Darren had always believed that becoming famous was the easiest part of the journey.
Of course, it's not that gaining fame is genuinely easy—Los Angeles is full of struggling actors, writers, and directors, all trying to make ends meet while chasing their dreams in the cutthroat entertainment industry. This reality is far from the glamorous depiction in movies.
What Darren meant is that after achieving fame and entering the limelight, the real challenges begin: facing numerous tests, dealing with the pressure to maintain success, and constantly having to make difficult decisions. That's where the true trials lie.
In comparison, gaining fame is indeed the simplest step. After all, this is Hollywood, where opportunities abound. Every day, new actors, new topics, and new trends emerge, creating a dizzying array of possibilities.
Anson now finds himself in such a position.
The explosive success of "Spider-Man" has quickly propelled Anson to the forefront of the new generation. From here on, every step will be more difficult and dangerous than the last.
Darren expected Anson to hesitate, to have doubts, or to let the success go to his head like a hot-air balloon drifting in the clouds, overwhelmed with countless ideas.
If that were the case, it would be understandable—
After all, young people often believe they can easily conquer the world. Just give them a long enough lever, and they think they can move the Earth.
Perhaps Anson isn't even interested in this project. Maybe he already has his next move planned out, or perhaps he's ambitiously trying to carve out his own path.
Darren had seen this countless times in Hollywood, so it wouldn't be surprising. Still, Darren wanted to help Anson, offering some advice from someone who's been there. That's why he made the call, hoping Anson would seriously consider the opportunity.
But now, it seems Darren was overthinking it.
Darren thought the Woods must be quite pleased.
"If the director agrees, would you really be willing to star in this film?"
Anson didn't hesitate, "Of course."
A smile crept up on Darren's face, and he nodded lightly, showing a hint of admiration. Even he couldn't help but be curious about what path Anson, the actor, would take next.
"Alright, I'll talk to the director. As you said, the final decision lies with Gus."
After hanging up the phone, Anson immediately dialed Edgar's number.
Anson firmly believes that an agent and an actor should be a team that supports each other. While the actor has the final say in choosing projects and roles, the agent also plays a crucial role in shaping the actor's career. By communicating openly, they can stay on the same page and create a synergy where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
So far, Anson and Edgar's collaboration has been smooth.
After listening carefully to Anson's account, Edgar pondered for a moment before offering his opinion.
"For the next step, my suggestion is either to take on another commercial film—preferably a romantic comedy. This would help you shed the high school image and make people start seeing you as a man. It would also capitalize on your current momentum to establish a heartthrob image."
"Or, you could take a 180-degree turn and choose a project that defies all expectations. Actors often fear changing their image or breaking free from typecasting because it's risky. But sooner or later, every actor has to face this challenge, so why not boldly break the mold before your image is fully established?"
"Making a change now is safe because at least you have the 'Spider-Man' sequel as a fallback. It wouldn't put us in a difficult position and could even open up new possibilities."
"The biggest mistake right now would be greed."
"Wanting everything and being cautious about everything might land you in a position where you're neither here nor there. I think Gus Van Sant is an excellent choice."
"Based on your description, his movie is a purely independent project, likely to head to the Sundance Film Festival. With Gus's reputation, regardless of the film's quality, this could be your first step into the world of independent cinema."
As an agent, Edgar's perspective was different from Anson's, but he also recognized this as a valuable opportunity.
As for the pay—
"No one does independent films for the money."
Edgar wasn't worried about those details. His main concern was:
The schedule.
"If this project goes through, you might have to head to Portland immediately. What about the recording? The album is halfway done; are you just going to leave it hanging?"
He didn't say everything out loud.
What Edgar didn't mention was that the band members were entirely dependent on Anson. Without him, there wouldn't be an album, so they probably wouldn't complain. Even if Anson left the album unfinished to shoot a movie, they wouldn't object; however, just because they didn't voice their thoughts doesn't mean they didn't have any.
In the future, when the band finds success and its members enter the spotlight, their mindset might change. The unresolved issues of today could become the ticking time bombs of tomorrow.
It's not that Edgar was being paranoid, but rather that the spotlight has a way of changing people. From Hayden to Brad, Anson's world was already beginning to shift under the scrutiny of the public eye.
Edgar was confident that Anson was aware of this too.
Anson didn't pick up on Edgar's unspoken concerns. "If possible, I'd prefer to finish one thing before starting another. Spreading myself too thin might lead to accomplishing nothing at all."
"But to be honest, getting that call just now was a bit of a relief."
"We need to take a step back with the recording process. We've been too eager, too restless, trying to make this album perfect. We're so focused on getting it right that we've trapped ourselves."
"Taking a break in the middle, giving our minds a chance to cool down, and reassessing the situation might help us find a more relaxed and creative approach."
Anson was sincere.
As expected—
There was still much to learn in the world of music. As a listener, it was easy to criticize an album for lacking cohesion or innovation. But now, being directly involved in the creation process, Anson understood the difficulties, especially when it came to balancing commercial appeal with artistic integrity.
It's as hard as climbing a mountain.
"For now, let's not focus on the movie project. I'm planning to suggest to the band members that we take a few days off, hit pause, and clear our minds of distractions."
Hearing this, Edgar felt reassured.
"As long as you're clear on what you're doing, that's all that matters."
"Also."
"Be careful with the paparazzi. That TMZ website is no joke. They're getting more and more sources, likely with help from insiders in the industry. They're all over you right now, trying to dig up anything they can."
"I know you're not worried about the paparazzi, but there are just so many of them."
Edgar couldn't help but give a word of caution—
The higher you climb, the colder it gets.
They had just started their ascent to the top, but already, challenges were everywhere.
Edgar wasn't nervous; instead, he felt more driven than ever. After all, this was the Hollywood they had envisioned, wasn't it?