"Cut!"
Tony's shout echoed over the film set like a spell breaking, instantly rejuvenating the once silent and still atmosphere. People exchanged amazed glances, unable to believe their eyes. Excitement and astonishment filled the air, and hushed conversations broke out.
Paul stood nearby, his eyes widened, his face filled with amazement. He was astonished by Betty's outstanding performance. Could an inexperienced newcomer deliver such a brilliant performance so casually? He was even more amazed by Renly's mesmerizing acting. Despite the seemingly ordinary scene, every gesture and glance conveyed all the emotions.
Paul was a newcomer to the set and had no knowledge of the backstory or the details of this scene's performance. However, he could clearly sense the weight and complexity within it.
Paul had never doubted Renly's acting skills. He had seen all of her current works except for "50/50", which had not been released yet. He knew just how outstanding she was. But today, watching her performance up close, Paul felt an even deeper appreciation. There was a powerful force and resilience in Renly's acting, defining the emotions of the character and the storyline throughout, keeping the audience's eyes glued to her.
What was even more astonishing was that, even under Renly's commanding presence, the newcomer named Betty was not overshadowed. There was no power imbalance throughout the entire scene, and Betty's performance burst with astonishing energy. It was authentic and vivid, filling the scene with the fullest emotions.
Where had this Betty come from?
"Wow." Jeremy, standing next to Paul, couldn't help but exclaim in amazement, and Paul nodded, expressing his admiration. "She's really amazing!"
Jeremy nodded in agreement, his eyes filled with shock as he looked at Paul. His eyeballs seemed like they were about to pop out of their sockets. "She's indeed amazing! But do you know? Before today, the fewest takes she needed was three, and the most was thirty-seven. She never completed any scene smoothly. This is her first movie, and she never intended to become an actress."
"What?" Paul furrowed his brows, not understanding Jeremy's words. So, was Betty a genius?
Jeremy still had the look of disbelief on his face. "I mean, she has no idea how to act."
"What? Then...?" Paul looked back at the classroom and had a sudden realization. "Could it be..." He then turned to Jeremy, and both of them had the same answer in their eyes: Renly Hall.
What kind of power could turn something mediocre into magic? What kind of presence could guide and lead a co-actor during a performance?
Paul suddenly found it hard to remember what it was like to act alongside Renly. His memories of that time were becoming fuzzy. Maybe it was because "Fast 5" didn't really test acting skills, and Renly effortlessly portrayed the feeling, so he didn't sense that power. Or perhaps, he truly had no acting talent and missed Renly's performance due to his dull senses.
The entire film set was in a state of shock, marveling at Betty's brilliant performance. It was an unprecedented occurrence since the beginning of the shoot, and it left everyone somewhat bewildered. Though there was a constant murmur of low-key discussions, people were mostly praising the remarkable effect of the scene that had just unfolded. However, these opinions didn't carry much weight; Tony's opinion was what counted.
So, all eyes turned to Tony, awaiting his judgment. Tony didn't hesitate for long and raised his hand to snap his fingers decisively. "Excellent! Now, let's switch to different camera angles and shoot it again."
His clear and decisive attitude confirmed the speculations of the crew. Betty had indeed given an exceptional performance, and even Tony, the most discerning in the crew, had given it his nod of approval. But what had happened just now? Why had Betty delivered such a transformation in a single scene? And that too, the most challenging scene for Meredith in the entire script? It seemed unbelievable.
Renly's gaze cleared, and the tension in his shoulders eased slightly.
Although method acting had brought numerous rewards in his previous works, Renly was more accustomed to the expressive style of acting. After the performance, the subtle emotions lingered on his tongue, and the character's lines and emotions remained in his bloodstream. However, they never overshadowed him, and he quickly regained his composure, feeling rather relaxed.
The difficulties of expressive acting mainly revolved around two aspects: solid foundational skills and script interpretation. There were no shortcuts; one had to put in diligent effort. But once polished, acting came naturally. It was like the seasoned performances of Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, and Helen Mirren.
The most challenging part of filming this scene was before the actual shooting. Once they started rolling, it was relatively easy for Renly. Interpreting the entire scene from a method acting perspective, understanding the character dynamics, and then performing it expressively gave Renly a lot of inspiration, turning the performance into an enjoyable experience.
