586-590

*Chapter 586: A Footstep*

The wind whistled, swirling inside the car, but no one spoke.

Everyone was lost in their own thoughts, trying to process the information. Then, Eric sneakily lifted his head to observe Anson through the rearview mirror.

Unexpectedly, Anson caught him.

Anson asked, "What's up?"

Eric shook his head and forced a smile, "Nothing, I just feel like you're more suited to be a producer than either of us. What seems complicated becomes simple in your hands."

A slight smile tugged at the corners of Anson's mouth.

In his previous life, he had dabbled in various industries and tried his hand at different tasks, including working on film crews. Learning how to bring order to chaos and prioritize issues had become second nature, though he never imagined it would come in handy now.

It’s true what they say: every path we walk shapes who we are today.

But Anson didn’t dwell on himself.

He glanced at Eric in the rearview mirror, "So, this is good news."

Eric chuckled twice, "I agree."

After a pause, Eric realized his words were too vague, so he added, "I agree with your suggestion. I have no objections."

With that, Eric finally relaxed, taking a bite of his burger with a satisfied look on his face, "Hmm, not bad!"

But Mackie remained tense.

Mackie quickly glanced at the rearview mirror, "Anson, can you guarantee this?"

Anson thought seriously, "No, I can’t."

Mackie: ...

Anson chuckled softly, "Mackie, we’re not naive kids anymore. This is Hollywood. Even things written in black and white can be overturned. So-called trust is just a flimsy promise."

"But what should we do?"

"Trust our own judgment, take risks, and try things out."

"Mackie, I can’t make any promises because this is my first time as a producer. For God’s sake, I’m not even twenty yet, okay?"

Eric choked on his food.

"But I found the script, I found you guys, and I sincerely want to make this movie, to see it on the big screen."

"I thought my actions so far were the best promise I could make."

"If you need it, sure, I can paint you a pretty picture right now, saying there won’t be any problems. But when challenges arise, you’ll be disappointed, angry, and feel betrayed, which won’t help our collaboration."

"So, I choose to be honest."

"Mackie, I don’t have to make this movie, but I choose to. It’s as simple as that."

Finally, Anson finished speaking.

Mackie couldn’t help but look up at the rearview mirror again, with a sarcastic smile, "So, should we feel honored?"

Eric got a bit anxious, "Mackie!"

Here we go again—Mackie’s arrogance and prejudice were rearing their ugly heads.

But Anson didn’t mind; his smile grew broader, "Absolutely."

He admitted it just like that.

Eric was stunned.

Mackie was stunned, too. He looked into the rearview mirror for the third time and saw Anson’s confident smile and bright eyes. Unconsciously, a smile crept up on his lips, "Indeed, it is our honor."

Eric: ???

What kind of 90-degree turn was that?

Mackie ignored Eric, "Well then, I’ll leave it in your hands. Anson, I sincerely hope we can make a classic. I have confidence in this, and I’m ready, just need a little help."

Anson slightly lifted his chin, "If that’s the case, then it would be my honor."

Their eyes met, finally finding a sense of understanding.

Despite the challenges and twists along the way, they were heading in the right direction. Anson, Eric, and Mackie had completed their initial bonding.

Everything else went smoothly—

A $10 million production budget, with New Line Cinema not interfering with the creative process. Mackie and Eric would co-direct and have final editing rights. However, New Line Cinema had the right to give feedback, which Mackie and Eric would need to consider, with further discussions to follow.

As for the final say?

It would be shared between Anson and New Line Cinema, requiring mutual persuasion and consensus. This was New Line Cinema's bottom line, non-negotiable.

A 20% box office bonus, with Anson getting 10% and Eric and Mackie splitting the other 10%. In return, none of them would receive additional pay; all the director, writer, and lead actor fees would be waived to boost the production budget.

After some minor hurdles and disagreements, they finally reached a consensus. "The Butterfly Effect" and New Line Cinema signed the deal.

It all happened faster than expected.

DreamWorks missed out.

When Steven Spielberg found out, he called Anson—

He didn’t blame Anson, nor did he believe DreamWorks was the better choice. After all, New Line Cinema's distribution network was a significant advantage, something DreamWorks lacked. Moreover, DreamWorks was currently struggling with its cash flow, not necessarily a better option than New Line Cinema.

