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Chapter 616: Getting Closer to the Idol

Sarah was curious—where was Anson? Given that Anson understood how to position the right people to keep the crew running smoothly, compensating for inexperience with professionalism, there was no reason for the producer to be late on the first day of filming.

After all, producers and actors are entirely different roles. A producer doesn’t need, and shouldn’t be, acting superior. Instead of wasting time on unnecessary fanfare, it would be better to focus on the crew’s operations.

And, as if summoned by the thought, the devil appeared.

Anson had arrived.

Aaron noticed immediately.

White T-shirt, jeans, and low-cut yellow boots.

Clean, crisp, and without any added flair, he was like a refreshing breeze, adding a vibrant touch to the cool autumn day in Vancouver. Even the bright red leaves seemed to pale in comparison.

Aaron stared at Anson, momentarily forgetting to breathe.

Sarah also froze for a moment. She knew Anson was strikingly handsome and tall—his face and figure were everywhere, from print to film to TV. But only seeing him in person allowed her to feel that unique charisma.

One of a kind.

Sarah couldn’t help but sigh; some people were just born to shine.

In her brief distraction, Aaron had already slipped out of her grasp and dashed forward.

Sarah: “Oh no.”

A sense of dread filled her heart. “Aaron!” she called instinctively, but it was too late. Aaron had already darted forward like a swift panther. Sarah hurried after him but couldn’t keep up.

Thump, thump, thump.

Aaron sprinted toward the figure, with only Anson on his mind. He wanted to tell him:

"I really, really love Spider-Man. I've watched it over a dozen times and still can’t get enough. I even went out of my way to watch your other movies, like The Princess Diaries and Friends. Now I’m waiting for Catch Me If You Can to release. I hope that when I grow up, I can be a superhero like you..."

The thoughts were a noisy mess in his mind, a tangled bundle of excitement and adrenaline.

And then—

Aaron stopped right in front of Anson, his heart pounding as he skidded to a halt, words caught on his tongue. He looked up and saw Anson’s eyes on him.

“You’re so tall,” he blurted out.

Anson blinked, then smiled with a slight lift of his lips. “Drink more milk and go to bed early.”

Aaron’s mind went blank. He simply stared at that face, then nodded obediently.

In books and movies, protagonists are often described as having an “aura” when they make their entrance. Aaron had always thought that was just a literary device, not something real.

Until now.

There really were people who carried an aura.

Sarah finally caught up, panting as she arrived. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Wood...”

Anson stopped her with a smile. “Anson. Just call me Anson. I’m not much older than Aaron here.”

Hearing his own name made Aaron feel an uncontrollable surge of joy. His face broke into a huge smile. “You know me?”

Anson: “Of course I know you.”

The young man standing before him, now an up-and-coming Hollywood heartthrob thanks to films like Kick-Ass, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Nocturnal Animals, had definitely made his mark. The 12-year-old version, though, was noticeably different.

Aaron’s young face was still round, with soft pink cheeks, and his features hadn’t fully matured. But his bright eyes were captivating and magnetic.

Before Kick-Ass turned him into a muscular heartthrob, Aaron’s breakthrough role was in Youthful Love, a high-school romantic comedy where he played the lead singer of a school band. In fact, Aaron before and after eighteen were nearly unrecognizable from each other.

No wonder the entertainment industry often says that the best transformation is hitting the gym.

When Anson saw Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s name on the casting list, he did a double-take. Was there another Aaron Taylor-Johnson out there? But that wasn’t something to bring up right now.

“Of course. This is my movie and my cast; how could I not know you? Don’t forget, we went through quite the process to find you.”

This was the truth—

Marcia, in her search for the perfect actor to play Anson’s childhood role, had scoured Los Angeles, auditioning over 400 kids, both seven-year-olds and thirteen-year-olds, to find the right ones.

Aaron wasn’t a perfect fit either.

Since he was British, he had a British accent.

The Butterfly Effect cast had American accents, and they couldn’t just swap everyone’s accents for one role. So, Aaron had spent a month working on his American accent before joining the crew, just barely meeting the criteria.

Anson’s casual comment stirred up a storm of emotions in Sarah’s heart.

Securing this role had been a long, winding road. The Johnson family had come close to giving up several times, convinced that it would end like the Harry Potter nightmare. Each time, they had to readjust their expectations and brace themselves.

