From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

People pushing, people shoving.

Steven felt a little helpless.

He had experienced the frenzy of the Oscars, the fervor of the three major European film festivals, and the crush of summer blockbuster premieres. He had seen scenes big and small, yet he was still taken aback by the sight before him—

The root cause was the limited space.

The show's tent had limited space, and the backstage area was even smaller, barely enough to stretch one's limbs. People had to squeeze past each other. Now, everyone was swarming into the backstage area, leaving hardly any room to breathe, making it incredibly crowded.

Now, there wasn't even space to stand.

Turning his head, Steven wanted to make a comment to Tom, but he found that Tom had fallen behind, with a bunch of sardine heads crammed between them.

Steven: ? ? ?

From afar, Tom also looked puzzled and couldn't help but chuckle. He couldn't even raise his hand, so he just shrugged, using body language to express his helplessness.

Even more remarkably, Steven and Tom, who were usually the center of attention wherever they went, seemed to have become ordinary here. Despite being in the middle of a surging crowd, no one paid any attention to them.

Steven noticed that he had made eye contact with a girl, a definite acknowledgment from both sides, but the girl calmly shifted her gaze without a ripple, as if he were just a strange old man.

For a moment, Steven wasn't sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing.

Wait, can someone explain why they were here?

Wasn't the show over? Shouldn't they be leaving? Why were they here, and for what purpose?

Steven looked around, only to find himself in a dilemma. Turning back was no easier than moving forward.

This…

"Steven!"

Just then, a voice cut in. Steven reflexively turned his head and was surprised to see Edgar poking his head out—

Before him was a wooden wall with ornate patterns, concealing a hidden door. It was seamless. If the hidden door hadn't been opened, there would have been no way to tell it was there.

Steven blinked, and before he could respond, Edgar had already protected Steven, pulling him away from the crowd and into the hidden door.

At this point, Steven stopped rushing to speak, put his hands behind his back, and looked at Tom with a contented expression, slightly raising his chin.

"Similarly, I also like people like that, with a bit of mystery, sparking curiosity, always making people want to explore, adventure, and study." Edgar didn't finish his sentence, chatting casually as he led the way.

However, both men were foxes who had seen countless storms. They immediately understood the deeper meaning of Edgar's words. He was guiding the conversation towards Anson.

But this was not unexpected. It would have been strange if Edgar hadn't mentioned him at all; moreover, Edgar's entry was very natural.

A faint smile appeared on the corner of Tom's mouth, "Who are you referring to?"

"A lover. Also, a friend." Edgar gave an unexpected answer unhurriedly, "Whether it's love or friendship, it has more uncertainty than family, but in my opinion, that's its charm."

Steven interjected, "Coincidentally, you and Tom share the same idea. It seems you both like mysterious women."

Edgar turned to look over, "Rita?"

The subtext was that he hadn't expected Tom's wife, Rita, to be the mysterious woman type.

Tom was stunned, and a smile had already crept onto his lips.

The atmosphere completely relaxed.

At this point, Edgar appropriately steered the conversation, "In fact, that's also why I signed Anson in the first place. I was curious."

"Even if it's full of unknowns?" Tom asked.

Edgar nodded, "Even if it's full of unknowns! But so far, he has indeed been full of surprises."

"Before filming 'The Princess Diaries,' I never knew he could compose music; before filming 'Spider-Man,' I never knew he could do photography. Oh, right, he can also paint."

"Not just some casual amateur hobby."

Casually and nonchalantly, Edgar successfully caught Steven and Tom's attention. The two exchanged a look:

Surprise, definitely a surprise.

Although they had already seen different sides of Anson, they didn't expect even more surprises. This further proved that Anson was the best choice for Little Frank Abagnale, even more suitable than Leonardo.

Perhaps, they really should thank Jeff Robinov.

Steven could sense the smile in Tom's eyes. He didn't respond, but instead looked at Edgar, "Are you trying to get Anson a role?"

Edgar wasn't surprised, "Yes." A big smile bloomed on his lips, "I think Anson deserves a chance."

An audition opportunity, or a collaboration opportunity?

Edgar left some room for interpretation, without needing to spell it out himself.

Steven chuckled, "You don't even know what role it is."

Edgar shook his head, "Even if it's not for this collaboration opportunity, I look forward to future collaborations."

"For Anson, or for the other actors you have?"

"Haha, let's focus on the present, shall we? I don't work for Creative Artists Agency, which is all about bundling deals; but we also shouldn't deny any potential possibilities, right?"

Light, humorous.

Steven and Tom both laughed, and then Steven didn't hesitate any longer. No matter how much fluff was in Edgar's words, at least it proved one thing: Edgar's interpretation of 'Catch Me If You Can' was correct—

Without reading the script or knowing the specific character image, either Edgar had quickly read Frank Abagnale Jr.'s autobiography, or Edgar had a precise grasp of the character. But either way, Edgar had accurately grasped the lifeline.

This was enough to make Steven even more interested in Anson.

The decision wasn't difficult.

As a director, Steven believed that directors shouldn't rely on actors. He had that much confidence.

Thus,

Steven spoke, "Contact the office and arrange for Anson to come to Los Angeles for a screen test, of course, after the work in Paris is finished."

That's it?

Without any ceremony or fanfare, it was decided just like that.

Edgar's mind raced.

There was surprise, delight, and also confusion—

Was Steven inviting a screen test or a formal role?

But on the surface, Edgar remained composed, asking calmly, "So, what specific role is it? I need to confirm my source, if this is wrong, I'll need to think twice next time."