"Sorry, isn't this some sort of prank show?"
Ansen's face was full of sincerity, and his reaction completely caught the two people in front of him off guard.
Clearly, from the very beginning, they were not on the same page, creating a sense of dissonance like two people speaking different languages. An absurd kind of humor naturally surfaced from the situation.
Unfortunately, the other party wasn't in the same lighthearted mood as Ansen.
The white-haired man sneered, not hiding his anger. "What? Do we look like a joke to you? Jesus Christ."
Ansen remained unbothered and shrugged lightly. "Hey, you showed up on set, stood in front of me without any warning, without being introduced by my agent, and without explaining anything. You should allow me to use my imagination. Honestly, the fact that I didn't think you were kidnappers shows I'm being kind."
His tone was calm, relaxed, and even humorous.
The white-haired man was stunned.
Meanwhile, the round-faced man almost burst out laughing but managed to control himself, though the corners of his mouth kept twitching.
Joking aside, Ansen knew how to gauge the situation and quickly pulled his thoughts back into focus.
Still, Ansen couldn't quite understand why James Mangold had come to visit him on set, bypassing his agent. What was the reason behind that?
Of course, Ansen could think of a few interesting scenarios where a project might skip the agent and go straight to the actor.
Ansen smiled again and looked directly at James Mangold, who was staring at him. "Identity—I really liked it. I watched it twice in the theater this year. If you're the director, sure, I can spare five minutes for us to grab a coffee."
"How about this: why don't you head over to the café across from Stage 3? I'll change into a dry set of clothes, and I'll meet you there in a minute."
After saying this, Ansen took half a step back, gesturing to his drenched, disheveled appearance. Water droplets were still falling from his short hair, but his bright eyes pierced through the strands, looking directly at the two men. His calm and unbothered demeanor quickly smoothed out any tension.
James's smile returned before he even realized it. "Of course, no problem. See you in a bit."
As James turned to leave, he noticed the white-haired man still standing in place. Sighing softly, he tugged at the man's arm.
"James…"
"Hey, James!"
So, the white-haired man was also named James?
He continued staring at Ansen, and it was hard to read his expression—there was more than just anger. There was something like nostalgia, maybe even longing, in his eyes.
In the end, he followed James Mangold out of the soundstage.
Mangold, seemingly oblivious to the white-haired man's internal turmoil, spoke with mild excitement. "Ansen's really something, isn't he? He's even better than I imagined."
Beside him, James Keach shook his head repeatedly. "He doesn't even know Johnny. I don't think this is going to work."
Mangold didn't seem to care. "James, Ansen was born in the 1980s. He and Johnny aren't even from the same era. Isn't it normal that he doesn't know him?"
"If we're looking for a young actor, the chances of them not knowing Johnny are pretty high."
Keach whipped his head toward Mangold. "What are you talking about? Johnny is up there with The Beatles! No, scratch that. He's one of the greatest singers in American music history. How could Ansen not know who he is? How is that possible?"
Mangold exhaled softly. "James, even I can't say I really knew Johnny. I know of him, I like his music, but that doesn't mean I understand him. That's why I need your help. That's why I've read two of his biographies, to truly understand him."
"To us, Johnny is a symbol, an icon. He's not just a regular person—he carries this aura. But that also means we can't truly enter his world. When we look at Johnny with awe, he ceases to be the real Johnny. He becomes this perfect image we've created in our minds."
"Now think about it. If we cast an actor who idolizes Johnny, do you think he'd dare to break down Johnny's life? Do you think he'd be able to step into Johnny's world with objectivity? Do you think he'd interpret Johnny through his own lens?"
"So, what do you want? A performance from someone who idolizes Johnny, or a Johnny reconstructed without biases or preconceived notions?"
"I thought we already talked about this, and Johnny himself agreed. So why are you acting so surprised?"
Blah, blah, blah.
Clearly, Mangold had a different perspective and managed to remain calm and objective, eventually silencing Keach.
Though Keach's expression remained stubborn, he stopped arguing, retreating into his own thoughts.
He needed a moment to process.
So, who exactly was Johnny Cash?
Johnny Cash was one of the greatest singers in North American music history.
This legend was one of the most influential singer-songwriters in shaping American country, rock, pop, and folk music. He was hailed as the embodiment of the American grassroots spirit, leaving a lasting impact on the music scene and pop culture.
Appearing around the same time as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash's influence was comparable. However, while his primary genre was country, he also inspired rock and folk music. His impact was somewhat less global than Presley's, mostly limited to North America.
Even so, Johnny Cash's legacy was undeniable. Today, in Nashville, traces of his cultural influence are everywhere.
Over his career, he sold more than 50 million albums, won numerous awards, and topped the Billboard charts. He was considered a legend who could stand toe-to-toe with The Beatles, sometimes even surpassing them.
The only slight regret was that Johnny Cash's true influence remained rooted in the country genre. Compared to legends like Elvis, The Beatles, or Bob Dylan, his impact stayed primarily within North America.
Moreover, his influence started to fade in the '80s and '90s. For young people like Ansen, who had no interest in country music, it was entirely normal not to know about Johnny Cash.
After all, the music scene in the '90s belonged to rock, R&B, and pop.
And now, Mangold and Keach were discussing this legend.
Clearly, Keach was unhappy. Ansen didn't know Johnny Cash? How could he not know Johnny Cash?
Unforgivable!
His anger flared up, burning inside him.