In a romance film, showing only one side of the emotional journey creates an imbalance. After all, a relationship requires two people to spark the chemistry. Otherwise, it's just one-sided love or a secret crush.
Moreover, the narrative focus of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is on Joel.
So, Anson believed that Joel, like Clementine, should experience subtle changes throughout different periods.
Of course, in terms of personality, Clementine is ever-changing, with mood swings as unpredictable as London weather—experiencing all four seasons in one day. Her changes are vibrant and colorful. But Joel is not like that. He is conservative, rigid, and unchanging. Any significant change in Joel would contradict his character.
Anson was aware of this.
The changes in Joel should be subtle—small, almost imperceptible adjustments.
This way, the film can maintain its "mind-bending" quality. On a first watch, the audience is often focused on the story itself and may overlook these details, making the timeline seem confusing. Only when they calm down and fully immerse themselves will they discover these hidden details, like pieces of a puzzle that complete the full picture of the story.
This posed a challenge.
Additionally, Anson noticed something about Kate's hairstyle.
Unlike Clementine's bold and distinct hair color from the past, Kate's current hairstyle was rebellious and full of personality, but it didn't help the audience identify the character easily.
From Kate's performance so far, Anson wondered:
Was it because Charlie hadn't finished writing the script yet? Maybe Charlie hadn't clarified his ideas, and the script didn't give the stylist enough direction. Perhaps Kate hadn't fully grasped the character either, so she relied on her intuition and was still exploring, leaving the styling vague.
Now, Kate gave Anson an inspiration.
Maybe these two problems could be solved together.
Anson looked at Kate, "Have you seen Dead Ringers?"
Dead Ringers was a 1988 film directed by David Cronenberg and starring Jeremy Irons. It focused on twin brothers who, despite being two distinct individuals, were mentally intertwined.
When they both fell in love with the same actress, the connection between the brothers began to fracture, causing them to wither both physically and spiritually. Eventually, they rediscovered each other through destruction and rebirth.
In the film, Jeremy Irons played both brothers. To help the audience distinguish between them, the stylist put great effort into the details of their suits. Jeremy Irons' nuanced and brilliant performance further emphasized the differences between the two characters, offering viewers a unique experience.
After the movie's release, a friend of Cronenberg's asked him, "Oh, Jeremy Irons' performance was amazing, but who was the other actor?"
That was the highest praise for Jeremy.
In the film, the older brother's suit was always clean and tidy, with cool tones and no extra accessories, often accompanied by a three-piece set for formal occasions. The younger brother's suit, on the other hand, was often paired with a sweater, slightly warmer in tone, and devoid of ties, cufflinks, and other details, highlighting his bookish nature.
Even with the same traditional suit, subtle differences could create distinct characters.
As Anson spoke, Kate immediately visualized the concept.
Then Kate looked at Anson, "So you plan to show Joel's changes through variations in his suit?"
Anson nodded, "I still need to discuss it further with the stylist, but I think the tie and sweater could be a good starting point—focusing on colors, styles, and combinations."
These details might not be obvious but would always be present.
"Interesting." Kate smiled, her eyes showing admiration. "Since you'll use clothing to show Joel's changes, I'll need to avoid repetition with Clementine, or it might visually overwhelm the audience and make it harder to distinguish her character."
"How about…"
She paused briefly.
"Hair color—what do you think?"
Without Anson needing to explain, Kate had already found her own inspiration.
"Look, Clementine has a free-spirited soul, and her hair color reflects her mood."
"Did you know? Statistics show that over 60% of women change their hairstyle when they want to change their mood, and the extent of the change reflects the intensity of their emotions."
"If it's just trimming the ends or adjusting bangs, that's a daily mood shift. But changing the color signals a desire for more significant change. And if she goes for a complete transformation—like cutting long hair short—well, that probably means her life has undergone a major shift."
This was new information for Anson.
Curious, he asked, "What about women with hundreds of wigs?"
Kate smiled, "They're probably trying to hide their true emotions, not wanting anyone to see their vulnerability."
Anson replied, "Wow."
Kate smirked, "I know you men think we're from Venus, but honestly, we're not that hard to figure out." She winked, her expression suggesting, This is a big secret—I've helped you this far. The rest is up to you when you're wooing women.
Just as a smile spread across Anson's face, Kate shifted to the next topic.
"Since they meet three times, let's treat them as three distinct periods."
"Actually, in a long-term relationship, it's unlikely that Clementine wouldn't change her hair color at all, considering how her mood shifts daily. But to avoid confusing the audience, we'll have to sacrifice that realism for the film's sake. It's a small regret, but it can't be helped."
Anson thought it over and replied, "Not necessarily."
Kate looked intrigued.
Anson continued, "Throughout their relationship, Clementine can keep her red hair, but at different times, she could use different shades of red—light red, orange-red, bright red, and so on. When she's passionate, the color could be more vibrant, and when she's going through tough times, it could become more muted."
Like a barometer for her emotions.
Kate shot back, "Do you think I'm a neon light, changing at will? Do you know how painful it is to dye hair, not to mention how damaging it is? By the time we finish filming, I'll be bald!"
Anson: …
Did she just flip the switch from friendly to mad? Or was that a joke?
"Uh… sorry?" Anson hesitated.
Kate stared at him for a moment, the tension thick in the air. Just as it seemed things would turn awkward, she broke the silence.
"But I like it."
"Clementine is exactly the type of woman who's hard to pin down. I think you've captured the essence of her character. See? Our little session paid off."