Luckily, the nightmare hadn’t repeated.

Sarah looked up at Anson, who had no idea what his words meant to her. Her eyes filled with tears, which she quickly tried to hide, wiping them away hurriedly.

Aaron didn’t think too much of it. His world was still simple, and he craned his neck until he almost broke it, staring up at Anson’s face. He had imagined countless times what it would be like if Spider-Man appeared before him, but now that it was real, his mind was blank.

“I like you,” Aaron said.

Anson looked over, surprised.

Aaron repeated softly, in his young voice, “I really like you.”

Anson’s smile blossomed. “Thank you! The pleasure is mine.”

But Anson didn’t treat Aaron like a child—

At seven, maybe that would be fine; at twelve, not so much.

Anson took a small step back, creating some space, then bent down to make eye contact with Aaron, extending his right hand in a friendly gesture. “So, let’s work together and make something amazing.”

Aaron blinked, meeting Anson’s bright gaze. A smile spread across his face, radiant as the sun, and he took Anson’s hand, his voice bursting with excitement.

“Yes, sir!”

Anson and Sarah both burst into laughter.

Anson straightened up and spotted Rachel McAdams standing nearby, who had paused to watch. She gave him a knowing smile and a playful salute, acknowledging the exchange silently. Unspoken understanding filled the air.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 617: Absolutely Foolproof*

Rachel McAdams kept reminding herself not to overreact, not to panic, and not to lose her composure. Despite her best efforts to clench her fists tightly, she couldn’t control the fluttering in her stomach. Even under the warm autumn sun, she felt slightly dizzy.

Excitement. Thrill. Joy.

In fact, Rachel had almost given up hope. Despite the rumors that the investment cost for "The Butterfly Effect" was only ten million dollars, Anson’s involvement had already turned it into a hot topic in Hollywood. Actors were lining up one after another, hoping to grab some of the spotlight.

There were countless outstanding actors.

When her agent called to tell her she’d landed the role, Rachel nearly fell off her couch. She repeatedly checked to confirm, unable to believe it.

"The Butterfly Effect" would be Rachel’s first time as a leading actress.

A leading role—a dream that had only appeared in her imagination and fantasies—was now about to become reality. It felt entirely unreal.

Rachel doubted herself more than once:

Why did the crew choose her? Was she really suited for the role? With no acting experience, would she be a disaster for the production? What if the movie failed? What if, after shooting began, she had no idea how to act and became a burden to the crew?

During that time, Rachel kept having the same dream:

When she arrived at "The Butterfly Effect" set to report, the director looked at her with confusion and asked, "Why are you here?"

Even though she tried to explain that she’d been notified she was the lead actress, she couldn’t get the words out. She just stood there, stunned, as the director waved her away like a fly. "Leave, get out of here. This movie has nothing to do with you."

She was speechless.

Amidst laughter, she was kicked out of the crew.

Then she’d wake up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat, sitting in the dark, feeling anxious. Yet she didn’t dare call her agent to ask him to confirm her role with the crew again.

This nightmare tortured her over and over again. Her feet seemed to lift off the ground, floating in midair, struggling desperately but unable to break free.

Now, standing on the city streets of Vancouver, looking at Anson just a few steps away, the reality finally began to sink in.

Taking a deep breath, and then another, Rachel silently cheered herself on—

She had already read the script more than fifty times, to the point where the pages were fraying at the edges. She meticulously mapped out the cause-and-effect relationships along different timelines, carefully piecing the entire story back together, trying to construct the worldview and confirm each character’s place in the various time frames.

Reading. Researching. Delving.

That’s all she could do, clinging to it like a lifeline. Every time she woke up from a nightmare, she’d pick up the script and start reading it again.

Everyone said Anson was just a pretty face, that the success of "Spider-Man" and "The Princess Diaries" was all due to his looks. But Rachel had acted alongside him, and even though it was just an audition, it was enough to show her how absurd and one-sided those rumors were.

Rachel hoped she could seize this opportunity.

Although she hadn’t had a formal acting opportunity yet, Rachel had prepared according to her own plan.

The doubts, worries, and fears hadn’t disappeared—they still objectively existed—but Rachel wasn’t going to let them take control.

Then.

Rachel saw Aaron and Anson. On impulse, she saluted Anson—

Damn it.

