"Haha, hahaha."
Laughter echoed throughout the room, the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.
Perhaps, Noah was the only exception.
Noah was still diligently making hot cocoa, adding a bit of vodka to it. Carefully, he carried the steaming cup through the crowd and found Anson, his full attention solely focused on him.
Finally, Noah stopped in front of Anson, offering him the hot cocoa.
Anson took the cup, raised it slightly, and said, "To the most unfortunate person here."
Squeak, squeak.
With that, Anson swayed left and right, making strange noises with his socks and insoles.
The entire villa erupted with laughter. It couldn't be stopped.
At first, the situation was a bit awkward. Noah had only made one cup of hot cocoa, and he gave it directly to Anson in front of everyone. This meant Anson had to enjoy it alone while everyone watched.
That was uncomfortable, right?
However, Anson's casual response completely flipped the atmosphere. Even Noah scratched his head and laughed sheepishly.
The whole room burst into laughter, the mood light and joyful.
Grant laughed especially loud.
This wasn't the first or second time, and it probably wouldn't be the last, that they saw the various charms of Anson—
Not just as an actor but also in his professionalism and unique personality.
Looking back at those long, sleepless nights at the start of filming, it felt like a distant memory. There was no doubt that this was one of the happiest, most harmonious, and positive crews they had ever worked with.
And there was anticipation.
They looked forward to seeing the actors' performances and how Charlie Kaufman's script would continue to spark creativity. That level of excitement made the daily grind seem insignificant, and each day was full of surprises.
Anson, as expected, was Anson.
Watching Anson bow like a knight to show his gratitude, Grant's smile grew even brighter. He never imagined he would say this one day:
He wanted to work with Anson a few more times.
...
Despite the many challenges, the "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" crew eventually found their rhythm and steadily progressed through filming.
In truth, the crew's biggest problem wasn't Kate's unexpected pregnancy or the unpredictable weather that frequently disrupted filming. The main issue was that Charlie Kaufman hadn't finished the script.
Without the completed script, no matter how well the director, actors, and crew worked together, they couldn't finish the film on schedule.
Fortunately, Charlie finally caught up—
According to Charlie, he found inspiration after watching the completed footage of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." His previously blocked creativity suddenly flowed, and ideas poured out non-stop.
In less than three days, Charlie finished the script and handed it over to Michel.
Finally!
The biggest hurdle was overcome, and the heavy weight on everyone's shoulders lifted. The shooting schedule moved forward swiftly.
Meanwhile, over on the other side of the North American continent, Los Angeles became the center of attention. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences decided to proceed with the Oscars ceremony, putting the event in the spotlight like never before.
Supporters and critics alike raised their voices.
Rumors about the ceremony were everywhere. Some said various groups were planning protests on the night of the awards, while others suggested violent organizations were preparing to take action.
Amidst all the speculation, it was hard to tell what was true.
In the end, the Academy announced the cancellation of the red carpet and scaled down the guest list for the ceremony.
But even that couldn't calm the controversies.
In a private conversation with Anson, Hedi Slimane remarked:
"Skipping it might be a good thing, keeping us away from the storm."
It wasn't just the actors; every brand needed to take a stance. The focus of this year's Oscars had shifted, and the media's attention followed suit.
It wasn't that Dior was avoiding making a statement, but rather that Hedi had bigger plans for Dior's image through Anson. The Oscars just weren't the right stage anymore, as the focus had completely shifted. Even if Anson attended, it wouldn't change the tide.
Meanwhile, the "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" crew stayed secluded on the cold, remote Long Island, far from the storm, entirely focused on filming.
Though the filming was smooth, weather issues, script delays, and Michel's inexperience with scheduling meant the crew stayed on Long Island for forty days—
Finally, they wrapped filming.
Michel let out a long breath; they had made it.
On one hand, winter in New York still hadn't ended.
Spring was just around the corner, with some cities already seeing green buds. But it wasn't coming to New York just yet. The freezing weather allowed the crew to complete all the location shots for the film.
From a budget perspective, this was good news.
On the other hand, Kate's pregnancy hadn't become visible.
Her unexpected pregnancy threw the crew off balance, but luckily, it didn't become a burden. Filming was completed just in time, without her pregnancy disrupting the story or affecting her performance.
Moreover, the worst-case scenario didn't happen. Kate remained in good health, with no issues caused by the harsh filming conditions—
That was a blessing.
On the day the crew wrapped filming, Sam Mendes arrived at Long Island to personally pick up Kate.
Amid Anson's playful complaints of her "skipping the wrap party" and the crew's jokes about the couple's public display of affection, Kate was the first to leave.
But before she left, Kate had a conversation with Anson. Despite the challenges, this strong woman made her decision:
After "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," she would likely take an eighteen-month to two-year break. This meant that even after giving birth, she wouldn't return to work right away but would stay with her child until she fully adapted to life as a mother before resuming her career.
"I know it will be hard, but I'm not giving up. I still love acting."
Though her words were simple, they showed her determination and courage.
Anson fully supported her and looked forward to seeing how her new life experiences would influence her acting.
No matter what, after all the trials and difficulties, the crew had successfully finished filming.
Due to the Oscar frenzy, the film didn't attract much attention and completed production quietly.
By the time the media realized it and turned their focus to "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," they were surprised to find:
Kate had disappeared from the public eye, with no trace to be found. And even Anson had vanished, nowhere to be seen.
What happened? Did the entire "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" crew just vanish?