From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Little by little, Scarlett's gloomy and lost mood brightened up; but the problem that plagued her remained unsolved, the difference being:

She thought, maybe Anson really does have the answer.

Lowering her head, Scarlett looked at Anson again, "How exactly did you do it? I mean, even if it's a fabrication, it can't be complete nonsense."

"Imagination," Anson pointed to his head.

Scarlett didn't believe it, "Please, I'm not a screenwriter, if I had such a rich imagination, I would have been sitting at the typewriter recording it."

Anson laughed heartily, "I'm telling the truth."

Scarlett blinked, noticing the sincerity in Anson's eyes, and fell into deep thought again.

Anson continued to explain, "The imagination I'm talking about is building a character based on your own understanding of the role and the story. It's like I said before, even the most ordinary, boring, and mediocre person has their own life. The things they experience are the key to shaping them as a character."

"What kind of personality will make what kind of actions, what kind of experience will leave what kind of traces. Everything is traceable, and every reaction naturally presented in the lens can land on the ground."

"In fact, the characters that appear in movies or TV shows are often not ordinary people, not even the supporting roles. Because the screenwriter tries to extract some drama or some uniqueness when creating the characters."

"To some extent, the screenwriter has secretly left creative space for the actors."

"I think this is a tacit understanding that doesn't need to be spoken between excellent screenwriters and excellent actors, although it's not always the case."

Scarlett seemed to understand a little, but also seemed not to fully understand, "Then, what is the difference between a screenwriter and an actor?"

As soon as she said it, Scarlett immediately realized that her question was not clear and complete enough. What she wanted to say was, what is the difference between a screenwriter shaping a character and an actor shaping a character, if both of them are trying to tell a story?

But without needing to explain, Anson already understood.

"Focus. Or rather, the starting point."

"The screenwriter's starting point is the story, the character should serve the entire story."

"The actor's starting point is the character, the story is the result triggered by the character's actions."

"From another perspective, the screenwriter sees the overall situation, while the actor sees the local. This difference determines that the two are far apart."

"So, the screenwriter creates the story and creates the characters, while the actor injects flesh and blood and soul into the characters."

"Analyzing the character, constructing the character, telling the story, this is one thing but also several completely different things. Actors rely on daily observation, daily accumulation, and rich imagination."

Finally, there is performance and interpretation.

But they are not discussing this part now, so Anson didn't speak.

It is precisely because of this that some actors delve into the character, establishing the character's life bit by bit in the form of a diary or autobiography, creating a sense of reality; or personally experience the character's life, using the body to perceive, using the five senses to experience, letting the details fill the fiction little by little, and finally landing on the ground, giving the character a down-to-earth sense of reality.

Everything is just such a principle.

Of course, this is just theoretical talk, Anson himself has not yet reached such a level:

First, he hasn't encountered such a role that requires in-depth exploration, requires constructing a pre-history, requires establishing layers, even "Catch Me If You Can" doesn't count.

Second, his own acting skills have not reached such a level. If he really goes from theory to practice, Anson estimates that he will need to explore it well.

However, even so, a kind of discussion, a kind of exploration, a kind of sharing, is still very beneficial. Not only is Scarlett immersed in the sea of thoughts, Anson himself can't help but chew carefully, throwing his understanding and gains to his colleagues, and waiting for feedback, to explore and think about his own performance.

Scarlett pondered for a moment, tilted her head slightly to look at Anson, trying to say something, the words were already on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't help but swallow them again, and then looked up at the woman in the white shirt across the road.

Everything, just as Anson said—

After calming down, you can find that there are logical loopholes behind Anson's words, things are not seamless and self-consistent. Looking back now, you can confirm that Anson should not know that woman.

However, rich and real details fill the head, even if you calm down, it is still vivid, and you can easily describe the image of that woman.

After a brief trough and confusion, Scarlett was actually faintly excited and eager, rubbing her hands in preparation to perform in front of the camera again.

She knows her strengths and weaknesses, and she knows her goals and dreams.

Now, she can't wait to return to her battlefield.

Raising her head, Scarlett looked at Anson.

That face is not unfamiliar, to be precise, it's not just not unfamiliar, from summer to autumn, Anson has become the head of the new generation, and the mighty wave of discussion can't stop at all; however, looking at Anson again at this moment, Scarlett feels strange, as if it were the first time they met.

About acting. About movies. About characters. About character psychology.

Obviously, Anson has his own ideas, and not just any random garbage ideas. If you think he is just a pretty face because of Anson's appearance, then the final outcome may be that you become a joke.

Involuntarily, Scarlett remembered the first time the two met.

A small accident, but Anson has already shown his ability to lie through his teeth, helping her find a short breathing space in the dull and tedious daily life.

Thinking about it this way, the Anson in front of her doesn't seem so unfamiliar anymore.

Perhaps, from beginning to end, Anson is Anson, and it is she herself who is trapped and deceived, which is why she didn't see clearly.

But, every time she meets Anson, there seems to be an unexpected gain. Under the seemingly same appearance, she can always dig out different colors.

Then.

Anson raised his eyes, the two people's eyes collided in the air inadvertently, Scarlett's mind was surging, and she was caught on the spot, hurriedly shifting her gaze, her ears caught the laughter deep in Anson's throat, and then she realized that her actions were simply trying to cover up, and she couldn't help but look over again, looking at Anson's eyes generously.

Clear, bright, as if able to see through her disguise.