The glaring sunlight poured down unhindered, and on a clear afternoon with boundless skies, one would usually want to do something enjoyable. Either sitting at an open-air café by the street, leisurely sipping on a cup of coffee, or taking a surfboard to the beach to embrace the carefree ocean. However, strolling along the boulevard of Burbank Studios, headed for work, was certainly not on the agenda.
"Do you know? I'm pretty sure Robert Pattinson wouldn't like California." Renly lifted the coffee in his hand and took a big sip. Today, he indulged himself by choosing a latte that allowed for milk and foam to be added. For nearly four months, he had been adjusting his diet for the filming of "Fast 5".
Walking beside him, Nathan was momentarily confused by Renly's words, unable to grasp their meaning at first. After a mental twist, he finally caught on—Renly was referencing "Twilight". Was this some kind of an inside joke? Nathan burst into laughter, finding it increasingly amusing. He couldn't help but hold his stomach.
Observing Nathan laughing uncontrollably, it was instead Renly who blinked, wondering if Nathan's sense of humor was too low?
Burbank was currently Los Angeles' largest hub for studios, where major film companies had corresponding studio bases. Renly and Nathan were currently at Warner Bros. Studio.
Warner Bros. Studio was on par with Disney, making it one of Burbank's largest studio complexes. The internal area contained over forty studios, along with various outdoor sets. Film crews might be shooting on every street. Consequently, vehicles were strictly forbidden from entering the premises. After parking their cars in the external parking lot, they relied on golf carts to move around within the studio.
Having just disembarked from the golf cart, Renly and Nathan walked toward Studio 33 not far away.
"Ah, ah, ah!" A shrill scream echoed, rending the tranquil sky and triggering a chain reaction. Restless sounds followed suit, generating more screams, like rolling thunder, resounding.
Renly glanced back, instinctively thinking a golf cart was coming with A-list celebrities aboard. He intended to clear the way, but behind him, there was only the golf cart they had just left, creating a silence.
The driver caught Renly's gaze and cheerfully lifted his chin, waving his hand. This inexplicable gesture made Renly look left and right, searching for other people's figures, but he failed.
Renly spread his arms in confusion and looked at the screaming crowd. In response, the clamor grew even wilder. Many people began jumping and waving their arms vigorously toward him. Their excited expressions and intense gestures left Renly stunned, only then realizing: they were welcoming him.
This left Renly feeling somewhat incredulous.
He had just attended the Golden Globe Awards ceremony last night, and the cheers and screams there had left a deep impression. Yet in the face of Justin Bieber's fanatical fans, he wasn't even a blip on the radar. Renly considered this normal; after all, "Buried" was just an independent film. Even if many people had seen the movie, it didn't mean they knew his name, let alone were excited to welcome him.
Boosting one's recognition as a newcomer wasn't that easy. Renly felt that there might be a small improvement, at best, after the release of "Fast 5".
However, at this moment, the group of spectators before him was jumping with excitement, and enthusiastic screams resounded incessantly. Radiant faces sparkled under the sunlight. If not for the long line forming at the entrance of the studio, they probably would have surged forward with overwhelming zeal. The enthusiasm was so overwhelming that Renly was taken aback.
Even in Toronto, he had never seen such a spectacle.
Could it be because this was Warner Bros. Studio? They could see countless A-list stars here every day, so regardless of which actor they saw, they would offer passionate support?
Renly's initial reaction was actually to turn away. The impression left by fervent fans in Toronto was still too vivid. However, as he gazed at the friendly faces before him, as well as the queue that hadn't dispersed despite the chaos, he hesitated for a moment. Driven by curiosity, he moved forward.
With each step Renly took closer, the cries of the crowd grew increasingly fervent. Every face bore a familiar smile, as if they had known each other for a very long time. It was rather ironic for Renly, looking at these people in front of him, that he didn't recognize a single one. He was certain of that.
The situation was becoming stranger and stranger.
Renly turned to look at Nathan, casting an inquiring gaze, but Nathan wasn't thinking that much at all. His face was beaming with a radiant smile, simply happy due to the fans' support, appearing completely carefree. Seeing this, Renly couldn't help but smile too.
At the studio entrance, a railing separated the long queue of people. Two security guards stood at the gate, and a few more patrolled around the queue. There were at least three hundred people on site, if not more, making it bustling and lively.
