Anson knew Reed Diamond—
In fact, those supporting actors in movies and TV shows often have their unique charm, no less than the main characters.
Reed was one of those actors.
You could see him in films like The Purge and Moneyball, and even more often on TV, with regular roles in shows like Hostages, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Bones, White Collar, Desperate Housewives, 24, The West Wing, and so on.
He wasn't just a guest star for a single episode; he played regular roles.
Maybe Reed wasn't always the spotlight-stealing character, but for TV show lovers, he was someone you definitely wouldn't miss.
Back in 2003, Reed was still relatively unknown, with his career not quite taking off yet. However, even in a cutthroat place like Hollywood, true talent like Reed's doesn't go unnoticed.
Becoming a star requires an unbelievable number of factors, and even then, success is far from guaranteed. But skilled "blue-collar" actors are always in demand. Unlike those fleeting shooting stars who burn brightly and then disappear, these actors form the backbone of the Hollywood acting community.
Mark Ruffalo fits that type of mold.
And Reed Diamond is another one.
In fact, Spider-Man 2's cast had plenty of actors like him—those who went a step further after the first movie in the series.
For example, Daniel Gillies, who later gained fame with The Vampire Diaries, played Mary Jane's boyfriend.
Other notable actors who made small appearances in the film include Joel McHale from Community, Emily Deschanel from Bones, Hal Sparks from Queer as Folk, and Daniel Dae Kim from Lost.
Once again, this shows how small the world of Hollywood really is.
Not everyone starts off as the leading star; stories of climbing from extras to leads actually happen in real life.
So…
When Anson saw Reed, he felt a wave of familiarity. In Spider-Man 2, Reed's talent seemed underused, playing a minor role as Mary Jane's theater partner without even a close-up shot. But for Reed, it was still an opportunity to be cherished—a chance for more similar roles in the future.
Just like when Anson took on The Princess Diaries—any chance was a good one, and every opportunity had to be grabbed.
There was no ego, no pretentiousness, and no arrogance—none of it was necessary.
Anson could genuinely feel Reed's excitement and nervousness, so he teased him a bit, "What? A bit disappointed seeing me in person?"
"Don't worry, you're not the first to say that. I'm used to it," Reed said with a grin.
By all accounts, Reed had the upper hand—experience, age, and knowledge of the industry. He should've been the one in control of the conversation, but it was Reed who felt a bit out of place.
Reed waved his hands, "No, no, no, you're much more handsome than I imagined."
Anson glanced at Kristen, "See? Not everyone agrees with you."
Kristen rolled her eyes, "You're just not my type, how many times do I have to say it?"
Reed blinked, "You're not my type either."
One second, two seconds passed.
Kristen broke into laughter without holding back.
Anson gave Reed a mock-sad look, "I know, but thanks for clearing it up anyway."
This time, Reed couldn't help but let a smile creep onto his face.
The mood lightened up, and the heavy atmosphere hovering over them suddenly disappeared.
All of it, just because Anson had returned.
It was hard to believe that the arrival of just one person could change the entire working environment of the film crew.
If you told an outsider, no one would believe it—
They'd assume the crew was just trying to rebuild their image, making an effort to repair the damage and losses caused by Sony Columbia. People would think the crew was exaggerating to create an image of harmony and joy.
Otherwise, how could one person, Anson, turn around the entire crew's atmosphere?
But for those who worked in the crew, they knew:
It was true.
To be honest, with all that had happened with Sony Columbia, Anson had already earned enough sympathy points. His public image was as perfect as it could get. The crew didn't need, nor were they in a position, to keep promoting him.
On the contrary, Anson won the support of the crew through his own hard work and dedication.
Perhaps, in the cynical world of Hollywood, there was still some genuine emotion.
Perhaps, even in a high-pressure work environment, there were still moments of pure joy.
On one side, the actors gathered around Anson, chatting and laughing.
On the other side, Sam also relaxed, not rushing to interrupt Anson. He quietly stood by, watching as everyone came up to greet Anson, whether it was a high-five or just a touch, welcoming him back to the crew—
Every single person.
In just three weeks, the crew had gone through a roller coaster of emotions alongside Anson. Even though they weren't in the eye of the storm, they had been on a bumpy ride, full of worry and fear. Now, seeing Anson safe and sound, they genuinely welcomed him back.
Finally, after all the turmoil, things inexplicably returned to normal. It wasn't just relief and joy; it was a sense of euphoria after surviving a disaster.
In the crowd, Sam spotted Sean Graham.
At this point, Sean had shed his shyness and hesitance, confidently walking up to Anson to chat. Instead of drowning in guilt and self-blame, he turned those feelings into motivation to move forward, doing everything in his power to prevent something like this from happening again.
More importantly, Anson was true to his word. The stunt team was now researching more scientific and effective wire rigging methods, aiming to provide better safety measures for Hollywood stunt teams.
The stunt crew, always important but often overlooked, was finally getting the attention they deserved.
Now, when Sean looked at Anson, his eyes were full of admiration.
That wasn't something you could buy with words or money. It had to be earned with genuine feelings, through shared experiences, and by standing shoulder to shoulder.
When Sam had originally chosen Anson as Spider-Man, it was undeniable that he liked Anson's unique charm—it wasn't just about likability.
But even Sam hadn't expected that this young man, who everyone mocked as a "pretty face," would quietly become the heart of the entire crew, an irreplaceable source of spirit and strength.
The recent accident had been visible to everyone. But even before that, Anson had already won over Sam and the writing team by actively contributing to script discussions and showing a sincere dedication to making the movie better. Their trust and reliance on him had far surpassed what they had imagined.
What Sam saw now was pure, one hundred percent genuine.