New York, Manhattan, 425 Lafayette Street, Public Theater.
This theater, known for its keen eye for talent a decade later, would become the only stage willing to give Hamilton a chance. It would not only witness the debut of Hamilton but also kickstart an unparalleled legendary journey, revitalizing Broadway's brilliance.
However, for now, it remains an obscure small theater on the fringes of Off-Broadway, gaining some recognition for producing and supporting innovative works.
The Public Theater recognized early on that one of the main reasons for the decline of traditional arts was conservatism.
If Broadway and London's West End clung to their old productions, adaptations of classic works, and refused to embrace the times, to evolve, or to explore further between commerce and art, traditional drama and musicals would eventually be rendered obsolete.
They believed that these art forms still had vitality. Despite the constant impact from various entertainment forms like TV, film, and the internet, the stage still held a unique charm. The key was to change the content.
So, the Public Theater actively encouraged innovation, no matter how shocking or subversive it might be.
This small theater, which couldn't even accommodate 200 people, stubbornly and bravely claimed its space on the fringes of Off-Broadway, striving to take root.
But in New York, how easy is that?
Even Off-Broadway, far from the core of Broadway and 42nd Street, is still extremely competitive. The fierce competition constantly puts them to the test.
That's why the Public Theater opened its doors to film crews for shooting—
In the eyes of traditional Broadway theaters, this was a disgraceful compromise.
A theater, they believed, should remain a theater and shouldn't become a movie theater or a filming location.
Did the Public Theater care?
No, they didn't.
After all, this was the crew of Spider-Man 2, and the rental fee for just one day of shooting was substantial. The Public Theater had no reason or ability to refuse.
If used wisely, that money could help the Public Theater develop at least three new productions.
From their perspective, this was a great deal.
At this moment, the Spider-Man 2 crew was filming intensely at the Public Theater, which had cleared its schedule just for them.
Although Anson was injured, meaning all of Peter Parker's scenes had to be paused, this also meant that other scenes could still be shot.
A large crew like Spider-Man 2 always finds a way to keep production moving—
Starting with the set and then breaking down the shots, figuring out which ones required Anson and which didn't.
Then, the crew rearranged the script's timeline and entered "no lead actor" mode, allowing filming to proceed smoothly.
Of course, this wasn't easy.
After all, Peter Parker was the heart of the entire movie, with over 70% of the scenes featuring Anson. Plus, with recent rumors about Sony-Columbia replacing Anson, people had become even more sensitive and critical. The crew had to be extremely careful, as any misstep could plunge them back into a whirlwind of criticism.
But Sony-Columbia had its own considerations—
Every day of delay increased production costs.
Sony-Columbia had already invested too much money into this sequel project, and they couldn't tolerate further waste.
Since they had to wait for Anson, it became crucial to control costs during the downtime. This decision came after a battle between two chief executives.
Clearly, Amy wanted to give the crew more time, but Michael, still smarting from a recent setback, pushed aggressively—insisting the Spider-Man 2 crew must control costs.
Michael needed this situation to reassert his position, while Amy eventually compromised, shifting the pressure onto the crew.
No matter what the producers and director thought, the decision was made.
Even without the lead actor, the crew kept working; even with the lead actor recuperating, the crew remained busy.
Unexpectedly, but somewhat understandably, the Public Theater's entrance was quiet—no reporters, no crowds, eerily silent.
Without Anson, the Spider-Man 2 crew seemed to have lost all attention overnight, blending in with the countless other crews working in the busy city of New York.
On the bright side, the crew could finally work without distraction, focusing entirely on the shoot. The last thing they needed now was more disruption.
Inside the theater, it was just as quiet—
Not a sound.
Everyone held their breath, fully focused, afraid that even the slightest disturbance could affect the filming. Yet, in the end, it still didn't help.
"Cut!"
Sam Raimi's voice echoed, and before he could say anything, Kirsten had already rubbed her face and apologized.
"Sorry, my fault, 100%!"
"Sorry, one more take, okay? Just give me a moment to catch my breath."
Without more words, Kirsten's tension and frustration were palpable.
Sam looked a bit concerned. He wanted to ask if Kirsten was okay but hesitated and rephrased his question instead.
"Kirsten, do we need a break?"
Kirsten shook her head quickly. "No, just give me a minute, that's all."
Sam opened his mouth. He wanted to tell her not to rush, to take her time, but he wasn't sure how to say it. After a brief hesitation, he swallowed his words.
The crew's vibe wasn't right.
Honestly, Sam didn't think it was the best idea to continue filming during this period. With Anson still in the hospital and rumors swirling around the crew, every move they made was under intense scrutiny.
It wasn't just about Anson. The entire crew felt the impact. The aftermath of that paparazzi invasion had silently spread, lingering in every corner. Restarting work without Anson was a challenge for everyone.
Sam didn't think this was a good idea.
But he had no say in the matter.
And regardless of Anson's situation, life had to go on.
The crew eventually resumed work, five days after Anson's accident. But neither Sam nor anyone else felt quite right, inside or out. The energy was off, and they just couldn't seem to hit their stride.
Filming had resumed, but without the earlier enthusiasm, the process was clumsy and bumpy. There were no major problems, just a general lack of focus.
It felt like working through a hangover—everything functioned, but all the little details were slightly off, affecting the overall efficiency.
A sense of emptiness, disorder, and tension.
But they weren't allowed to stop.