Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 6: Waiting for Notification

The audition ended, and the standby actors remained on the stage, standing in a neat and restrained line. There was a murmuring discussion coming from the audience seats below the stage, indicating that they were exchanging opinions and likely to make decisions on roles on the spot.

Almost everyone involuntarily cast their gaze towards Renly—during the audition process just now, Renly had undoubtedly stolen the show, leaving little opportunity for others to shine with his outstanding performance.

Rami was no exception. Recalling Renly's relaxed and confident demeanor during the waiting process, Rami, who had been nervous, felt somewhat relieved. He unconsciously lifted his head, unexpectedly meeting Renly's gaze. Those deep eyes, like the vast night sky, shimmered with a faint light, their breathtaking brilliance causing Rami to awkwardly tug at the corners of his mouth, forcing a smile to hide his embarrassment.

Upon careful consideration, however, Rami raised his gaze again, feigning composure as he said, "Your performance just now was brilliant!"

Renly seemed surprised by Rami's initiative to strike up a conversation. His eyebrow raised slightly, followed by a soft laugh, "We're all striving to deliver the perfect performance, hoping to impress the people below, aren't we?" His confident yet unassuming tone, laced with a hint of humor, naturally elicited a smile from Rami.

Turning away, Rami glanced at the audience seats and muttered under his breath, "They seem to be discussing national affairs in the State Council." His teasing tone displayed his own sense of humor.

Indeed, the discussion in the audience seats lasted for almost five minutes, still without a conclusion, which was quite unusual. During auditions, decisions were typically made on the spot or discussed afterward. Prolonged discussions on-site were uncommon, as they could disrupt the audition schedule and prolong the process, ideally kept to about ten minutes per group.

"Steven, give me a reason, give me a reason why Renly isn't outstanding enough." Tom's stubbornness emerged as he turned to face Steven directly, raising his voice slightly to emphasize his persistence.

However, Steven remained unfazed, calmly shaking his head. "It's not that Renly isn't outstanding, but rather, we have a better option!" The other staff members nearby obediently kept quiet, watching the two big shots argue with reasoned arguments, too afraid to intervene and remind them of the time, simply holding their breath, trying to make themselves as inconspicuous as possible.

"If you say so, giving him another role would be no problem! I can decide right now. He's outstanding, capable of many roles. But we're talking about Eugene here. He's the soul of the whole series, not just the lead role. He embodies the spirit we want to convey in this series!" Unconsciously, Steven's voice also rose slightly, his expression slightly excited, determined to push back. "So yes, I refuse to let him play Eugene. I refuse to let a young stranger with no acting experience play Eugene! Yes, I believe we have a better choice than him!

"Joseph Mazzello?" Tom didn't hesitate, speaking directly. Because of his excitement, he even stood up slightly, then sat back down, clearly expressing his inner turmoil. "Steven, I know you like him a lot, and I know he's a very talented actor, but compared to Renly, he's just not as outstanding."

Joseph was a former child star who was now twenty-six years old. In 1992, he starred in "Radio Flyer" alongside Elijah Wood. When Steven and George Lucas visited the set, they were impressed by his performance. Steven even expressed his desire for Joseph to play "Hook Captain" on the spot. Unfortunately, Joseph was only seven years old at the time, too young to take on the role.

Afterward, in order to cast Joseph in "Jurassic Park," Steven even proactively modified the character's age and background. And during the preparation for "A.I. Artificial Intelligence," Joseph was also Steven's first choice. However, due to the prolonged preparation period, they missed the schedule, resulting in the collaboration falling through.

When preparing for "The Pacific," the pivotal character Eugene was reserved for Joseph from the beginning, hoping for their second collaboration. This showed Steven's favouritism towards the actor. Even masters like Stanley Kubrick had a high regard for Joseph.

But now, Tom wanted to give the role of Eugene to Renly, which became the focus of their dispute.

"Jesus Christ! He's only twenty years old! He has no prior work! You just watched his... for how long? Sixty seconds? Ninety seconds of performance? And then..." Steven's emotions were also slightly agitated, but Tom interrupted him without hesitation. "But Eugene was originally only nineteen!"

