Actor in Hollywood

Edgar didn't rush forward. Instead, he continued to stand where he was, quietly observing Anson's photoshoot.

In reality, though, Edgar was paying close attention to the interaction and small talk between the three industry giants, remaining patient and composed.

Gradually, as they moved closer to the work area, the surrounding staff began to notice the presence of the three heavyweights. Edgar also "finally" noticed them. Without hesitation, but with precise timing, he stepped forward "just in time."

He approached them with warmth but without overdoing it—his enthusiasm was tempered with just the right amount of surprise and joy. A broad smile appeared on his face, and he seemed slightly nervous.

However, he maintained his composure, subtly straightening his posture, and extended his right hand.

"Good evening, Mr. Spielberg, Mr. Hanks."

Then, as if reaching for something, he touched his pocket, seemingly intending to pull out a business card but deliberately stopping short. After all, these industry giants likely wouldn't keep his card, so he decided to play it off as if he had forgotten to bring one, flashing an awkward smile.

But he didn't offer an explanation.

"Edgar Cook, Anson Wood's agent."

This introduction was clearly deliberate, as it immediately caught Tom Hanks' attention. A hint of surprise crossed his face as he looked over, "That young man?"

His gaze shifted toward Anson, who was in the middle of his photoshoot.

In Hollywood, the relationship between an agent and an actor is quite nuanced. While agents are technically hired by actors, agents are responsible for career planning and crucial negotiations, making the top five agencies particularly powerful.

Generally, when introducing themselves, agents lead with their agency's name—like William Morris Endeavor or Creative Artists Agency. Even if they're not from one of the top five agencies, independent agents or those from smaller firms often make a point of highlighting their agency to get noticed by industry heavyweights.

Agents are agents, and actors are actors—two distinct entities.

However, Edgar didn't follow this convention.

His introduction was "Anson Wood's agent," positioning himself as an extension of the actor rather than the agency. This type of introduction is more typical of an assistant or manager, indicating that their purpose and value are determined by the actor, not the agency.

In one sentence, Edgar established his position.

Naturally, Tom Hanks, being an actor himself, immediately picked up on this and looked at Edgar with curious interest, following up with a question, "An independent agent?"

Edgar finally responded, "William Morris. Sorry, I wasn't expecting this situation, so I didn't bring any business cards—that's my mistake."

Tom showed a hint of surprise, "No need for a card; we've met now, haven't we?" He gave Edgar another thoughtful look, then glanced back at Anson, his expression tinged with amusement as his mind began to work.

Meanwhile, Anson was hard at work inside the set.

He wasn't particularly skilled at posing for photos, so to get satisfactory shots, he needed to focus intently and avoid distractions.

He was tired, of course, but precisely because of that, he needed to concentrate even more—this was the only way to ensure the work would wrap up on time.

So, Anson was completely unaware of what was happening outside.

The biggest challenge in today's shoot was that Anson couldn't leave the studio or move around much. Anna wanted to create a sense of autumn fashion, which required Anson to stay within the studio and interact with the set and camera, finding his rhythm.

Thus, Bruce, the photographer, had Anson move around in his usual way, following him with the camera to explore and capture moments.

This approach was a bit different from a typical photoshoot, making the photographer seem particularly… active.

"Bruce, Bruce…"

"Are you sure?"

"This angle? You're way too close. I feel like every pore on my skin is breathing into the lens. I don't mind looking like a funhouse mirror in the magazine, but if the clothes don't show up, isn't something off?"

Anson grumbled, his face full of exasperation.

But Bruce didn't care. He pressed the shutter, capturing the moment when Anson's entire face scrunched up in the glaring flash. A mischievous smile flickered in Bruce's eyes.

After a whole day of work, even the photographer needed a little break and a bit of fun.

---

"This is the effect I'm going for. Why don't you let your pores breathe for a bit?"

Bruce never expected to get roasted like that.

What about Anson?

Anson looked completely serious and focused. Not only did he not crack up or retaliate, but he also calmed down and started to take deep breaths—but these weren't ordinary breaths.

Inhale, exhale.

Once more, inhale, exhale.

As his chest rose and fell, you could see his cheeks and body following the rhythm, swelling and contracting ever so slightly, creating the bizarre visual effect that his entire body was breathing. It was so convincing that others around him found themselves breathing along.

Is this normal?

Bruce: …

Watching Anson's somewhat childish response, Bruce was utterly stunned. Yet, Anson remained serious, his bright blue eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint.

Instinctively, Bruce pressed the shutter—

Click.

Just like that, a photo was born.

Anna's eyes lit up slightly. Although she hadn't seen the photo, she had a feeling this one might become iconic.

Pfft.

Tom couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing. He didn't care about fashion or photography, he just found the whole scene hilarious. He turned to Steven, "Kids these days."

But Steven didn't seem interested. He had a polite smile on his face, "Still just a kid."

Edgar: Thump.

His heart skipped a beat. If a director labels an actor as a "kid," it's a subtle way of saying their image has limitations. It has nothing to do with whether the actor is actually an adult; it's about their appearance and the impression they give. If Hollywood sees you as a "kid," the roles available to you become very limited.

The most typical example is Matthew Broderick. Born in 1962, this actor has a naturally youthful face. Even though he's tried to play more mature roles, he's never fully escaped that stereotype.

At twenty-four, he was still playing a high school student in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." At thirty-six, he played in "Godzilla," and at thirty-seven, he finally took on an adult role in "Election," but even then, he was still cast as a nerd.

For female actors, staying looking twenty-five means more roles; for male actors, it's a different story.

Of course, this was just Steven's first impression of Anson, and Edgar was confident that once Steven got to know him better, his opinion would change.

Still, Edgar didn't like the stereotype that Steven's words hinted at, so he decided to turn the conversation around, a slight smile forming on his lips. "Just like Tom."

Tom looked at Edgar, "Me?"

Edgar shrugged lightly. "Growing up. Sure, we should praise Tom's acting for convincing the audience, but I think his looks didn't hurt either."