened his eyes and noticed Anson in the passenger seat, with a smile also appearing in his eyes and at the corners of his mouth. He blinked, "Sorry, I shouldn't have joked around and ruined your emotional buildup."

Anson shrugged lightly, "If I wanted to, I could always blame someone else, like today's terrible weather in New York."

Cliff laughed out loud.

The tense atmosphere in the car eased slightly—

Cliff Robertson, the actor playing Ben Parker, Peter Parker's uncle.

Younger audiences didn't know much about Cliff, including Anson. The new generation's understanding of him was limited to Spider-Man's "Uncle Ben." However, Cliff, who was seventy-seven this year, once had his own glory in Hollywood.

He first performed in a stage play in 1952, made his big-screen debut in 1955, and was a talented singer and dancer. He was once nominated for a Tony Award, won an Emmy Award, and in 1968, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his outstanding performance in "Charly."

In other words, thirty years ago, Cliff already possessed the status that countless actors dreamed of.

During "The Princess Diaries," Garry Marshall insisted on using Julie Andrews, allowing Julie to return to a major production after ten years.

This time, "Spider-Man" was the same. Because of Sam Raimi's insistence, Cliff, who had been silent for many years, finally got another chance to perform in a mainstream movie.

The kind-faced old man, who had washed away all the glamour, appeared in front of the camera again, with more composure and calmness.

At this moment, the scene that Cliff and Anson were filming was crucial—

After Peter Parker obtained his superpowers, his youthful spirit gradually stirred. Having been bullied in school, he finally found an opportunity to fight back, which made him ecstatic and boosted his confidence.

On the one hand, he wanted to confess to Mary Jane; on the other hand, he planned to use his superpowers to show off in an underground boxing match and earn pocket money.

However, Uncle Ben noticed these changes.

Originally, Uncle Ben thought it was just a hormonal change in a teenager; but after hearing news from the school, Uncle Ben was worried that Peter would go astray. So, while escorting Peter to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, he tried to persuade Peter, but Peter was preoccupied with going to the underground boxing match and couldn't listen at all.

Hastily, the two parted on bad terms.

Unexpectedly, this became their final farewell.

That night, the robber that Peter deliberately let go to retaliate against the organizers of the underground boxing match killed Uncle Ben, who had come to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to pick Peter up, during the escape. Because of Peter's momentary lapse, he and his uncle were separated by life and death.

In other words, this scene gives Peter a shock in terms of family, youth, growth, and so on, forcing him to start facing his superpowers.

Filming was not easy.

In the three takes gone wrong, Anson messed up twice, and Cliff once.

Waiting for the makeup artist and other staff to leave, Cliff looked at Anson, and without concealing or beating around the bush, he said bluntly.

"You're still too tense. What's wrong, feeling pressure?"

Anson was stunned—

Indeed, he was.

Unlike any previous filming, not to mention "Friends" and "The Princess Diaries," even the previous filming of "Spider-Man" was different. Today, Anson's shoulders carried tremendous pressure, and he needed to use his performance to give the character layers and depth.

In his previous life, Tobey Maguire's performance in this scene was too thin and too direct, superficial, and completely idol-like. Facing Cliff, this veteran actor, he failed to create sparks in the back-and-forth scene, so the emotions that Cliff conveyed were not heavy enough.

It's not to say it was bad, just a little bland.

A good scene requires the cooperation of two people to be wonderful.

Anson hoped that he could put on a better performance.

But obviously, this was not easy.

Cliff didn't wait for an answer, but he didn't need an answer. He could tell from Anson's expression that there were mixed emotions surging in his brows and eyes.

Cliff continued.

"I believe you've already constructed the entire scene in your mind and have the effect you hope to achieve, but with acting, the more effort you put in, the less likely you are to achieve the effect."

"Why not relax a little, trust your intuition, and let it flow naturally."