The process was both long and winding, but the outcome was positive. Eventually, like Hayden, Anson officially entered the role preparation phase.
However, unlike Hayden, Anson didn't retreat from the public eye to focus solely on training. Instead, the production team accommodated him by setting up all related training sessions in New York. This allowed Anson to immerse himself in the city's daily life from the start because, among all the Marvel and DC superheroes, Peter Parker is the one most closely tied to a specific city.
It's not just because he needs New York's skyscrapers to showcase his abilities, but also because his life and everyday routine are deeply rooted in every aspect of this city.
In a way, this connection is even more intimate and important than Batman's with Gotham City.
At first, Anson hadn't considered this, but after being reminded, he realized this was method acting. Robert De Niro once drove a taxi for several months in New York to prepare for his role in "Taxi Driver," truly experiencing and observing the city from a cab driver's perspective. This led to a performance that became legendary and cemented his status as a master actor.
Similarly, Daniel Day-Lewis isolated himself in a remote cabin in the wilderness for six months while preparing for his role in "There Will Be Blood." Even long after filming was completed, he remained in that character's mindset.
Method acting is all about "personally experiencing" the role. Instead of relying on imagination, it's about living as the character, fully understanding the role, and creating a vibrant, lifelike portrayal.
Now, Anson is gradually blending into his role, experiencing the character's existence through his own life.
This experience is new and different from his work on "Friends" or "The Princess Diaries." In fact, it's his first time truly feeling the essence of acting. Although Peter Parker isn't a character that demands intense acting skills, and "Spider-Man" isn't a film that showcases dramatic performances, the act of performing is becoming increasingly fascinating to him. Even without the cameras rolling, the connection between actor and character is forming in countless subtle ways.
According to the schedule, the training is planned until March next year, with adjustments to be made based on the project's progress and shooting schedule.
However, Anson doesn't see the next few months as dull or tedious. He views it as an opportunity to learn new things, study the character, and delve into acting. Perhaps he should even read the original comics. Who would have thought that reading comics could become part of his job?
...
Morning.
Although it's only November and autumn is still lingering in the streets, winter in New York is already eager to take over, swirling around the Hudson River, occasionally sending a biting wind that makes people pull their coat collars up.
Anson is jogging through the downtown streets, wearing just a light tracksuit. His shoulders and back emit a cloud of steam, and beads of sweat are visible on his forehead. He adjusts his breathing to the rhythm of his run, and you can clearly see the long, steady exhalations forming mist in the cold air.
People rushing to work find their eyes unintentionally drawn to the running figure, watching him until he's out of sight before reluctantly turning away.
Anson doesn't slow down or stop but continues on his way.
Recently, his life has settled into a regular routine. He wakes up at six in the morning, goes to bed at nine at night, and eats three meals a day on time. There are no distractions, no interruptions. The online world seems far less chaotic than he remembers. Occasionally, he'll play games or read comics to pass the time. His mind has become simpler, and his mood has subtly changed.
### Past Life
In my past life, I never had the chance, nor was it possible, to enjoy a life like this. The grind of the "007" corporate lifestyle left no room for choice, slowly wearing me down with tedious and monotonous routines. Now, I finally have the opportunity to focus on myself.
What started as intense discomfort evolved into boredom, and eventually, I began to find joy in the daily training and structured lifestyle.
The crisscrossing long streets and narrow alleys of downtown Manhattan are arranged in a seemingly chaotic and crowded way, making it easy to lose your sense of direction. You might see a path ahead, only to turn a corner and find a dead-end, reminiscent of Diagon Alley from "Harry Potter." One moment you're squeezing through a narrow alley barely wide enough for two people to pass, and the next, you're standing in front of New York's bustling traffic.
It's like a labyrinth!
Anson has lost count of how many times he's gotten lost here. Even now, he still finds himself disoriented every now and then, questioning:
Who am I? Where am I? Where did I come from, and where am I going?
But getting lost isn't a problem.
As you wander these streets, it feels like time travel. You can clearly see the traces left by Europeans who first set foot on this continent centuries ago.
Unlike the meticulously planned and measured streets of Midtown and Uptown, this area is rougher, more chaotic, and primitive. There's no planning or layout, yet you can see the marks of time, culture, and life everywhere. The buildings record history, and everyday life captures the passage of time, making everything vibrant and alive.
Paris is the same.
Right before my eyes lies New York's most raw, vivid, and colorful area, bursting with life almost to the point of overflowing.
So, if you get lost, just slow down and take in the scenery, explore the unknown, and quietly push the boundaries of life.
A turn brings you into a long alley where towering steel skyscrapers block out the sunlight. The buildings on either side cut off the light completely, leaving the air cold and still as you step into the shadows. Yet, the lively, vibrant atmosphere permeates through the brick walls.
Street vendors on either side of the alley are setting up their stalls, displaying an array of trinkets from old Shanghai: jewelry boxes, evening bags, rattles, music boxes, hairpins, and more. In 2000, when overseas shipping was still not as advanced, each of these items was especially precious.
Next to a stall, a middle-aged man in a three-piece suit is admiring a ballerina music box, holding a red plastic bag with a bunch of greens inside. He looks like he just came from the market, but he's so captivated by the vendor's stall that he can't move on.
The old, weathered buildings around him seem dilapidated, yet the carved red columns, upturned eaves of the gabled roofs, and square glass windows exude an indescribable charm. Looking up at the deep gray skyscrapers in contrast, the difference becomes even more striking.
For a moment, it's as if I've stepped into a time warp, where buildings from different eras, cultures, and spaces are pieced together like fragments.
Splat.
Someone nearby steps into a puddle, sending muddy water splashing up and soaking their pant leg. Anson swiftly dodges, and the person, without having a chance to see him, shouts an apology at Anson's retreating back, "Sorry!"
The next second, someone ahead turns around and calls out, "Matt, over here."
The fourth update.