Rachel had no idea why she did that. She regretted it the moment she finished the gesture.

But to her surprise, Anson’s smile gently broadened. He brought his index and middle fingers together, touched them lightly to the corner of his brow, and gave a casual and charming nod, causing a gentle ripple in the blue depths of his eyes like a pebble dropped into Rachel’s heart.

The ripple slowly spread.

Rachel couldn’t help but burst into a bright, sunny smile that easily caught the attention of everyone around. For a brief moment, even Anson seemed to fade into the background.

Mackie, on his way to the camera position, paused slightly, observing the scene. In an instant, he understood why Anson chose Rachel as the lead actress—

She was perfect.

From a filmmaking perspective, the chemistry between the male and female leads was particularly important; it was a selling point. At the same time, Rachel’s sweetness didn’t seem to fit the character, as she falls into despair and hits rock bottom multiple times in the film, ending up disheveled and muddy. Rachel’s aura made it hard to portray such complexity.

However, from the film’s thematic standpoint, what truly mattered was Evan’s obsession—an obsession so intense that it leads him to spiral into madness and self-destruction. The root of it all was his longing for happiness—

A pure, clean, simple, and natural emotion.

That was Rachel.

Mackie could see that purity in Rachel, a purity that symbolized happiness and beauty. The movie scenes in his mind began to come to life, vivid and fresh.

Mackie suddenly realized that this was what they called the “cinematic feel.”

Even though the entire crew was full of novices, it was clear that Anson had taken on the responsibility of the producer, showing his maturity and wisdom. From selecting the assistant director and key crew members to casting and decision-making, to coordinating the professional work of the crew, everything was progressing in an orderly manner. The details had been set before the cameras even started rolling.

When a film fails, people often simplistically blame the director or actors. Similarly, when a film succeeds, some will dismiss it as “no big deal.” Whether it’s the former or the latter, they are just armchair critics with no understanding of the complexities and challenges of filmmaking—or even life in general.

In reality, every detail matters from the moment a film is greenlit—

Set design. Costumes. Cinematography. Art direction. Script. Actors.

And so on.

This was Anson’s first time as a producer, but his past experiences working on set had helped immensely. His experience filming “Elephant” was also invaluable. He personally oversaw each step of the process. If there was something he didn’t know, he relied on Tom Hanks’ advice:

Leave it to the professionals.

At this point, the importance of connections became apparent. Not only had Darren Star, David Klein, Jeff Robinov, and Steven Spielberg all offered help in one way or another, but Edgar also went beyond his duties as an agent to help Anson assemble the “Butterfly Effect” crew.

Finally, there were the actors.

Whether it was Aaron Taylor-Johnson or Rachel McAdams, each had been chosen after careful consideration and deliberation, and they were just the beginning.

The actor playing seven-year-old Evan was also a future star, Logan Lerman, who later transitioned from child actor to teen actor through the “Percy Jackson” series. His career included well-known works like “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” and “Fury.”

This time, Logan and Aaron would portray Anson at different stages of childhood. Marcia had put in a tremendous amount of effort to select these two young handsome actors, convincing the audience that they could grow up to be as striking as Anson.

But the real surprise was elsewhere—

“Hey, Heath, over here,” Anson called out, his face lighting up with a smile as if he’d spotted an old friend.

Chapter 618: Cast Lineup

In fact, Logan Lerman and Aaron Taylor-Johnson are only two years apart, but in the film, they need to play two entirely different stages of Anson's life.

This was the most significant challenge Marcia faced during the casting process.

The only fortunate thing was that Logan hadn't hit puberty yet. Although he was already ten, he still looked thin and frail—passing for seven wasn't an issue. On the other hand, Aaron had already started growing, appearing slightly more robust. The two-year age difference was more evident in their visual appearance.

Marcia truly did her best—

She needed to find someone who fit the age requirement, embodied Anson’s essence, and looked good on camera.

Most importantly, the salary couldn’t be too high.

Finding such child actors wasn’t easy, not just in Los Angeles, but also in the UK and France. To be precise, it's a challenge to find teenage actors in general.

As mentioned before, since the main audience is between thirty and forty-nine, Hollywood films often focus on this age group. As a result, there are fewer roles centered around teenagers.

Naturally, young actors have fewer opportunities to break out, and talent reserves are affected, making the search for outstanding teenage actors challenging.

