A brush of shoulders?
So what?
Perhaps some are confused. It was just a brush of shoulders, no big deal. Can't they continue performing? It's not like someone fell flat on their back.
The key is the unexpected.
It's not about the size of the unexpected, but the unexpected itself.
First, it disrupts the rhythm, and the flow of the scene changes.
Second, it triggers reactions. Each actor reacts differently to unexpected situations, and their reactions might be out of character, deviate from the plot, or cause laughter.
And so on.
One of the many differences between movies, television, and the stage is that on stage, the audience often can't clearly see the details of the actors' expressions and movements. Small deviations might not even be noticed. But on the big and small screens, everything is magnified, and no errors are allowed.
Therefore, a brush of shoulders not in the script can lead to an NG (No Good take).
However.
In the seconds of that brush, Anson's first reaction wasn't nervousness, annoyance, or panic, but a conditioned reflex.
Clench fist. Raise high. Stare. Posture.
All in one go!
That posture, that stance, was like an angry bull, full of momentum, ready to explode.
Anson was completely in character, seemingly believing that Ross had provoked him. Paul was completely unafraid, not only unafraid, but also taking a full fighting stance.
That expression, that movement, was perfect.
Indeed, mistakes can happen at any time, and there's no need to be annoyed or angry. What's more important than the mistake is how to solve it, how to face it.
Natural, smooth, and just right.
On one side, Paul clenched his fist.
On the other side, Ross covered his head.
David Schwimmer was experienced and seasoned enough. In the moment of the brush, he was also stunned, his first reaction being NG.
With his back to the camera, David Schwimmer looked up at Anson, raising his hands to give Anson a hug, offering comfort as a senior actor.
But unexpectedly, what came into view was a face whose momentum suddenly erupted, sweeping away the previous ease and composure. The lines of his face hardened, and an aura of fortitude and strength poured down like a summer storm, pulling him back into the scene from outside the scene, causing a burst of palpitations.
Almost instinctively, David Schwimmer immediately used his raised hands to cover his head, shrinking his head and closing his shoulders, entering a defensive posture like a turtle.
If David Schwimmer had been facing the camera, facing the audience, the audience could have seen the wonderful changes in his expression, from surprise to smile to panic, comparable to Sichuan face-changing, accurate, fast, and in place, going back and forth between heaven and hell several times in a short second, absolutely masterful.
At the same time, absolutely real.
But precisely because of this, David Schwimmer's panic was not captured. What was presented in front of the camera was a completely natural picture.
A brush of shoulders, an unexpected spark, Paul threatening to attack, Ross running away with his head in his hands, the personalities and colors of the two characters forming a sharp contrast—
Director Michael was stunned. This effect?
So, should he call NG, or not?
It was in this short, fleeting moment, the seconds of change and pause, that the entire studio erupted in the biggest laughter in history.
Haha!
Gloria was completely doubled over with laughter.
The "Paul" before this scene had always worn a mask, trying to play the image of a well-read and reasonable good brother in front of his sister, elegant, suave, and humorous.
Gloria laughed so hard she was bending over backwards.
Moreover, she wasn't the only one.
On the scene, there were two kinds of reactions.
One was the men, one or two clenching their fists, joining in the fun.
The other was the women, one or two screaming, their faces full of infatuation.
Lively and extraordinary!
This…
"NG," was already on the tip of his tongue, but after a slight hesitation, Michael swallowed it back, a smile appearing on the corner of his mouth.
David Crane's eyes lit up slightly: This works?
But thinking about it carefully, why not!
Accurately speaking, the small accident did disrupt the flow, but this kind of "disruption" not only didn't have any disadvantages, but instead made the characters and plot fuller.
Moreover, Anson has a natural temperament. Standing under the lights, in front of the camera, he can attract attention silently.
Even without extra movements or special expressions, just standing there quietly can exude a unique aura.
The day before yesterday, in his office, David Crane felt this, and today, he proved that his vision was correct.
The reaction from the studio audience can be seen directly.
David Crane glanced at Marta out of the corner of his eye, and then saw Marta's stunned expression, unable to hide her surprise at all.
A smile climbed onto David Crane's mouth, and his gaze returned to Anson. This kid, there's even more surprise?
Even if it's a natural performance, so what?
As long as it looks good!
In the blink of an eye, they brushed past each other, and then Paul and Ross had already continued forward.
On this side, Paul walked towards Elizabeth.
Elizabeth glared at Paul, protesting with her eyes; but Paul innocently raised his hands, palms open, indicating that he didn't do anything.
On that side, Ross walked towards his friends.
Ross held his head, turned around, and stumbled forward, falling on Monica and Chandler, half-hugging and half-hanging.
Moreover, he simply went even more over the top, with a bit of a sob, shouting.
"Oh, God, thank you."
The effect came out immediately, completing a circle, and the rhythm and atmosphere of the scene seamlessly switched back to the original established track.
It was this fall and this cry that once again showed David Schwimmer's experience and skill as an actor, quickly regaining the character's state after the accident.
Beautiful!
Amidst the burst of laughter, Matthew Perry, Courteney Cox, and Lisa Kudrow also understood—
As long as the director doesn't call cut, the performance will continue.
Matthew, playing Chandler, reacted very promptly, his face full of disgust, waving his hands to swat away flies and spitting, as if shaking off something dirty, giving a perfect response to the impromptu performance in front of him.
At this time, Ross had also regained his composure, moving his feet sideways like a crab, coming to Paul and Elizabeth, waving his left hand constantly beside his thigh, asking his three friends to come closer.
"Stevens, these are my friends, Phoebe, Monica, Chandler."
Phoebe was reluctant at first, but after her feet were in place, she couldn't help but take a small step forward, boldly and directly sizing up Paul.
"Oh, so you're Elizabeth's father? No wonder she has a kind of... rugged beauty."
Haha!
Laughter surged again. The adjective Phoebe chose was indeed unique.
Ross looked panicked, quickly wiping the non-existent sweat from his forehead, "No, Phoebe, this is Elizabeth's brother."
Phoebe's eyes lit up, and she replied meaningfully, "Oh."
Her words were full of joy and excitement, and then Phoebe boldly licked her lips.
Haha, hahaha!
The laughter was even more crazy.