Upon seeing Renly approaching, the shouts of the crowd transformed into screams, "Roar, roar, roar!" accompanied by some playful banter. It wasn't the heart-wrenching cries like when Robert Pattinson or Justin Bieber appeared; it was more like friends familiarly greeting each other. This genuinely brought a chuckle to the lips.
Renly halted his steps, and a smile naturally curved his lips. "Hold on, hold on." He gestured downwards with both hands, and surprisingly, the audience's shouts really did subside. He pointed at himself. "You really recognize me? It's not that you've mistaken me for someone else like Justin Timberlake or Robert Pattinson, right?" Renly nodded slightly, a somewhat helpless expression on his face. "I admit, I did let the stylist get as close as possible to their styles, but I didn't expect the effect to be this good."
This self-deprecating remark caused a burst of laughter from the surrounding audience. Even the security guards at the door couldn't hold it in and burst into laughter.
"Renly! You're Renly!" a voice shouted, accurately and unmistakably pronouncing Renly's name. Someone next to them added, "I watched "Buried", my God, you're amazing! Amazing!" This exclamation immediately triggered a chain reaction among the surrounding spectators. Everyone raised their hands and applauded for Renly.
Looking at those sincere faces before him, Renly suddenly felt a touch of emotion. This was even more precious than a Golden Globe nomination.
His smile was like clouds glazed by the sun on the horizon, diffusing under the clear and bottomless azure sky. Those deep brown eyes refracted golden sunlight, and warm happiness bloomed, a brilliance that flashed briefly beneath his thick lashes, intoxicating. "Wow, I always thought no one would be willing to step into a movie theater for this film, underestimating everyone's courage."
"Ellen recommended it at least three times, otherwise I wouldn't have the courage to watch," said a middle-aged woman standing at the front, her face wearing a gentle smile. Her eyes twinkled with the tenderness of a mother looking at her child. Her rosy cheeks carried a hint of excitement and a touch of shyness.
Ellen DeGeneres. Today, Renly was about to record The Ellen DeGeneres Show hosted by none other than Ellen DeGeneres herself.
Originally, Renly thought that due to the urgency of the situation, the talk show Andy could secure on that day would either be from a producer he had a close relationship with or a program exchanged for interests. But now, it seemed that the choice of The Ellen DeGeneres Show wasn't a random decision.
What surprised Renly even more was that Ellen was willing to endorse "Buried" on her show? This was indeed quite rare.
However, as far as he knew, there was no real connection between Andy and Ellen. In other words, this was purely a friendly recommendation! But the problem lay here – he had never met Ellen in person.
"Renly, I think you're more handsome and charming than James Franco," a girl behind shouted. But as soon as she finished speaking, her cheeks instantly turned red. She tightly bit her lower lip and lowered her head, her gaze inevitably drifting towards Renly.
A buzzing chuckle emanated from Renly's chest. He politely nodded and answered with a gentleman's courtesy, "Thank you." This immediately caused all the audience members to start cheering, as if they were at a dating show.
Looking at these friendly and enthusiastic faces before him, Renly wasn't quite sure how to handle the situation. He could be witty and charming in front of friends, he could be poised in front of journalists, but what about in front of his fans? What was he supposed to do?
Just a year ago, he wasn't any different from them. He was an ordinary person, someone with dreams, an ordinary person pursuing a career as an actor. He would go to the movies, attend concerts, or participate in TV shows just like them. He would feel exhilarated upon seeing his favorite movie actors. He and they were the same.
But now, he had become the one who was welcomed, the one who enjoyed the cheers. It was as if he stood under the spotlight, at the center of the world. This was a part of fame and fortune, and it was also a part that attracted countless people, driving them forward like moths to a flame.
This feeling was somewhat sweet, somewhat exhilarating, somewhat joyful, somewhat exciting, and also somewhat weighty.
"So, all of you came here specifically for The Ellen DeGeneres Show recording?" Renly swept his gaze over the crowd and curiously asked.
"Yes! We didn't expect that today's guest would be you! Yeah, yeah, we're so excited! Finally meeting you! We've been looking forward to you for so long. We finally have a handsome guest. Hahaha!"
A chorus of voices filled the air, and the festive atmosphere made Renly couldn't help but smile. "So, during the recording later, even if the jokes aren't that funny, try to laugh heartily." Upon hearing Renly's words, the audience immediately started cheering again. Various responses echoed all around, and someone even started whistling. The scene was bustling and lively.
Amidst the cheers, Renly bid everyone farewell and turned to walk into the studio. His steps, however, involuntarily became lighter. It really was a good day today, wasn't it?