Chapter 116: The primary task
"Hey, buddy! Well done!"
"Congratulations, congratulations, I knew you could do it!"
"Go for it, brother! Go and grab that Emmy Award in one go, making everyone amazed!"
"Oh my God, this is simply unbelievable. Who made those b*tches bow their heads? Who was it?"
"Now it's the Emmy, so is the next step the Grammy?"
...
Entering the Village Vanguard, everyone came forward to greet Renly and share their joy. The Emmy nomination was truly a cause for celebration. The entire bar was engulfed in an atmosphere of festivity.
"It's evident that they're a close-knit group of companions," Andy observed, looking at Renly sitting across from him. This was the case when they first met, and it remained so today. Earlier, he had suggested finding a private space for their conversation, but Renly didn't choose to go back to his apartment; instead, he came here. Andy had been a bit perplexed, and now he was beginning to understand.
Renly held two cups of coffee in his hands, placing them on the table. "Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Woody Allen loves New York so much. Woody attended the Oscars only once in his career, as the timing of the ceremony would interfere with his weekly saxophone performance at the bar. That one time was after the 9/11 catastrophy, when he stood on the Oscar stage and called for peace for his beloved New York."
Andy found this perspective intriguing. "So, Woody is your favorite director?"
Renly thought for a moment and replied seriously, "No, I only like "Manhattan" and "Match Point" from Woody's works. For me, his creations have a certain exclusivity, and besides a specific group, it's hard for others to understand his sentiments. Unfortunately, I'm not part of New York's intellectual elite or the middle class."
"Haha," Renly's humorous tone amused Andy. "Well, that's a relief for me. Otherwise, I'd age at double the speed every year trying to convince you to attend award ceremonies."
"Shouldn't it be about gaining weight instead?" Renly's witty remark made Andy's laughter even more joyful.
Andy gazed thoughtfully at Village Vanguard, his eyes carrying a hint of inquiry, which left Renly slightly puzzled. Andy just smiled, not explaining, "Now, we need to discuss where you should move next. That's our top priority..."
A trace of astonishment flashed across Renly's eyes. "So, you were serious just now?" He had thought it was a joke.
"When it comes to work matters, I don't joke around." A glint of determination shone in Andy's narrowed eyes, followed by another smile. "Today is a good example. You met a fan on the plane for the first time, took a photo together, they posted it on Facebook, and then your update appeared on the internet."
Renly nodded. "I know all of this." Not only was he reborn, but in his previous life, he had a background in communication studies. He was well-versed in the exposure and circulation of personal information in the age of the internet. The concept of a "personal news source" had become prevalent in 2017, making it almost impossible for anyone to remain hidden.
Andy placed his hands on his stomach, crossing them and revealing a satisfied smile. "That makes the explanation much simpler. From now on, the attention around you will only increase. Even if it's not paparazzi, ordinary citizens will instinctively take out their phones to record you once they recognize you. So, your residence, your appearance, your Facebook... oh, I forgot, you don't have Facebook, then it's your YouTube..."
"My YouTube account isn't mine," Renly explained. It was Neil who managed that.
Andy paused. "Then let's get started. Unless you're Woody Allen, every artist nowadays must build an online presence. Your discontent, your opinions, your stance, your thoughts, your updates... all of these need to be shared through the internet. It's a world that belongs to you, where you can freely express your views, respond to media, work, and news events."
Andy's words were interrupted as Renly raised his right hand to stop him. Despite having only interacted three times, Andy understood that Renly was an intelligent person. If he said he understood, he truly did. He wasn't a clueless pretender.
"Coming back to your residence, what I mean is that all aspects of your image need to be planned. This includes Village Vanguard; that's also part of it," Andy explained again. This was why he had surveyed the bar earlier. He then noticed a playful smile in Renly's eyes, and his words hesitated. "What? Do you have any thoughts you'd like to share?" This was their first collaboration, and both of their personalities, habits, and ways of dealing with things needed to be navigated from scratch. Andy chose open communication as the quickest way to get the collaboration on track.
Renly chuckled and shook his head. "No, I was just thinking about my roommate. You know, his manager instructed him to follow a plan for everything, from hairstyles to clothing, from the time he goes out to his fitness habits. I used to think it was like something out of a novel, but I never expected that I'd be in the same situation now."
Andy chuckled in understanding. "Don't find it strange. This is the world of fame and fortune; every move is scripted. More than ninety percent of what people see as candid street photography on the internet is staged, or rather, deliberately set up for photographers. Do you know how much time a female star spends going out to take out the trash? Over two hours, because they need to select the right clothes, the right appearance, the right makeup, even for a natural look. Of course, men have it much simpler in this regard."
