This is Hollywood, the center of the spotlight.
After an overnight rise to fame, rumors erupt like a geyser, sparing no one.
For instance, some might wonder which producer's bed an actor climbed into to get a role.
Or what tricks they used to steal the role from someone else.
Or which financial backer is secretly pushing for the success of the project.
These kinds of rumors are inevitable.
Anson is no exception.
Darren Star's personal connections were quickly dug up, and rumors about Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt being stepping stones came in various versions. Anson's colorful personal life before starring in Friends sparked even more envious discussions.
None of this was surprising.
What truly surprised people was that Anson had built a good reputation within the crew.
At first, people thought it was because Darren Star was protecting him, or maybe because Steven Spielberg was covering for Anson. Either way, the rumors kept growing more outrageous and baseless, even dragging Tom Hanks into the mix.
But now...
Grant finally understood. It was Anson's personal charm, radiating from every gesture, that was key—something intangible and only felt after meeting him in person.
It's hard to believe Anson is only 20 years old.
Then, someone else entered the scene, slightly disrupting the cozy atmosphere.
"Sorry, hope I'm not late."
A bright voice, like a ray of sunshine, filled with youthful energy.
It was none other than Kirsten Dunst, the leading lady of Spider-Man. This time, she was reuniting with Anson in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
When the final cast was confirmed, this reunion was undoubtedly a pleasant surprise. After all, the last collaboration between Anson and Kirsten brought in $600 million at the North American box office. The two would continue working together in the Spider-Man sequel, making them stand out among their generation of actors.
Now, their "second collaboration" was starting. As expected, Hollywood is a small world. Not long ago, Anson worked with Elizabeth Banks twice; now, due to Jennifer Garner, he had connections with Mark Ruffalo even before meeting him. And now, here he was, paired with Kirsten Dunst again.
But this collaboration was slightly different from what one might expect.
Anson and Kate are playing fated lovers, while Kirsten's character has a completely different romantic storyline with Mark.
If audiences were hoping for more scenes between Anson and Kirsten, they might be disappointed—
Kirsten plays the receptionist at the memory-erasing clinic, while Anson's character is a customer seeking to erase his memories.
That's it.
Even though Anson and Kirsten do have a few scenes together, they're minimal, and there's no chemistry—it's strictly business.
In a way, it's clear that the huge success of Spider-Man benefitted Anson more. In Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Anson plays the male lead, while Kirsten is in a supporting role.
Alternatively, from another perspective, Kirsten likely wanted to explore different kinds of films to expand her acting range after coming of age, and whether she was the lead or not didn't matter. She's a young actor with a clear sense of direction for her career.
Otherwise, when she found out Anson was the male lead and she would just be supporting, Kirsten could have easily had her agent turn down the project. But she didn't—she eagerly accepted the role.
That said, the anticipation was still there, even if Anson and Kirsten had few scenes together.
Like Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, people still eagerly await their collaboration even now. Even if they're not starring in a film together, fans hope to see them share the stage at awards shows. It's like breaking the fourth wall—their joint appearances always stir excitement.
Now, Anson and Kirsten are similar. Just seeing them together on screen brings a familiar, comforting feeling.
It's not just the general audience; even the crew members, including Grant, feel the same way.
Swish, swish, swish.
All eyes turned to Kirsten, excitement and enthusiasm bubbling in their gazes, before shifting to Anson—
Peter Parker and Mary Jane were reunited.
And so, the gossip began.
Anson: "Oh."
He sighed, but his next words were completely unexpected.
"Thirty minutes late on the first day of shooting. What a special way to start things off."
Grant: ????
Nonsense!
Who was late? The director, writer, and producers hadn't even arrived yet! What on earth was Anson talking about so confidently?
And why was Anson being so confrontational right off the bat?
So, was the rumor true? Is there tension between Anson and Kirsten on set?
The room suddenly felt quiet.
Elijah quickly moved aside, and when he turned, he saw Mark hesitating as if he wanted to intervene, despite not knowing anyone yet. Elijah gave him a look, signaling to keep some distance and enjoy the show.
Kirsten was still catching her breath, flustered, but she quickly noticed the shift in the room's atmosphere. Once she steadied herself, she scanned the room.
It only took one glance to spot Anson.
Anson had this unique ability. Even if you just glanced at him, you couldn't help but take a second look.
And then...
Kirsten saw the playful glint in Anson's eyes—
Message received.
Though Kirsten had no idea what was going on, she understood Anson.
In fact, just the night before, when Anson was on the phone with Jake Gyllenhaal, Kirsten was nearby, and Jake had commented that Anson seemed a little nervous.
Partly because he was excited to work with Kate.
Partly because he was worried about the atmosphere on set. With his rapid rise in fame, if Anson had chosen another commercial film, it wouldn't have been an issue. But instead, he picked a Charlie Kaufman film—
The crew might have a critical attitude of "let's see how good you really are, let's see what this rising star can deliver," adding an invisible pressure that could be exhausting.
Different crews can create entirely different working environments, and once in the flow of work, productivity can vary greatly.
But now, Anson still had the energy to "play the part." Was he...
Kirsten, ever sharp, quickly caught on.
"Sorry!"
Kirsten dramatically bowed at a full ninety-degree angle, hugging her calves in a yoga-like pose, bending her head all the way down.
"I'm really sorry, please forgive me."
Her voice trembled as her shoulders lightly shook—she was practically on the verge of tears.
Grant: ????
Wait, what? Something's off here! What's going on?
So, how does this get resolved?
Watching Kirsten's exaggerated, deeply apologetic bow, as if she was throwing her dignity to the ground, Anson was now in a position where he had to react, or things would turn into a disaster.
The situation had suddenly become quite awkward.