This time, "The Butterfly Effect" focused entirely on college students, requiring a large number of young actors. Marcia’s job was indeed challenging—

Child actors were one challenge; young adult actors were another.

In the film, Keller’s brother, Tommy, also plays a crucial role. His obsessive protection and possessiveness toward his sister, attacking anyone who comes near, is a source of Keller’s pain and a key factor in the tragic relationship between Evan and Keller.

Casting this role was particularly important.

Marcia searched high and low but couldn't find a suitable actor.

Tommy couldn’t be too strong or dominant; he should be as frail as Evan, making it impossible for him to get a response from girls. At the same time, at home, when Tommy saw his father reach out with dirty hands toward his sister, he was powerless to protect her. This weakness and helplessness twisted Tommy’s mind, leading to a form of indiscriminate rage, attacking anyone who approached his sister like a mad dog.

So, he had to be both frail and have a hint of madness.

These contradictory qualities are difficult to find in a teenage actor.

In a previous life, the crew couldn’t find such an actor and ended up choosing someone tall and strong, fitting the stereotypical "thug" image.

That wasn't necessarily wrong, as the script didn’t give Tommy much room to shine. But the result was that this tragically rich character became a mere tool, completely unlikable, with all his complexities erased, stripping the script of its power.

William Lee Scott, a tough-looking actor seen in “Pearl Harbor” and “Identity,” never found his unique style or personality, remaining a quintessential “pretty face.” His performance in "The Butterfly Effect" was no more than a tool.

While it wasn’t a failed casting choice, it certainly wasn’t a successful one either.

Once again, Marcia faced difficulties in casting the role.

Additionally, Marcia had her considerations—the film's lead was Anson, a “pretty face.” She couldn’t cast a highly talented young actor who might outshine Anson, as it would unbalance the film and wouldn’t help its box office prospects.

After much deliberation, Marcia still couldn’t find a suitable choice.

Then.

Anson suggested someone: Heath Ledger.

They weren’t exactly friends, and after the “Spider-Man” audition, they hadn’t kept in touch. But that brief encounter left a good impression on both of them.

So when Anson reached out to Heath’s agent and personally called him, Heath agreed without hesitation after just a brief description from Anson, even agreeing to a screen test.

Technically, this was Anson asking Heath for help; Heath didn’t need to audition—his agreement was already worth celebrating. But Marcia insisted on the audition because she didn’t believe Heath was suitable.

From an age standpoint, Heath was older than Anson and Rachel, and his appearance didn’t match the nerdy character’s profile. However, Heath’s rough yet restrained demeanor unexpectedly impressed Marcia, and a brief three-minute audition convinced her.

At that time, Heath was still somewhat lean, without much muscle definition, but his free-spirited, untamed aura was already beginning to shine. Casting him as Tommy was a bold and risky choice, yet one that hinted at untapped potential.

Marcia warned:

“Anson, be careful—this is a highly talented actor who doesn’t yet realize the extent of his own abilities. He relies solely on instinct, but even this raw power is impactful. If he finds the right role, he will shine.”

So, in this project, you need to stay sharp, or your spotlight might get stolen.

As the casting director, Marcia was more focused on the film’s overall cohesion, striving to find the right balance. And she was on Anson’s side, protecting his interests, hence the cautionary advice.

Of course, Marcia’s approval also acknowledged Heath’s talent and potential, far beyond what a small supporting role could contain. Even Marcia couldn’t help but feel a bit excited about the final outcome.

Anson took the advice to heart and, after careful consideration, chose Heath.

Was he worried that Heath might overshadow him?

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t, especially since he had already witnessed Heath’s dazzling transformation in a previous life, so claiming he wasn’t concerned would be dishonest.

But more than worry, he felt eager anticipation. During the filming of “Catch Me If You Can,” the scenes with Tom Hanks were not just enjoyable but also a learning experience. Now, Anson looked forward to the sparks that might fly with similarly young talents like Heath and Rachel—this was the joy of acting.

Most importantly, the current version of "The Butterfly Effect" was entirely different from the one he knew before. Apart from the script, everything else had changed drastically, from the producers to the crew—

This was a very bold move.

