From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

June, afternoon.

Rarely seen, golden sunlight enveloped the entire city of New York, the languid heat slowly spreading through the towering steel and concrete forest, the crispness of early summer intertwined with the heat, making people want to picnic on the green lawns of Central Park.

Without a doubt, it was a perfect afternoon for a picnic.

However, picnics take time, and not everyone can enjoy such leisure; the city is still bustling, with a constant flow of people coming and going, each immersed in their own world, busy and rushing.

Duncan Lewis was sprinting, riding his bicycle, with a red pizza box on his back, speeding between vehicles, rushing through the city streets.

However, the traffic wasn't helping.

Right ahead, the road was completely blocked, not just a simple traffic jam, but a street closure, causing Duncan to groan, unable to control his disappointment.

Street closure, why a street closure?

Moreover, not just a street closure, but the yellow barricade was surrounded by layers upon layers of people, densely packed, extending as far as the eye could see.

No end in sight.

With a brake, Duncan stopped at the intersection, his brain quickly working, thinking about how he should detour to deliver the pizza home in time.

But the problem was that this was only his second day on the job, and he was still unfamiliar with the streets.

He originally thought that delivering pizza only required physical strength; now he realized that arranging routes was also a skill.

Damn it!

Duncan looked left and right, trying to identify a route, but he was still clueless, he didn't even know where the street closure area ended, what to do?

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the crowd, they didn't seem to be watching the excitement, but were... queuing?

Just then, he noticed a person in the line smiling at him, Duncan stepped forward, "Excuse me, what's going on here? Where does the street closure area end?"

That was a middle-aged man in his forties, with a bald forehead, shiny and bright, ordinary-looking, disappearing into the crowd, but he always had a smile on his face, easily standing out from the crowd, inexplicably, immediately catching the eye.

Therefore, Duncan saw him at a glance.

"John Landis." The middle-aged man extended his right hand.

Duncan dazedly shook the other person's right hand: What's happening here?

Without Duncan needing to explain, this John took the initiative to explain.

"Ah ha, this is the filming set of 'Spider-Man 2', today is the first day of the crew's official start, but there should still be three hours before the filming."

"So, you're also here to apply for a street extra?"

Duncan was stunned, just about to turn and leave, but was caught by this sentence, "You're an actor?"

John revealed a smile, "Of course, I've been a guest star in over forty movies and TV shows, 'Six Feet Under', 'The Sopranos', 'Rush Hour', 'Terminator 2', I've seen all kinds of superstars on set."

"If you're willing, you can too."

"You know, here, you can see Anson Wood and Kirsten Dunst, well, at least Anson, I'm not sure if Kirsten has any scenes today."

Duncan completely forgot that he should leave, staring blankly at John.

John liked moments like this, as if a small spotlight was focused on him, his smile becoming even more radiant.

"Because we all know that this movie is 100% going to be a success, everyone will go to the cinema to watch it, this is the best opportunity for you to be seen on the big screen, you don't want to miss such an opportunity."

"Without a doubt, this is the most anticipated event in the first half of this year, all the actors are looking forward to this day, hoping to be a part of it."

"Even if it's just a crowd background, you never know how you'll appear in the movie, it's like playing Where's Waldo — surprise!"

Unconsciously, a small group of listeners gathered around, including others who were queuing, each with a look of anticipation and excitement on their faces, just missing a bucket of popcorn, the party atmosphere was already brewing.

Duncan couldn't help but ask, "Everyone? Like Brad Pitt?"

John laughed directly, "Maybe Brad Pitt also wants to be a part of it, but is too shy to admit it."

Haha, everyone burst into laughter, the atmosphere was very lively.

Duncan laughed along, he was also a little eager, at this time he finally remembered that he still had work, "I do hope to quit this stupid job and join you, but obviously I should still finish this order."

Saying that, Duncan patted the box behind him.

John didn't continue to persuade him.

"That's a pity."

"Here, the whole street is closed, the application was submitted as early as three months ago, three streets radiating from here are all in the street closure area."

"If you want to detour, you better go further."

Duncan let out a long breath, "I think I must leave now, otherwise I'll be late."

Duncan looked at the surge in front again, with undisguised disappointment on his cheeks, but finally turned and left reluctantly.

Aside, another young man on a skateboard wearing a hat glanced at the direction Duncan left, and then looked at John, interjecting to ask.

"So, how do I get to Corsi Street and Grand Street?"

John exclaimed, "Oh, God, that's inside the street closure area, are you going in there to work?"

"Street closures not only prohibit vehicles from passing, but pedestrians can't pass casually either; but I think if they are residents here or people in office buildings, they are not restricted, do you have a pass? You can go over and ask."

"Do you see that black luxury trailer?"

The skateboard boy looked over following John's finger, "What's wrong with that?"

"That's Anson Wood's exclusive trailer, the soul of the entire crew. I'm just reminding you, don't go to the wrong place, the tent in front of the trailer, that's the reporting place, also the gathering place for staff, you can go over and ask how to pass, but you don't want to be mistaken for a bonehead."

"Wow, that's a behemoth, looks like a Transformer." The skateboard boy couldn't help but exclaim.

A burst of cheerful laughter around, and someone shouted "Welcome to Hollywood", as a result, the people next to them complained, "Manhattan", "Geography idiot".

John looked at the skateboard boy with a smile, "He deserves such treatment, the hottest young man in Hollywood right now; but hey, who knows, maybe soon you can have your own trailer too."

More laughter and whistles, the atmosphere was exceptionally lively.

The skateboard boy nodded in thanks, "Hope everything goes smoothly with today's filming."

After speaking, he stepped on the skateboard and flew towards the front of the long line, with everyone's eyes focused on him.

Someone in the crowd said curiously, "Don't you think that back view looks a lot like Anson?"