Steven simply offered some advice and told Anson to reach out anytime if he needed help. He’d see what he could do.

This moved Anson—

They had only collaborated on one project, purely a work relationship, yet Steven was generous with his friendship, opening a door to a new world for Anson in the realm of fame and fortune.

Later, Tom Hanks also called, asking if Anson needed any help.

"Being a producer isn’t as hard as it seems. The key is not pretending to know everything; trust the expertise and authority of each position."

Tom chatted freely with Anson, providing valuable insights.

Only now did Anson start to realize that he was about to take a significant step forward, advancing from an actor to something more.

However, becoming a producer wasn’t about gaining more power or earning more money—though that was certainly important. The key was winning a voice for actors, allowing them to take on more challenges.

Soon, the movie’s production moved to the next phase, a step where Anson couldn't help much—

On one hand, Eric and Mackie began scouting locations for filming.

Clearly, they couldn’t shoot in big cities like Los Angeles or New York, where costs were prohibitively high, and scheduling would depend on others' availability.

Fortunately, "The Butterfly Effect" didn’t require a specific city setting, so the directors just needed to find a suitable location.

Their first stop was Atlanta.

The reason was simple: Georgia had implemented policies to boost the economy, such as tax breaks and easy procedures for renting streets or buildings for filming. The catch was that the crew had to hire local workers, which could save a lot of costs, making Georgia a welcoming place for film production.

But right now, everything was in the early stages. Georgia's internal operations were still being figured out, and there was no guarantee how things would play out. Saying one thing and doing another wasn’t uncommon, so the directors needed to inspect things personally.

On the other hand, the crew in Hollywood officially began casting.

In his past life, Anson remembered a series of actors from "The Butterfly Effect," but their careers didn’t take off afterward; they weren’t big names.

And since this was now a new project, Anson felt that casting new actors wasn’t a bad idea.

So, he didn’t deliberately seek out the original cast, leaving it up to fate instead.

*Chapter 587: Rekindling Old Connections*

“Good morning!”

“Good morning.”

When Marcia Ross arrived at the casting company near Sound City, it wasn’t even nine o'clock yet. But there were already quite a few actors gathered in the hallway.

This scene didn’t surprise Marcia.

In Hollywood, with over 400,000 actors, even though more than 400 movies are made each year, the resources are concentrated in the hands of a few. The rest still struggle to survive, clinging to the fringes of the industry. For them, any opportunity or project is precious.

So, for every project, a large number of actors show up to try their luck—even for independent or art films.

Marcia had even seen professional actors audition for roles they weren’t suited for, just because the Actors Guild had posted a notice. They’d go to every audition they could.

Eventually, some of these actors became familiar faces to casting directors. When a suitable role came up, the directors would naturally call them in.

This approach wasn’t entirely without merit.

However, it was still incredibly challenging.

“The auditions will start in five minutes. You can begin warming up now.”

Marcia dropped this announcement, pushed open the door to the audition room, and went inside, greeting her colleagues who had just arrived.

A man wearing glasses, looking somewhat slim and appearing to be under thirty, approached Marcia with a hug.

“Marcia, honestly, I was surprised you took this project.”

This was Marcia’s assistant—not an assistant, but rather a co-casting director. The two often exchanged ideas, offering judgments from different gender and age perspectives, which provided Marcia with inspiration for her decisions.

Marcia took off her coat and hung it on the back of her chair.

“To be honest, I was surprised myself.”

The others, setting up lights and cameras nearby, chuckled.

Marcia shrugged lightly. “It’s the truth. I didn’t expect Anson to call me. In fact, I didn’t even know he had my number.”

“Hey, Marcia, after all, you were the one who discovered him, right?”

Marcia burst into laughter. “Ha, that’s one way to interpret it. But another way is that I just got lucky. If anything, he saved my skin.”

Marcia Ross, the casting director, had previously worked on “The Princess Diaries.” At the last minute, she had found Anson through a “GQ” magazine, completing the casting just in time and kick-starting Anson’s miraculous journey.

Apart from “Friends,” “The Princess Diaries” was Anson’s first big-screen project, so it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Marcia was his discoverer.

In the blink of an eye, two years had passed, and Anson had skyrocketed to become the new Spider-Man, a top-tier star in North America, with popularity and status beyond comparison.

