Chapter 1192: Wash away the brilliance
Cautious, cautious, and slightly distanced himself, but in the end, Brad still couldn't hold back and let go of the doubts deep in his heart.
"Why did you choose this work in the first place?"
Anson lightly shrugged, "If I say it's because I believe it can reach the top of the Palme d'Or, do you believe it?"
"Hahaha." Brad laughed directly, "You are still as funny as before."
Apparently, Brad didn't believe it.
Anson's face was full of innocence, and no one believed him when he told the truth, which was a shame.
Anson continued, "That's the first reason. The second reason is Gus Van Sant."
Brad, "Are you looking forward to the second 'Good Will Hunting' movie?"
Anson laughed directly, "No, Palme d'Or, I'm looking forward to the Palme d'Or."
Brad couldn't hold it back and laughed helplessly.
Anson, "Brad, look, I think Hollywood is like this. There are too many voices and too many temptations. No one knows what's ahead. So, I believe in one of the most basic principles."
"Either make the audience happy, or make yourself happy."
Brad was stunned, "So which one is the 'elephant'?"
Anson, "The latter."
Brad, "What about 'Sing Along'?"
Anson, "The latter."
Brad was speechless, "So your goal now is to make yourself happy, right? 'Butterfly Effect'?"
Anson, "The former."
Brad didn't hide his surprise.
Anson spread his hands, "You don't think that my ultimate goal as a producer for the first time is to satisfy my own personal needs and preferences, do you?"
Brad burst out laughing, "So you're smarter than us all."
At first, they thought that Hayden Christensen had the best chance, but they did not expect that "Star Wars Episode II" would lose to "Spider-Man" at the box office and in word-of-mouth, and that Hayden would not be able to soar into the sky.
Later, they thought that James Franco's production strategy was the wisest, cooperating with big-name directors and actors to build connections. What was the result? Several works in a row have all fallen into disrepair.
Anson's face was calm, "Isn't this a basic fact that everyone knows?"
Brad:? ? ?
Subconsciously, Brad raised his right hand and raised the middle finger.
The next second, Brad noticed a sharp look grabbing his throat, and his breath was suffocated. The fear like a prey falling into a trap shrouded his head. The finger curled up and glanced at Lucas secretly. One glance.
Lucas deadpanned.
Brad coughed slightly.
For a brief moment, Brad seemed to have returned to the old time, carefreely teasing and joking with Anson and Chris. Although they were all unknowns at that time, they had a friendship worth cherishing. Chasing dreams side by side.
But who could he blame but himself?
Brad let out a small breath.
"I just... admire you a little."
Anson wasn't kidding because he could hear the difference in Brad's voice.
"Remember, I used to star in some unknown independent films, but I was always nonchalant. I didn't care about those films and roles. I just used them as a means to make a living."
"Then I complain every day that these works cannot win me success, these works cannot make me stand in the spotlight, and I have always been a dispensable member of Hollywood."
"I long to be like you, Hayden, James, including Chris, to appear in mainstream movies and feel the spotlight."
"But obviously, I was wrong."
"Independent films also have infinite possibilities. At least I have always had invitations and opportunities. I just refused to face them."
Until now.
In Anson, Brad saw different possibilities. Whether it is "Elephant" or "Butterfly Effect", there is actually no shortage of such works in Brad's invitations, but he is arrogant and refuses to face it.
He once worked with top superstars, but now he has fallen to the point where he refuses to face reality and just complains every day.
Although Brad didn't say it explicitly, there was something unusual about Anson's taste.
Anson raised his head and looked at Brad, with a look of inquiry in his eyes.
Brad let out a small breath.
"It's not a secret either."
"At the end of last year, I got the role of 'The Age of Era' through audition, and joined the crew. I filmed for three days and then was kicked out."
Anson's face was full of surprise. He didn't know and didn't hear the news at all.
“Actually, I don’t blame the crew.”
"When I auditioned, I lied and said I could ride a horse and that I was very good at it."
"This is the first rule of Hollywood. No matter what skills the audition director asks you, your answer must be yes. My agent repeatedly told me that I have not forgotten this and successfully won the role."
“I started learning to ride horses only after I passed the audition.”
"It's not that good, but it's not that bad either. At least I can control horses."
"Unfortunately, that's not enough because it's a movie about horseback riding."
"Later, an actor got inside information and privately approached the director and recommended himself. He personally rode a horse to the place where the director lived and convinced the director with his actual performance."
"And then...and that was it."
In other words, the crew did not originally plan to fire Brad and choose another actor; instead, an actor found out the information and seized the opportunity to stab him in the back. Only then did he complete a desperate reversal and steal the role from Brad.
Sure enough, this is very Hollywood.
Anson raised his eyebrows slightly, "Tobey Maguire?"
Brad suddenly raised his head and looked at Anson with astonishment.
Anson, "You just said 'The Age of Pentium'."
During this year's awards season, "The Age of Era" is a work that remains highly discussed.
In this time and space, Anson became Peter Parker, and Toby missed the opportunity to play "Spider-Man". However, as a child star with abundant resources, he still found a place in Hollywood, relying on the "Cider House Rules" and "Ride with the Devil". After this work gained momentum during the awards season, this year it entered the academy's field of vision due to the "Rapture Era".
Sure enough, there are people in the circle who are different.
If Brad hadn't been fired, it would be Brad who is now in the spotlight during awards season and making a comeback.
Unfortunately, there is no if, so Brad can only watch as the spotlight is all focused on Toby, climbing to the top of his career.
Brad exhaled a long breath, "Yes, that's him."
What Brad didn't say was that during the years when he joined the crew and was kicked out, he fell into the darkest abyss.
More than once, Brad thought that maybe it would be nice to end his life like this.
He went crazy, imitating the hero of "Far From Las Vegas", drinking like crazy, waiting for the moment of death after the alcohol filled his blood vessels.
That was the lowest point of his life, the darkest moment.
Then he heard "Wake Me Up" by August Thirty-One.
Those dark years finally became a thing of the past, and he regained his sanity and sobriety.
Wash away the lead, and the world takes on a completely different look.
When he found out that the lead singer of the August 31st band was Anson, he couldn't laugh or cry. Maybe, this was fate?
Exhaling slightly, Brad looked at Anson, he was completely different now——
I stayed alcohol-free for six months, leaving those dark years behind me.
(End of chapter)