This is Hollywood, where no one is irreplaceable. No one is.
This statement could be considered the supreme doctrine of Hollywood, for it was a place where talent was abundant, and fresh blood flowed ceaselessly. Even individuals at the pinnacle of the industry, like Tom Cruise or Johnny Depp, or those with ethnic advantages like Will Smith and Denzel Washington, were still not immune to replacement.
Hollywood was a star-making factory. Once one star fell, there would always be another to rise. It was a realm devoid of sentimentality, evolving day by day, month by month.
It was akin to how "Transformers" replaced Megan Fox. The "Spider-Man" series almost replaced Tobey Maguire as well. This had happened because Tobey had demanded an exorbitant salary, angering the executives at Sony Pictures.
Of course, later, after completing two films, the "Amazing Spider-Man" series didn't meet the box office expectations. The executives, dissatisfied with the results, promptly replaced the then-rising star Andrew Garfield and completely restarted the franchise.
That was the reality of Hollywood.
"So, I'm competing with Dwayne Johnson?" As Renly spoke, he raised his right fist and flexed his bicep, a gesture so obvious in its meaning that it made Andy chuckle.
Indeed, the opportunity in "Fast 5" was worth anticipating, but the competition was evidently not that simple. From what Andy had just said, it was clear that if Dwayne and the production team reached an agreement, no matter how hard Renly tried, the role would still belong to Dwayne. After all, selecting Renly would entail different styling for the character and even a rearrangement of fight scenes. A small change could turn the entire production upside down.
However, the film's preliminary shooting had already commenced, the producers were inspecting Telluride, and their approval of this audition indicated the urgency. This presented a window for Renly. Either he could use this to pressure Dwayne, or he could genuinely grow impatient with the negotiations and opt for a change of direction.
Regardless, he would find out the specifics after their face-to-face conversation.
"What about another one?" Renly knew that Andy surely had a backup plan. If he could consider these scenarios, how could Andy not? Therefore, Andy began with "Fast 5", testing Renly's bottom line. It seemed that Andy didn't intend to put all his bets here.
"A comedy." As expected, Andy was well-prepared. Without any hesitation, he spoke up. Then, he shifted his focus and rummaged through his briefcase, taking out a thin booklet containing about twenty or thirty pages. If it was a script, it was too thin; if it was a proposal, it was too thick. "This script was just freshly cooked up over the weekend. I managed to get the first twenty pages from an old friend with a lot of effort. Take a look to see if it piques your interest. If you're willing, I can arrange a meeting with Brett Ratner anytime."
Rather than hastily accepting the script, Renly looked at Andy with surprise. "A comedy?" He truly hadn't expected this choice from Andy.
Among the myriad of film genres, comedy stood out as an exceptional category. It was a well-known fact that comedies were hard to make. Often, it was easier to make audiences cry than to make them burst into laughter. Especially with audiences growing more sophisticated and becoming privy to the mechanics of comedic routines, it was increasingly difficult to elicit genuine laughter. As the 21st century progressed, excellent comedies became fewer and farther between.
Moreover, besides Billy Wilder, most comedy actors and directors were not well-regarded by the academies. This was a bias within the realm of art. From the very beginning, comedy actors were never considered legitimate actors. They were as niche as magicians and jugglers.
Haven't you seen how comedy masters like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton spent their lives without receiving any recognition from the Oscars? Jim Carrey, undoubtedly one of the finest comedy actors since the '90s, had amassed six Golden Globe nominations, but never an Oscar nod. Even acclaimed works like "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "The Truman Show" were utterly ignored by the Oscars.
Nowadays, having appeared in comedies was often considered a "blemish" on an actor's record. Individuals like James Franco, Bradley Cooper, and Steve Carell managing to earn Oscar nominations were seen as rare breakthroughs within the industry. After Bradley Cooper garnered three consecutive Oscar acting nominations, he hardly appeared in comedies anymore.
The fact that Andy had chosen a comedy was indeed a significant departure from Renly's expectations.
"How about it? Don't you like it?" Andy smiled and asked in response.
Renly chuckled lightly twice, "No, of course not."
Contrarily, Renly believed that tackling comedy was a great endeavor. Even Shakespeare had a special fondness for comedy. He knew deeply that performing comedy was exceptionally difficult, and its complexity might even surpass that of dramas and tragedies.
