Actor in Hollywood

In 1988, a 32-year-old Tom Hanks starred in a movie called "Big."

This film tells the story of a 12-year-old boy who wishes to grow up overnight. To his surprise, his wish comes true, and he suddenly becomes a 32-year-old man. At first, he thinks this is what he's always wanted, but he gradually becomes confused and lost in the adult world. Just having turned thirteen, he begins to wonder:

Is this really the life he wants?

Undoubtedly, this kind of movie demands a lot from the actor. He needs to look like a 32-year-old on the outside, but his gaze and mindset must remain that of a 12-year-old.

That year, Tom Hanks, still with his baby face that looked like it could almost squeeze out water, delivered an incredibly outstanding performance in this movie. A little too exaggerated, and it would come off as foolish; a little too restrained, and it would seem insincere. Yet, Tom's pure and innocent expression perfectly captured this contrast.

Later, this movie earned Tom Hanks his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor. Meanwhile, in North America, it grossed $114 million, becoming one of the only five films in 1988 to break the $100 million mark, truly opening the door for Tom's acting career.

At this moment, Edgar mentioned this movie, not only to avoid directly comparing Anson to Tom Hanks, which would be presumptuous, but also to subtly remind everyone not to form stereotypes based on preconceived notions. As an actor, Anson still has untapped potential.

The art of language is truly remarkable.

And there's a detail here that few people know about.

The screenwriter of "Big" was Anne Spielberg—yes, she shares the same last name as Steven Spielberg. She's Steven's younger sister by three years.

This was Anne's last screenplay in her career, and it earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay the following year.

Two birds with one stone!

Not only did Tom turn to look at Edgar, but Steven also looked over, with a subtle atmosphere in the air.

One second. Two seconds.

Then, the corners of Tom's mouth lifted into a smile. He turned to Steven, spreading his hands, "You have to admit, he has a point."

Steven glanced at Tom, his expression slightly exasperated behind his glasses, and half-jokingly quipped, "Of course, everyone wants to be Tom Hanks."

Although he didn't directly respond, the atmosphere still relaxed.

Tom, looking confused, turned to Steven and then to Edgar, raising his hand to cup his chin, "Fifteen years ago? Probably no problem, but if you knew you'd end up like this in fifteen years, I think everyone would hesitate a bit, right?" As he spoke, he even raised his eyebrows.

With one self-deprecating comment, the atmosphere lightened completely.

Edgar followed up with a perfectly timed joke, "So do those fifteen years include two Oscars and a string of $300 million box office hits?"

"Haha." Tom burst into hearty laughter.

Steven's expression also completely relaxed, "He only has one $300 million movie."

Tom didn't even bother to argue, "Who's counting? I'm certainly not."

Then, Anna, who hadn't spoken for a while, rolled her eyes and sarcastically remarked, "Oh, God, men."

Boom!

Laughter erupted.

Even Edgar relaxed and joined in the laughter.

The commotion finally spread, catching the attention of Bruce and Anson, who were in the middle of filming. They both looked over, trying to make out the faces in the dim light. However, they didn't stop filming, and Anson quickly got back to work.

Not until Bruce was completely satisfied and signaled with a gesture that all filming was wrapped did the tense and exhausted atmosphere in the studio finally break. Suddenly, there were cheers and whistles, signaling the end of a busy day.

At this moment, Anson finally approached—

He hadn't had time to change, still wearing the last costume from the shoot, and he walked up confidently, stopping in front of the two big shots.

Letting out a long breath, Anson glanced at Anna and then at Edgar. His expression seemed to suggest he was waiting for an introduction, but before Edgar could speak, Anson confidently extended his right hand toward Steven.

"It's quite unexpected to see you here, Mr. Spielberg. Anson Wood, pleased to meet you."

His tone was neither humble nor arrogant, but there was a hint of excitement.

Anson didn't hide his surprise and didn't wait for an introduction. He seized the opportunity to introduce himself, not masking his joy at seeing the two big names, which made his reaction come across as more natural.

But what truly surprised Steven was Anson's demeanor.

Completely different from the childlike persona he had just seen, the Anson standing before him now was calm and elegant, exuding a mature aura that contrasted with his earlier youthful energy. This blend of unmasked excitement and maturity made him appear vibrant and lively, leaving a lasting impression.

It was clear that this was the real introduction—

Not just a name, but also a display of his charm as an actor and as an individual. The slight contrast and subtle differences left a strong impression.

This was no small feat.

If Steven weren't absolutely sure that his own reaction was spontaneous and that Anson and Edgar hadn't communicated in advance, he might have suspected that this was a well-rehearsed act, a perfectly executed scene.

Steven extended his right hand and shook Anson's.

But before Steven could say anything, Tom's voice cut in from the side, "What about me? You're not surprised to see me here?"

Anson didn't rush. He politely looked at Steven, completing the handshake and the eye contact, very formally and calmly finishing the greeting. Only then did he release Steven's hand and turn to Tom.

"Of course not."

"Maybe a pleasant surprise, but not unexpected. I guess people sometimes hope to see a familiar face in a fashion magazine."

Tom grabbed Anson's right hand, "Familiar?"

Anson gave a light squeeze, "Yes, something beyond just a pretty face."

Tom hadn't expected that answer, and a smile spread across his face, reaching his eyes. "Alright, sometimes I envy Leonardo, Brad Pitt, and Tom Cruise too. I wish people would scream for me because of my looks."

"Ah, ah, ah! Tom, Tom!" Anson immediately fulfilled Tom's wish.

Tom was momentarily taken aback, then burst into laughter. He couldn't stop, shaking Anson's hand firmly. "Hahaha!" The laughter just wouldn't stop.

Steven's eyes brightened slightly:

Mature, wise, witty, and composed.

Meeting Steven and Tom, two industry giants, for the first time, Anson showed a completely different side of himself—enthusiastic but not obsequious, friendly yet not nervous.

Steven admitted he had underestimated him. How could this young man be just a kid?

Looking back at Anson's earlier work on set, instead of childlike innocence, it was more accurate to describe him as having a pure heart and fresh energy, which was immediately captivating. This only further validated what Edgar had said earlier.

Indeed, this was a pleasant surprise.

Steven thought, perhaps this trip to Paris was worth it. Seizing the pause in Tom and Anson's conversation, he spoke up.

"You probably haven't had a chance to have dinner yet? Neither have we. How about joining us?"