The success of "Spider-Man" didn't go to Anson's head.
Despite his reluctance, he had to admit that what happened with Brad Renfro and Hayden Christensen served as a wake-up call, keeping him grounded.
Anson knew he lacked experience. The success of one film didn't mean much—he still had a long road ahead of him in his acting career and needed to keep learning.
At the same time, Anson didn't consider himself a complete novice or a clueless idiot. After all, he had tried different acting styles, including some method acting.
However.
Standing in front of Gus's camera, Anson felt like a complete fool.
In the past, when an NG ("No Good" take) happened, the director would usually communicate with the actor—what was good, what wasn't, what needed adjustment, and what the problem was. Effective communication is the right way to foster collaboration.
But Gus said nothing—
Was it the lines? The expression? The state? The posture? Or some other detail? And if he were to improve, where should he start?
There was no information at all.
One moment it was "Relax a bit," then "Tense up a bit," then "More of this," then "Less of that." This wasn't like spinning cotton candy where you could adjust the speed and amount on a whim. Anson felt like he was back on a photo shoot set, where his body was completely uncooperative, making him feel like an out-of-control balloon man.
And so.
Not knowing what the problem was or how to improve, Anson was like a headless fly, stuck spinning in circles.
Improvise?
Who said improvisation was easy!
Initially, Anson wasn't very confident, and now, with consecutive NGs, he was lost in confusion and self-doubt, completely losing his direction.
To be honest, the later takes were a complete mess. Anson didn't even know what he was performing. It was a disaster—so much so that Anson himself wanted to stop filming without the director even saying anything.
If Anson didn't know Gus well, he might have thought the director was playing a prank on him—
The earlier shoots went so smoothly, but when it was Anson's turn, there were so many mistakes? Was this some sort of intentional humiliation in front of the other students?
What happened to being a professional actor?
This.
Anson thought he wouldn't mind, but he still noticed those looks of disappointment and bewilderment, like a mythical bubble had been burst. This made Anson give a bitter smile:
There was never any mysterious aura. The Hollywood star-making machine is what turns the mundane into the miraculous, not the actors themselves. Out of the spotlight, stripped of the aura, they are just ordinary people.
Self-deprecation aside, he still felt a bit ashamed.
Truly.
After filming "Catch Me If You Can," Anson thought he had grasped some acting skills and finally opened the door to the world of acting. But now?
Ha.
"Director, we need to talk."
As soon as Anson said these words, the atmosphere on set became a bit strange—
Was Anson angry and ready to confront the director?
Were they about to witness the legendary tantrum scene firsthand?
Under everyone's gaze! In front of everyone!
Anson walked towards Gus with long strides. The Anson in front of them seemed different.
In front of the camera, Anson got into character—a slightly gloomy, somewhat introverted, somewhat melancholic boy, who appeared very low-key.
But now, Anson straightened his shoulders and stood tall, his upright and slender figure naturally exuding a sense of pressure, and his whole demeanor changed.
So, this was the real Anson.
Gus gulped, swallowing hard, and his heart started racing.
"Gus, don't panic."
"Wait, Gus, why are you panicking?"
"Oh, God, he's just a newly adult kid. Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"
Gus realized it too and instinctively leaned back a bit, feeling Anson's oppressive presence from a distance.
Gus felt his knees trembling.
"Director."
"What exactly was wrong with the performance just now? I need some clear instructions."
Gus: ...
Everyone: ...
Where was the expected tension? The anticipated showdown?
Damn!
Anson was still Anson. In his past life, he'd faced far more embarrassing, terrible, and frightening situations. This little image crisis was nothing in comparison.
For Anson, the priority now wasn't about saving face or pride but about the performance—
The first scene couldn't just get stuck here, right?
Gus seemed dumbfounded, and Anson didn't get a response from the director. Still, he felt he should express his thoughts. Otherwise, if both sides kept guessing and speculating, they might never understand each other's needs.
Communication is the key.
"Director, let's sort out our thoughts and see if there's something wrong with my understanding of the character."
"I'm planning to skip class, but I'm caught by my alcoholic father, who forcibly drags me to school."
"I suspect my father is drunk again, and I'm worried he might cause trouble. So I leave the car keys at the school front desk and call my brother to pick up our father."
"I, uh, I hate him. I wish I could leave that home forever, but I still can't let go. I'm worried about him, worried he might have an accident. If he gets into trouble, fine, but what about innocent bystanders?"
"Frustration, helplessness... I don't even know who I should turn to for help."
—The plot, this is the plot.
In "Elephant," Anson plays a student named Anson, but he isn't just any ordinary student. He will be one of the few survivors of a school shooting and the central figure connecting the ensemble of the entire story.
Gus had considered whether Anson should play one of the two students who pull the trigger because the biggest star in the cast usually ends up being the last survivor. Having Anson play the survivor seemed too cliché.
But then he thought, casting the biggest star as a villain or a murderer is also a movie trope. Either way, Anson is the focus of the film, so he might as well go with the flow.
After all, this time, Anson wasn't saving the world as a superhero.
So, Anson's character carries the plot. He's a person with a story.
But upon closer study, the character itself isn't that complicated. Anson believed he had grasped the essence and found a way to portray it.
The reality, however, was different.
After multiple NGs, Anson was almost starting to question his life.
So, he needed a conversation, an open discussion with the director.
Gus nodded. "Absolutely right."
Anson continued, "So, conflict, irritation, helplessness—that's my state."
Gus nodded again. "Absolutely right."
Anson asked, "Then what exactly is wrong with my performance?"
Gus thought seriously for a moment. "I don't know."
Anson: ...
A conversation should be a back-and-forth exchange. Otherwise, it's just talking to yourself.
Anson looked at Gus, full of helplessness. "Director, be honest with me. Are you that director who always wears sunglasses?"
Gus was stunned for a second, "Haha, no, I'm not. I can assure you."
After adjusting his smile slightly, Gus thought seriously, "Maybe it's the wrong state? No, the atmosphere is off?"
"Anson, there's nothing wrong with your performance. You've captured the essence of the character and conveyed the message."
Anson: ??? So who was the lunatic who just called for fourteen NGs?
"But I don't know. It just doesn't feel right."