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Her father carefully placed the steaming plate of spaghetti and meatballs on the table, a delicious aroma filling the air. He turned his attention towards his daughter, who stood silently at the corner of the stairs in the living room.
"Emily, come down and have dinner," her father said, a gentle smile on his face.
The daughter offered a slight nod in response. Her expression remained blank, as if detached from the world shrouded in a somber aura.
With quiet solemnity, the father and daughter took their seats at the table, their silence enveloping them. The atmosphere grew heavy, each passing moment laden with unspoken thoughts. The father noticed his daughter listlessly pushing the meatballs around her plate, seemingly devoid of appetite.
Concerned, he spoke up, "I remember spaghetti and meatballs used to be your favorite. Aren't you hungry?"
There was no reply from the daughter. Contemplating for a moment, the father summoned a hint of levity, contorting his face into a comical expression attempting to brighten his daughter's spirits.
Yet, her response was only a fleeting glance, barely acknowledging his efforts. She rose from her seat and softly uttered, "I want to go to bed."
"Cut!" David Fincher, who had been observing through the camera, called out. He wore a frown on his face, clearly dissatisfied with the take.
"What seems to be the problem, David? This is already the fourth take. Isn't it good enough?" Paul Tucker, the Warner representative and production manager approached and inquired.
"The overall atmosphere is perfect, but..." David sighed, his gaze fixed on the camera. "Miss Mason's gaze feels too detached as if she's lost in her thoughts."
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"To be honest, I don't see it. I think Miss Mason is doing an excellent job," Paul shrugged.
"Hey, Paul, we agreed that I have complete control over everything on set," David furrowed his brow, meeting Paul's gaze.
"Yes, I understand, but as the director, if you perceive an issue it's your responsibility to guide her," Paul responded.
David contemplated for a moment, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "The two or three shots from this morning were good, but they were shot separately. I think... Miss Mason might be a bit nervous acting with Mr. Pacino."
"That's why I suggest we take a few minutes to rest," Al chimed in, walking over to them with open arms. "Let me have a word with the little one."
David glanced at Angela, who sat at the table, absentmindedly caressing her cheeks while staring down, lost in thought. He nodded in agreement. "Alright, let's do that."
Angela, oblivious to the director's call for a "10-minute break," grew increasingly frustrated. She believed that she had a deep understanding of Emily's character. After all, she had meticulously crafted the script, word by word.
Moreover, she still retained the insightful comments and character analysis from her past life. She had even prepared various subtle actions and expressions to ensure she didn't mimic Dakota too closely. So why did she always find herself hesitating and unable to fully let go when acting opposite Al Pacino?
"What's on your mind, Angela? Are you not enjoying the spaghetti and meatballs?" Al took a seat across from her, lightly tapping the table and wearing a playful smile.
"You already know what I'm thinking, Dad. The director knows it too. In fact, everyone seems to be aware of it," Angela replied, pressing her cheeks with a pout.
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"I don't know, Angela. I'm not a mind reader or a wizard. So, if you're able to, please tell me how you truly feel. I promise I won't share it with anyone," Al raised his hand and spoke with sincerity.
"Is that so?" The little girl rested her head on her arm, blinked her eyes, and looked at him. After a while, she replied, "Well, I always feel like I can never fully let go when I'm acting alongside you."
"Can't let go? Why is that? Do you constantly see me as a mafia godfather or something?" Al joked, spreading his hands in a playful manner.
"Do you think your current portrayal of a psychologist with schizophrenia matches the image of a godfather, Dad?" The little girl clenched her fist in frustration, appearing somewhat angry. "You're not only undermining your own image, but you're also insulting my intelligence!"
"Oh, my goodness, please don't be like this. It's not like I'm terribly guilty, you know?" Al quickly shifted to a sincere expression. "God, I pray to you, I confess to you. I may have unintentionally ruined my own image and shattered the confidence of a genius girl. Please forgive me."
His serious demeanor elicited laughter from Angela, and her previous frustration dissolved.
"You know, Mr. Al... Oh, let's call you Dad," Angela said with a smile. "To be honest, when I act opposite you, I often imagine how Robert De Niro would approach the role."
"Robert?" Al's expression turned somewhat incredulous, and he joined in the laughter. "Well, I must admit, in Hollywood the two of us are often mentioned together. But I've never encountered... uh, anyone who wonders how I would portray a role if it were given to Robert. That's... quite intriguing."
