"Just a moment ago, I was worried you'd be nervous, but now I see I was worrying for nothing."
Tom Hanks, chewing on a toothpick, had a faint smile on his face—a look that represented the quintessential American everyman. He wasn't exaggerated or over-the-top, just back to his usual, familiar self.
Anson blinked in surprise.
Then, he couldn't help but smile, "I've heard before that Mr. Hanks likes to joke around off-camera, that you're nothing like the serious Forrest Gump. I was trying to imagine Tom Hanks as a mischievous prankster, and now I finally get it. No wonder people say you shouldn't trust Hollywood."
At first, Tom couldn't help but smile, nodding in satisfaction as he heard the first part. Those who knew Tom were aware that this serious actor actually loved to play pranks, a sharp contrast to his public image.
But the second part?
Tom choked on his own saliva. "That conclusion took quite the turn, didn't it? That's some world-class drifting you did there. Aren't you worried about losing control?"
Anson maintained a calm expression.
Tom chuckled, "Alright, looks like I've got no one to blame but myself."
He let out a small sigh.
"I just wanted to say, there's no need to be nervous. Just be yourself."
"When Steven chose you for this role, it was because he believed you were the best fit. You did an outstanding job in New York, and it'll be the same here. No need to change anything—just stay true to yourself."
"But clearly, I'm making myself look like an arrogant narcissist."
Back in New York, even though Tom wasn't on set, he still provided some help with the acting and filming. Now, in Los Angeles, he was doing the same, trying to ensure everything went smoothly.
Normally, Anson would have gone along with Tom's words, maybe joked a bit, and then admitted his nervousness. But now that he was fully in character, it was different. Young Frank wouldn't respond that way.
Anson lifted his chin slightly, "Just like every other actor."
Tom opened his mouth, tilting his head as he thought for a moment, then smiled, "Yes, an actor's essence."
After a pause, he laughed again, "So, are you ready?"
Anson exhaled deeply, "Can I have a moment to prepare?"
Tom, "Of course."
Anson gestured behind him, "I need to go to the bathroom and throw up first."
With that, Anson turned and headed toward the trailer to change into his costume.
One second, two seconds—
Laughter erupted like thunder.
Tom turned to the side, "Did that kid just pull one over on me? Haha."
Clearly, young Frank needed this kind of aura and confidence.
Anson had started to grasp the essence of it.
When Steven arrived on set, everything was ready to go. After a brief chat with Tom, he prepared to start filming.
Just as Steven was about to head to the monitors, Tom, a bit puzzled, asked, "Steven, aren't you going to say something to Anson?"
Steven, "Say what?"
Tom was taken aback by Steven's nonchalant expression, then laughed, "Never mind, never mind."
Steven knew exactly what Tom meant. "Tom, I've told you before: once we start shooting, I don't interfere. I have complete confidence in the actors' abilities. You personally vouched for Anson, and now it's time for you to face the choice you made. So, I'm not worried—not even a little."
With that, Steven turned and walked away, leaving Tom standing there, dumbfounded. It took him a moment to snap out of it, "Hey, Director? You're sure this is your movie, right?"
He was joking that Steven was acting like a hands-off boss.
But Steven didn't respond, continuing to walk towards the monitors, his steps light. Though he didn't say it outright, his excitement was clear.
The scene they were about to shoot involved FBI agent Carl arriving at a motel with two other agents. They'd received a tip about a suspicious check, which likely belonged to young Frank Abagnale.
Typically, bank fraud cases like this were handled in the office, so Carl requested backup. But his superiors, not taking it seriously, sent two agents who clearly didn't care much, much to Carl's frustration.
Upon arrival, Carl instructed the other agents to cover the exits while he went to the second floor alone to arrest the suspect.
The upcoming shoot would capture Carl and young Frank's first confrontation.
Though the scene was continuous in the storyline, it required different angles, shots, and camera movements to film. Steven and his core team had set up on the first floor, clearing out the second-floor hallway and rooms to ensure smooth filming.
Steven had devised several shooting plans, eventually settling on one—
They would start with a follow-shot perspective, capturing the entire story arc while focusing on the tension between Carl and young Frank. The goal was to highlight the actors' performances, immersing the audience in the cat-and-mouse excitement.
Then, based on the footage, they would fill in close-ups, wide shots, and other angles to create a complete atmosphere.
Steven was still Steven, a master craftsman controlling the entire process.
After working with directors like Garry Marshall and Sam Raimi, and now seeing Steven's approach, it was clear just how different they were.
Finally, everything was ready. After a brief adjustment from New York to Los Angeles, the crew demonstrated their professionalism, meticulously preparing for the shoot. The burden, as always, fell on the actors—
Would Tom and Anson spark the magic?
Reflecting on Anson's performance in New York, he had been surprisingly impressive. Whether it was working with veteran actors like Christopher and Natalie, or showcasing his intensity in the final scenes, Anson had exceeded expectations, raising anticipation even higher.
So, what about this time?
"Cut!"
This was the fourth NG (No Good) take, indicating some setbacks in the shooting progress.
It wasn't bad, but it was all about the details—
The actors Anson and Tom still need to find their rhythm; the two of them just aren't in sync yet, and the recent outtake was quite comical.
The cameraman needs to shoot handheld, but the focus here isn't on capturing the realism of a documentary. Instead, the emphasis is on closely following the movement of the two characters. This places strict demands on the cameraman—not only must the camera remain steady, but the shooting path also needs to be 100% accurate.
There's no room for error.
The cameraman is assisted by an assistant who holds onto the cameraman's waist with both hands, controlling his movements and positioning to align perfectly with the shooting path.
The mistake happened right here: the cameraman's movement deviated slightly from the planned route, resulting in the camera and Anson facing each other directly—
Anson unintentionally made eye contact with the camera.
So…
"Cut."
That was an outtake.
Everyone on set was momentarily stunned, then burst into collective laughter, both on the first and second floors. Even the extras couldn't help but laugh.
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