The gazes followed him like shadows.
Every actor on the set was watching Gary, their eyes full of mixed emotions. As they tracked his movements and attention, they couldn't help but scrutinize the figure he focused on.
In the "The Princess Diaries" crew, the most attention-grabbing and talked-about stars were Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews.
But Anson?
Who's that!
Despite carrying the title of the male lead, Michael's screen time was actually less than Josh's, the "villain" character who needed to stir up conflict, naturally demanding more screen space.
Anson, like any other actor, was just another member of the crew, his role nowhere near as significant as his part in "Friends." There was nothing particularly remarkable about him, and he didn't have the kind of star power that would automatically earn everyone's support.
However!
Anson had just earned Gary's praise, and the entire shooting plan was adjusted because of him. So, what had they all spent three grueling hours rehearsing for yesterday?
Was it just to be Anson's backdrop?
Gary didn't seem to notice those stares, or perhaps he did but simply didn't care. After all, this was Hollywood, where envy and jealousy were always in the spotlight. "If you want to wear the crown, you must bear its weight."
Finally, Gary's steps halted in front of Anson.
Gary flashed a warm, friendly smile.
"Your performance was outstanding just now."
With this praise, Gary reinforced his stance, openly expressing his admiration. Only then did Gary take a closer look at Anson's outfit.
From top to bottom.
Gary was a bit curious.
"Did the stylist suggest this, or was it your idea?"
Anson glanced down at his outfit. Every detail had been carefully selected with the help of James Franco. The two of them had scoured several vintage stores and vinyl record shops across Los Angeles to complete the look.
"It's mine."
Anson spoke gracefully.
Gary gently lifted his chin. "Why don't you tell me about this boy, Michael?"
Everyone else: ???
Weren't they saying that time was tight for filming? Weren't they supposed to make the most of the natural light window? Why was Gary chatting leisurely with Anson here?
Anson also knew that time was tight and that the director probably didn't want to hear about trivial details. So, he simply summarized, "He has his own ideas, his own preferences, his own stance. Even though he doesn't mind following trends, he makes sure to understand why he likes something before he follows it. He's not just blindly following trends."
That was enough—
So, Michael has his own perspective and sees the beauty in Mia, which is both related and unrelated to her appearance. He had long fallen in love with Mia's authenticity.
Gary's eyes lit up.
He also noticed that Anson's slightly hunched posture was different from the one he had shown during the last audition, but it captured the essence of the character he was portraying—a reserved and unique character.
Gary had some new ideas.
He thought maybe they could add a few lines to Michael and Mia's conversation, just two or three, which wouldn't change the overall structure but would make the bond between the two characters more three-dimensional.
This is what makes an excellent actor.
A good actor can perfectly portray a character; an excellent actor can inspire the director, breathing more life into the role. Such actors are rare.
Perhaps the Anson in front of him was still a rough gem, currently a bit unrefined and immature, with everything he presented being superficial, one-dimensional, and direct. But with some polishing over time, he could be entirely different.
Gary was somewhat looking forward to Anson's future, just like Julia Roberts back in the day.
But Gary wasn't going to tell Anson this, nor did he need to. He just nodded lightly. "Excellent preparation."
Once again, Gary gave positive affirmation.
"So, is this all? Or do you have some other surprises prepared?"
Unknowingly, Gary's tone took on a hint of affectionate appreciation, instantly closing the distance between them.
Anson didn't give a direct answer but paused for a moment. "If a surprise is revealed in advance, it wouldn't be a surprise anymore, right?"
Gary was slightly taken aback but then laughed heartily. "You little rascal, playing coy with me? Fine, I'll look forward to it."
Then Gary lightly patted Anson on the shoulder.
"We need to make a small adjustment. The overall shooting framework won't change, but we need to add two close-up shots focused on your eyes."
"You don't need to change anything, just maintain the state you were in."
"Very good, everything is perfect."
He paused for a moment.
Gary added, "Unrequited love is both sweet and bitter. I'm a bit surprised that you've grasped it so well. I didn't expect..."
Gary glanced Anson up and down—such a handsome and good-looking Anson, who had also suffered because of unrequited love.
"It seems you have a story of your own."
Anson: ???
What story!
Couldn't it just be that he's a good actor?
But Gary didn't stay any longer, turning around and heading back toward the monitors, leaving Anson standing there. All eyes around him swarmed with curiosity and emotion, swirling in the golden sunlight.
Then, Anson noticed Annie peeking with a big smile on her face.
Annie silently mouthed, "Unrequited love. Unrequited love." while exaggeratingly holding her chest as if she were acting in a music video from ten years ago.
Anson didn't mind, covering his chest with his hands, mimicking the beating of his heart, and then slowly forming a heart shape with his hands, looking sincerely at Annie as if he were confessing his love.
Annie was stunned.
"Ha-ha." Anson laughed heartily.
After a short break, filming resumed.
In fact, the whole shoot went smoothly, everything proceeding according to rehearsal; and apart from the adjustment, there were no difficulties with the performance.
When Anson reappeared on camera, Gary couldn't help but focus on the figure in the monitor.
A sliver of golden sunlight fell down, not from the crew's lighting, but from the San Francisco sun that had gradually climbed overhead. It didn't spotlight Anson like a stage light but gently and softly fell behind him, softly outlining the contours of his face.
Because of the lighting, that gaze briefly disappeared, then reappeared, the emotions deep in his eyes becoming even more profound.
In that moment, hearts fluttered.
It turned out that some actors, when they stand in front of the camera, naturally draw all attention, all eyes, toward them. Not only the crew's lights but even the natural light quietly follows their steps and movements, effortlessly capturing everyone's hearts.
Born to be a darling of the camera.
In that brief moment, time paused slightly, lingering gently in those deep and bright eyes, causing ripples.
Unconsciously, Gary held his breath, waiting for the camera to move on, for the scene to continue, and finally to wrap up perfectly.
"Cut!"
Gary shouted loudly, unable to stop himself from clenching his fists and swinging them down, then a smile crept onto his lips, a bubbling sound rising in his chest.
End of the second chapter. An extra chapter will be released tonight.