"I wasn't peeking, really."
Even though nothing was actually happening, being caught at such an odd moment made Ryan feel strangely guilty. He was left utterly speechless.
His reflexive denial came out, but why did it feel so awkward after he said it?
Ryan couldn't help but scratch his head.
Compared to Ryan's awkwardness, Anson remained much calmer, his face completely serene. "It's no big deal if you were peeking. I'm used to it by now."
That's it?
Ryan: …
Ryan quickly realized he was overreacting and couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head lightly as he patted the steering wheel. "Damn, you really got me there. To be honest, it's not the first time, is it?"
Anson looked completely at ease—sometimes silence speaks louder than words.
A smile crept across Ryan's face, "Since you're still in the mood to joke around, I guess my earlier worries were completely unnecessary."
"Well, you're already the lead in a blockbuster, while I'm still just a bit player in indie films. So, who should really be worried about whom, right?"
Anson glanced at Ryan, "Is that an attack?"
Ryan felt a bit sheepish, his neck muscles tensing slightly, "Too weak?"
Anson waved it off with a casual hand gesture, "Didn't feel a thing."
Ryan pretended to be frustrated, "Looks like I need to try harder." He even clenched his fist, silently cheering himself on, lightening the mood immediately.
Anson chuckled softly, then thought for a moment—
In fact, there are some things that are easier to share with strangers because they're not a part of your life and won't get entangled with you. There's no shame, no worry; things just seem simpler.
But with family, friends, those burdens and secrets are much harder to bring up. You don't even know how to start the conversation, so over time, you just stop trying. It's not that you don't want to talk; you just don't know how.
Actually, Anson was worried.
As a time traveler, Anson knew how well "Spider-Man" performed at the box office in his previous life. But the problem is, this little butterfly was changing the course of history.
The version of "Spider-Man" that Tobey Maguire starred in during Anson's previous life is completely different from the one Anson is in now. It's not just the actors' interpretations of their roles; the entire tone of the movie has changed. Plus, the changes in the environment before and after the movie's release, and the controversy surrounding Anson himself—all these little changes are altering the course of history.
So, even though the movie succeeded in his previous life, there's no guarantee it will this time because it's a different film, a different timeline.
To be precise, it wasn't just worry; it was a mix of anticipation, nervousness, and fatigue. The success of the previous movie didn't make him feel at ease; if anything, it made him more anxious.
And this is Anson's first time as the lead in a major film. There's no other actor to hide behind or help him out. He's standing alone in the spotlight, with every move he makes scrutinized by the audience.
As an actor, he's truly in the spotlight now, facing intense scrutiny. The entire summer box office seems to rest on his shoulders, and critics are eager to tear him apart.
All these factors combine, creating unprecedented pressure on "Spider-Man." It feels like the fate of all Hollywood rests on this one film.
Even though he knows it's an illusion—Hollywood won't crumble because of one movie—it's still hard not to get caught up in the whirlwind.
He's excited, truly excited.
But he's also genuinely nervous.
It's only now that Anson realizes he's not as carefree as he thought. There are some things that, even after two lifetimes, he still needs to learn. No wonder people say:
"You're never too old to learn."
It's not just knowledge; it's the wisdom of life.
This realization brought a wry smile to Anson's lips, easing his tension a bit.
"I'm worried about the feedback."
The words came out easily, more easily than he had expected.
Ryan was stunned and quickly glanced at Anson. He thought Anson didn't want to talk about it, so he instinctively said, "Isn't it normal to be worried? It would be weird if you weren't."
As if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Ryan quickly explained, "I mean, we worry about every project before it comes out because we care and because we're passionate. We can't predict how the critics will react, nor can we foresee the audience's response."
"People always like to blame the success or failure of a movie on the actors."
"Of course, we need to take responsibility, and we can't deny that sometimes a film's success or failure really does depend on the actors."
"But honestly, an actor's role is limited. Once the film wraps, we lose control. We're as clueless as the audience, only finding out what we've made when it hits the screen."
That phrasing—
Anson liked it. "Hahaha."
Ryan shrugged lightly, "So, we're just like the audience, going into the theater unprepared and watching ourselves make fools of ourselves on the big screen."
"I must say, it's almost impossible not to worry about audience feedback."
Anson understood all that.
But life is like this: when you're in the thick of it, even the simplest, most obvious truths can easily entangle you.
At such times, family, friends, and loved ones take on the role of an outsider.
Anson's smile reached his eyes, "No matter how many times you go through it, it's the same."
Ryan nodded repeatedly, "God, you don't know how worried I was today. I was scared the reporters would hound me with questions, only to find out no one even cared. After all, with Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt on the same stage, who's got time to notice anyone else?"
Today, Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt unexpectedly appeared at the same event, but the gossip was bound to disappoint because nothing happened. Obviously, they knew they were under the spotlight, so they were extra cautious.
They didn't deliberately avoid each other, but they didn't engage directly either—
The rest is up to the reporters to spin.
Anson didn't care about Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt—they didn't need to worry. Instead, he turned to Ryan, "Are you still worried now? Brad too. He's been extra anxious lately."
This refers to the movie "Murder by Numbers."
This film isn't a blockbuster but still a significant mid-range release. Warner Bros. even gave it a wide release in 2,800 theaters, showing their high hopes for it.
However, Sandra Bullock's attempt to broaden her acting range met with poor reviews—not a complete disaster, but far from good, with an average media rating of only 50. It ended up in the middle of the pack, neither good nor bad.
After two weeks in theaters, the film, with a budget of $50 million, had only grossed $18 million, making it a sure loss.
Clearly, for Sandra, these results were far below expectations.
And it seems that Ryan and Brad Renfro, as supporting actors, are under a lot of pressure as well.