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"OK!"
With a single gesture, the filming set spontaneously erupted into applause and cheers.
Clap! Clap!
Roars and shouts came from all directions, surging in.
There was no prior communication, yet everyone instinctively and wholeheartedly made a move, then exchanged surprised glances with each other, finding a shared sense of admiration and respect in their eyes. Smiles crept up on their faces, and the applause grew louder and louder, with all the bustling attention focused on Anson.
It became more and more exaggerated!
"Yo, Anson, good job."
"God of acting has descended, Anson, the god of acting is here!"
"Beautiful!"
"Anson, you're the coolest Spider-Man in the whole world."
"Roar, roar, roar, Anson! Anson! Anson!"
One after another.
At first, the praises were sincere, but gradually they turned into teasing, with exaggerated and melodramatic words clearly carrying a playful tone, causing the whole scene to burst into laughter.
Anson looked confused—
For a moment, he couldn't understand what had happened.
Then, as he slowly figured it out, he didn't shy away bashfully but instead responded with a graceful bow, as if he were acknowledging the end of a grand performance.
Moreover, he bowed in all directions, 360 degrees, like a master who had just concluded a magnificent show, responding in such a manner.
Haha!
The scene grew even more boisterous, the tense and oppressive atmosphere of filming was completely lifted, and a relaxed mood spread inside and out.
Sam Raimi was slightly surprised.
He too was full of questions, unable to understand the reaction on set, lagging behind for a beat before he finally realized. The entire crew could feel the pressure, even though there weren't many NG (no good) takes, his seriousness and focus had unconsciously affected the mood of the crew, up until Anson completed his performance.
One had to admit, Anson was indeed a very charismatic actor. The filming hadn't been going on for long, but his influence was already deeply felt.
This is not easy.
After all, "Spider-Man" is a major production, not only reflected in the size of the crew but also in the experience and qualifications of the staff.
These seasoned veterans have been around Hollywood for years, having encountered countless actors—from eager newcomers to spoiled superstars. They've seen it all in the world of fame and fortune, so earning their recognition and lightening the atmosphere isn't easy.
Yet, Anson managed to do it—
The scene was excellent, but was it so outstanding that it deserved applause?
Perhaps not.
It was more a reflection of the harmonious working atmosphere on set.
However, from another perspective, completing a scene with high quality is challenging; but winning the affection of the entire crew is even more difficult.
A smile unconsciously crept onto Sam Raimi's face, though it was fleeting. He quickly returned to his usual work mode, looking as though he was still half-asleep. But his mood relaxed, and even amidst the high-intensity, high-density work, he found a moment to breathe—a pleasure in itself.
Sam waited a moment, allowing the laughter to subside a bit, before picking up the walkie-talkie to issue commands.
"Switch to camera three, close-up on Anson's face."
"Adjust the lighting and camera accordingly."
"Anson, your last performance was excellent, but we need you to do it again, just with the same feeling. Trust your instincts."
His tone was calm and straightforward.
Sam was still Sam. Even if he liked and admired something, he rarely expressed it openly. Not only the actors but others found it hard to tell.
However, within the "Spider-Man" crew, Sam had made a noticeable effort to adjust. This was his first time directing a project of such scale and investment. From personnel management to filming plans, everything was different. Those familiar with Sam could sense the difference in his words—
At least regarding Anson, Sam never hid his admiration. From the beginning of filming until now, he had consistently shown it.
Across the street, Anson couldn't see Sam's expression, but he could sense the approval in his words. He gave a thumbs-up, indicating he got the message.
Anson took a moment to regulate his breathing, needing to reflect on his previous performance.
Cliff was right.
Acting requires thought, but not too much.
During preparation, actors must deeply analyze their characters and lines. Only by truly understanding the plot and characters can they grasp the meaning behind the words in the scene and give the language color and nuance.
But once in the performance stage, actors must trust themselves, letting go of restraints and frameworks. If they focus too much on the lines and overlook the scene's atmosphere, they might fall into the trap of being overly meticulous.
Sometimes, an actor needs to question themselves; but sometimes, they also need to trust themselves—to trust their preparation, their understanding of the character, and their ability to grasp emotions. Then, they must let go of their defenses, let go of their restrictions, and fully immerse themselves—
Immerse in the performance, the instinct, the interaction with their scene partner, and the guidance of the director.
Instead of thinking about how to "recite" lines or how to make expressions, it's better to enter the character, the scenario, and the state, allowing the lines and emotions to naturally flow.
Of course, this is not easy.
To be precise, it's not just "not easy," it's extremely difficult.
So, when Cliff told Anson that he should trust himself—that his understanding was thorough enough and that he could complete the performance—it might have been a small step, but it was a solid one that Anson took with determination.
Whew.
Anson exhaled softly. Now, he needed to carefully recall the state and feeling he had just experienced, to feel it, absorb it, and remember it.
In doing so, he could slowly explore and find his own acting method.
Right now, he had another chance.
Anson needed to repeat his performance. Even though no two leaves are the same and each performance will have differences, he could carefully consider his state and try to explore different ways to express the same frequency and state.
Facing him, Cliff returned and parked at the roadside again, rolling down the window, "Hey, man, that last performance was excellent."
Looking at Cliff's smiling face, where the wrinkles had piled up due to the upward curve of his lips, making him appear old yet kind, Anson smiled back, "Thanks for the advice."
Cliff shrugged slightly, "Seems like the old guy isn't entirely useless, huh?"
Anson lifted his chin, "Trust me, I get that; Peter will understand that soon too."
Cliff laughed heartily.
The filming resumed immediately.
NGs were still inevitable, as Anson was still in the stage of exploration and inquiry. However, Anson had already begun to figure out some things, especially in his understanding of the scene. The NGs didn't affect the overall progress.
Overall, the work went smoothly, and the filming finished earlier than planned.
Today, the crew could wrap up early.
Anson returned to the crew trailer to remove his makeup, change clothes, and then head home; however, he was halted by a small disturbance from a corner of the trailer. Anson paused, straining his ears to listen carefully, ensuring it wasn't his imagination.
Creak, creak.
The subtle sound came again. Wait, is that…a mouse?