'If you knew that this role was originally his, would you find it even more interesting?' Angela pondered in her mind, making a playful face. Unconsciously, she let go of her worries completely. Her perception of Al Pacino had always come from movies and related comments, but the current Al was the real Al—humorous, witty, approachable, not just a character on screen.
"Well, Dad, to be honest, when I act opposite you, the moment I see you, I feel like I haven't prepared enough, that I don't fully understand this character, and I might not be able to portray her well," Angela sighed and continued, "Perhaps I should study method acting and truly delve into the emotions of those wounded girls."
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"Angela, I'm glad you shared your concerns with me. However, what I want to say is, relax, my child. Method acting is not for everyone. Do you think you have to live with a dysfunctional family or visit children with similar experiences to portray Emily authentically? Even if you were willing, your family and the law wouldn't allow it. Everyone has their own acting methods, and method acting is not necessarily the best or the only way. The key is to put your heart into your performance! So, my child, don't worry, don't force it. Relax now, and treat me as an ordinary person, an ordinary actor—after all, I haven't won an Oscar. Clear your mind of distractions and fully immerse yourself in this scene. Once you're done, you won't have these worries anymore!" Al spoke with sincerity, his words conveying the wisdom of an elder guiding a younger one. But then, he lightened the tone of his words, adding, "Of course, if you need it, I don't mind if you treat me as Robert while acting."
Angela couldn't help but laugh once again, playfully sticking out her tongue. "Don't worry, Dad. Although I really admire Mr. Robert De Niro, my love for you is even greater because you're my dad. Well, at least until Mr. Fincher says 'action.'"
"That's wonderful to hear. I'm proud to have a daughter like you. Well, also until Mr. Fincher says 'action,'" Al replied, pretending to clap his hands.
He could sense that the little girl had truly let go of her burdens. He grew fond of her and couldn't help but think of his own daughter, Julie, who was about to turn three. He hoped Julie wouldn't mature as early as Angela had.
With her psychological burden resolved, Angela's performance in the subsequent days of filming was nothing short of remarkable. She flawlessly portrayed Emily's state of isolating herself and refusing to interact with others after the loss of her mother. T
he nervous and enigmatic expression on her face truly made people believe she was Emily. This left David, Al, and the rest of the crew astonished and impressed.
However, the experienced Al quickly noticed that Angela was getting deeply immersed in her role. There were several instances where she would sit silently in a corner after the shooting, lost in her thoughts as if still hiding within the character.
Initially, she would snap out of it after a few minutes, but over time, it took longer for her to return to her usual self. There was even one occasion where she remained in that state for two consecutive takes.
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Al had conversations about this concern with Angela, her agent Sparrow, her nanny Grace and the temporary teacher Mrs. Brown. However, the little girl consistently insisted that she was fine after shooting and that it would pass.
Apart from her brief moments of quiet contemplation after filming, she didn't exhibit any other unusual behavior. Consequently, Al pondered the situation and decided not to press the matter further, but he reminded Sparrow and the others to keep a close eye on Angela and continued to monitor her himself.
Angela deeply appreciated Al's concern and recognized that she had become overly immersed in her role. However, she didn't want to dwell on it too much. After Al alleviated her psychological burden that night, she made a personal commitment to develop her own acting skills.
Acting was not merely a frivolous pursuit for her, she didn't want to be known solely for her looks. She admired how Vivien Leigh employed her own techniques when acting alongside Marlon Brando in《A Streetcar Named Desire》and she aspired to reach that level of artistic synergy.
The more Angela delved into acting, the more captivated she became. And the more captivated she became, the less she desired to halt her exploration. After all, there were few individuals around her whom she could confide in.
Mr. Sparrow, while a good person, would undoubtedly report her every move to her father. The new nanny, Grace had just arrived and hadn't yet formed the same closeness as Jennifer had. As for Mrs. Brown... Angela couldn't fathom why her parents had brought her back. Furthermore, Jessica was no longer by her side to cover for her.
Yet, these were not the most crucial matters. What truly mattered was finding something to occupy her mind, to divert her thoughts from certain subjects.
After all, the filming location for《Hide and Seek》remained in Woodland Town, not far from New York. All it took was a few hours during the weekend to travel to the city.
Despite her grandfather residing in New York, Angela wasn't keen on visiting him at the moment. Mr. Sparrow had brought news early on—《Leon: The Professional》had commenced filming there!
