1582-1584

*Chapter 1582: Feeling Vindicated / Holding Your Head High*

Edgar's face was full of surprise. He looked at Anson, then back at Lucas. His usual calm and steady demeanor? Completely useless in front of the Wood brothers.

Edgar almost choked on his own saliva. He managed to force himself to calm down after a struggle and finally caught a hint of a smile in Anson's eyes.

Edgar relaxed slightly. "My God, so this is how Michael Lynton got himself in trouble, right?"

Anson, with a big smile, just gently shook his head. "Captain, your acting is terrible! So, is a 'pretty face's' manager also a 'pretty face'?"

Edgar quickly waved his hands. "No, no, it's not about that, it has nothing to do with you. It's because I can't act at all! Otherwise, why do you think they threw me in the mailroom at William Morris to train?"

"Haha!" Anson burst out laughing.

Edgar took a deep breath. "Anson, those things I said just now were serious. What do you think?"

Anson didn't hesitate. "Good."

Edgar blinked. "Huh?"

Anson just shrugged slightly. "Alright, let's settle on this then."

Edgar was still surprised. "That's it?"

Anson's smile broadened. "It's a script I chose myself, a project I'm putting together myself. Why would I need to hesitate?"

"Actually, you know, I've always wanted to do a comedy. It doesn't always have to be so serious and deep. Popcorn movies are a really important part of filmmaking too."

Edgar's eyes widened. "What about 'Children of Men,' then?"

Anson replied, "I'll call Alfonso myself and explain the situation."

"'Children of Men' can go into pre-production first – figuring out locations, drawing storyboards, and so on. 'The Hangover' shoot should be relatively simpler. It might take two weeks if we're fast, or maybe a month at most, but we should be able to wrap up smoothly. Once we finish, I'll jump straight into the 'Children of Men' crew. The scheduling should work out fine."

"With two crews working at the same time, my part in it is actually a very small portion..."

Lucas's voice cut in. "Three."

Anson looked back at him.

Lucas reminded him, "'Sin City' just wrapped up shooting and is in post-production right now."

Anson realized with a start. "Ah, right, three crews. The really difficult part is here with Forest Films – we don't have the experience or the manpower. We're definitely going to need Warner Bros.' help."

Lucas just said, "I know."

This is also one of the big reasons Anson is willing to build a working relationship with Warner Bros. It's not just as an actor, but also as a partner. Jeff Robinov gave Anson the chance to talk and work together on an equal footing, and Anson grabbed it.

Edgar had also regained his composure. His mind was racing, quickly sorting things out. "After we land, I'll first contact Warner Records to confirm the album release schedule, get my thoughts organized, and then talk to the two film crews to get the shooting schedules locked down."

He paused. "Is 'Walk the Line' planned for release this year?"

Anson shook his head. "The post-production mixing is quite tricky. The director really wants to get that vintage feel, which might take more time than we expected. I'm not sure about the exact progress right now, but I'm guessing it might be tough for this year. Maybe 'Sin City' and 'The Hangover' will actually come out first."

You know, in the whole process of making a movie, the actual filming is usually the relatively simpler part. The post-production for "Spider-Man 2," for example, took eight months!

Edgar nodded gently. "Got it. I'll contact the directors and producers to check on the post-production progress. If the movie isn't planning for a release this year, then you can fully commit to filming in the second half of the year, which would definitely make things a bit simpler."

Just like that, everything got busy again.

Edgar looked at Anson. "After 'Walk the Line' finished, you were planning to get some good rest, but it's only been a few months, and you're right back into the thick of it."

Anson looked perfectly relaxed. "Being busy is a good thing, makes life fulfilling. Lucas, you're the one who came knocking this time, so you can't blame me for starting work again!"

Lucas just gently shook his head. Even without "The Hangover" coming up, Anson was planning to join the 'Children of Men' crew anyway. He said he'd take a break, but he was still itching to get back to work. And now he's pushing all the blame onto Lucas! Man, this guy's getting better and better at shifting responsibility.