Some comedy actors relied solely on the strength of the script, with the credit owed to the writers. Others used physical humor, like falling flat on their faces or embarrassing themselves in public. Many comedic moments from the Frat Pack worked this way. Then there were comedy actors who relied on their wit and talent, their spontaneous humor more of a disposition. Many comedy masters and British dark humor followed this style.
In essence, comedic performances were far from being as simple as they appeared. Renly had always wanted to challenge comedy. He even imagined what hosting SNL would be like: Would he be the poker-faced humorist or the unabashedly funny one, shedding all constraints? Just thinking about it in his mind was exhilarating.
"I'm just surprised by your choice," Renly's smile brightened as he teasingly said, "I always thought you wanted to make your mark during awards season. Comedy clearly isn't a wise choice."
"Even if you get your little golden man, I can't share in your glory. But if your comedy does well at the box office, I'll get my share directly," Andy quipped, making Renly's shoulders gently shake. Then, he became serious and continued, "I just think that if you continue to act in serious dramas, you might end up like Nicole Kidman. So, before your image becomes fixed, proactively shattering this misconception seems like a good choice. It's better than realizing too late and not having time to rectify it."
Renly burst into laughter without any reservations, "God, Andy, Nicole already has her little golden man, but I haven't even gotten a nomination. Are you thinking too far ahead?"
In her early career, Nicole had appeared in a few commercial films, but later on, her path swiftly veered towards artistic dramas, a trajectory from which she never returned. In 2003, after winning an Oscar for "The Hours", Nicole had been attempting to break free from her typecast roles. She appeared in several commercial films, including many comedies that aimed to shatter her image—films like "Bewitched", "The Golden Compass", and "The Stepford Wives". Unfortunately, all of these attempts went in vain, leading her to retreat back to the realm of artistic films in pursuit of another breakthrough during awards season. However, she remained in a cycle of ups and downs, achieving results that were less than satisfying.
But Andy didn't join in the laughter. He maintained his composed smile, waiting for Renly's chuckle to subside before he spoke, "I believe your achievements will surpass Nicole's." His words were calm yet resolute, causing a slight lift in Renly's brow. "To be honest, breaking away from this fixed image now and broadening your range of roles will open up more options for your future projects. "Dreamgirls", "Vicky Cristina Barcelona", "Juno", "Little Miss Sunshine". There have been quite a few excellent comedies released in recent days."
Renly's smile gradually faded as he listened to Andy's proactive words. For the first time, he truly felt the blueprint Andy was constructing for him.
"Alright then, pass me the script," Renly arched an eyebrow and said with an expectant look, "What kind of comedy is it, anyway? Toilet humor? Dark comedy? Parody? My recent favorite comedy is "Pineapple Express". Tell me, can I collaborate with the Frat Pack?"
Hearing Renly's enthusiastic words, Andy shook his head helplessly and handed over the script. "I might disappoint you. It's a comedy like "Community" or "The Office". The director is Seth Gordon, who started in television directing. He directed some episodes in both of the mentioned series. Recently, he even directed an episode of "Modern Family"."
Television directing was an unfamiliar territory for Renly, but he loved all the comedies that Andy mentioned. Each one was quirky and unique, not overly exaggerated in performance, yet imbued with a playful mischievousness.
"Steve Carell! One of my favorite comedy actors. I even had a conversation with him at the Emmy Awards not long ago." Renly spoke sincerely, then he flipped open the script and started reading, lowering his head.
Andy's mood was a bit anxious, though. From "The Pacific" to "Buried", the two roles were entirely different. It was evident that Renly's adaptability was high, but shifting from dramas to comedy was quite a leap.
As an agent, Andy was acutely aware that if the positioning was wrong and the project failed, it wouldn't just affect the film's outcome but also necessitate a complete reevaluation of Renly's image. Such a setback could be fatal for an emerging talent. Selecting this comedy was the choice that made him the most nervous. Watching Renly's composed and focused demeanor, Andy's stomach churned:
Had he made the wrong decision? According to Renly's original choice, he would have starred in a romantic artistic film, a seemingly more prudent and sensible choice. The subsequent management would also have been simpler. If he went with this comedy and it flopped, what would they do then? Should they just drop the idea?
However, Renly was engrossed in reading the script. He marveled at Andy's insight and wisdom. This choice was bold, unconventional, and enough to catch anyone's attention. It was a daring move, teetering between utter failure and resounding success. If he wasn't someone reborn from the past, he would likely be dumbfounded at this point. Fortunately, he was.