Whether it was Rachel or Heath, Anson’s immense effort in selecting his co-stars stemmed from his desire to experiment and challenge himself. He aimed to craft a brand-new film based on his understanding and vision. With the directors focused solely on the script, the rest was up to him as the producer.

Anson couldn’t help but wonder, what would this new version of "The Butterfly Effect" become?

Perhaps in the previous life, "The Butterfly Effect" underperformed at the box office but shone in the rental market. But now, there was no such guarantee. This “Butterfly Effect” was already a completely different film, with an entirely unknown future.

Chapter 619: A Complete Overhaul

History had already changed from the moment Anson appeared on Friends. The world now existed in a completely different parallel universe.

Undoubtedly, The Butterfly Effect was also going to be a vastly different work.

Looking back from twenty years in the future, all the major actors in this project would have become household names, if not outright stars—a stark contrast to the previous version of the film. The clash and interaction between these different actors were bound to produce entirely new chemistry.

However, the key point is that even a star-studded cast can result in a massive flop. Not every collaboration leads to a sum greater than its parts; sometimes, it can be the beginning of a disaster.

With a new cast, new lineup, and new chemistry, everything was uncertain.

It might succeed, it might fail miserably, or it might not make any waves at all.

For Anson, this was an experiment—an exploration and development in this new parallel universe. Even if it failed, it wouldn’t matter much, as the investment was only ten million dollars. But this attempt would help determine Anson's future development strategy.

After all—

In his second life, Anson had already decided to live freely. Regardless of success or failure, he wanted to embrace bold experimentation. This would be the first time, but it certainly wouldn’t be the last. This kind of adventure was the best way to feel the energy and color of life.

He was ready.

Seeing Heath, a genuine smile spread across Anson’s face.

Heath was, after all, Heath—wearing a simple gray T-shirt and jeans, carrying a small cloth bag that seemed to hold a change of clothes. That was it, like a drifter heading to San Francisco to strike gold, with nothing to his name, ready to hit the road at any moment.

“Yo,” Heath greeted in a low voice.

Low-key, reserved, and succinct.

Anson stepped forward and gave Heath a high-five.

“Are you ready?”

Heath, slightly dazed, responded, “Not terrible.”

This reply made Anson laugh, “Are you sure that’s good news?”

Heath lightly shrugged, “At least it’s not bad news.”

Anson laughed heartily.

Without further small talk, Anson beckoned to Heath, Aaron, and the other actors, heading toward the set. “Looks like we’re ready to roll.”

…

Another movie was starting. It seemed no different from previous projects, just another role, another life to experience.

But stepping into this production, the feeling was slightly different.

Perhaps it was because this was the first project Anson had chosen to perform in on his own. Perhaps it was because this was the first project where Anson was both producer and actor. Perhaps it was because the seemingly unrelated plot of The Butterfly Effect eerily mirrored Anson’s current life and even predicted his future…

Perhaps it was all of these reasons, or perhaps it was none.

In any case, the feeling was strange.

Especially when they started filming the first scene.

Anson, dressed in a bathrobe, was off to the side, doing push-ups and sit-ups with tiger-like ferocity, a last-minute effort to prepare.

Rachel, also in a bathrobe, carefully adjusted the hem to cover herself, sitting on the edge of the bed with her legs crossed, appearing extremely tense.

Nervousness was real.

Shyness was real, too.

Of course, anticipation was also real.

Strictly speaking, this wasn’t Rachel’s first time performing in front of the camera, but with all her experience combined, this was only her third project. It was also her first time as a lead actress, making the atmosphere entirely different.

And the first scene they were shooting was an intimate one!

An intimate scene!

Rachel’s toes curled in embarrassment. This was only her second time meeting Anson.

The first time they met, Anson had “confessed” that he had liked her for a long time.

The second time they met, they were already stripping down.

That escalated quickly!

It was already the 21st century, the internet age. Young people always said everything was sped up—first date, first kiss, second date, straight to the bedroom; by the third or fourth date, they were already amicably breaking up. This was the supersonic era.

But Rachel admitted that she hadn’t kept up with the times.

She had always thought of herself as very modern and open, but now she realized it was a façade; she was more conservative than she had imagined.

Off to the side, Anson was working out, making sure his arms and shoulders looked more defined. Rachel kept trying to avert her gaze, but her peripheral vision couldn’t help drifting toward him.

