The filming of "Catch Me If You Can" was going smoothly.
Steven didn't expect Anson to bring such a surprise, and Anson likewise didn't anticipate finding such joy in the creative process of making the film.
Looking back on the original film, "Catch Me If You Can" focused on entertainment value, akin to a popcorn movie. Its lighthearted and teasing approach to storytelling attracted criticism from conservatives, who felt Steven shouldn't tell a crime story in such a cheerful manner. They argued that it could set a bad example for teenagers, highlighting the film's entertainment focus.
However, the actual filming process was unexpectedly filled with passion. The collision of ideas, character studies, performances, and the synergy of direction opened a door to a whole new world.
The real revelation for Anson was that people often think popcorn movies lack substance, but in reality, making a good popcorn movie is not easy. The director's coordination and the actors' performances are both crucial.
Overall, the atmosphere on set was relaxed and pleasant, and the film's comedic nature ensured that the crew maintained a laid-back attitude.
For Anson, this was particularly true. Previously, in "The Princess Diaries" and "Spider-Man," Anson had already filmed love scenes, both times portraying a pure-hearted character experiencing young love.
This time, "Catch Me If You Can" was slightly different.
Although young Frank Abagnale is still a "pure-hearted warrior," constantly searching for true love and trying to settle down, his life of endless lies and running makes it impossible for him to stay stable in any relationship. He always has to use one lie to cover another.
Thus, Anson gained a whole new filming experience.
The female lead of "Catch Me If You Can" was the then-unknown Amy Adams, who would later rise to fame with "Enchanted" and receive multiple Oscar nominations. In the early stages of her career, Amy faced numerous hardships and always lacked a role that would make her shine.
This time, Amy was paired with Anson. She played a naive nurse who falls madly in love with young Frank. The two even plan to get married, with Frank sincerely preparing to settle down with her and leave his criminal life behind, but ultimately, he is defeated by his past.
Interestingly, Amy had worked with Kirsten Dunst two years earlier on "Drop Dead Gorgeous," and they remained in touch. Since Kirsten had just worked with Anson on "Spider-Man," Amy and Anson quickly became acquainted, laying a solid foundation for the shoot, and the two sparked quite a bit of chemistry.
Of course, that's not all.
Ellen Pompeo, who had not yet become the lead in "Grey's Anatomy," and Jennifer Garner, who had just entered the public eye with the series "Alias," both had scenes with Anson in the film, creating a dazzling universe that revolved entirely around him.
However, the most interesting was Elizabeth Banks.
A classic blonde often seen in comedy films, Elizabeth would later become a successful director with "Pitch Perfect 2" and appear as an actress in hits like "The Hunger Games," "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," and "Magic Mike XXL."
At this point?
This 27-year-old actress was still trying to find her place on the big screen. In "Catch Me If You Can," she played a bank clerk. It was through her character that young Frank learned some crucial details about making checks, making her a very important role.
The interesting part wasn't just here; it was that Elizabeth had auditioned for the role of Mary Jane in "Spider-Man" but was turned down for being too old.
Despite that, she still got a small role as the secretary to the editor-in-chief of the newspaper where Peter Parker worked, and she had scenes with Anson.
Round and round, from "Spider-Man" to "Catch Me If You Can," Anson and Elizabeth ended up working together on two consecutive projects, and this time even further. Although Elizabeth still wasn't the leading lady, her role had more scenes with Anson, and age wasn't a barrier to their second collaboration.
When Anson saw Elizabeth on set, he was not just surprised but pleasantly so.
Now Anson finally understood why people always say Hollywood is a palm-sized circle. Even though the actors' union has 400,000 members, those who appear in mainstream big productions are already in the top 10% of the pyramid, constantly bumping into each other.
Especially as a prophet, Anson could "see" the future. He knew these actors' future career paths, making the present collaborations all the more interesting.
Later, during a chat between takes, Anson learned from Jennifer Garner that her breakthrough role in Hollywood was in a show called "Felicity," where the male lead was Scott Speedman—the handsome guy who had lost the role of Peter Parker to Anson.
"Oh, I'm sure he didn't have anything nice to say," Anson replied candidly.
Jennifer nodded, "Yes, he, uh, you wouldn't want to hear what he said."
"Haha, I accept it openly," Anson shrugged.
Hollywood, after all, is just one big circle.
In such a light and joyful atmosphere, the filming of "Catch Me If You Can" was exceptionally smooth, and even the two big shots in the crew, Steven and Tom, were very pleased.
Originally, Steven had set an eighty-day shooting schedule, with a goal of completing filming within three months to account for any unexpected incidents or delays. However, as filming progressed, things went increasingly smoothly and efficiently. It took only fifty-four days to wrap up "Catch Me If You Can" in Montreal.
An entire month ahead of schedule!
Even Tom, a seasoned actor, was utterly surprised. He hadn't expected the filming to go so smoothly and to finish so much earlier than planned.
Despite this, Tom couldn't help but shake his head repeatedly. "It felt like we were rushing somewhere the whole time. Steven, are you sure the quality of the shoot is up to par? If the movie flops, don't think about putting the blame on Anson."
Clearly, this was just a playful complaint.
Steven, looking calm and composed, replied, "Well, in that case, should we reshoot some scenes?"
Tom's expression changed instantly. "Rita has already booked the resort. Don't you dare trap me. After two months of this, my old bones need a break."
Jokes aside, Tom had a point.
Fifty-four days was already a long enough shooting period. More importantly, the crew was operating at high speed every day. To ensure efficiency, every aspect of the work had to be flawless. Additionally, outside of the eight hours of filming, everyone had their own prep work to make sure there were no mistakes in their tasks.
After nearly two months of filming, it was unbelievable how much weight Anson lost. If he hadn't maintained his regular fitness routine throughout the shoot, the muscle he worked so hard to build during "Spider-Man" might have started to disappear. Even so, he'll need to continue working out diligently in the coming period.
Regardless, finally, before summer arrived, "Catch Me If You Can" wrapped up filming.