But Lucas didn't argue. Instead, he just obediently nodded. "Yes, my fault. If Mom asks, feel free to blame me. I'll explain it to her."

Anson chuckled. Lucas had instantly seen through his little trick. The ones they really needed to worry about were still Mr. and Mrs. Wood. "Alright, you said it yourself, okay?"

Buzz buzz buzz.

Before Lucas could reply, Edgar's phone started vibrating again, and again, and again.

So persistent, just wouldn't give up.

Anson turned to look at the poor, vibrating phone on the table and joked, half-seriously, "Captain, I really think you should answer it now. Otherwise, if the guy on the other end's head explodes, the smell of blood in the conference room won't have time to clear out by the time you start negotiating."

Edgar shrugged slightly. "Well, Anson Wood himself is pleading for him. I have no reason to refuse. Guess he's lucky. I'll answer the call now."

That one joke lightened the mood in the cabin right up.

However –

Buzz buzz buzz.

The phone, was still vibrating.

Edgar stayed put, not moving, letting the poor phone just lie there trembling. Seemingly noticing Anson watching him, Edgar explained without being asked.

"Don't rush it, stay calm. If I answer immediately, they'll sense my calculations and my eagerness."

"In a situation like this, you need to let the phone ring at least three times, maybe four, and then answer slowly and deliberately. That way, you firmly hold the initiative."

Even though Edgar and Michael weren't face-to-face, the back-and-forth of their game was already happening. You could feel the tension between the two sides just through a phone call.

Buzz buzz buzz, buzz buzz buzz –

Watching the phone tremble on the table, for a moment it was hard to tell if it was the incoming call vibrating or just turbulence from flying at high altitude.

Finally, Edgar gave Anson a small smile, grabbed the phone, and pressed the answer button. "Edgar Cooke here."

He sounded calm and steady, but just a little bit tired.

Like someone so incredibly busy that he didn't even have time to check who was calling and just answered in a hurry. Seriously, who says Edgar can't act?

In the world of Hollywood's fame and fortune, everyone's a bit of a drama queen. Life is like a play, and it all depends on how well you act.

"Oh, Mr. Lynton." Edgar didn't sound condescending at all. Instead, he adopted a polite posture. The more humble and low-key he sounded right now, the more it showed they were cooking up something big.

The call didn't last too long. After a few back-and-forth words, Edgar hung up.

"Sony Columbia has invited me to their office to discuss contract renewal. Michael Lynton wants me to come to the company for a formal discussion."

"Before that, Amy Pascal had already scheduled dinner with me tonight in Manhattan. No business talk, just friendship, using friendliness to bridge the distance."

"Two CEOs, two different strategies."

"Over the past week, I used being busy as an excuse to decline Michael Lynton twice. This time, they got wind that I'm landing in New York soon and planning to have dinner with Amy tonight, so Michael intercepted with a third invitation."

That's quite a bit of information.

It's not just a game between Sony Columbia and Edgar, but also a game going on between Michael and Amy.

Anson immediately caught the key point, raising an eyebrow slightly. "You declined twice."

Edgar's face was relaxed. "Right, just twice. A little disappointing for him, isn't it?"

*Chapter 1583: High and Mighty*

"...only twice. A little disappointing, right?"

Looking at Edgar's composed face, the smile in Anson's eyes subtly grew. "Captain, you know that's not what I meant."

What Anson meant was, unbelievable! Edgar had actually refused Michael twice!

Clearly, things had changed drastically in just under two weeks.

Edgar spread his hands. "It's called returning courtesy."

"Before, we showed sincerity, constantly hoping to sit down and negotiate reasonably, but they kept finding excuses and dragging their feet, constantly interfering with negotiations."

"If we don't refuse a few times now, they definitely won't believe that we were never angry or upset. We know their tricks and strategies. They laid out their plans their way, while we found a different path our way. They thought we were still desperately eager for Sony Columbia, little knowing that Peter Parker isn't that important to us anymore. We were already ready to move on long ago."

