The room was dead silent.
Not a sound could be heard.
Every eye in the room was fixed on Anson, watching him intently, as a deep, soul-crushing fear surged from within, consuming them entirely and leaving them unable to think.
Jack was powerless to resist. He was completely overwhelmed, both physically and mentally. It was as if his very life and soul were gradually shrinking, his inner flame slowly being smothered by an overwhelming darkness.
"Stop!"
The instructor intervened just in time, immediately stepping forward to pull Anson away.
Jack flipped over, landing on all fours, gasping for air. In his haste, he started coughing, his body curled up completely, drained of energy. A moment later, he simply collapsed onto the floor.
Anson was no different. He was so deeply immersed in his role that he couldn't snap out of it right away. The emotions in his mind were still raging, and he sat on the ground, hands resting on his knees, his chest heaving as if he had just run a marathon.
*Clap, clap, clap!*
*Clap, clap, clap!*
The room erupted in applause.
No one could resist. No one.
For seasoned actors or veterans, perhaps it wasn't much; but for the beginners in this class, the scene they had just witnessed was so intense, it was jaw-dropping. Words were insufficient to capture the whirlwind of emotions in their minds.
Applause was the only way to release it.
From this performance, it was clear that the two actors had vastly different approaches to guiding the flow of the scene. Jack relied heavily on physicality to break the balance, his body moving before his mind. Anson, on the other hand, used mental and emotional shifts, turning the situation on its head with ease.
It was precisely because of this that all eyes were glued to Anson.
Despite the power dynamic shifting multiple times during the scene, the true narrative and the improvised performance were entirely driven by Anson's lead.
Moreover, Anson managed to complete a small character arc within such a limited space, fleshing out the role of the uncle with surprising depth.
It was truly astounding.
No one could look away.
But from another perspective, both Anson and Jack had unleashed such intense energy in their improvisation. The push-and-pull between them was utterly captivating, and both actors deserved recognition for their efforts.
Upon closer observation, it became apparent that two or three students in the audience were wiping away tears. They had been moved by the tension in the scene, experiencing a wide range of emotions that resonated differently with each viewer, quietly triggering an emotional response.
The applause grew louder and more widespread.
Especially when the instructor helped Jack and Anson to their feet and motioned for them to stand at the center of the room to receive the applause, the clapping became even more enthusiastic.
Both Anson and Jack were exhausted, having expended so much energy in such a short time. Their bodies and nerves had been stretched to the limit, and now that they were finally relaxing, a wave of fatigue mixed with exhilaration washed over them.
But it felt good.
The two exchanged a smile, and then Jack opened his arms, offering a hug. Anson, still not entirely comfortable with the frequent hugs here, shook his head with a regretful expression, indicating a refusal.
Jack: ...
Seeing the surprise and hurt on Jack's face, Anson's brows relaxed, and he finally gave Jack a hug, his smile beaming brightly.
**For Anson, it was indeed a fruitful experience.**
Objectively speaking, improvisation is challenging—more difficult than it sounds. Both he and Jack, lacking experience, were somewhat unrefined in their reactions, relying more on instinct than anything else.
Jack chose to disrupt the balance through physical means, while Anson opted for wild narrative twists. In essence, neither approach was superior; it was just that Anson managed to create a small character arc for the uncle in such a short time, which successfully captured the audience's attention.
For Anson personally, the twists and outbursts he used were still somewhat crude and lacked subtlety, making them one-dimensional and illogical at times. There's room for improvement. The real gain came from the interaction with his scene partner—the push and pull between them.
Now, Anson is beginning to understand what the teacher meant by experiencing and feeling. Acting isn't a solo endeavor. It's an interaction between the actor, the character, the script, other actors, the director, and the entire crew. Each element has its own emotion, and the actor's job is to convey and present that.
As for how to do it?
At this point, Anson has no clear answers. Even the theory is only partially understood; he's still relying mostly on his instincts. But there's no denying that this experience has opened the door to a whole new world.
And the view inside is breathtaking.
The class ended—
Only then did the students begin to relax, just like after a workout. They gathered in small groups to chat.
Anson and Jack were particularly busy, with students naturally gathering around them, asking for their names, discussing the recent performance, and offering opinions that weren't all praise.
Despite this, the atmosphere remained cheerful.
"So, how do you feel?" Anson and Jack walked out of the classroom together. Two hours—it wasn't long, but it wasn't short either—left them with a sense of satisfaction. This experience had indeed broadened their horizons.
Jack was candid, "Yes, I learned a lot, but I'm not sure if there's more they can offer. The whole class focused on feeling and experiencing yourself; it didn't provide the methodology I was hoping for, so I might need to look further."
Anson smiled.
Jack asked, "What?"
Anson waved his hand, "Nothing. Most people, if they have a good experience in one class, might impulsively sign up. But after actually joining, their membership card just ends up gathering dust in a drawer, never to be seen again."
Many people likely have a gym membership card lying around at home that they used once or twice and then forgot about.
Jack scratched his head, "I'm more cautious."
Anson's smile widened, "No, what I mean is that's a good thing. I agree with you. We should see what other fundamental courses they offer here, like speech, expressions, movements, and how they refine those skills."
"Of course, I believe the core of acting classes is about trusting each actor's unique color, rather than producing cookie-cutter dolls. But basic skills training can still reveal a lot."
Hearing this, Jack's expression brightened completely. "Exactly! Yes, that's absolutely right! Otherwise, if it's just about trusting everyone's natural talent, then why take classes at all? Talent can't be changed anyway. If that's all it is, then acting schools are just money-making schemes."
Just as he finished speaking, Jack froze—
He had spoken too loudly.
In his excitement, he hadn't noticed that his voice was echoing through the lobby, which wasn't great.
Jack gave a sheepish smile, "Did they notice?"
There were quite a few people in the lobby, but the previous receptionist, Eva, had already gone off duty, replaced by someone else who was now looking at Jack with a bewildered expression.
Anson glanced around at the faces that were startled or amused by Jack's outburst, then nodded slightly and called out to Jack.
"Run."
Jack blinked, only to see Anson's figure darting out. Anson turned back and shouted again.
"Run, Jack, run!"
With a bright smile, he dashed into the deep blue night, and Jack, on instinct, followed suit. As soon as they broke into a run, the tension dissipated, and laughter bubbled up inside them, leaving behind a group of stunned onlookers.
**Chapter 1.**