Marcia never expected Anson would still remember her, let alone that he would attempt to become a producer or that their paths would cross again.

Typically, Marcia and her team rarely took on independent film projects.

First, the budget was limited.

Second, there weren’t many roles.

Third, producers or directors often had strong personal visions and were unwilling to accept opinions or compromise.

However, Anson had earnestly communicated with her, laying out his entire concept and sincerely asking for her professional opinion. He genuinely invited Marcia to take on the casting work.

Marcia hadn’t expected to agree, let alone so quickly and decisively, which even surprised herself.

Reflecting calmly, Marcia realized it must have been the previous perfect collaboration that left a positive impression of Anson on her. Once again, during their brief conversation, she felt the same sense of ease and clarity from him. With such a well-organized and thoughtful approach, it was only natural to want to be involved.

In any case, that’s how it happened.

“Phew.”

“Honestly, I have some regrets.”

Marcia shook her head lightly.

“I’m not too worried about casting the female lead. Different actors bring different charms, and I believe Anson can create convincing chemistry with them.”

“Although, that’s also a challenge…”

One core aspect of “The Butterfly Effect” is that Evan travels through time repeatedly for Kayleigh. The chemistry between the actors must convince the audience, making them feel the tension between the characters. Otherwise, the film might fail.

However…

“The real concern is the child actors.”

“God, with Anson’s looks, I have no idea what he might have looked like as a child. If we fail to cast well, it could be disastrous.”

“But we’re not the ‘Harry Potter’ crew…”

In “The Butterfly Effect,” Evan frequently travels through different timelines, with his seven-year-old and thirteen-year-old selves appearing on screen. This was Marcia’s biggest headache.

After all, Anson’s appearance was quite unique, making it hard to find a young version of him.

Hollywood doesn’t have many child actors. While there’s a vast pool of adult actors, there are only a few hundred child actors aged seven or thirteen. It’s the same batch of young actors over and over again.

And they had to find a young Anson among them?

Just imagining it gave Marcia a headache.

When “Harry Potter” held auditions, they interviewed over 10,000 children and went through eight rounds of auditions before finally selecting the three main actors.

But the crucial point is, “The Butterfly Effect” isn’t a major production like “Harry Potter.”

It wasn’t just Marcia; everyone shared the same concern. “Actually, I’m worried about that too. For such a small project, we might not get many actors to audition.”

It was 2002, and everything was still relatively primitive. Even if they posted a casting call online, they probably wouldn’t attract many actors.

Beyond the Actors Guild, they would have to rely on connections.

Casting directors also have their networks, finding recommendations or pulling actors from other productions, hoping to discover a talented young actor this way.

Marcia took a deep breath. “That’s why Anson sought me out, right? And I, charmed by him, foolishly agreed.”

“Who says Helen was the only troublemaker? Paris was just as guilty.”

Marcia’s joke instantly set off a wave of laughter among everyone present.

In recent days, Hollywood’s hottest rumor has been “Troy.” Many were adamant that Anson was set to play Paris, squaring off against Brad Pitt’s Achilles.

Naturally, everyone was curious about who would play the legendary beauty, Helen.

The strangest part of the whole situation was that neither Anson nor Brad had responded, neither confirming nor denying the rumors. This silence only fueled the speculation, making “Troy” the most anticipated project of the year.

Marcia took a deep breath. “Alright, whatever happens next, let’s see how today’s auditions go, and then we’ll discuss.”

“At least when I walked in, the hallway was packed with actors. I just hope the quality matches the quantity. Now it’s time to see how much pull Anson really has—how many people want to act alongside him.”

### Chapter 588: Nothing Left

"…Marcia?"

Nicholas Stamos, the assistant casting director sitting nearby, noticed Marcia rubbing her temples. Slightly concerned, he called out to her and shot a questioning look her way.

"Do you need an aspirin?"

Marcia shook her head. "It's not physical."

"Uh…"

"I’ve been pondering whether Keller, a character in a script so full of tragic destiny, should possess a classical aura like in a Shakespearean play—a bright yet melancholic quality."

But clearly, this isn’t easy.

Nicholas thought for a moment. "Claire Danes?"

In 1996, before "Titanic" was released, Leonardo DiCaprio starred in "Romeo + Juliet," which earned him the Best Actor award at the Berlin International Film Festival.