His smooth skin had a faint wheat-colored glow, with the indoor lights cascading over his muscular contours like a waterfall. The heat of his hormones seemed to wash over her, and she thought she could hear the sound of his low, heavy breathing…

“Stop!”

“Rachel, stop!”

Rachel closed her eyes. She had to stop these useless daydreams, or her breathing would go haywire.

She still couldn’t picture herself filming an intimate scene on the big screen.

Oh, damn it, God!

“Sorry,” Anson’s voice suddenly came from beside her, startling Rachel as if she’d been shocked by electricity. She snapped her eyes open and instinctively moved aside.

After she completed this series of actions, Rachel realized she had overreacted. Grimacing, she snuck a glance at Anson.

Anson wasn’t angry; instead, he smiled. “Maybe we should stop apologizing to each other, act professionally, and get into character?”

That one comment made Rachel’s lips curl into a smile, slightly easing her tense mood.

Anson quickly followed up with another remark, “I always thought I was following in Leonardo DiCaprio’s footsteps, but I didn’t expect to be Brad Pitt?”

Rachel burst out laughing—

Leonardo was known for his face—that face alone was enough to make countless women swoon. Brad was known for his physique—his role in Seven where he boxed shirtless was what earned him the title of a sex symbol.

Right now, Anson was wearing gray sweatpants, but nothing on his upper body.

Rachel realized that Anson was teasing her for not being able to look directly at him, which made her lift her head and look at him squarely.

“I’m just worried about this scene; you don’t need to overthink it.”

As she spoke, Rachel let her gaze drop, briefly surveying Anson’s upper body.

Anson didn’t say anything, but he intentionally flexed his chest and biceps like a bodybuilder, and Rachel couldn’t help but burst out laughing again.

The awkward, stiff atmosphere noticeably relaxed.

Anson raised his hands in a surrender gesture, his face serious as he clarified, “I swear this wasn’t my idea. I’m innocent, and I hope Miss McAdams will remember that.”

Surprisingly, Rachel glanced at Anson and intentionally struck a coy pose, “A little disappointed, honestly. I was hoping you’d pull some strings to get this scene shot early.”

That comeback caught Anson off guard.

Rachel’s eyes flashed with a sly sparkle—she wasn’t going to stay on the defensive forever.

Anson was momentarily stunned, “Wait, is this a trap? If there are paparazzi sneaking photos, give me a heads up. My agent says my right side is more photogenic, though I don’t have a personal preference.”

Rachel hadn’t expected Anson to be so cooperative. The two continued to joke and laugh, their smiles bright and unreserved, completely dispelling the tension and anxiety in the air.

*Chapter 620: A Bold Adventure*

Finally, "The Butterfly Effect" officially started filming.

Typically, a film crew chooses a simple and light scene for the first shoot—an easy take to bring good luck, implying a good start.

This was true even when Gus was filming "Elephant."

However, McGee and Eric, the two rookie directors, didn’t follow the usual approach. Instead, they chose an extremely challenging scene for the first shoot, and it was also a crucial one.

In the movie, Evan has had a problem with short-term memory loss since childhood. He often can't remember certain moments—he was there, but his memory is blank.

For example, Evan remembers that when he was seven years old, Keller's father bought a video camera. He recalls being asked to stand in front of the camera with Keller and remove their shirts, supposedly to shoot a video.

But he doesn’t remember what happened afterward.

Evan finds Keller and cautiously probes what happened that afternoon, never expecting Keller to avoid the topic and become emotionally unstable, crying uncontrollably. Later, Keller ends her own life.

This incident shocks Evan deeply.

At this turning point, Evan uses his diary for the first time to return to the past, back to that afternoon when he was seven, and stops Keller's father in his own way—

That afternoon, nothing happened.

Then...

When Evan wakes up and returns to the current timeline, the butterfly effect takes place.

Keller doesn't have any childhood trauma; she hasn't lost her ability to love and trust. She ends up with Evan, and they become a loving couple, entering college hand in hand, beginning a new and happy life.

Everything is as beautiful as a fairy tale.

Evan feels both confused and lost. He's not sure if he should believe all of this is real, unsure of when happiness might slip through his fingers, and unsure if he's in a dream.

But at the same time, even if it’s just a dream, Evan wants to hold onto it tightly, to enjoy this happiness for just a little longer. Even if it’s stolen happiness, he wants to savor it cautiously, even if only for a fleeting moment.

