Inside and out, from top to bottom, the production team ensured comprehensive protection.
The danger factor was reduced to nearly zero, with the entire set surrounded by air cushions.
So, shouldn't the shoot have gone smoothly without a hitch?
Sean gave Anson a once-over and finally felt slightly more at ease. "What can I say, you're the treasure of the entire crew."
Anson glanced at Sean, his face twisted with a grimace. "My back, my back."
Sean was startled.
But in the next second, he caught the mischievous glint in Anson's eyes.
He'd been tricked.
Sean paused, but he couldn't hold back and let out a soft laugh. "Thank you."
"I know you've been trying to help. Even though you're the one who got hurt, you've been comforting the crew and worrying about how we're handling it."
Anson shrugged. "I'm not as noble or kind as you make me out to be."
"I just don't want to get hurt again, that's all."
"Hey, in the end, I'm the one who's gotta deal with the pain, right?"
Sean immediately understood what Anson meant. "Even so, thanks."
There were many more things Sean wanted to say, but he realized words couldn't fully express his feelings, so he swallowed them all down.
"So, you're not afraid?"
Anson looked over at him.
Sean explained, "About getting back on the wire. You're not traumatized?"
Anson gave a light shrug. "You'll need to keep this to yourself, especially from Luca, but... yeah, I'm scared."
"Believe me, when I say I really don't want to get hurt again, I mean it. It's the worst feeling, and I never want to go through it again."
"Honestly, right before the shot, my knees were trembling a bit, and my legs felt like noodles, barely able to hold me up."
"But."
"The first step to overcoming fear is to face it. I don't want to be trapped by it. Otherwise, half the fun of being an actor would be gone."
"To be real with you, when I jumped down just now, my eyes were closed the whole time, haha."
"Shh, don't tell anyone else, or Luca will start nagging again."
Ahem.
A beat too late, Anson finally noticed Sean signaling with his eyes.
Anson blinked. "Luca's standing right behind me, isn't he?"
Sean face-palmed and gave a barely noticeable nod.
Anson slowly turned his head, saw Luca's cold, stern face, and forced a smile like nothing had happened. "So, are we ready for the next scene, Director?"
Luca wasn't having it. "I heard someone took quite the joyful tumble earlier."
Anson looked to the sky. "Ah, Luca Wood, it was nothing. Really, nothing!"
Nearby, Sean watched the dejected Anson and the stone-faced Luca, unable to hold back the slight smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth. He quickly lowered his head, realizing it might not be the right moment.
The wire technicians around them exchanged glances, their tense expressions gradually softening, and smiles reappeared on their faces.
The entire crew relaxed as the pressure visibly lifted.
It was true—
From co-stars to the crew and even the director, everyone had been tense, like an invisible string pulling tight, unable to relax.
But with Anson's return, that string began to loosen, and everyone slowly regained their rhythm. Though it took some time, they were finally back on track.
The production was finally back on schedule.
After a period of adjustment, the shooting pace picked up again.
Originally, due to Anson's unexpected injury, the production halted for five days. When they resumed, they tried to catch up, but things didn't go smoothly. Instead of gaining ground, they fell further behind.
Before Anson returned, the crew was two weeks behind schedule. Even though he came back early, the challenge remained immense.
The pressure was ever-present, with Sony-Columbia watching them closely.
Situations like this happen all too often in Hollywood, often leading to disastrous results. The tension from multiple directions can drag a production down like quicksand, turning it into a train wreck.
The bigger the budget and project, the more likely it is to be caught in the whirlwind of conflicting interests and power struggles, leading to chaos and disaster.
This is no exaggeration.
However!
Unexpectedly, the crew slowly found their rhythm, working steadily and methodically. The producers and director took on the brunt of Sony-Columbia's pressure, giving the team enough time and space to work. The shoot became smoother and smoother.
And, they maintained high quality throughout.
When the crew wrapped up all their work in New York, they were only three days behind the initial schedule. It was almost unbelievable how they caught up, silencing all the voices at Sony-Columbia.
Afterward, the crew moved on to Chicago, Vancouver, and Los Angeles to continue filming.
After weathering the storm, the entire team was more united than ever—something Sony-Columbia hadn't anticipated. The rest of the shoot went smoothly, and they even managed to surpass their schedule—
A full week ahead, "Spider-Man 2" was about to wrap in Los Angeles.
A surprise!
An absolute surprise!
From a purely time-based perspective, finishing a week early might not seem like a big deal. After all, "Spider-Man 2" had a total shoot time of 114 days, nearly four months, so wrapping a week early wasn't that impressive.
But, given everything the crew had been through, it was a massive victory.
When Anson got injured, Michael Lynton's biggest fear was:
The delayed schedule would prevent the movie from hitting next summer's box office.
It was a legitimate concern that sparked a series of chaotic events.
But now, not only did "Spider-Man 2" stay on track, but they also wrapped ahead of schedule, effectively erasing the time lost from Anson's accident. This was a serious slap in the face to Michael.
And that, right there, was the point!
Most people might not know the inside story, but Sam knew every detail.
The usually quiet and reserved Sam rarely gossiped. But he'd been all in, putting in 200% of his energy, devoting everything he had to directing.
Finally, Sam made his voice heard, delivering a powerful response.
Whether Michael Lynton could feel it or not, this was Sam's way of pushing back. After being tense and holding his breath through the entire process, Sam could now relax and feel a sense of redemption.
From summer to fall, the calendar had flipped to October, and today, the crew of "Spider-Man 2" finally reached the end of the line.
Just like the first scene they shot, the final scene was chosen to be simple and relaxed—a lighthearted way to cross the finish line.
"Cut!"
Sam's voice rang out, and everyone's eyes turned to him.
The director continued.
"That's a wrap. We're done."
Cheers erupted.
Nearly four months of ups and downs were finally over, like graduating from school. It was time to celebrate.
Quietly, eyes began to turn toward the absolute star of the crew—
Anson Wood.