The film’s lead actress was Claire Danes. She wasn’t the typical beauty, but her eyes and demeanor had a unique charm.

After the movie was released, many critics questioned Claire’s casting, believing she lacked the classical essence required for a Shakespearean role. These criticisms caused Claire’s acting career to have its ups and downs.

But Marcia had a different opinion.

When Baz Luhrmann filmed this movie, he intended to reinterpret it with a post-modern approach. The casting of Leonardo and Claire was a deliberate choice to break conventional thinking; their modern vibe was part of the film.

In fact, few people know that Claire was the top choice for the female lead in "Titanic" and had already received unanimous approval from the producers and director. All she needed to do was sign on, but she refused—

The reason was that James Cameron insisted Leonardo DiCaprio be the male lead. Claire had just worked with Leonardo and, being a strong-willed actress with her own ideas about acting and roles, didn’t want to be tied down as a "screen couple" with him. It would limit her flexibility.

So, she refused.

Marcia thought about it seriously for a moment and then shook her head.

"No, Claire Danes…"

"She’s too strong-willed to be swayed by her brother."

In "The Butterfly Effect," Keller’s brother is obsessively protective, rejecting any man who comes close to his sister, even if that man is his best friend, Evan. He goes so far as to hurt Evan just to "protect" his sister. The young and naive Keller doesn’t stop her brother.

To Marcia, Keller should possess a kind of broken beauty.

Clearly, Claire Danes doesn’t fit that image.

Unfortunately, Marcia hasn’t yet found a suitable actress—

Surprisingly, and somewhat expectedly, far more actors showed up to audition today than anticipated. The auditions have been going on for three hours, and the line outside shows no sign of shrinking. The place is buzzing with activity.

For a project with a budget of just $10 million and no famous screenwriter or director, it’s astonishing that it has drawn so much attention.

Using Eric and Mackie’s "Final Destination" series as a reference, attracting a three-digit number of actors to an audition would already be impressive. But today’s turnout is at least four or five times that.

The only reason is that "The Butterfly Effect" has a unique draw:

Anson Wood.

"Wow."

Marcia let out a soft sigh.

"Let’s just hope the 'Anson Wood' card can attract enough actors to help us find a suitable first love for the new Spider-Man."

Her remark made Nicholas laugh. "Anson’s first on-screen love wasn’t Jennifer Aniston?"

Marcia raised an eyebrow. "Correct. But that’s exactly why, from Jennifer Aniston to Anne Hathaway to Kirsten Dunst, we need to find the next standout first love. It’s a tough task."

Marcia seemed to catch a playful glint in Nicholas’s eye and made a stopping gesture with her hand. "Don’t look at me like that; I’m already regretting it."

"Oh God, my weakness really is handsome men."

Nicholas chuckled heartily beside her.

Just then, the next actress opened the door and entered.

The girl hesitated, unsure whether she should interrupt the strange scene of laughter and sighs inside.

Nicholas waved her in.

She quickly stepped in, placed her portfolio on the table, and Marcia took it, quickly scanning through it.

Nicholas spoke up, "You can start now."

The girl was taken aback: "…So soon?"

No small talk, no self-introduction—just straight into the audition?

This made Rachel McAdams a bit nervous, but she forced herself to stay calm—

It’s an audition, after all. There are countless possibilities, and it’s entirely possible for the casting director to skip introductions and background checks. That’s why they need to prepare their resumes.

Just a year ago, Rachel had come from Ontario, Canada, to Los Angeles to chase her dreams. Other actors had taught her auditioning techniques, one of which was to always have a well-prepared resume, from the headshot to the self-introduction to the layout design—everything matters. This advice had given rise to a whole industry:

Professional resume-making services for actors.

A resume could cost as little as $500, or as much as $8,000 or more, with no upper limit.

Rachel, a clueless newcomer from a small town in Canada, wasn’t sure whether to believe it, but she didn’t do it because she was short on cash. Now, she finally started to believe it might be true.

Like right now.

She didn’t even have a chance to introduce herself. All her information and background were on that single sheet of paper, which made Rachel lose confidence. She wasn’t sure what the casting director could glean from such a thin sheet.

"Stay calm. Rachel, stay calm!"

Taking a deep breath, Rachel forced herself to focus:

Acting is what matters.

