"Since the filming process was so grueling, what's the most unforgettable moment for you after wrapping up?" Daisy's smile remained on her lips as she inquired with vibrant interest.
She could tell that Renly was slightly excited, even though he tried to suppress it, it still leaked through. Yet, within his mannerisms, there was a kind of seasoned, elegant sagacity and wisdom. This was truly an intriguing matter. Daisy began to wonder how Renly's agent had trained him; it was nearly impossible for a fledgling newcomer to achieve such standards without proper guidance.
"Hmm." Renly didn't answer immediately; instead, he pondered for a moment. His mind was filled with numerous special moments: like pushing through the challenge of shooting while injured, slogging through more than forty hours of filming in muddy rain without rest, or turning acting into enjoyment after truly sensing Eugene's inner struggles and confusion. "The first scene after the clapboard."
Ultimately, Renly chose a different answer. "It's my debut work. The feeling of standing in front of the camera is truly indescribable." Renly savored the memory, as if he could still taste the mixture of nervousness tinged with excitement, anticipation laced with anxiety. As a person who lived two lives, step by step, he had finally arrived in front of the camera. "Due to the eagerness to showcase myself, I received my life's first "NG" in less than five seconds of shooting."
The sudden shift in the story made Daisy's lip twitch involuntarily. The sound engineer and assistants nearby shared low chuckles. "Is the unforgettable moment the "NG" or the first scene?"
"Both, I suppose." A smile also emerged in Renly's eyes. "This scene made an actor's dream finally come true. But at the same time, it also told me that becoming an outstanding actor is not so simple."
Dreams. Hearing that word, Daisy laughed wholeheartedly. Indeed, he was still a young man fresh from the cocoon, always carrying the impractical dreams of an ivory tower, depicting Hollywood as a sunlit stage surrounded by flowers. "Introduce some of the characters you've portrayed? Eugene Sledge." Daisy concluded her personal questions about Renly and shifted her focus back to "The Pacific" itself. The back-and-forth dialogue had already exceeded her expectations and granted her an unexpected extra.
"Eugene "Sledgehammer" Sledge." Renly lightly nodded. "Sledge" as his surname earned him the nickname "Sledgehammer" in the military. "He's an idealist, possessing a sincere patriotic heart, unwaveringly devoted to his faith in God. However, in the brutal reality of war, his beliefs, convictions, and ideals begin to be tested. Eugene represents the present condition that we're most concerned about: besides death, what else does war bring?"
In a few brief sentences, Daisy visualized the personality of Eugene in her mind. This was probably the summary directed by his agent. If Daisy knew that Renly currently didn't have an agent, her expression would surely have been quite amusing.
"After the series wrapped, what I'm most regretful about is not being able to meet Mr. Sledge in person." Renly continued, and from this topic, Daisy conversed with him about the veterans. Similar to "Band of Brothers", the production invited World War II veterans who had experienced the Pacific War to the set. This allowed them to interact with both the actors and the production team to ensure the most authentic portrayal of that historical period.
The short conversation was full of wit, and after a slight reminder from an assistant, Daisy suddenly realized that three actors were waiting behind her. Unconsciously, she had forgotten the passage of time. "Alright, one last question." Daisy glanced at the list of questions in her hand. "Many people are eagerly anticipating "The Pacific" due to the excellence of "Band of Brothers". In your opinion, what's the difference between these two series?"
"This is a standard official question, but it's also a foreshadowing question."
Renly pondered carefully, "I think the two works are completely different. Although they both focus on World War II, "Band of Brothers" is a fiery production, while "The Pacific" is a cold one. This is their fundamental difference, and the audience's expectations and takeaways from the shows will also be different."
Daisy opened her mouth, reflexively wanting to continue conversing with Renly. Every sentence was worthy of an exclusive interview!
However, Renly stood up, a warm smile on his face. "Thank you for today's interview. I hope everything goes smoothly with your future work."
A slight quirk of Daisy's brow followed, observing Renly's departing figure. Hollywood hadn't seen such an interesting newcomer in a while. Daisy was starting to feel some interest in "The Pacific".
Generally, for extensive interviews like the one with the "The Pacific" cast, a magazine would provide around six to eight pages. Considering the main highlights of the series were Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, they would naturally dominate the primary pages. Therefore, even for core actors like Renly, the interview questions would be limited to around fifteen. The most meaningful seven or eight questions would be selected for publication.