"But."

"But they are so arrogant. Even when the news about Warner Bros. got out, they still refused to believe we had the guts to give up on Peter Parker. So, we need to cooperate with them and put on a show, as if we're venting anger and frustration, nitpicking and calculating over trivial matters. Only by doing this will they take what we say seriously and genuinely consider the possibility of future cooperation."

"Now, for the third time, it's time to agree."

"They also calculated this, which is why they chose to send the invitation when I was coming to New York, preparing to intercept things before Amy could."

Anson lightly raised his chin, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"Wow, this game is much more interesting than I thought."

"I thought a company like Sony Columbia, standing at the top of the pyramid, would definitely be different, extraordinary, strategizing and commanding everything."

"But now it seems, they're nothing special either."

The little tease made Edgar laugh as well.

Lucas's voice came from behind, "Capital is capital, but the ones operating it are still ordinary people. Even if they are high and mighty, it's no different."

"So, don't worry. Everything is under our control. We'll let them know that profit is the core force that controls the world's operation, not them."

For some reason, Anson recalled the real event in July 2020 when small fish on Wall Street overturned the big fish:

A group of unconnected retail investors banded together on a forum to fight Wall Street. Things grew like a snowball rolling downhill. These retail investors unbelievably pushed up stocks like "GameStop" and others that were on their deathbeds, skyrocketing them. At their craziest point, profits reached over ten times, and a group of retail investors made a huge retirement fund and got out entirely, causing a bunch of Wall Street bigwigs to break out in a cold sweat.

Later, this event was adapted into the movie "Dumb Money," released in 2023.

Miracles, just like unexpected events, don't happen often, but they do occasionally appear.

Edgar noticed the curve of Anson's lips as they turned up. "What's up?"

Anson's smile fully bloomed. "No, I was just thinking how being on the outside and on the inside, you see completely different scenery. I'm actually kind of looking forward to your negotiations with Michael and Amy now."

"But, you can't be there." Lucas's voice came from behind.

Without turning around, Anson let out a groan. "Why?"

Lucas explained, "You need to maintain that posture – the posture of refusing to sit down and discuss face-to-face with Sony Columbia, refusing to even give them that opportunity."

Edgar watched Anson and nodded gently. "Lucas is right."

Anson spread his hands helplessly. "Alright, guess I'll miss out on watching a good show."

Edgar imagined the scene of "Anson vs. Michael" and couldn't help but burst out laughing. He thought Michael probably wouldn't stand a chance.

"Relax. My job today is basically to play the clown. To strut in, look down on them, be arrogant and overbearing, go to Sony Columbia and throw a tantrum, play the bad cop. It's probably not going to be a pretty sight."

Anson said earnestly, "No, you don't know how exciting it is to watch a trainwreck of a show. Did you hear about a movie called 'The Room' that screened in Los Angeles last year?"

Edgar: ???

Anson looked at Edgar's blank expression and burst into laughter.

In 2003, an epic bad movie called "The Room" premiered. A man named Tommy Wiseau served as director, screenwriter, and star, fulfilling his Hollywood dream. But the movie's quality was so bad it could compete for the title of the worst in film history, awkwardly galactic.

Later, in 2017, James Franco directed and starred in "The Disaster Artist," which told the behind-the-scenes story of the making of "The Room."

Unexpectedly, twenty years after its creation, this super bad movie actually became a different kind of performance art, attracting countless viewers. Tommy Wiseau even held global screening tours, truly a new kind of trend in the internet age.

Although Anson also cringed while watching "The Room," at the same time, he felt a strange guilty pleasure.

Unfortunately, it seemed Anson would miss the chance to watch this good show of Edgar battling Michael.

However, a small unexpected event still occurred.

When the plane landed smoothly, Anson saw a welcoming party on the tarmac. Although there was no red carpet or symphony orchestra, a luxurious black stretched limousine and a neat team of security guards in black suits were especially conspicuous. Facing him, he could see that friendly and kind smiling face.