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Her father carefully placed the steaming plate of spaghetti and meatballs on the table, a delicious aroma filling the air. He turned his attention towards his daughter, who stood silently at the corner of the stairs in the living room.
"Emily, come down and have dinner," her father said, a gentle smile on his face.
The daughter offered a slight nod in response. Her expression remained blank, as if detached from the world shrouded in a somber aura.
With quiet solemnity, the father and daughter took their seats at the table, their silence enveloping them. The atmosphere grew heavy, each passing moment laden with unspoken thoughts. The father noticed his daughter listlessly pushing the meatballs around her plate, seemingly devoid of appetite.
Concerned, he spoke up, "I remember spaghetti and meatballs used to be your favorite. Aren't you hungry?"
There was no reply from the daughter. Contemplating for a moment, the father summoned a hint of levity, contorting his face into a comical expression attempting to brighten his daughter's spirits.
Yet, her response was only a fleeting glance, barely acknowledging his efforts. She rose from her seat and softly uttered, "I want to go to bed."
"Cut!" David Fincher, who had been observing through the camera, called out. He wore a frown on his face, clearly dissatisfied with the take.
"What seems to be the problem, David? This is already the fourth take. Isn't it good enough?" Paul Tucker, the Warner representative and production manager approached and inquired.
"The overall atmosphere is perfect, but..." David sighed, his gaze fixed on the camera. "Miss Mason's gaze feels too detached as if she's lost in her thoughts."
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"To be honest, I don't see it. I think Miss Mason is doing an excellent job," Paul shrugged.
"Hey, Paul, we agreed that I have complete control over everything on set," David furrowed his brow, meeting Paul's gaze.
"Yes, I understand, but as the director, if you perceive an issue it's your responsibility to guide her," Paul responded.
David contemplated for a moment, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "The two or three shots from this morning were good, but they were shot separately. I think... Miss Mason might be a bit nervous acting with Mr. Pacino."
"That's why I suggest we take a few minutes to rest," Al chimed in, walking over to them with open arms. "Let me have a word with the little one."
David glanced at Angela, who sat at the table, absentmindedly caressing her cheeks while staring down, lost in thought. He nodded in agreement. "Alright, let's do that."
Angela, oblivious to the director's call for a "10-minute break," grew increasingly frustrated. She believed that she had a deep understanding of Emily's character. After all, she had meticulously crafted the script, word by word.
Moreover, she still retained the insightful comments and character analysis from her past life. She had even prepared various subtle actions and expressions to ensure she didn't mimic Dakota too closely. So why did she always find herself hesitating and unable to fully let go when acting opposite Al Pacino?
"What's on your mind, Angela? Are you not enjoying the spaghetti and meatballs?" Al took a seat across from her, lightly tapping the table and wearing a playful smile.
"You already know what I'm thinking, Dad. The director knows it too. In fact, everyone seems to be aware of it," Angela replied, pressing her cheeks with a pout.
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"I don't know, Angela. I'm not a mind reader or a wizard. So, if you're able to, please tell me how you truly feel. I promise I won't share it with anyone," Al raised his hand and spoke with sincerity.
"Is that so?" The little girl rested her head on her arm, blinked her eyes, and looked at him. After a while, she replied, "Well, I always feel like I can never fully let go when I'm acting alongside you."
"Can't let go? Why is that? Do you constantly see me as a mafia godfather or something?" Al joked, spreading his hands in a playful manner.
"Do you think your current portrayal of a psychologist with schizophrenia matches the image of a godfather, Dad?" The little girl clenched her fist in frustration, appearing somewhat angry. "You're not only undermining your own image, but you're also insulting my intelligence!"
"Oh, my goodness, please don't be like this. It's not like I'm terribly guilty, you know?" Al quickly shifted to a sincere expression. "God, I pray to you, I confess to you. I may have unintentionally ruined my own image and shattered the confidence of a genius girl. Please forgive me."
His serious demeanor elicited laughter from Angela, and her previous frustration dissolved.
"You know, Mr. Al... Oh, let's call you Dad," Angela said with a smile. "To be honest, when I act opposite you, I often imagine how Robert De Niro would approach the role."
"Robert?" Al's expression turned somewhat incredulous, and he joined in the laughter. "Well, I must admit, in Hollywood the two of us are often mentioned together. But I've never encountered... uh, anyone who wonders how I would portray a role if it were given to Robert. That's... quite intriguing."
