"You did it."
After a moment of shock and bewilderment, Mangold finally regained his composure and gave a response.
Next to him, Keats was briefly stunned but quickly nodded in agreement.
Mangold took a deep breath, organizing his thoughts.
"Honestly, you weren't our first choice. I'm sorry, I know that's very rude..."
Anson waved his hand slightly and chuckled, "If you told me I was the first choice, trust me, I wouldn't buy it."
"Hey, I know my situation. Flattery doesn't work on me."
Direct and sincere.
Keats couldn't help but nod slightly: Johnny Cash was like that too.
Mangold scratched his head, looking a bit awkward and embarrassed, letting out a couple of nervous laughs.
"We've tried to find several actors. Each had their strengths, and we hoped to find someone who looked like Johnny."
"That's standard in Hollywood. When we're shooting a biopic, physical resemblance is the first condition, but because of that, there are often shortcomings in other areas."
Anson nodded knowingly, lifting his chin slightly. "We have to admit, legends are legends because they can't be replicated."
What did that mean?
Was he subtly suggesting that actors who merely look like legends are nothing more than flashy frauds?
After all, legends typically have it all—looks, talent, charm. It's already rare for an imitator to resemble even one of these traits.
So, actors in biopics often face a dilemma:
They can capture the look, but not the essence. Surface-level imitation can't replicate the depth.
Undoubtedly, it's a contradictory topic—
On one hand, the film academy generally believes that biopics are the ultimate test of acting because the real-life figure is known to all, and capturing their spirit is no easy feat. This is also why biopics often dominate the Oscars.
Whether it's Best Actor or Best Actress, winning Oscars through biopics has the highest success rate.
On the other hand, biopics are often criticized by industry professionals for lacking space for actors to showcase their range, locking them into a framework where they can only perform within set boundaries, unable to fully explore their acting depth.
Biopics are also frequently slammed as "awkward imitations."
One direct and typical example is the 91st Academy Awards in February 2019, when Rami Malek won Best Actor for Bohemian Rhapsody, marking a major breakthrough in his career.
However, after the ceremony, he faced widespread criticism from industry professionals.
There were two main reasons for this.
First, Bohemian Rhapsody is a biopic about Queen, and the most exciting part of the film is the concert scenes. Many viewers complained that it felt like a concert documentary. However, all the singing in the film was lip-synced, meaning that the most thrilling parts had no contribution from Rami Malek.
It's reminiscent of the backlash against Natalie Portman for Black Swan, where a professional ballet dancer did most of the heavy lifting in the dance scenes, but Portman took all the credit and won Best Actress.
Second, the movie didn't provide much room for Rami Malek to truly shine, and his performance relied heavily on a set of prosthetic teeth, leading to a portrayal that many found to be nothing more than a poor imitation.
While award decisions are always contentious, that year felt particularly glaring.
This remains Rami Malek's only Oscar nomination to date.
If you think winning an Oscar involves some luck, the fact that Malek's career hasn't soared since his win, and he hasn't landed many leading roles, hints at Hollywood's attitude towards his performance.
So, starring in a biopic is a double-edged sword. It can help a seasoned actor like Gary Oldman finally win an Oscar, but it can also become the graveyard for many actors' ambitions to showcase their talents.
Anson's insight and wisdom were apparent right from the start.
Mangold was taken aback, contemplating what Anson had just said. "I feel like you're hinting at something."
Before Anson could explain, Keats jumped in, "What? No way! He's just saying that Johnny is one of a kind. That's right, kid, there's only one Johnny, and no one can replace him."
His face beaming with satisfaction, Keats nodded repeatedly at Anson, clearly pleased.
Anson's eyes twinkled with a hint of a smile. "So, playing him in a biopic is bound to be a lot of pressure for anyone."
Mangold's expression grew strange, but he steered the conversation back on track. "So we have to clarify what our focus is."
"Is it physical resemblance? A similar aura? Or perhaps capturing his spirit?"
Anson lifted his chin slightly, a knowing glint in his eyes. "You're asking whether you want to make a film that merely recreates certain iconic images of Johnny Cash, or one that captures the essence of his career?"
"Bohemian Rhapsody" and Elvis belong to the former; The Pianist and Monster to the latter."
Snap!
Keats snapped his fingers, his face lighting up with excitement. "Exactly!"
At this point, Keats could hardly contain his excitement, glancing back and forth between Anson and Mangold like someone with ADHD, leaving Mangold slightly exasperated.
So Keats was dead set on Anson now, wasn't he? No turning back?
But...
Mangold had no reason to refuse.
Ignoring Keats, Mangold turned to Anson, "What we're aiming for is the latter."
"In this film, we want to explore Johnny's creative process—how he transformed life's experiences into musical melodies and how music helped him pull himself out of darkness and despair."
"Naturally, performance and creativity are critical."
"Instead of finding someone who merely looks the part but lacks depth, we want someone who can embody Johnny—someone who can sing, play, and create."
"Of course, that's not an easy task."
"The times have changed. Singer-songwriters aren't as popular anymore. Pretty faces like Justin Timberlake, who focus more on stage presence, are becoming the norm, which makes our job that much harder."
"Honestly, we're not asking for much. We just want to find an actor who can sing and play. And of course, their voice needs to be charismatic."
The nonchalant tone made Anson burst into laughter—
"Not asking for much?"
In the '70s and '80s, the entertainment industry celebrated multi-talented performers, who could sing, dance, and act, continuing the rich tradition of the stage.
But entering the '90s, the industry shifted towards specialization. Cross-disciplinary artists became less common, and while they still exist to some extent, their frequency and quality have declined dramatically.
Nowadays, it's hard enough to find a musician who can sing, play instruments, compose, and perform—let alone an actor.
Mangold's casual tone seriously underestimated the reality.