This audition had no script or specific requirements. The actors were simply asked to prepare a scene they were comfortable with, keeping it under two minutes. That was it.

Now was the time to showcase her skills.

Marcia hadn’t noticed Rachel’s nervousness, and even if she had, she wouldn’t have cared. She was busy assessing the lightweight resume in front of her:

So far, Rachel had only been in two projects—one a TV series that no one had heard of, where she had a guest role, and the other a comedy film that was released earlier this year, "The Hot Chick," where she played a cheerleader.

And born in 1978, she’s already 24? And only two roles?

Oh, she’s from Canada, the boondocks. No wonder.

In a glance, Marcia made her judgment—just another pretty face.

She looked up and saw Rachel’s bright, beautiful features. Sure enough, as expected, a classic girl-next-door type—

Not suitable.

Even before the acting began, Marcia had already made up her mind.

This is Hollywood. Often, decisions are made before an actor even realizes it, leaving them no chance to voice their case.

Chapter 589: A Plate of Stir-Fried Noodles

Clearly, Rachel McAdams had no idea about Marcia's judgment. She didn't have the time or experience to observe the expressions of the casting director—her experience was still lacking.

After diving headfirst from London, Ontario, into the glamorous world of Los Angeles, she was still disoriented, seemingly unable to find her footing. A year had passed in the blink of an eye, and she still had no real grasp of this city or the entertainment industry.

In fact, she had just come from her shift at a coffee shop and hadn't even had time to change out of her white uniform shirt. But there was no time to worry about that now, especially since the production hadn't specified any wardrobe requirements for the audition.

Some might find it hard to believe that an actor who has appeared in a TV series and a movie still needs to work at a coffee shop, but in reality, such situations are all too common. Even more seasoned actors often need other jobs to make ends meet. Being able to survive solely on acting work is a rare achievement in Hollywood.

The acting profession is far from as glamorous as it appears.

The public only sees those actors who have made it into the spotlight, standing at the pinnacle of fame. But the world outside that spotlight is where the vast majority of Hollywood's reality lies.

At this moment, Rachel's only thought was to stay focused and stick to the plan she had prepared. That was all she could do.

Taking a deep breath, then slowly exhaling, Rachel mentally prepared herself and then took out her phone, placing it to her ear.

"...Ha, haha."

Laughter spilled out softly.

Rachel knew her weapon was her smile—sweet and bright. She liked to smile, so in this free-form audition piece, she started with her secret weapon.

"She completely lost her mind, got so drunk she had no idea what she was doing. Ha, that was... that was just insane. I'm not... I'm not sure she even..."

"Anyway, you'd wish you were there, believe me."

As she spoke, her smile paused, and although it remained on her lips, her eyes revealed a hint of frustration and sadness.

Rachel was trying, trying to keep her smile, but her eyes inevitably dimmed.

"Oh, Linus is fine, Linus is fine. I just, uh, I..."

"Are you planning to tell her in Seattle or..."

She hesitated, her eyes showing a mix of shyness and nervousness. Rachel tried to smile again, but the next moment, it froze.

"What?"

Rachel stood there, dumbfounded, her pretty eyes gradually clouding over as if you could see her heart slowly, steadily dropping, like a freefall, pulling her down quickly. She forgot to struggle.

"Oh."

She said.

Then she smiled again, but as the smile spread, tears broke free from her lashes and fell.

She hurriedly raised her hand to wipe away the tears, but she couldn't manage it. Her hand awkwardly wiped at her cheek, trying her best to cover the panic in her voice with laughter.

"Oh, that's great, really great, I'm happy for you."

From joy to panic to sorrow.

From happiness to unease to despair.

Though she kept smiling, bitterness crept onto her tongue.

Rachel took a deep breath, trying to regain her balance.

"No, I'm really happy. I just... I'm happy for you. I just wanted to..."

Marcia had to admit, she was a little surprised.

Acting is subjective. Some might think a performance is outstanding, while others might feel nothing. Truly excellent acting should make the audience feel the emotion and power, drawing them in.

This sweet girl had done just that.

Marcia couldn't help but be a little curious. Who was she talking to on the phone, and what had happened between them?

However, Rachel seemed... a bit too sweet for the role of Keller. Also, her performance was slightly exaggerated.

