The interior of the Malibu villa was fully renovated, but the outdoor garden was still unfinished.
Charles Wood planned to plant different evergreen trees in both the front and back yards, creating a serene and picturesque landscape. However, selecting trees wasn't something that could be done carelessly; it required a special selection. Charles personally traveled to the south of France to choose the tree species for his youngest son.
To most people, trees are just trees. But for families with deep roots and traditions, these seemingly insignificant details often represent knowledge, culture, and carry greater meaning.
Clearly, this was the main focus of Charles' work. He was ready to showcase his skills, especially since this was the first piece of real estate his youngest son had purchased through his own efforts.
Despite this, the interior was already in place.
The decor followed a cool-toned style, using beige, light gray, and navy blue as the main colors. Everything appeared understated and clean, and when the sunlight from the Pacific Ocean poured in, the entire space felt ethereal and tranquil, naturally calming any restless thoughts.
"This time, Catch Me If You Can is truly special. It fully showcases your charm as an actor, with the spotlight completely focused on you. Even Tom Hanks is acting alongside you, building a stage exclusively for you—something no previous project has been able to do."
"Your current worries largely stem from your own expectations. Like the media, you also hope that Catch Me If You Can will be a huge success in both critical and box office terms, and you believe the movie has that potential."
At this point, Anson finally shifted his attention and looked over at Edgar.
From a filmmaking perspective, when a movie and actor complement each other and achieve success together, it's a win-win situation.
"So, we need to break the fourth wall, both in the movie and outside of it, to fully showcase your charisma."
This again proved that navigating the world of fame wasn't as simple as it seemed.
"But it's a little different this time."
A Degas painting became the centerpiece of the living room.
Surprisingly, it made sense.
Edgar tried to argue, but the words caught in his throat and he swallowed them back.
"Just keep a level head. After all, Spider-Man's success has already far exceeded expectations, hasn't it?"
"Of course, I'm hopeful," Anson replied without a moment's hesitation, and Edgar couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Anson added, "I want the movie to succeed, and the bigger the success, the better. If Catch Me If You Can can explode at the box office like Spider-Man did, trust me, I'll welcome it with open arms."
Meanwhile, Noah cautiously sat down, carefully observing the room. The tone and layers of the space completely reflected the work of a master. It was a far cry from Anson's rumored image as just a pretty face, which caused waves of astonishment in Noah's mind.
"Even if I lose my cool, as my agent, you should remain composed."
However, from an actor's perspective, Edgar wanted to maximize Anson's benefits with this project, and they had their own calculations.
"So, what should we do?"
This wasn't the first time Edgar marveled at Anson's wisdom, and it probably wouldn't be the last. What remained constant was the fact that each time, it left the same impression.
Edgar looked at Anson with a helpless expression. "Are you even listening to me?"
Charles continued the overall interior design theme, sticking with light tones. Even the choice of paintings seemed vintage and understated. Instead of focusing on modern art, he slightly broke the decor's style by using classical oil paintings as accent pieces to brighten the space.
Edgar regained his smile. "So, don't you expect the movie to succeed?"
Things like this and more.
Ambition, slowly emerging.
"What I'm saying is that there's no need to lose your composure because of the pressure of results."
Anson was serious, and if Charles knew that, it would make him happy.
Edgar asked, "What?"
Lamps. Vases. Paintings.
In fact, interior design wasn't Charles' expertise. What he truly excelled at was arrangement, pairing, and landscaping—essentially, the finishing touches after the renovation.
Edgar took a deep breath. "We need to create an image, just like with the Emmys. Seize this opportunity to establish your identity as an actor."
Anson waved his hand. "No worries, this won't happen again."
This was another way of interpreting things.
"On one hand, this is a chance to maximize Spider-Man's impact. Before Catch Me If You Can hits the box office, we seize the opportunity to capitalize on the spotlight."
So, whether a movie succeeds or fails, don't overemphasize the actor's role.
Noah immediately noticed Charles' thoughtful arrangement.
Edgar shook his head gently. "That used to be the case, but now that we've become more familiar and our collaboration is on track, it doesn't seem as necessary. However, I can't take your trust for granted. Otherwise, we'll grow complacent, and problems will arise in our partnership."
Anson replied, "What I'm saying is that there's no need to worry about the success or failure of just one or two projects."
"As actors, who hasn't starred in a few flops?"
"Besides, those explanations are because I need to hear your input. You always offer a fresh perspective."
Edgar: ...
"I'm not saying this because Leonardo's career remained intact after facing backlash, or because Steven and Tom's movie underperformed at the box office. I'm saying this because it's all part of the process."
Anson looked completely serious. "So, what do we need to do?"
Indeed, actors want every project to be a classic. But in reality, that's often impossible, because an actor is just one part of the film, and their control is quite limited.
Indeed, sometimes a movie's success or failure is directly tied to the actor. But more often than not, the two have little to do with each other.
"But."
"And the success of a character and the success of a movie are two different things."
Anson found this interesting, raised his chin slightly, and thought about it for a moment. Then, without saying much more, he responded through action.
Thus.
"No need to worry."
Of course, it wasn't one of Degas' famous pieces, but it was understated and reserved. Edgar had been in and out of the villa several times and hadn't noticed it, but it caught Noah's attention.
Edgar quietly watched Anson, feeling a slight release of tension.
Anson smiled. "Captain, I trust your judgment. You don't need to explain every detail—just tell me what to do. Usually, those explanations are to get the actor on board with the plan, but I'm already fully on board, so there's no need."
"What I mean is, there's no need to obsess over a movie's box office performance."
Edgar burst out laughing. "Very unfortunate—I've let you down."
"On the other hand, this is also a chance to break away from the Spider-Man stereotype. Up until now, your high school student image is still deeply ingrained in the public's mind, and even in Catch Me If You Can you're playing a teenager. But we can't keep playing the same roles. You need to branch out and broaden your range as an actor. This publicity campaign is the perfect opportunity."
After finishing, Edgar looked at Anson and saw that he wasn't planning to share his opinion. Edgar understood and got straight to the point of the plan.
"Styling."