However, just now, Daisy had asked Renly almost thirty questions, extending the conversation time from the allotted fifteen minutes to twenty-five minutes. This was indeed a significant surprise.
Suppressing her emotions, Daisy looked at the actor now seated in front of her and put on a professional smile, once again immersing herself in her work.
After the interview concluded, Renly let out a long exhale. During the interview, the sensations weren't very apparent, but once it was over, the aftermath of his heart racing showed itself. Cold sweat formed on his back, and his muscles began to ache slightly as the overexcitement still lingered in his blood, not yet completely subsided.
Although Renly had lived two lives and was relentlessly striving towards his acting dreams, he knew very well that the day of exposure under the spotlight would inevitably arrive. Whether he liked it or not, this was a part of an actor's life. He believed he was prepared enough, but truly stepping into the Lora Tower Hotel, standing under the camera lens, facing the microphone for an interview – the intertwined sensation of reality and illusion made him momentarily struggle to adapt. After all, his experiences from his previous life were of no help. This was akin to a young girl getting onto a sedan chair for the first time.
Renly needed some time to digest everything.
At this point, Renly's efforts as an actor had come to a conclusion. Engaging in serious acting, wholeheartedly performing, and cooperating with promotional activities – the forthcoming evaluation would now be left to the general public and professional critics.
Renly couldn't help but become curious: What would people's assessments of his performance be? Praise? Critique? Or perhaps no attention at all? Comparing this to his previous life's Joseph Mazzelo, would he receive better or worse evaluations? After portraying Eugene, would the public feedback trajectory of "The Pacific" still follow the patterns of his previous life? Once this production premiered, how would his acting career progress? Stagnation, soaring success, or a return to tranquility?
As a seasoned cinephile, Renly was acutely aware that many factors determined the excellence of a work. Actors were just a part of it—directors, scripts, cinematography, lighting, costumes, publicity strategies, marketing approaches, target audiences, and so much more could influence a work's reputation. The influence an actor could exert was far lower than one might imagine.
However, Renly still couldn't suppress his own thoughts. Because from this point onward, things would be beyond his control, venturing into the unknown. Not just because no one could manipulate the market, but also because no one could predict the future. Renly was a reincarnated individual, his future, his history, his existence—everything was an unknown anomaly, an uncertain question mark.
Involuntarily, he recalled George and Elizabeth's opposition, "You're not a genius, never have been."
A ruthless and merciless death sentence. Now, the moment of public judgment had finally arrived, hadn't it? Even though he had secured a role in "The Pacific", it didn't guarantee winning the audience's and critics' hearts. In this world, there were countless geniuses, yet only a few could achieve success. His dreams of being an actor, where would they lead next?
Everything was entirely new, unpredictable. This made Renly feel nervous, but more so, excited. He was eager to step onto the next path, to accept any form of outcome with composure. Because he knew, this was what he wanted—even in the face of a grand, tragic defeat, he would never regret it!
Edith finished photographing Rami, signaling the next actor to take the stage. She began to search for the right light and angle, and in the corner of her eye, she inadvertently caught a glimpse of Renly standing by the floor-to-ceiling window. He was quietly gazing out at the horizon laid bare beyond, with the distant coastline visible at the edge of his view. Amid the rising and falling lines of the city, his tranquil and serene profile seemed to have absorbed the vicissitudes of all time, shedding all splendor, unadorned and unhurriedly observing the ever-changing world.
Instinctively, Edith raised her camera lens and refocused on her most familiar subject. She pressed the shutter, silently capturing this moment suspended in sunlight.
Staring at the still moment within her digital camera, the refined and gentle demeanor carried an inescapable sorrow and desolation, yet it was imbued with an unyielding resolve and sharpness. The contradictory conflict in his expression compelled her to delve deeper. Edith realized she seemed to have never truly understood this younger brother—what had driven him to embrace the path of acting so resolutely, and what had left a wound deep in his soul.
"Edith!" The assistant's call beside her snapped Edith out of her reverie. She turned her head abruptly, allowing her thoughts to settle in her gaze, then answered in a raised voice, "Coming." She picked up her camera once again and immersed herself in her work.
Night gradually descended. The interviews and photo shoots for Vanity Fair continued until after ten in the evening. Tomorrow, the grand premiere of "The Pacific" was set to take the stage!