As Marcia was envisioning Keller's character in her mind, she became a bit lost in thought, then noticed someone waving at the door.

Without thinking, Marcia gestured, "One moment."

Rachel: ...

Rachel's emotions were building up, her eyes moist, ready for the final push, but she was suddenly interrupted, yanked out of the character and the story, left standing there, completely bewildered, looking at Marcia.

What now?

Marcia paid no attention to Rachel and let the person outside come in.

"Sorry, but for lunch, would you prefer pizza, sandwiches, or burgers? We have to order now."

Rachel: ???

Marcia turned to Nicholas. "We had subs yesterday. How about burgers today?"

Nicholas shook his head. "Pizza. I've had burgers three days in a row. I was thinking about Chinese food, but is it too late to order that?"

Marcia thought for a moment. "Let's do Chinese food. I'm craving it too. I definitely want some stir-fried noodles; you guys can order the rest."

The staff member confirmed the order with Nicholas before leaving.

Even though the person tried to be as unobtrusive as possible, giving the impression they didn't want to interrupt the audition, Rachel wasn't sure how to react.

Should she continue? Pause and wait? What was happening? Chinese food? Why were they discussing Chinese food in the middle of a sad scene?

Who was she, where was she, and what was she doing?

Rachel was still too young and inexperienced. After just one scene, she was already mixing up the lines between performance and reality, starting to doubt herself.

She was frustrated.

She tried to refocus and continue acting, but it was hard to stay in that sad, broken emotional state—

It was like crying your heart out, only to be interrupted, and then finding it impossible to return to that sad place, no matter how hard you tried.

Now, that's exactly how Rachel felt.

She was getting anxious.

But the staff member still hadn't left, and Rachel couldn't find her way back into the scene.

Rachel felt a deep sense of failure.

Finally, Marcia spoke, "Sorry, you can continue."

Rachel: ...

She couldn't smile, but the real problem was she couldn't cry either.

Now, Rachel's mind was filled with absurdity, unsure of how to respond. Continue? Where had she left off?

"I, uh, I don't know..."

"I just wanted to, we... I..."

The emotion was gone, and she couldn't continue. Her lines were now like pulling teeth, and worse yet, the lines she had memorized so well started slipping from her mind, scattering everywhere.

Rachel was stuck, left hanging, unable to go up or down. The feeling was terrible. She even began to hate herself. Why couldn't she continue? Why couldn't she handle this situation? Why did this moment make her feel so worthless?

That sense of failure and shame wasn't sadness—it was frustration.

If she asked to start over, would they agree? Or would they just kick her out?

For a moment, Rachel was frozen, standing there like a fool.

But before Rachel could figure out what to do, there was a knock at the door behind her, and the door opened again—

Another interruption?

When would this end?

*Chapter 590: Personal Involvement*

"Do you think we'll get a chance to see Anson in person?"

"Hah, no way! Actors don't usually show up for auditions like this."

"But I heard that sometimes the actors do come to test the chemistry."

"In some commercial films, sure, and maybe in a few art films too. But for something like this, there's usually no need. You'd only see the actors on set, especially the lead actor."

"That's a shame. I knew I didn't stand much of a chance, but I just wanted to try and maybe catch a glimpse of Anson."

"What's the big deal? Anson's just a guy with two arms and two legs, nothing special."

"Aren't you excited to see him?"

"Actually, I am. Anson's so sexy. Hahaha."

The hallway buzzed with whispered conversations, filled with barely restrained excitement that permeated the air.

Eva Green was a bit surprised.

She knew "Spider-Man" was a huge hit, but she hadn't realized that Anson had become such a benchmark for the new generation, with so much influence even among his peers.

No wonder someone mentioned that the wave Anson is causing now reminds them of Leonardo DiCaprio after "Titanic."

Initially, Eva didn’t agree; "Spider-Man" didn’t seem to have the same impact as "Titanic." But now, she was less sure.

She couldn’t help but think of Anson from when he visited the acting academy. His sunny and playful image had left a lasting impression on her, more so than any notion of him being sexy.

If she were to stand in front of Anson now, would he recognize her? Probably not. After all, they were in very different places now. But Eva hadn’t expected that the next time she’d be "indirectly connected" with Anson, it would be under such circumstances:

She was just one of many auditioning, while Anson was the lead actor and producer of the film.

What a dramatic change!

