Capítulo 219: **Chapter 219: Misaligned Frequencies**
"Anson, Kate, you two step forward and give it a try."
Ian Bryce, ever the seasoned professional, immediately sensed the subtle shift in the atmosphere, and a faint, amused expression crossed his face.
Laura Ziskin wasn't far behind. She turned to glance at Ian, her eyes twinkling, before interjecting.
"Today's outfit is much less impressive. It seems our styling team hasn't kept up with the latest trends. Their fashion sense could use some work."
Even though Laura's comment lacked a direct subject, it was clear to everyone who she was referring to. All eyes turned to Anson—
Obviously, Laura had noticed the Emmy Awards.
And so had everyone else.
Maybe Sam Raimi was the only exception. His still-sleepy eyes remained clueless, glancing around without understanding what Laura meant.
Caught in the spotlight, Anson didn't panic. "Peter is going for a job interview, not attending New York Fashion Week. This is just right."
Laura's expression remained unchanged, but a faint, relaxed smile played on her lips. "How do you know Peter is going for a job interview in this scene?"
Sharp, direct, and quick.
Laura instantly displayed her expertise, surprising even Ian and Sam. They paused, recalling the scene, and then it clicked—
At least, within that page and a half of script, there was no background information or context provided.
The implication? Anson had pulled strings and seen the full script beforehand.
Laura's hint was both direct and obvious. The other competitors—including Kate—all turned to Anson, their expressions shifting subtly.
Wait, was Laura helping Anson or sabotaging him?
Anson ignored the glances from others, unfazed, his gaze steady and clear as he looked at Laura. He didn't even acknowledge Ian and Sam, simply tapping his temple. "Thinking. It's all in the lines. We should learn to understand the dialogue, not just read it."
Honest and straightforward.
Laura didn't respond immediately. Instead, she quietly observed Anson for a moment—
Gary Marshall had nothing but praise for Anson.
Laura knew Gary well enough to recognize that his compliments weren't just pleasantries; they were heartfelt, a genuine stream of admiration that he couldn't contain.
"Understanding a character and portraying them is an actor's talent. But to resonate with the character and the story, and inspire the director's creative vision—that's a skill. A rare skill, Laura, and you know better than I do that this kind of talent is priceless."
These thoughts surged in Laura's mind, then settled. She couldn't help but become curious, her expectations gradually rising—
But if Anson failed to meet those expectations, the disappointment would be just as intense.
Was this a good thing or a bad thing?
At the very least, today's audition was starting with a small surprise.
Then.
Laura's lips curled slightly into a real smile. "Well then, let's see how deep your understanding of the lines goes."
"Are you ready?"
Ian couldn't quite discern Laura's attitude—whether she liked Anson or was testing him—but he decided to just watch and see.
Meanwhile, Ian hadn't forgotten about Sam. Sure enough—
"Do you need to look at the lines?"
Sam spoke up.
In an instant, all eyes turned to Kate.
Kate was glaring at Anson.
Things were a mess. From the unexpected encounters with Anson to their surprise-filled interactions during the scenes, one twist followed another. Then, the conversation between Anson and Laura had raised expectations, making Kate's mind swirl with speculations and possibilities. But before she could fully process everything, the audition was about to begin?
Kate shot Anson a frustrated glance. They were supposed to be partners, right? They needed to communicate, at least, or how could they perform their scenes together?
Wasn't that basic knowledge?
In the next second, Sam's words made the entire room's focus turn sharp and intense, landing squarely on Kate, making her even more flustered. This wasn't how things were supposed to go.
Taking a deep breath, Kate forced a sweet smile, "Because we haven't discussed it with each other, I'm not entirely sure about the rhythm, so I'm keeping it as a backup."
Sam gave a nonchalant grunt and waved his hand dismissively, "If you want to look, then look."
The essence of a screen test lies in its practicality.
In other words, the actor needs to be on camera, and naturally, performing without a script is the baseline expectation. After all, during the actual filming, no actor stands in front of the camera with a script in hand.
This is why the script page was given to the actors in advance. Although it wasn't explicitly stated, it was clear that the actors were expected to fully understand and memorize their lines.
So when Kate showed up with the script page in hand, it was no wonder Sam pointed it out.
However, an audition is still an audition. Sam wasn't overly strict, so after a casual comment, he returned to his laid-back, sloth-like demeanor.
But—
Kate was thrown off.
Her eyes flickered, and she seemed lost.
One wave hadn't settled before another rose. One unexpected event after another had already disrupted her plans before the audition even began. The mix of nervousness and anticipation had now been completely scrambled, plunging her into a state of panic and confusion, her mind going blank, unable to think clearly.
Anson noticed.
Acting in a scene is a back-and-forth process, a mutual exchange. If one person loses focus, the other can't do much alone.
Putting aside Kate's personal issues for the moment, Anson needed her to pull herself together. He wasn't going to let this screen test fall apart.
"Hey, look at me."
Anson's voice was low, and Kate instinctively looked up.
"This is just a performance, and compared to live performances, it's nothing."
"Don't worry about the lines, don't worry about the acting, just get into the mood."
"You're feeling panicked, nervous, trying to hide yourself? That's good because Mary Jane feels the same way. Remember that feeling and get into character."
Kate nodded, still a bit dazed.
"Look at me, look into my eyes. Trust me, you can do this. Okay?"
Deep yet clear, bright and steady, Anson's gaze calmed the chaos in Kate's mind, helping her regain her composure.
This wasn't easy, but let's not forget—Kate wasn't new to acting.
Then, still gazing at Anson, Kate took a couple of deep breaths and nodded in affirmation, "I'm ready."
Anson gave her a quick, reassuring look and outlined the scene, "You turn around and face away from me. I'll call out to you, and you turn back, then we start our dialogue."
Kate, without realizing it, set aside her usual princess-like attitude and obediently followed his instructions. She turned around, signaling that she was in position.
The room fell silent. Not just the interviewers in front, but all the other competitors were watching as well—
James felt a bit strange, seeing his usual companion standing there, ready to perform. It was like she had suddenly become a different person.
It was both amusing and awkward, making him curl up slightly.
Maybe that's why Anson was facing away from them?
"Hey, Mary Jane, it's me, Peter."
Anson began—
The performance had started.
But even with just the first line, something felt off.
Mary Jane was supposed to be trying to leave quickly at this point, not wanting to see anyone. But then Peter Parker catches up to her, so when Mary Jane sees Peter, she should feel a mix of panic and joy—a complex emotion.
However, Kate hadn't captured that.
[Chapter 5 Continues...]
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