"Hey, big star, welcome home."

Looking at Amy Pascal, who stood before him with open arms, Anson didn't refuse. He stepped forward, initiated a hug, and exchanged pleasantries.

"A surprise, a total surprise! Long time no see."

Who could have imagined that the CEO of Sony Columbia would personally come to New York to welcome Anson?

If Anson wasn't mistaken, there were professional photographers at the back of the tarmac. Clearly, the competition between Sony Columbia's two CEOs had reached a fever pitch.

Amy said, "This is how it should be. After all, you've been so busy working on our movie, you've barely had a moment. It's normal that we haven't had a chance to meet."

"Originally, to show our thanks, I arranged a small private party for tonight. But Edgar said you haven't had a good night's sleep in a week, so I figured, of course, rest is more important than a party. Parties can be held anytime, but there's only one Anson Wood."

"Since I can't help much on the work side, I can at least provide some convenience. So, here I am."

Amy paused, then leaned closer to Anson, as if about to whisper something.

"I need to coordinate schedules with Edgar to see when we can hold a celebration party. After all, you'll be getting ready to join a film crew to shoot, right? Time is tight."

The amount of information was huge.

Amy not only showed closeness and gratitude, but she also subtly revealed she was well aware of the Warner Bros. situation. But the key point was, she didn't care about Anson's collaboration with Warner Bros.; she was even willing to cooperate and give support.

Furthermore, there was a core element hidden here, arguably the most important, perhaps even the only important part of the entire conversation.

*Chapter 1584: Making a Statement*

The amount of information there was huge.

What's more, Amy's delivery felt totally effortless, casual and natural, like she was just making small talk.

But hidden within all that, there was a core message, possibly even the only important key:

When Amy mentioned "Spider-Man 2," she didn't call him "Peter Parker," but "Anson Wood."

What did that mean?

It was both a gesture and a clear stance. Compared to Peter Parker, Amy valued Anson Wood. She firmly believed the movie's real treasure wasn't the Spider-Man adaptation rights – which Sony Columbia held – but Anson himself.

To break that down further: if the movie's treasure was the comic book rights, which Sony controls, it would mean Sony Columbia could drop Anson anytime. Even if negotiations completely fell apart, it wouldn't matter; they could just start over with someone else, just like the Batman series back in the day, which had four films in ten years but cycled through three different actors.

But now Amy was saying Anson was the real treasure. Her attitude couldn't have been clearer.

Clearly, Amy knew Edgar and Michael were getting ready to negotiate today. She couldn't stop it, at least not openly interfere. So, she used this approach and this stance to show her position: everything is centered around Anson. She even let Edgar and Michael's meeting happen first, and then she'd wait to meet Edgar again tonight.

Anson was actually starting to look forward to seeing what Michael's offer would be.

Anyway, he was in a seller's market now. No need to rush; he just had to wait for the other side to show their hand.

Anson smiled. "Let's take it one step at a time. Let's focus on the publicity work we have right now. Nobody wants to mess up that audience talk at the Angelica Film Center."

A hint of admiration showed in Amy's eyes. She had to admit, Anson was a charming man. It wasn't just his good looks; the charm radiating from within was truly captivating. But the wisdom and composure beneath the surface were even more striking – he effortlessly deflected every edge without batting an eye.

The key point was that Amy believed Anson had understood exactly what she meant.

Amy knew when to stop, seeing that her point was made. She also knew Michael would likely fail if he tried to easily persuade Anson. "Of course," she said. "This is an important stage."

Tonight, Anson was invited to the Angelica Film Center for an audience discussion –

But it wasn't a screening of "Spider-Man 2." It was "Superman II."

In "Superman II," the film also touched on the conflict of Superman's dual identity with Clark Kent. Of course, that 1980 movie only went into it lightly and even ended up turning into a comedy, but it still inspired "Spider-Man 2"'s exploration of the superhero identity.

