The Legendary Actor - Chapter 46

Ka-chow, ka-chow, ka-chow.

The sound of shutter roaring up, swarming from all directions, as if the sound turned into a physical chain, firmly locking hands and feet, imprisoning people in a narrow space, making them unable to move, the skin could clearly feel the heat boiling, almost enough to burn flesh and bones to ashes.

“Renly, Renly, Renly.”

The ubiquitous shouts were chaotic and disorderly, and the overwhelming calls of excitement could be felt in every corner. The agitation swept in like a tsunami, destroying all the obstacles in front of it, and hitting the body without fear, even the internal organs began to spasm in pain.

One moment, Renly is a tender rookie; the next moment, Renly is the absolute focus of public attention.

The huge disparity was like the sea in the middle of the stormy waves, with the waves crashing down one after another, giving no time to breathe and making people dizzy.

The fierce flashes of light, the gorgeous silver like a waterfall, and the sharp and hot needles stung his eyes, and suddenly he was in a white blanket.

This really took Renly by surprise, and his calm and composed smile became somewhat awkward.

The fervor and eagerness of the reporters was like a grandmother wolf with her claws out for Little Red Riding Hood, drooling over and pressing her to tear to shreds and finally devour whole. The core of “The Pacific”? Tom and Steven’s favorite? A newcomer in the field? If they don’t take advantage of the situation now, when they will get it?

Renly tried to open his mouth to answer the question or at least to stop the noise, but found that his words were swallowed up in an instant and not even a trace of smoke was left, and the feeling of losing control was so overwhelming that there was no time to feel the excitement and thrill of the butterflies flying inside his stomach.

“Pop.” There was a light tap on the shoulder, but Renly didn’t have time to turn his head before he heard Tom’s voice besides his ear, “This is your moment, enjoy it.” Without waiting for an answer, Tom and Steven stepped back, leaving the stage open for Renly to be alone.

“Renly, this is your first production …”

“How does it feel to shoot at …?”

“How do you feel about this experience …?”

“… challenges encountered as a Newcomer?”

“Tom, at an audition …”

The fragmented questions filled his ears, but none of them were audible to Renly. He was unable to answer them even if he wanted to – or, more likely, no one could hear him.

In other words, they were still interested in the two big names of “The Pacific”, and the flip-flopping questions were not that different from those asked by Vanity Fair yesterday.

After realizing this, Renly’s thoughts slowly settled down and he resumed his normal routine.

There were so many firsts today, and any of them was an experience to learn from, though they were a bit confusing for Renly. Paradoxically, he still found the set much more relaxing and enjoyable.

“Renly!” Bradley’s raised right hand was finally rewarded, and the situation was finally brought under control by the moderator of the scene as Bradley’s voice was allowed to emerge, “Why do you think Tom and Steven chose you for such an important role? After all, of the entire cast, you are the only newcomer who has absolutely no acting experience.”

The first question was an aggressive gesture, not directed at Renly, but at all the newcomers, and at a big production like “The Pacific”.

Renly had already found his own rhythm amid the panic, although the ringing in his ears still didn’t get much of a relief, “I think you’re overlooking my performances in the bathroom and in front of the mirror.” The initial self ridicule caused everyone in the room to laugh lightly, and the atmosphere couldn’t help but relax a little, “Uh … I guess I’d better ask the person in question that, huh?”. Renly turned around as he put his attention to Tom and Steven standing behind him, “I hope they didn’t make that choice because of my outstanding appearance, or I’ll be very disappointed.”

“Haha.” Tom just clapped and laughed, and the audience couldn’t help but laugh even more.

Bradley’s eyes lit up. His intuition was right, Renly does have a level of sophistication not commonly seen in newcomers. He was about to ask another question, but the opportunity was passed to another reporter, “How does it feel to be a newcomer, coming off “The Pacific”, and working with two of the top producers in the industry?”

Instead of answering immediately, Renly took a moment to say, “If I were to answer politely, I would say that the excitement, the thrill, the joy, the feeling as if it were all unreal.” This was the standard answer that most newcomers would give to this question, “But the truth is, I didn’t enjoy the experience.”

The audience took a breath of cold air, while the reporters were so excited that they began to wonder: is this newcomer blabbering out or just being funny?

“I need to ask more unprofessional questions, and I need to confirm more details.” Renly’s words were unhurried, but they had a special rhythm that held everyone’s attention: “I know everyone on the crew doesn’t like me, but …”. There was laughter from his fellow cast members behind him, and even more so from James and Jon. Whistling directly into the air and poking fun at it. Renly paused in disbelief, then continued, “But I tried everything I could. As for the results …”

James, standing back, bowed his head to hide the shape of his mouth and shouted, “I don’t think this is going to go well.” That gruff remark succeeded in getting everyone in the cast to laugh.

Coarse and direct, bantering and affectionate, the whole cast had a military atmosphere, which made the reporters look away, not newsworthy.

“Renly, so what do you think of Tom and Steven as producers?” There was another reporter who asked the question.

Renly, however, had a puzzled look, “Are you sure you know who you’re interviewing now?” He turned around and looked to where the directors were, “I don’t think I should have been in contact with Tom or Steven during the shooting…? Or am I misunderstanding the way the crew works?”

It’s common sense that producers and directors communicate so well that they barely need to communicate with the actors. First, he threw the questions that Steven needed to answer to Renly, and then he brought up the director’s questions … Renly’s quip got the audience up in arms, and even Tom and Steven started taunting the reporters without giving them any face.

This time, the reporters were at a loss.

This Renly Hall, is he really new? So sophisticated, so humorous, so calm, his answers not only did not have the newcomer’s jerkiness and stiffness but also revealed a sense of effortless fun. First time facing the bombardment of reporters, he was not at all stage frightened, even his passiveness in the initiative makes him in control of the scene.

Such a newcomer is literally breaking everyone’s expectations.

If it was only because of Tom and Steven’s admiration that reporters focused on him, now the image of “Renly Hall” is starting to come alive.

The premiere came to a close after the reporters had finished their usual work and the core of “The Pacific” cast had taken a group photo. It’s worth noting that it wasn’t Renly or any of the other actors or directors standing in the center during the group photo shoot, but Tom and Steven.

Then, as everyone entered the Chinese Theater, the mystery of “The Pacific” was going to be finally revealed.

“How does it feel?” Renly and Rami walked side by side into the theater, as James caught up behind them with a big smile on his face, he didn’t forget a ridiculously funny mimic when asked the duo. Although James was one of the three leads, the treatment he received today was far less favorable than that of Renly.

Renly shrugged his shoulders, “On the Moon?” There was a contrast in his emotionally charged answer, which was pronounced with a flat tone that of indifference. It didn’t fail to amuse others, though.

James looked unsatisfied and said, “So are you happy or not?”

Once again, Renly shrugged his shoulders and left the mystery open, much to the frustration of James, as Rami couldn’t stop laughing. The group made the usual ruckus and talked their way into the theater, taking their seats and waiting for the official broadcast of the drama – a small screen production on the big screen, a detail that shows HBO’s confidence.

Amid applause, the crew invited thirty living veterans of the Pacific War to attend tonight’s premiere, and the entire audience gave them a warm welcome.

Bradley took all of his wandering thoughts away and put his eyes on the big screen in front of him. As a drama that cost $223 million, and as a drama that holds the countless hopes and expectations of its classic predecessor, as a drama that rests on the gargantuan shoulders of the Steven Spielberg-Tom Hanks alliance, “The Pacific” is a work that cannot be missed.

In the midst of anticipation, Bradley takes a moment of silence with critical scrutiny.