From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

In the face of "Spider-Man's" overwhelming success, Edgar remained calm, even becoming more so as the box office repeatedly broke records.

Popularity, bubbles, heatwaves – these are all just froth, merely appearing lively; it won't be long before the heat subsides, gradually revealing the unchanging truth of the ruthless world of fame and fortune —

Profit.

Of course, Anson could strike while the iron is hot, taking on lead roles in a series of large-scale projects, enjoying unparalleled popularity for a time; but the pressure waiting to backfire would slowly accumulate.

Once the movie is released, if the box office falls short of expectations, or even if it doesn't fail but simply doesn't meet the film company's psychological expectations, making them realize that Anson's return on investment hasn't reached the anticipated value, they will not hesitate to shift the blame onto Anson.

At that time, Anson, whose foundation is still shallow, will be unable to withstand the storm, and his career will take a sharp turn for the worse.

“For investment projects exceeding one hundred million dollars, we need to be more cautious in our selection, especially now that ‘Spider-Man 2’ is on the agenda, which is our next focus. Unless there's an exciting script or a production cast worth anticipating, there's no need for us to rush into filming such large-scale projects.”

“But,”

“If we turn around and plunge into the independent film market, that wouldn't be appropriate either.”

“Whether it's a special project like ‘Elephant’ or other projects that focus on acting skills and aim for awards, such a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree turn is not suitable.”

Anson interrupted, “A one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn.”

Edgar was taken aback, “Huh?”

A hint of a smile appeared in Anson's eyes, “A three-hundred-and-sixty-degree turn would bring us back to the starting point; a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn is a complete reversal.”

Edgar: …

But seeing that Anson was still in the mood to joke, he relaxed slightly.

“A one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn.”

“What I mean is, that would seem too radical and too eager, almost like completely abandoning the commercial film market, destroying the results we've built up along the way. That would definitely be a terrible decision.”

It seemed that, like Lucas and the others, Edgar also had his concerns.

Although Edgar had never admitted it, the criticisms from the media had still had an impact, prompting Edgar to reorganize his strategy.

Anson agreed with this —

There was no need to be too hasty.

“Transforming from a pretty face into a Best Actor isn't something that happens overnight; it takes time, it requires groundwork, otherwise people won't accept it.”

Anson's unhurried words brought a helpless smile to Edgar's face, “You're not a pretty face.”

Anson shrugged lightly, “People always think that ‘pretty face’ is a derogatory term, but the reality is that people always crave what they can't get. I suspect that Jack Nicholson probably wished he could be a pretty face but couldn't, which is why he honed his acting skills.”

Pfft.

Edgar imagined Jack Nicholson's face in “The Shining,” and couldn't help but laugh.

But Anson still looked calm, “So?”

Edgar composed himself, “So, we should proceed step by step.”

“Perhaps a mid-sized investment project, between ten million and fifty million dollars, would be a better choice at this stage.”

Although the entire Hollywood's attention was focused on large-scale projects exceeding one hundred million dollars, the fact was that, not just now, but even twenty years later, medium-sized investment projects were the mainstay of Hollywood films.

After all, even for a wealthy company like Warner Bros., the number of large-scale projects it could launch each year was limited.

Mid-sized investment projects were not only numerous but also diverse in subject matter and genre, fully covering action, science fiction, disaster, romance, comedy, horror, and more, including a series of B-movies in the superhero genre.

On the one hand, the investment cost wasn't low, ensuring that the crew had room to maneuver within a certain range.

On the other hand, the investment cost wasn't enough to burn on computer special effects, forcing the crew to start from other aspects to ensure the quality of the film.

The result was that medium-sized investment projects often discovered a broader world, with a dazzling array of excellent works far exceeding expectations.

“Of course, medium-sized investment projects are limited by funding, and the scenes may not be very grand, so the box office may lack explosive power. Even if they reap a harvest, it's often just a small hit.”

“But I believe that such projects can give actors more room to play, rather than being overshadowed by visual effects like in ‘Spider-Man.’”

“In this way, the audience can truly focus their attention on you.”

Not a large-scale commercial film, nor a niche independent art film, but finding a middle ground in a broader market —

Ensuring quality while reducing pressure, ensuring that Anson can explore more possibilities in the actor position.

Just listening to it, you could tell that Edgar had put a lot of thought into it recently.

Anson didn't agree or disagree, but said meaningfully, “What project did you get your hands on?”

Edgar, “Huh?”

Anson, “Ideas are just ideas, but that's just a general concept. You must have seen a project that perfectly fits your vision, so you've decided on the direction.”

Edgar was stunned, “Wow, did you install surveillance cameras in my house?”

Anson looked serious, “No, just the office.”

Edgar: …

Anson laughed heartily, “You should see your expression. It's just because you just said that there happened to be a script that caught your eye, I just made a reasonable deduction.”

Magic is just sleight of hand.

Edgar readily admitted defeat, “Indeed, I saw this project.”

“In fact, it was a project submitted to other agents at William Morris, but my colleagues thought this script was too brain-burning and probably wouldn't have a market, so it was put in the junk room —”

“Oh, William Morris has a junk room, which not only contains sponsors' products, a pile of junk, but also script projects that agents are temporarily not interested in, left there to gather dust. If you're willing to spend time, you might be able to find some treasures, but the chances are slim.”

“Anyway, I saw this script, and I have different ideas from my colleagues. I think such a script, such a project, is very suitable for you.”

“This is a love story, see, we need to continue your image as a dream lover; but at the same time, it's a science fiction story, which means you can explore the character, complete the performance, and show the audience your different qualities.”

“So, I think I should let you see the script.”

“When you're scouting locations in Columbus, take some time to read it and pass the time.”

“If you're interested, we'll contact the director or screenwriter to see what's going on, but if you're not interested, we'll continue searching.”

“Don't worry, and don't rush, we have enough time to search slowly.”

So that's how it is.

With that, Edgar was about to turn around and leave, “That's it, then I won't bother you and your family on vacation, enjoy your holiday.”

“Edgar, the script.” Anson called out helplessly.

Edgar patted his head, obviously Wood's family had made him dizzy this morning, and he hadn't been able to recover until now.

“Sorry, my memory.” Edgar patted his head, stopped, took out a thick stack of scripts from his briefcase and handed it to Anson, “Don't worry, the script isn't that long, there are just some filming plans, apparently the director is still unsure about the ending.”

Anson took the script and looked down, and the cover clearly read —

“The Butterfly Effect”.