Roy watched as the figure moved farther away. It wasn't Renly.
This silhouette didn't hunch down in desolation; instead, it seemed to strive to stand tall. You could notice the straight posture, the slightly tensed shoulders, and the faint muscle definition pulling at the seams of his suit, revealing traces of effort. Yet, even with all this, his spine still couldn't fully straighten, and his fragile shoulders seemed to bear an immeasurable weight. An invisible burden was about to crush his frail bones.
The calm profile remained bright under the shifting light. The cigarette hung low from the corner of his mouth, releasing no smoke but tracing a hint of loneliness and solitude between his brows, lightly swirling in his deep-set eyes. There were no specific expressions, resembling a tranquil lake without ripples. However, with the slight pull of the cigarette at the corner of his mouth, a shallow ripple emerged, as if there were emotions churning beneath the impenetrable green waters of his eyes. Unclear, unspoken, yet always present.
There was no evident force or artistry in his performance; it flowed naturally like a gentle stream. There were no visible signs of effort in his every move. Most importantly, this seemingly ordinary performance left every audience member with a bitter taste. Roy couldn't accurately describe it; the man before him wasn't sad, desperate, or in pain, nor did he show any emotion. There was almost no emotional turbulence at all. But this pervasive yet indescribable emotion was like a massive boulder, pressing hard on Roy's chest, making it difficult to breathe in the silence.
Roy couldn't believe his own mind: nothing had been said, but it was as if everything had been spoken; nothing had been acted, but it was as if everything had been executed flawlessly. This was the only thought in his mind at the moment. Yet, he found this self-contradictory statement absurd and laughable. He couldn't define this kind of performance. It was as if... as if the man from his soul to his appearance genuinely existed, had experienced tumultuous storms and changing tides, and had returned to a state of tranquility and mediocrity. He had appeared before Roy in reality.
Five seconds? Or was it ten seconds? In just a few breaths' time, Renly had transformed into a completely unfamiliar image. That handsome face seemed to have become ordinary, and it couldn't possibly be Renly. Even though Roy had witnessed everything firsthand, he still couldn't believe his eyes.
However, Roy had some uncertainty. Was this Henry Barthes?
"Cut!"
Tony's shout interrupted the filming, and a buzz of discussions filled the set. It wasn't amazement but rather astonishment, or perhaps even disappointment. Renly's performance wasn't as earth-shattering as they had expected.
Yes, they knew this scene was supposed to be incredibly simple. Yes, they knew it wasn't realistic to expect an explosive performance on the first day of shooting. Yes, they knew it was hard to discern anything from just a few seconds of screen time. They knew all of this. But beneath their lofty expectations, they always anticipated something special, novel, or eye-catching. Even if they themselves didn't know what they were expecting.
For Sami and the other amateur actors, they were utterly bewildered, not comprehending at all.
Tony briskly approached, his brows knitted in consternation, and came to stand beside Renly. Without pausing or hesitating, he bluntly asked, "What just happened? Sadness? I wanted sadness and despair! Where is your performance?" Tony's temper flared, his tone heavy and impatient. His impatient words were not veiled, but rather laced with anger as he confronted Renly assertively.
Renly opened his mouth, ready to explain, but Tony erupted like a firecracker, continuing, "I don't need a handsome guy standing there striking poses and trying to look cool. I need an actor, a real actor, real performance! If I wanted to find a model, there are plenty at New York Fashion Week, and you wouldn't even make the cut. Please, can you give me something real? Henry is a desperate man; he's already drowning in sorrow, almost suffocating! What was that you just did? A lost lamb? For Christ's sake, even a lost Bambi has more liveliness in its eyes than you!"
Renly gave up on explaining and let Tony vent his frustration.
Actually, this wasn't surprising at all. Whether it was the lack of communication and rehearsal before the unplanned shoot, the rashness and impulsiveness during their first meeting, or the urgency and directness in their previous exchanges, it was clear that Tony was someone who didn't mince words. In his dictionary, there was no room for saving face or polite formalities. Art— that was the only thing he cared about, and it was all that mattered.
