From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

"What did you think of the audition?" Anson proactively changed the subject.

Marcia, with her seasoned experience, could immediately see Anson's haste in changing the topic. She was just about to call him out when a third party interrupted.

Nicholas finally found an opening, his face overflowing with barely suppressed excitement, "The air was practically on fire, okay?"

Marcia gave Anson a deep look. Nicholas's interruption had bought Anson some breathing room, and pressing him further wouldn't yield anything more now.

Marcia took a deep breath, somewhat resignedly changing the topic, nodding, "Undoubtedly, your chemistry is something to look forward to."

"But?" Anson noticed the implication in Marcia's words.

Marcia didn't deny it, "But, I actually think Rachel would be more suitable."

"Rachel McAdams…" Marcia was about to elaborate, but Anson nodded, cutting off the explanation, "I know which Rachel you mean."

Marcia said, "Eva's boldness, courage, and daring are undeniably a form of sexiness. She would radiate brilliance on the big screen, and I can imagine why Evan would fall in love with her. She is a light."

"But."

"For most of the movie, she is disheveled, broken, and even dirty. There should be a kind of broken yet resilient beauty about her."

"Eva… is too strong, too individual, too dazzling."

"Of course, if she were a method actor, perhaps she could handle the role, but clearly, she has no acting experience. Right now, it seems she can only show one side of the character, unable to handle the different images in the script."

"If choosing Eva, I personally think Claire Danes might be more suitable."

"Rachel isn't a very experienced actress either. If the director's lens can't interpret Rachel's performance, then the character presented might also be a disaster."

The words stopped there.

Nicholas savored it for a moment. He could understand Marcia's meaning, but he still couldn't help but regret, "I like the tension between Anson and Eva. That kind of chemistry can make the audience feel the heat."

"It would be a shame to miss it."

The scene from just now played out before his eyes, and it was very impactful, making one's face flush, heart pound, and mouth dry.

Marcia agreed—

The spark between actors is a very magical thing. Maybe the actors themselves don't feel it, but it can easily move the audience.

Like Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, like Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, and like Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable.

These actors may be friends, ordinary colleagues, or even enemies in private. Whatever the relationship, there is definitely no romantic relationship, but the chemistry on the big screen is intoxicating.

However, Marcia also had different ideas, "There's also a spark between Anson and Rachel. To be precise, this handsome guy is suitable for falling in love with different beauties. I'm not worried about the chemistry at all."

"In 'The Butterfly Effect', the chemistry between Evan and Kayleigh shouldn't be earth-shattering. Instead, it should have a naive romantic fantasy like a Nicholas Sparks novel, untainted, without flaws or shortcomings, because everything is the way Evan expects it to be, 100% perfect."

"So, I actually think Eva is not very suitable. She should film a passionate love movie with Anson, or a Shakespearean tragedy, a heartbreaking love that ends in tragedy."

"From this perspective, Rachel is more suitable. She is purer, simpler, and sweeter. She often represents people's simple imagination of first love and happiness. If the director can capture the fragility and sadness in Rachel, I think she and Anson should be able to take the movie to the next level."

Nicholas Sparks's most famous work is undoubtedly "The Notebook," which can be simply understood as "American Qiong Yao."

Anson looked at Marcia with a face of astonishment, "Wait, isn't Nicholas Sparks dramatic and turbulent enough?"

The rhetorical question made Nicholas secretly chuckle beside him. Marcia slightly opened her mouth, she was just about to explain herself, but seeing Anson's smile, she immediately understood that Anson wasn't clueless, but joking.

So, Marcia ignored Anson, deliberately turned her head away from Anson's gaze, took a deep breath, and looked at Nicholas to bring the topic back.

"I think we should look at more."

"It's too early to draw conclusions now… maybe there will be better choices later."

Marcia paused for a moment at the end of her sentence and added another sentence, which made Anson look over, a smile appearing in his eyes, the grand finale was actually… just this?

Marcia's face was calm.

"Now you know how difficult my job is, right?"

"Honestly, the work we spend ten days, half a month, or even longer to complete can be easily overturned by a director and producer with just one sentence."

"It was the same with 'The Princess Diaries' back then."

Anson pointed to himself innocently, "Are you complaining to me? I guarantee I have never made things difficult for any casting director."

Marcia didn't care, "Of course, you are a producer for the first time. If I don't bully you now, I might not have the chance anymore."

Actually… it could be interpreted this way.

Anson couldn't help but chuckle, "Tom Hanks told me that as a producer, I should learn to respect professionalism, so, is that what you mean?"

Marcia smiled and nodded repeatedly, "Tom, oh, dear Tom, that's why Tom is so popular, who can refuse him? Dear Anson, please believe in Tom's golden rule, it will make your life in Hollywood much smoother."

"What about the other Tom?" Anson asked—

Tom Cruise.

A meaningful smile immediately appeared on the corner of Marcia's mouth, "That's another story."

Although she didn't reveal any secrets, Anson still tasted the deeper meaning.

From an outsider's perspective, Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Leonardo DiCaprio should be similar, anyway, they are all superstars, commanding the wind and rain, turning beans into soldiers, they all stand at the top of the pyramid.

However, the reality is not so.

Within the Hollywood industry, actors are very different from each other, and the people on set also have clear preferences for who they like to work with. Perhaps, they are just wage earners, unable to change or shake the world of these top superstars, but never forget:

Small ghosts are hard to deal with.

Even if they are just corporate slaves, they are still the soil of the vanity fair.

Judging from Marcia's words just now—

Let's not talk about how other positions on the set view Tom Cruise, but it can be 100% certain that casting directors don't like him.

This is an interesting thing.