"Hmm... I might need to give it some serious thought."
Anson said this with a completely serious expression.
Gary's smile froze slightly, and he tilted his head, staring at Anson in disbelief, starting to doubt what he had just heard.
Then.
Gary saw Anson looking back at him openly, their gazes meeting, "Oh, do I need to decide right now?"
Anson's honesty was so disarming that it made Gary feel a bit awkward. He coughed twice to cover his embarrassment, turning his gaze away with a pout, and reluctantly offered a polite response, "Of course, you have the right to decide. It's a two-way street."
Anson exhaled lightly, "I almost thought I'd lost an important role because of my little joke earlier."
It was only then that Gary realized everything had been a joke—
This guy!
But instead of being annoyed, Gary felt delighted, like the sun breaking through after a storm, with all his worries, anxieties, and hesitations dissolving away.
Imagining the scenes in his mind, Gary felt that whether it was Liv Tyler or Anne Hathaway, they would both be able to create sparks with Anson.
What to do now? He was already getting impatient, wanting to jump into production and start filming immediately, the urge burning in his veins.
Marcia could tell at a glance that Gary was in a great mood, with no intention of reprimanding Anson for his little joke. She said with a meaningful tone, "It seems the director is very pleased with you."
Anson responded just right, "It's an honor."
No jokes this time, just pure sincerity.
This was as good as confirming: the decision was made.
Gary nodded in satisfaction, "If everything goes as planned, we'll start filming in mid-July."
"We'll begin with on-location shooting in San Francisco."
"Then we'll return here to Burbank, just up ahead at Disney's Studio 2. You know? That's where they filmed *Mary Poppins*. We'll be shooting the second phase there."
"The entire filming period should last between two to three months."
"We'll coordinate the specific schedule and filming details with your agent..."
Gary glanced at Marcia.
Marcia quickly caught on, "Andrew O'Connell."
"Andrew O'Connell," Gary repeated, "From now on, if there's anything, we'll communicate through your agent. Hopefully, everything goes smoothly."
Gary's words were subtle, maintaining the politeness typical of his generation, but the underlying message was clear—it was about the payment.
Those numbers, those deals, would be left to the producers and agents to negotiate. As a director and an artist, he preferred not to get involved in those aspects as much as possible.
---
Of course, as a newcomer, especially with it being his first movie, Anson is limited in his bargaining power, particularly since this is a female-led film. Although he's the male lead, he's not the central focus. Even top agencies like Creative Artists Agency wouldn't make outrageous demands.
Everything needs to be looked at from a long-term perspective.
That said, negotiations are still necessary.
Additionally, beyond the pay, details like the shooting schedule, considerations, contract specifics, and actor treatment all need further communication between the agent and the production team.
Generally speaking, actors' unions only ensure basic rights for actors; they don't handle negotiations or follow-up work. The trivial matters still fall on the actors themselves or their formal agents and assistants, as the scope of responsibilities varies.
But there are no absolutes.
Actors' unions also know that these trivial matters can hide many pitfalls. Even if they aren't responsible for negotiations, they still help with basic communication, playing the role of a bridge and providing a simple level of oversight.
So, it wasn't inappropriate for the "The Princess Diaries" crew to contact Andrew.
Anson nodded in understanding, "Looking forward to working together."
Gary extended his right hand, "Looking forward to working together."
After a brief handshake, Anson saw Marcia stand up and smile as well, "Looking forward to working together. Perhaps, this is just our first collaboration."
Anson naturally didn't refuse, "That would be great."
It wasn't until he was back in the sunlight, feeling the warm, lazy rays on his skin, carrying the eager joy of early summer, that the reality began to sink in, gradually becoming clearer. A sense of excitement and happiness started to spread within him.
So, his big-screen debut is really happening?
Moreover!
The last time with "Friends," there was joy, but no surprises. Everything was already decided before the audition, with no suspense or worry. This time, however, it was different. There was an element of the unknown. He rushed to the scene in a hurry and panic, and after a brief struggle and test, he secured the role.
This happiness, like cotton candy, slowly swelled in his chest.
With a push off the ground, he sped off on his skateboard, pulling out his phone to dial a number. After just a moment, the call connected.
"Uncle Darren, I just got the role for the 'The Princess Diaries' audition!"
On the other end of the line, Darren was puzzled, "What?"
"'The Princess Diaries,' Gary Marshall, the movie Disney is preparing?" Anson mentioned a few key points.
Darren paused, "What did you say, you just got the role? Ah, congratulations! Haha, so, are you becoming a movie actor now?"
Something felt off; although the conversation was unfolding smoothly, there was a misalignment in their exchange.
Anson raised an eyebrow slightly, "Wait, Uncle Darren, didn't you say to wait a bit longer because something new might come up? Wasn't it this?"
"Oh, I see... No, no, of course not." Darren quickly corrected himself, "I don't have the power to influence Gary Marshall's decisions."
"Maybe they saw your work and were willing to give you a chance." Darren had a guess. After all, he's been in the industry long enough to understand its dynamics, connecting the dots and recognizing the subtle signs.
However, Darren decided there was no need to tell the kid about the "GQ" situation.
After some thought, he added:
"Anson, this is the correct way to approach Hollywood."
"Although it's common for actors or their agents to actively seek roles, often the roles end up finding them."
"So, you often see an actor gaining attention from one project, and suddenly, their presence is everywhere, appearing in three, four, five, six different works all at once, as if they're the only actor in Hollywood, seemingly omnipresent."
"Resources tend to be concentrated in the hands of a few."
Of course, despite this, reaching such heights isn't easy.
Darren shifted his tone.
"Hey, Anson, you landed a role through your efforts, and it's even a movie role. Soon, you'll be on the big screen."
Darren was genuinely happy for Anson.
He originally thought Anson was just dabbling, so when Anson said there was no rush to find an agent, Darren didn't push either. Maybe before they even worried about the next project, Anson would lose interest, making an agent unnecessary, so they'd just let things take their course.
But now, things seemed to be shifting, even making Darren feel a subtle sense of anticipation.
Whoosh!
After hanging up the phone, Anson pushed off the ground again, the skateboard surged forward.
With the wind roaring past, in one swift sprint, the golden sunlight flowed beneath the wheels. Spreading his arms wide, the whole world stretched out beneath him.
Looking ahead, the future seemed wide open.
---
This is the fifth update.