No wonder people say that in Hollywood, anything is possible. With just a snap of the fingers, someone's fate can change completely.

Eva didn’t envy him. In fact, she was a little scared by the idea of reaching such heights overnight and suddenly being exposed to the whole world. She preferred to advance step by step, exploring the craft of acting at her own pace and in her own way, finding joy in it.

That’s why Eva came to audition for "The Butterfly Effect." It wasn’t because Anson was the producer or because she wanted to be on screen with him. She found the project and the character intriguing, with a sense of exploration evident even from the movie’s title.

However...

Her personal thoughts were one thing, but seeing other actors drooling over Anson was another.

Eva couldn't help but smile.

At that moment, a commotion came from the end of the hallway. Like everyone else, Eva reflexively looked towards the stairs.

A tall, slender figure appeared, dressed simply in an ash-gray T-shirt and black jeans, with no extra accessories, no hat or sunglasses. Everything about him was understated, so much so that you might not notice him as he passed by. But a quick glance would naturally draw your eye.

With short, clean hair and a hint of rugged stubble, his low-key appearance hinted at a wild and unrestrained nature, exuding a lazy kind of sexiness that could make your heart skip a beat.

It was just a fleeting moment, but it was enough to capture attention.

Until—

"Hey, Eva."

The figure stopped, smiled, and greeted her. Eva was caught off guard, blurting out her surprise.

"You remember me?"

He paused, chuckled softly, "So, is that a bad thing?"

Eva realized her tone wasn’t quite right but wasn’t about to admit fault. "I guess that’s your trick to attract women."

"Haha. So, did it work on you?"

Eva, "What?"

"Too bad, it seems it didn't work on you. I guess you’re used to men fawning over you?"

"Some, maybe."

Despite the casual exchange, there was an undeniable spark, a mutual understanding filling the space between them.

Then, they both smiled.

Eva met his piercing blue eyes, "This meeting wasn’t quite what I imagined."

"Oh, so you imagined it?"

Teasing her back, Eva couldn’t help but laugh, "Of course! You’re the talk of Hollywood right now. It’d be strange if I didn’t. It’s great to see you again, Wood, Anson Wood."

The man in front of her was indeed Anson.

As exaggerated as it might sound, it was true: everyone around them had stopped breathing, staring at Anson like a T-Rex had just walked into the room. The once-buzzing hallway was now eerily silent, with only the sound of their heartbeats filling the air.

Anson seemed completely at ease, raising his hands. "Still the same two hands and two feet, nothing’s changed. I can assure you, I’m not Bigfoot."

He even showed off his feet.

There was a stifled laugh from someone nearby.

The hallway was packed, not just with female actors but also male actors and child actors auditioning for other roles, all eyes now fixed on Anson.

The atmosphere was... unique.

"So, you’re here to audition? Want me to give you a leg up?" Anson joked.

Eva could feel the metaphorical arrows piercing her back, but she stood tall, unfazed.

"Please."

"Please do give me a leg up. I've been waiting for this day."

Anson burst out laughing, "Haha, no problem, as long as you don’t mind the movie flopping."

Anson didn’t linger, "I’m going inside to say hi. See you in a bit."

With that, Anson walked away.

Instantly, Eva was surrounded by envious, jealous, and resentful stares, but she remained calm and collected, meeting their gazes head-on—

This was Hollywood.

Just then, Anson saw his assistant, nodded in greeting, and knocked on the door.

Knock, knock.

Pushing the door open, Anson offered an apologetic smile, "I hope I’m not interrupting anything."

Rachel McAdams looked up, visibly frustrated, trying her best to hide it. Then she heard a surprised voice from Marcia.

"Anson?"

Wait, Anson? Which Anson?

That Anson? But why was Anson here?

Rachel quickly turned her head, looking up at him—so tall.

She hadn’t even registered his face, only noticing his chest, and blushing, quickly looked away, her mind racing with a single thought:

This is my chance. My chance! But what should I do? What should I do?

Should she, like those cunning characters in movies, pretend to faint into the male lead’s arms, seizing the opportunity to make an impression?

But how does one even pretend to faint? She had never faked fainting in front of an audience before. That wasn’t her skill set.

Damn it, wasn’t she an actor? Why couldn’t she pull this off? Clearly, her acting skills weren’t up to par.