Gary didn't know what had just happened there, but he did know that for folks like him in their sixties, three meals a day needed to be on time, or their bodies would start protesting.
Everything else could wait.
Julie noticed Gary's look toward Anson and took the initiative to wave her hand, catching Gary's attention and helping Anson out. "After all these years, I still have the self-care skills to eat when I'm hungry," she joked lightly.
Her small quip made everyone laugh.
Anson stood up, stepped aside, and made an inviting gesture. Julie placed her hand on Anson's arm, using a bit of strength to stand up smoothly.
As they took a step forward, Gary stepped up like a gentleman, offering his right arm. Julie linked arms with him, heading toward the catering truck.
"That young man is not bad," Julie said simply, without further explanation.
Gary immediately understood, glanced back, and a slight smile appeared in his eyes. "Which one are you talking about?"
Julie shot Gary a knowing look, recognizing his feigned ignorance. "Both are good."
A smile touched the corners of Gary's mouth. "Yes, yes, of course."
As the two veterans walked ahead, the crew naturally parted like the Red Sea, giving way to them. Meanwhile, the two younger ones followed a short distance behind.
Anson fell back half a step and looked at Anne, only to see her face full of frustration. "What's wrong?"
Anne took a deep breath. "There's so much to take in. Sometimes I feel like I get it, but then I feel like I don't understand anything."
Anson deeply agreed—
Understanding from a theoretical, book-learning perspective was hard enough; let alone fully digesting it and putting it into practice?
It's tough.
At this point, he was merely standing at the grand entrance of the world of acting, just barely peeking inside. He hadn't even crossed the threshold yet, but just the little glimpses he caught were already fascinating and exciting.
Fortunately, they didn't have to rush to master everything all at once.
At least in "The Princess Diaries," they didn't need to worry about these complexities.
For both Anne and Anson, adding just a bit of chemistry to their natural performances was more than enough. There was no need to delve too deeply into anything.
So far, they had both done well.
As for the future, there was still plenty of time to explore and improve.
Anson looked at Anne, "Don't worry. Julie's filming has just begun. We'll have more chances to observe her closely and keep the discussions going."
"There will be plenty of learning opportunities."
"Maybe the only thing we need to worry about now is asking too many questions. Julie might not have the patience of Maria the Nun and could end up 'punishing' us like Mary Poppins instead. How about you ask the next question?"
Anne: "Me?"
Since when did it become "we"? Weren't all the questions today from Anson? How did the subject suddenly change like that?
Anson looked completely calm. "This is an opportunity, a chance you need to seize. Show your inquisitive spirit. I'm selflessly helping you build your image here."
"So, are you ready to thank me?"
"Actually, there's no need to thank me; just treat me to a nice meal. We help each other out. How about seafood? What do you think?"
Anne: ???
---
"Wait a minute, why does something feel off?
Filming went smoothly.
Everything was smooth sailing!
The positive feeling that began on the first day of entering the crew lasted until the last day. After completing six weeks of filming in San Francisco, the crew returned to Los Angeles to continue filming in Disney's Stage 2, where 'Mary Poppins' was once shot. Three weeks later, they announced the end of filming.
From newcomers like Anson and Annie to seasoned actors led by Julie, from the creative team led by Gary to the temporary staff of the different crews in San Francisco and Los Angeles, everyone worked together as one. They encountered no serious issues, and the atmosphere was joyful as they wrapped up the shoot.
Annie was a pleasant surprise.
The crew finally understood why Gary insisted on casting Annie as the lead. This first-time movie actress displayed excellent comedic talent and managed to infuse elegance and beauty into her role, truly capturing the charm of a commoner princess.
Anson was an even bigger surprise.
Initially, Michael was just a minor character, but he slowly developed his own flesh and blood, not only interacting with Mia but also enriching both the main and subplots of the movie. This was definitely not a development people could have predicted before the cameras started rolling.
And Julie?
Without a doubt, she was the biggest surprise.
"Cut!"
Gary ended the shoot for the last time and raised his arms in celebration.
"Guys, that's a wrap."
The entire Stage 2 erupted in cheers. Although the work atmosphere was joyful, and filming went very smoothly, what made everyone even happier was that it was finally time to wrap up and go home.
Moreover!
According to the plan, Gary had scheduled a ten or even eleven-week filming period, but in the end, the movie was successfully completed in just nine weeks.
This also meant that the holiday came early—
No one can resist a holiday.
Roars of joy!
Cheers!
Stage 2 was filled with the sound of gongs, drums, laughter, and excitement.
But the celebration lasted only a short while before the crew members started leaving the set in small groups, just like they were leaving work.
Including Anson.
In his past life, when Anson worked with a crew and the filming wrapped, there was often a celebration banquet where everyone ate, drank, and celebrated together. It was supposed to be a good thing, but it often turned into pressure to drink, eventually becoming an exhausting social event that consumed more energy than the work itself.
However, Hollywood doesn't have such a culture. Wrapping up means the project is over; there's no need for further socializing. You just turn around and return to your life—that's all.
Everything is a business relationship.
Of course, there are still parties. Apart from private parties among close crew members, when the movie is released, there will be a party accompanying the premiere to celebrate its launch.
So.
After greeting the crew members, Anson left.
There was a sense of emptiness.
One moment, they were working together on a project; the next, they turned around and returned to their daily lives. It felt like something was missing, as if the chapter wasn't quite complete.
But after getting through a brief period of adjustment, he felt completely relaxed. On the way home from Burbank, there was a sense of release.
Opening the car window, golden sunlight mixed with the scent of seawater rushed in. The dry air carried a hint of saltiness, yet it brought a feeling of vastness and freedom as Los Angeles's broad vistas unfolded ahead.
His eyes focused on the road ahead, and out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of something. It flashed by in an instant, but a spark of inspiration struck Anson's mind.
He decided to act on it immediately.
At the next intersection, he made a U-turn and didn't head straight home. Instead, he stopped in front of a two-story building and found a parking spot.
Getting out of the car, standing in front of the building, Anson couldn't help but show a trace of excitement in his eyes.
First chapter.
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