"So, let me summarize and see if I got this right?"
"You like my band, you like my look and my height — especially this all-black outfit, but you just don't like my performance."
"It's not that we don't like it; it's that we don't trust it."
"If I hadn't chosen this black look, and instead went with white or blue, maybe the tone and content of this conversation would be entirely different."
"Yet, you still want me to accept this movie role."
"Is that correct?"
Anson looked left at Keecher and right at Mangold, still keeping a smile.
The air suddenly went quiet.
Without warning, Keecher kicked Mangold under the table.
"Why did you have to be honest? You couldn't keep your mouth shut, and now what?"
Keecher leaned back in his chair, shoulders slumped, looking utterly defeated.
The scene was somewhat comical.
After all, Keecher, with his graying hair, had been in Hollywood for over thirty years. Yet, seeing him express himself so vividly was quite... unique.
Mangold, caught off guard, stammered, "No, that's not it."
Anson raised an eyebrow slightly.
Mangold, who had just puffed up his chest, deflated again, like a balloon losing air. "Now that I hear it, it does sound that way, but..."
Anson raised his right hand to stop him. "Director, don't worry, I'm not upset."
Mangold asked, "You're not?"
Anson smiled. "No. I know where I stand right now. If you told me you came all this way because of my amazing acting skills, I wouldn't believe a word of it. After all, amazing acting? What movie was that?"
He made a self-deprecating joke.
Mangold smiled again, glancing at Keecher and rubbing his hands together excitedly.
Keecher, too, couldn't help but get a little hyped up. "So, what you're saying is…"
Anson didn't answer directly. "Allow me to lay out the situation."
"You just said you want to explore Johnny's creative inspiration, to show how Johnny turned his life's pain into artistic expression. Clearly, this requires acting."
"Instead of casting an actor who's all looks but lacks spirit, you need someone who can capture Johnny's essence."
"By that measure, Joaquin Phoenix would be a better fit, wouldn't he?"
Anson's logic was calm, objective, and clear.
Anson brought the conversation back on track, and Mangold followed along. "Yes, that's the key point."
"Acting."
"Here, when we talk about acting, it's not just about emotions like joy or sorrow, or merely delivering lines. It's about performing both as an actor and a musician."
"On one hand, the actor needs to portray Johnny's struggles. We won't shy away from Johnny's dark years — the alcohol, the drugs, the affairs, and more. He's been to some very dark places, and we need an actor who can show that."
"On the other hand, the actor must convey how Johnny expressed himself through music during those struggles — his understanding of music, the emotions he poured into it, and how he used music as a bridge to connect with his audience. Most importantly, the actor must show how Johnny used his life experiences as the foundation for his music."
"Joaquin can't do that. But you can."
"If I'm not mistaken, you wrote all the songs for your band's album, right?"
"I've watched your performances — from the streets of New York, to 'The Tonight Show,' to your European street tour — and no one fits better than you."
"You create music based on your life experiences and feelings."
"I believe you're the perfect choice to play Johnny."
It all came out in a rush.
Though Mangold still seemed a bit flustered and occasionally tripped over his words, he finally gave Anson a direct answer.
Keecher seized the moment too. "Anson, I owe you an apology."
"Those prejudices were mostly mine."
"Please forgive me. I've known Johnny for half my life. He wasn't just a friend. I didn't think anyone could play him — not you, not Joaquin. I've always had that bias."
"I thought, maybe — just maybe — Joaquin could use his acting skills to make up for the gaps and present a different version of Johnny."
"But today, as James just said, regardless of the reasons, and whether it's because of this black outfit or not, the truth is…"
Keecher took a deep breath.
"I see Johnny in you. It's not about looking like him, or even having the same spirit. Actually, you two don't have any physical resemblance at all. But the energy you both have is so similar."
"I don't know what James thinks, but I want to see you play Johnny on the big screen. I'm curious to see which side of him you'll bring to life."
"If we've offended you, I apologize again."
As Keecher spoke, his tone became more dejected.
Everything felt a bit chaotic.
Nothing had gone according to plan today. Keecher now had a bad feeling, as though they had messed everything up.
Just as Anson was about to respond, the café door suddenly swung open.
Jingling bells rang out as the door was pushed with enough force to make the wind chimes clatter, grabbing everyone's attention — including both Jameses.
Anson, who had his back to the door, was the last to turn around, only to see a whirlwind charging towards them.
"Anson! Hey, Anson!"
Out of breath, looking like he had sprinted all the way, the newcomer didn't even bother to catch his breath. He turned to the two Jameses and extended his hand.
"Edgar Cooke. Sorry to interrupt, truly sorry, but I need to check something with Anson."
After a brief introduction and exchange of pleasantries, Edgar turned back to Anson with a smile.
"How much longer do you need here? There are three interviews waiting for you outside. Kristen and James can go first, and you can join later."
In just a few words, a lot of information was conveyed.
Keecher and Mangold exchanged a glance — the agent was here. That meant the rest of the conversation would now be monitored by the agent, making things a bit more constrained.
It wasn't personal against Edgar; it was just how every Hollywood agent operated.
If you wanted to win over an actor, you had to focus on the script, the role, the co-stars, and the director. But if you wanted to win over an agent, you needed to talk about the budget, the paycheck, and the shooting schedule.
Of course, agents cared about the script and the role too, but their priorities were different. This subtle shift in focus inevitably affected the tone of the conversation.
This time, it was Keecher who spoke. "Anson, since you've got more work to do, we won't keep you."
"Thank you so much for today. We dropped in unexpectedly, and yet you still took the time to talk with us."
"And, we've definitely taken more than just five minutes for a cup of coffee. Thank you."
After the emotional rollercoaster of the day, now that things had settled down, it was clear that Anson's patience, sincerity, and easygoing nature were the real highlights.
Keecher couldn't help but admire Anson. It made sense why he had such a great reputation within Hollywood.
Otherwise, who would really care about some pretty face?
The subtle, unspoken qualities Anson carried spoke louder than words.
Keecher took a deep breath. "Well then, we'll stop interrupting you for now."