It was precisely because of the massive success of "Spider-Man 2" that the Angelica Film Center had this idea and boldly invited Anson, hoping he'd do a talk after the screening.

They never in a million years imagined Anson would actually say yes!

The Angelica Film Center was once again right in the middle of the storm for New York's passionate film enthusiasts.

Amy herself showed up and escorted Anson to the Angelica Film Center. From way down the street, you could see the long, winding line of people stretching on and on.

Taking a rough guess just by looking, there were at least two thousand people there, probably more.

If Amy remembered correctly, all the screening rooms at the Angelica Film Center combined didn't even have two thousand seats.

The scale of the event was clear to see.

Arriving at the destination, one moment Anson was resting his eyes, looking totally exhausted, the next moment he appeared before the crowd looking energetic and completely refreshed –

Definitely a superstar.

In Amy's view, top actors often have to face tricky situations like this: they might be physically and mentally spent, maybe even barely able to stand; yet they encounter enthusiastic fans.

For the actor, this could be the hundred-and-first time they've dealt with this situation that day. They're regular people too, flesh and blood, just mortals. They get tired, anxious, and sad. They have the right to refuse an unreasonable request from a stranger on the street; they don't have to just go along with it.

And logically, that's true.

But looking at it from another angle, for that audience member, this might be the happiest and most exciting moment of their entire year, maybe even one of the few lucky moments in their life. The worship and awe in their eyes could almost light up a soul. This is a glimmer of hope in their lives.

So, in situations like this, especially in those that are particularly tough for the actor, how the actor faces the audience and handles the situation – that is the mark of a true superstar.

"Superstar." They look all glamorous and shiny, but in reality, it's both a responsibility and a burden. Just like Spider-Man, "With great power comes great responsibility."

They can choose to "just be themselves," venting anger at strangers on the street – that's their right, and it's the simplest, easiest thing to do. But they can also choose to shoulder their responsibility and just do their job.

Anson? He's a born superstar. That inherent aura and charisma he has, even Amy couldn't help but be moved by it.

Ah! Ahhh!

The screaming and cheering from the crowd went wild, but Anson didn't just go straight into the Angelica Film Center. Instead, he stopped beside the long line, specifically walking towards the back half of it, and started chatting friendly and casually with the audience.

You could just feel the atmosphere from their excited and happy faces.

Slowly leaving the Angelica Film Center, you could still feel the wave of heat from behind even several blocks away. Amy didn't just drop Edgar off. Instead, she personally drove him to Sony Columbia headquarters and even personally escorted him all the way to the conference room.

In the conference room, Michael Lynton was already ready.

But then, unexpectedly seeing Amy Pascal, Michael immediately realized he might have been blindsided, because he had no idea Amy had gone to the airport to meet Edgar.

Amy, on the other hand, appeared completely relaxed and generous. "Michael," she said, "your guest."

Then, Amy gave Edgar a slight nod, turned, and confidently walked away. She didn't linger there on purpose.

The situation now was that they were both competing for Anson Wood. Both Amy and Michael had the same kind of personality – they refused to admit defeat until they had played every card in their hand. So Amy didn't need to stop anything. It was better to wait for Michael to show his hand first and then plan her move.

On the surface, Michael and Edgar were negotiating first, getting the upper hand, and Amy seemed to have lost the initiative. Whatever terms she offered would look like she was just copying Michael.

But Amy believed she was planning carefully before acting; there was no need to rush right now. It was actually the usually steady Michael who was making the first move, which suggested he might be losing his composure.

Of course, Michael didn't really have a choice. After all, he had made a wrong decision earlier, and now he had to take the initiative just to get a slim chance.

Amy was completely relaxed, calmly turning and leaving.

Michael's gaze fell on Amy's back. His eyes flickered slightly but didn't linger. He turned and looked at Edgar. "Welcome. How was your trip? Was everything smooth?"

He appeared composed. Despite being ambushed by Amy showing up, Michael quickly regained his footing, showing he had the resolve to go head-to-head with Amy.