In this case, the focus of the performance was on Betty, not Renly. Renly couldn't steal Betty's spotlight, but that didn't mean his performance was effortless. Every detail, from eye contact, expressions, tone, to sitting and standing postures, hand movements – all these details conveyed the character's state and changes. It was like drawing upon all of Renly's diverse skills and giving it his all.
After the sound of "Cut," Renly stood in place, reviewing the performance details of the scene in his mind. He rearranged his thoughts: What if he changed his acting approach? What kind of effect would it have, and would the subtle shifts in emotion be more appropriate?
After the introspection and reflection were complete, Renly suddenly had a thought: What about Betty?
In the scene just now, Betty's performance had been nothing short of astonishing. As one of Betty's main co-stars in the movie, Renly had the clearest understanding of her performance state and rhythm. It was evident that Betty had become somewhat consumed by her role, blurring the line between reality and illusion. She was genuinely lost in her character, unable to detach herself.
Renly glanced around, but Christina Hendricks, who was standing nearby, wore a perplexed expression, not quite understanding the meaning behind Renly's gaze. Renly left the classroom and entered the hallway, where he saw Betty kneeling on the floor. His heart skipped a beat, and he rushed over, calling out with concern, "Betty, Betty, are you okay?"
But Betty seemed as if she hadn't heard Renly's call. She huddled on the floor, crying softly, her sobs muffled and subdued. The melancholic and stifled cries resonated low in her chest, nearly inaudible unless you got close, yet they were filled with grievance and vulnerability. It felt as though you could see wounds all over her, oozing blood, helpless and lost.
Renly didn't know what Betty had been through, but he did know that the reason Tony had chosen Betty to play the role of Meredith was because they shared something in common. Clearly, the one who had sought refuge in Henry's arms a moment ago wasn't Meredith; it was Betty herself.
However, she had been rejected.
The corridor was empty, and Renly didn't see Tony around. He raised his chin slightly, peered through the classroom's glass window, and spotted Tony standing in front of the monitor. Tony was engrossed in watching the playback, discussing the next camera angles and shots with the cinematographer. He was completely immersed, as if the whole world had vanished except for himself.
This was a Tony that Renly knew all too well, as it was an image of himself.
Renly's gaze dropped once more, landing on the lonely and helpless Betty. A sense of gloom washed over him. Tony was an excellent artist, no doubt about it, but he was not an outstanding father. Life had its ways; people were not perfect, nor were they all capable. Many artists who achieved incredible success in their craft often struggled in their personal lives.
Take Marlon Brando, for instance. He was known for his promiscuity, numerous illegitimate children, and his tendency to abandon relationships. Or Clint Eastwood, who, during the filming of a movie, carried on an affair with the female lead behind his wife's back, leading to conflicts with the director and even causing the director's removal from the project. This incident gave rise to the "Eastwood Rule" in Hollywood, which prohibited actors or producers from taking over the director's chair after removing the original director.
Tony was no different. Compared to his daughter, the movies were the most important.
In the film, Henry had to reject Meredith's plea for help. But in reality, Renly could offer assistance to Betty, or at least provide some support.
So, Renly sat down cross-legged beside Betty, not saying a word, but not leaving either. He simply let Betty cry out all her negative emotions.
The faint sobbing echoed gently in their ears, lasting for quite some time, as if there were numerous grievances trying to find words but not knowing how, so they expressed themselves through tears.
In the meantime, Jeremy came over to see what was going on. The crew was ready, but the two actors had disappeared. Renly signaled Jeremy to leave with a glance, giving Betty her own space.
It wasn't until Betty felt exhausted, her energy drained, that she stopped crying. She wiped away the tears from her eyes, raised her head, and saw Renly wearing a gentle smile. This made her feel somewhat embarrassed, and she hurriedly lowered her head, wiping away the mess on her face.
Renly didn't interrupt her; he simply waited for her to raise her head again and gently teased, "Are you sure you can cry again for the second take? This time it's a close-up."
Betty couldn't help but burst into laughter.