Renly knew that Hollywood's high level of commercialization had formed an industry chain. Each artist was a meticulously packaged commodity. Even someone as lofty as Woody Allen couldn't avoid it because he was a part of the Hollywood industry. Either be pushed out or adapt.
Yet, when the situation truly unfolded for him, Renly still felt a sense of surreal absurdity. He smiled lightly. "Don't worry, I'm familiar with this routine."
Isn't aristocratic life just like this? Wearing a mask to conceal one's true self and elegantly and gracefully facing all the ups and downs of life. It's precisely because of the suppression that many young people of Renly's generation had begun to rebel, finding their own ways to break free from the chains that bound them. However, as most of them grew to a certain stage, having had their fill of wildness and fun, they ultimately returned to the "normal" trajectory of life, following their families' arrangements. The cost of freedom wasn't something everyone could afford.
Andy sized up Renly formally. White t-shirt matched with torn black jeans, ginger-yellow work boots, a large red and black plaid flannel shirt worn over, his wavy chestnut hair looked somewhat messy and wild. The untrimmed stubble on his cheeks appeared a bit scruffy. Despite the simplicity and ease of his attire, it held a unique ruggedness and casualness. This clashed effortlessly with the restrained and steady demeanor he exuded, easily captivating anyone who laid eyes on him.
It's essential to note that this was Renly's attire after a long flight. He had just crossed the Atlantic to reach the city, without any deliberate grooming. The effect was flawless to Andy's discerning eye. "Although I'm not a stylist, and you'll need to hire one eventually, the weekly wage won't be cheap. At your current level, it might be better to wait a while longer. From my perspective, you can handle it on your own for now; there's no issue with your style."
"I guess that's good news then. Barbie dolls don't need wardrobe changes," Renly quipped lightly, then pondered seriously. "I don't remember if Ken could change outfits though."
Andy couldn't help but smirk. "Returning to the main point, who's your roommate? Are they also an actor?"
"Why? Do my roommates need to be chosen too?" Renly pursed his lips, asking in astonishment.
"Of course," Andy felt Renly's question was rather foolish. "Are you living alone or sharing? Is your roommate male or female? Are they Asian or non-Asian? Are they part of a minority group? Are they an actor or a regular person, or perhaps from another sector of the entertainment industry? All these factors matter."
Renly felt he might still be too young. His understanding of Hollywood was evidently just the tip of the iceberg, and Andy was currently opening the Pandora's box. He felt a mixture of nervousness, excitement, and resistance—everything was tangled.
"By the way, you don't have a girlfriend now, do you? Or perhaps you're more inclined toward men?" Andy's questions came in rapid succession, causing Renly to burst into laughter. Andy spread his hands out, speaking in resignation. "I'm just asking to keep all possibilities open. I mean, you can have a romantic partner, but you have to let me know. That way, if any special circumstances arise, I can handle them promptly."
"I've heard that even the number of times you jack off at night needs to be reported. Do we need to report that too?" Renly quipped in all seriousness, his sarcasm unmistakable.
A faint smile played at the corners of Andy's mouth, clearly unruffled. "If you're willing to report it, I don't mind. Of course, as a personal suggestion, if the count for a night is less than three times, then reporting might not be necessary."
Equally unflustered, Renly made an "ok" gesture with his hand. "Make sure your phone is charged at night. It might get busy."
Andy blinked, indicating he got the message. "Alright then, who's your roommate?"
"Oh, right. Chris Hemsworth. You've probably heard his name before," Renly said.
Andy's expression suddenly lit up with realization. "The ultimate winner of "Thor". He's been making quite a name for himself lately. By the way, he's also Fisher Morgan's actor. You guys didn't talk about this today?"
Amusingly, it was truly an interesting coincidence. Renly couldn't help but chuckle. "No, I wonder if they know this fact." If all the puzzle pieces were put together, it would indeed be quite amusing.
Andy nodded in understanding, not pursuing the topic further. "Alright, I'll take care of the housing matter. Now, let's talk about the independent film you just finished shooting, in detail."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Shallowman
Shallowman Oh Andy, a great teammate indeed. Down to fun while having a serious attitude. Good fella...
This chupster was as fast as a bullet for me to edit. I hope there will be more like this one.
The song of the chupster is "The Chainsmokers - Honest"
Take the easy-peazy-lemon-squeze chupster, you Mark Suckerbergs!
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