In fact, Evan’s sense of foreboding is correct—

Because of Evan's interference, Keller's father didn't hurt her and instead vented all his anger on Keller's younger brother, Tommy. This caused Tommy to become paranoid and twisted.

After learning that Evan and Keller were together, Tommy lost his last emotional anchor. So, he grabbed a baseball bat and charged at Evan, eventually causing a tragedy.

Of course, Evan has no way of predicting the future and doesn’t know that danger is approaching.

The scene shifts back to the film crew.

The scene about to be shot is an important intimate one in this timeline.

After Evan returns to the current timeline after altering the past, he experiences a day of chaos, collision, and exploration. When night falls, Evan finally finds a bit of reality:

He has achieved happiness.

Keller is in his arms, visible, tangible, and perceptible. Yet, the lingering feeling of precariousness and unease remains, making him tread carefully, as if walking on a tightrope.

The first scene takes place on a bed, right after the two have had sex.

To be precise, this scene happens mid-film, and it doesn't connect to the beginning or the end. Anson is completely puzzled as to why Eric and McGee chose this scene to be the first one filmed—

The difficulty lies in Evan's mindset. His constant anxiety that everything before him is just an illusion—a flower in a mirror or the moon in water—is layered. It's not just worry or fear; there’s a deeper sense of caution and hesitation.

In the past, Ashton Kutcher played this scene like a simple romantic drama—a big boy rediscovering the joy and happiness of his beloved toy.

This approach isn’t necessarily wrong, but it turns Keller into a mere trophy, insufficient to convey the true meaning of happiness. Additionally, it makes Evan's psychological arc superficial, unable to display the complexities of fate.

Anson isn’t sure if he can portray a new perspective; however, as the first scene of the shoot, he isn’t confident either.

The challenge also lies in the chemistry between Anson and Rachel, as this is a scene that requires both parties to be fully open with each other. A single bedsheet won't be enough to dispel the awkwardness and unfamiliarity of two strangers in an intimate scene.

However...

McGee and Eric insist.

They sit down with both actors for an in-depth discussion to express their viewpoints:

They believe that starting with this scene aims to break the ice.

The emotional bond between Evan and Keller is undoubtedly the core of the entire film. At its essence, it's a pure love story. However, the key is that the film doesn’t have the time to spend a lot of effort depicting the emotional tension between the two. The script and the movie leave no room for it; the directors must rely on the actors' chemistry.

So, they want to break the ice and break the barriers by throwing the two actors into an extreme environment right from the first scene, laying the foundation for the entire film.

Anson protests, saying there are many ways to break the ice, and it’s unnecessary to do it this way.

But McGee disagrees. It’s clear he has imagined it countless times in his mind.

"I read an interview where Wong Kar-wai, while filming 'Happy Together,' had Tony Leung's first scene in Argentina as an intimate one with Leslie Cheung."

"Moreover, Tony Leung thought he was playing a character attending a funeral."

"It wasn’t until after that scene was shot that he finally realized what was going on."

“That’s the effect I want.”

“Anson, you can do it.”

It turns out McGee has been eager to imitate the master's approach. The problem is, not everyone can mimic Wong Kar-wai.

Unexpectedly, Gus didn’t imitate Wong Kar-wai when filming “Elephant,” but McGee and Eric are trying to follow in Wong Kar-wai’s footsteps with “The Butterfly Effect.” Anson doesn’t know if this is good or bad.

After all, imitation, if not done carefully, can turn into a disastrous endeavor. Countless new directors think they are learning from the masters but fail to realize that poor imitation only exposes their shortcomings.

There may not be a hundred directors trying to imitate Wong Kar-wai, but there are at least eighty, and the results have been disastrous. Almost none survived. Whether McGee and Eric have the directing skills to handle this scene remains to be seen.

Moreover...

Anson understands McGee's intention; he gets it and can attempt such a performance. "I can do it, but the key is..."

What about Rachel?

Unexpectedly, Rachel interrupts Anson. She seems to have anticipated his concern and, noticing his gaze, speaks up before he can. "I have no problem."

After speaking, Rachel swallows nervously, quickly glancing at Anson before looking away. It's clear she’s tense and anxious, but she straightens her back, trying to show confidence—

She is ready.