Steven stood up abruptly. "But he doesn't have the determination amidst vulnerability that Renly does! That's why I insist on using Joseph!" His outburst broke through the constraints of the audience seats, startling all the actors on stage, who were confused because they hadn't heard the context of the argument.

"Steven, Tom..." Finally, someone stood up beside them, nervously speaking up, "We can discuss this later when we go back. Right now, we're a bit short on time..." The rest of the sentence hesitated again, carefully watching the two big shots.

Steven sat back down directly, turning his back to Tom. Tom also straightened up, supporting his chin with his right hand, staring ahead silently as if there were no one else present.

The tense atmosphere was palpable, but at least it temporarily subsided. "Ahem." The casting director cleared his throat, redirecting everyone's attention, "Today's auditions will end here for now. You can leave. You'll be notified of any further information."

Waiting for notification?

After nearly seven minutes of debate, the result was "waiting for notification"? In an instant, all eyes fell on Renly once again, filled with incredulity—if not even Renly's breathtaking performance could impress the production team, then who could possibly win the opportunity to star in "The Pacific"? This...

As a participant, Renly couldn't hide his disappointment. Frankly, his performance just now was indeed remarkable, reaching an excellent level, showcasing one of the best performances in recent times. Combined with the controversy and discussion on the scene, expectations inevitably began to rise. Yet, now they received such a response—"waiting for notification." Anyone who had ever attended auditions or interviews knew that this response often meant silence, with no follow-up, leaving Renly somewhat disappointed.

Perhaps, the impromptu comedy at the beginning had already foreshadowed the current outcome, hadn't it?

Thinking of the phone call from his parents before the audition, his mood still felt heavy. However, this was just his first audition, and negative emotions only lingered in his chest for a moment before dissipating like smoke, leaving no trace. Having spent ten years in bed, living two lives, he had learned to be magnanimous. A smile gently curved his lips, like the red glow on the horizon at six o'clock in the afternoon, soft and radiant.

Turning around, Renly took the lead in leaving the stage. Rami hesitated, looking around, only to notice that the next group of standby actors was already ready at the entrance. He hurriedly caught up with Renly's footsteps, and gradually everyone left the theatre.

Back outside, the fresh air made the heavy atmosphere suddenly clear. Rami watched Renly's figure gradually move away, hesitated for a moment, then gathered his courage and hurriedly caught up, "Hey, Renly." Rami realized once again that the height difference between him and Renly was fatal. Running with his short legs was particularly strenuous.

Fortunately, Renly stopped and waited in place. Rami slowed down and stopped in front of Renly, panting heavily, but found himself at a loss for words. Looking at Renly's inquiring gaze, Rami hesitated for a moment, then spoke, "I think you can definitely get the role!" His words were extremely certain. After saying that, Rami nodded firmly, "I mean it!"

Although they were just acquaintances, Rami sincerely expressed his support and affirmation. There was a warm smile on Renly's face, "I believe you'll be seen in 'The Pacific' as well. And, I have a feeling the role will be significant."

Renly's firm expression was unquestionable, completely devoid of any perfunctory politeness. Rami couldn't help but want to believe his words, but the astonishment and disbelief in his mind couldn't stop. If even Renly was rejected, how could he possibly succeed?

However, before Rami could continue questioning, Renly waved goodbye. Rami only managed to say "Goodbye" and then watched Renly walk away again, his inner turmoil just beginning.

Renly wasn't being polite; indeed, he wasn't. Because the fact was just that.

Not only did Rami successfully land a role in the 'The Pacific', playing a significant character second only to the core two roles, but he also later won the Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series for the show 'Mr. Robot'. After struggling in the Hollywood third-tier stage for six years, he ushered in the spring of his acting career.

Rami was born in 1981, but due to the prominent appearance of his eyes, he always had a baby face. Even in 2017, he didn't look much different from now, as if time had forgotten him during its passage.

Leaving the theater, bathed in the lazy sunlight of New York, Renly took a deep breath of the slightly restless air, and his mood soared again. The audition just now was just a beginning, a insignificant one. He once again had the opportunity to rewrite his own life, and that was what mattered most, wasn't it?

In the summer of 2009, Renly's dream journey set off.

Taking his skateboard from the security guard at the theater entrance, Renly thanked him and tossed the skateboard onto the ground. He lightly stepped on it, pushed off with his left foot, and soared into the wind.