Moreover, Tony had a volatile and impatient temperament. The first scene not meeting expectations wasn't surprising in the least.
However, for the rest of the crew, this was an entirely unexpected twist. The reason the first scene was intentionally simple was to ensure an easy start and give the director and the crew a sense of accomplishment. Therefore, the successful execution of the first scene had become a common formula. The crew members had grown accustomed to this, naturally believing that the first scene would easily pass, leaving it more symbolic than substantial. They would quickly move on to the subsequent work.
Not to mention the first scene, most of the filming on the first day was expected to be straightforward.
Suddenly, the first scene encountered issues, leaving everyone dumbfounded. The massive contrast took them by surprise, and they witnessed a furious Tony, leaving the crew members closing their mouths in nervousness.
People exchanged hurried glances, and even Roy and Nathan were no exception. No one knew what had just happened. The first scene was supposed to be so simple, but Renly's performance had been so far from ordinary. Was it because of the hectic promotion for "Fast 5" that caused Renly to lose focus and never regain it? Or was it because of his sudden fame that had thrown Renly's mentality off balance and inflated his ego?
What could be certain, regardless of the reason, was that for whatever cause, the first scene had encountered a rough start, and this was definitely not good news for the film crew.
At that moment, the atmosphere on the set turned eerie, and the students inside the school building held their breath, pressing against the windows, their gazes both cautious and excited. Were they about to fight? Was there a thrilling scene to watch? Was there going to be some explosive drama?
"Say something!" Tony, still with an air of composure on his face despite his growing impatience, waved his script in the air, his spit flying as he yelled at Renly, who remained silent.
Renly didn't provoke Tony's authority but abandoned any playful humor. Instead, he spoke directly, saying, "I have a different understanding of the character." As Renly had anticipated, when it came to discussions about art, Tony's temper temporarily eased, and he raised his chin slightly, breathing heavily, and asked, "So, what's your understanding?"
"Henry's sadness and despair, they are emotions that slowly seep into his soul from the very core. He has given up struggling, or perhaps, he thinks he has given up. But if we look at his behavior, he becomes a teacher, attempting to bring hope to more children within his abilities, yet he refuses to form attachments with these children. He withdraws before any emotional entanglement occurs, continuing the same pattern at a different school. In simple terms, he sows the seeds of hope but doesn't want to nurture them further. Why?"
Renly's lengthy discourse left Tony silent. He raised his right hand to support his chin and fell into contemplation.
The perspectives of directors, screenwriters, and actors were drastically different, and the artistic expressions they presented also varied. Communication was a vital prerequisite for the success of any film, and many movie projects had been ruined in this very phase. Tony and Renly were currently grappling with this issue.
"In the script, Henry's inner emotions are gradually revealed through his interactions with three different female characters.
Faced with Sarah's advances, Henry's retreat reflects his coldness and detachment. He knows he's in a terrible place and can't respond to the emotional pleas of others.
Confronted with Meredith's pleas, Henry's hesitation showcases his fear and despair. He's attempting to help Meredith but worries about further emotional entanglement. He feels he can't take responsibility for anyone.
Faced with Erica's intrusion, Henry's numbness reveals his sadness and bitterness. Erica is closing in step by step, and he passively offers help but doesn't dare to go further because he sees his past self in Erica.
Different relationships display different emotions. Bit by bit, they reveal Henry's emotions. Before meeting these people, or more accurately, before his life situation changed, Henry carefully wrapped himself up, living in his own world. He cautiously repressed all emotions, like a wandering soul, devoid of vitality, but unwilling to depart, just drifting without any presence."
"Are you saying that you want to present this kind of effect? An effect that looks as lifeless as still water?" Tony finally understood Renly's intention and spoke.