'If you knew that this role was originally his, would you find it even more interesting?' Angela pondered in her mind, making a playful face. Unconsciously, she let go of her worries completely. Her perception of Al Pacino had always come from movies and related comments, but the current Al was the real Al—humorous, witty, approachable, not just a character on screen.
"Well, Dad, to be honest, when I act opposite you, the moment I see you, I feel like I haven't prepared enough, that I don't fully understand this character, and I might not be able to portray her well," Angela sighed and continued, "Perhaps I should study method acting and truly delve into the emotions of those wounded girls."
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"Angela, I'm glad you shared your concerns with me. However, what I want to say is, relax, my child. Method acting is not for everyone. Do you think you have to live with a dysfunctional family or visit children with similar experiences to portray Emily authentically? Even if you were willing, your family and the law wouldn't allow it. Everyone has their own acting methods, and method acting is not necessarily the best or the only way. The key is to put your heart into your performance! So, my child, don't worry, don't force it. Relax now, and treat me as an ordinary person, an ordinary actor—after all, I haven't won an Oscar. Clear your mind of distractions and fully immerse yourself in this scene. Once you're done, you won't have these worries anymore!" Al spoke with sincerity, his words conveying the wisdom of an elder guiding a younger one. But then, he lightened the tone of his words, adding, "Of course, if you need it, I don't mind if you treat me as Robert while acting."
Angela couldn't help but laugh once again, playfully sticking out her tongue. "Don't worry, Dad. Although I really admire Mr. Robert De Niro, my love for you is even greater because you're my dad. Well, at least until Mr. Fincher says 'action.'"
"That's wonderful to hear. I'm proud to have a daughter like you. Well, also until Mr. Fincher says 'action,'" Al replied, pretending to clap his hands.
He could sense that the little girl had truly let go of her burdens. He grew fond of her and couldn't help but think of his own daughter, Julie, who was about to turn three. He hoped Julie wouldn't mature as early as Angela had.
With her psychological burden resolved, Angela's performance in the subsequent days of filming was nothing short of remarkable. She flawlessly portrayed Emily's state of isolating herself and refusing to interact with others after the loss of her mother. T
he nervous and enigmatic expression on her face truly made people believe she was Emily. This left David, Al, and the rest of the crew astonished and impressed.
However, the experienced Al quickly noticed that Angela was getting deeply immersed in her role. There were several instances where she would sit silently in a corner after the shooting, lost in her thoughts as if still hiding within the character.
Initially, she would snap out of it after a few minutes, but over time, it took longer for her to return to her usual self. There was even one occasion where she remained in that state for two consecutive takes.
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Al had conversations about this concern with Angela, her agent Sparrow, her nanny Grace and the temporary teacher Mrs. Brown. However, the little girl consistently insisted that she was fine after shooting and that it would pass.
Apart from her brief moments of quiet contemplation after filming, she didn't exhibit any other unusual behavior. Consequently, Al pondered the situation and decided not to press the matter further, but he reminded Sparrow and the others to keep a close eye on Angela and continued to monitor her himself.
Angela deeply appreciated Al's concern and recognized that she had become overly immersed in her role. However, she didn't want to dwell on it too much. After Al alleviated her psychological burden that night, she made a personal commitment to develop her own acting skills.
Acting was not merely a frivolous pursuit for her, she didn't want to be known solely for her looks. She admired how Vivien Leigh employed her own techniques when acting alongside Marlon Brando in《A Streetcar Named Desire》and she aspired to reach that level of artistic synergy.
The more Angela delved into acting, the more captivated she became. And the more captivated she became, the less she desired to halt her exploration. After all, there were few individuals around her whom she could confide in.
Mr. Sparrow, while a good person, would undoubtedly report her every move to her father. The new nanny, Grace had just arrived and hadn't yet formed the same closeness as Jennifer had. As for Mrs. Brown... Angela couldn't fathom why her parents had brought her back. Furthermore, Jessica was no longer by her side to cover for her.
Yet, these were not the most crucial matters. What truly mattered was finding something to occupy her mind, to divert her thoughts from certain subjects.
After all, the filming location for《Hide and Seek》remained in Woodland Town, not far from New York. All it took was a few hours during the weekend to travel to the city.
Despite her grandfather residing in New York, Angela wasn't keen on visiting him at the moment. Mr. Sparrow had brought news early on—《Leon: The Professional》had commenced filming there!
