Gazing into those focused and deep eyes, Kate's thoughts were in disarray, a jumble of confusion, shyness, and an unexpected quick plunge—
A plunge into love.
So much so that she started to get distracted. The line between reality and illusion completely blurred, and then, the dialogue left a blank—a long, empty blank.
The next line was supposed to be Mary Jane's.
The reason was simple: Peter Parker had a crush on Mary Jane. Every moment they spent together was precious, and he wouldn't want to be the first to leave. Even if they were just chatting on the street, he would be willing to stay there forever. But Mary Jane was different; she was supposed to be the one to turn around and say goodbye first.
However—
Kate froze.
Despite her long-winded lines earlier, under Anson's guidance, Kate surprisingly didn't make any mistakes. But unexpectedly, she got stuck in this relatively simple part.
What to do now?
Anson wasn't in Kate's head, and he had no way of knowing what was happening with her. But after waiting for a moment, Anson realized there was a blank.
If this were a movie shoot, they would have to stop filming. But this wasn't; it was a screen test. Clearly, neither the director nor the producer had any intention of stopping the performance. Just like a Broadway play, even if there's a mistake, the show must go on. So, what should he do?
In a split second, a thousand thoughts flashed through his mind.
Peter Parker looked at Mary Jane, a hint of sadness in his eyes because he realized that even though she was so close, he still couldn't confess.
In a flustered manner, Peter lowered his eyelids, trying to hide his feelings, but only for a brief moment. Then he looked up again, giving Mary Jane a slightly awkward smile. "I, I guess I shouldn't stop you from going to your audition. Haha."
He didn't want to part ways—he really didn't—but Peter also didn't want to interfere in Mary Jane's life.
Caught in this hesitation and pull, Peter began to speak—
This line wasn't in the script; it was entirely improvised by Anson.
Laura's eyes lit up—brilliant!
Though it was an impromptu line to break the stalemate and included a hint through his eyes to bring the performance back on track, Anson didn't just speak randomly. Even as a transitional line, it didn't break the integrity of the entire scene.
This moment of improvisation subtly showcased Peter Parker's contradictory and complex emotions, making it impossible not to applaud.
Especially the awkward smile at the end, filled with a bit of embarrassment, awkwardness, and clumsiness, which cleverly used the earlier blank to create a different mood.
It felt like it had a texture reminiscent of "Before Sunrise," hovering between awkwardness and ambiguity!
Laura almost wanted to applaud Anson.
In an instant, the gap between Anson and Kate widened. The distance, already there, now became even more pronounced, clearly placing them on two different levels.
Unexpected, completely unexpected—
Kate's understanding of the entire situation was entirely wrong, causing the emotional thread to go off course. "Spider-Man" is a teen movie, but not the brainless kind. However, Kate's portrayal turned it into a Mary Sue, giving off the vibe of "a campus heartthrob troubled by love," reminiscent of a sequel to "American Pie" or "Bring It On."
But no one could have anticipated that with the scene partner's performance going entirely off track, Anson, going solo, managed to turn the tide and control the situation.
Not only was it delicate, but it was also rich, precise, and layered. He managed to pull a scene that was spiraling into the abyss back onto the script's track.
The melancholy, confusion, innocence, awkwardness, ambiguity, and haziness of a teen movie, with a touch of the qualities of an art film, were vividly brought to life.
Even appearance has become an added value, making this scene come alive.
Impressive, truly impressive.
With this, Kate has completely become just a pretty face in the background, while Anson emerges and shines brightly.
From Laura's perspective, Kate is out, with no hope left. She can't help but wonder, how did Kate even make it to the screen test?
And Anson?
At least for her, before the other three competitors even show up, Anson has already killed the suspense. The role of Peter Parker belongs to him, without a doubt.
The only concern Laura has is, if they choose Anson, who should they cast opposite him?
Should they fully embrace the path of good looks and choose a stunning but shallow partner for Anson? Or should they delve deeper into their considerations?
Laura settled into her chair, having made her decision, her demeanor naturally changed, and a hint of interest appeared in her eyes:
Isn't Anson supposed to be the pretty face?
When Ian initially wanted Anson to audition, not only did Sam strongly oppose it, but Laura wasn't optimistic either. For a character like Peter Parker, Anson was indeed too handsome.
And, good looks often imply a lack of acting skills.
Laura and Sam had different starting points, but they both worried that if Peter Parker was too handsome, it would affect the movie's market positioning.
But now, how much of that concern remains? Have they misunderstood the idea of a "pretty face"?
Thoughts surged through her mind, seeming to last an eternity, but in reality, it was just a fleeting moment.
Kate still couldn't keep up—
Anson had already given his all to try and save the scene, but Kate still couldn't follow. Panicking, she picked up the forgotten script.
It had been in her hand all along, but she hadn't thought she would end up needing it.
Retracting her gaze, she looked down at it. The chaos in her mind finally found some focus. Kate's eyes flickered quickly, yet even reading the script, she couldn't find the lines.
Fortunately, there weren't many lines to begin with, so flipping down line by line, she was able to find her cue.
Kate finally found her line, "Thank you, Peter. Let's meet again some other day."
This line was read out directly, with no emotion whatsoever, instantly breaking the immersion.
But Kate couldn't care less at this point. The last bit of rationality reminded her that the audition was still ongoing, and she needed to finish her performance professionally.
Then, Kate turned and left, flipping her hair with a flourish. It cascaded like a waterfall—
No, completely wrong.
Kate was trying to show off her strengths—her looks were her weapon, along with her youthful vibe. She needed to prove she was the best choice for Mary Jane.
Unfortunately, the timing was off.
From start to finish, Kate never understood the core meaning of this scene.
Mary Jane is frustrated, angry, and suppressed. She wants to be an actress, but she's stuck waiting tables. She's full of frustration and confusion about her life and future. And when Peter Parker appears, she's embarrassed, shy, and awkward, trying desperately to hide it and show her best side.
But she gets exposed on the spot.
Yet Peter's warmth makes Mary Jane feel happy. For a moment, it's like being back in high school, in a carefree time. Though not reckless or bold, her steps lighten up, and Mary Jane shows her smile and personality once again.
Clearly, Kate's flamboyance and radiance at this point were inappropriate; she misunderstood the situation yet again.
And what about Anson?
Anson seemed stunned, not speaking a word. James Franco couldn't help but sweat for Anson—
Peter still had one more line! Did Anson get thrown off by Kate and forget his line too?
Third update.