Chapter 322: Furious
Another year's Golden Globe Awards ceremony had concluded, but the impact of the list of winners had just begun to spread. How long this wave would last was impossible to gauge.
Jennifer and a group of other actresses left first. They had to rush back, change into a different outfit, makeup, and style, and then attend the celebration party.
For actresses, wearing the same outfit to both the awards ceremony and the celebration party would be considered a great humiliation. Even for struggling actresses, expenses for appearances at events like the Golden Globe Awards were indispensable. It wasn't uncommon to take out loans from banks to cover styling costs. This wasn't just unsurprising; it was the most open and respectable way to go about it.
This was Hollywood.
Since there was less than a two-hour break between the ceremony and the party, time was tight. Therefore, most actresses would book a hotel room nearby to change directly. Top actresses like to choose the Hilton Hotel for events like the Golden Globes, while second and third-tier actresses might opt for nearby motels or borrow spaces from friends' homes.
Jennifer was still a newcomer, and while her rise had been incredibly rapid, she hadn't found sponsors yet. This was also why her evening gown tonight wasn't as stunning. The hotel she had chosen was on Santa Monica Boulevard, a fifteen-minute drive away. Under normal circumstances, this would have been quite close, but tonight, every second counted.
In comparison, the male actors had it much easier. For third-tier actors with tight budgets, wearing the same suit to the party wasn't an issue. No one paid much attention to men's attire. For top actors, changing their appearance was inevitable, but changing into a suit was relatively simple, and there was no need for makeup or hairstyle changes. Around thirty minutes was enough.
Therefore, Renly and Ryan weren't in a hurry to leave. They were waiting for the first wave of actresses to depart before slowly following suit.
Although they had waited for half an hour before getting up, the area was still crowded with countless people. It was bustling and lively, with all sorts of voices clamoring. Amidst this cacophony, a deep and hoarse voice broke through the noise, "Renly Hall!"
People turned their heads in the direction of the voice, but soon withdrew their gazes. On such occasions, encountering familiar faces was somewhat common, and calling out to each other wasn't a big deal.
Renly just turned his head, and a flash of light met him. After experiencing the past half-year of training, he had grown accustomed to the flashes being directed at his eyes. This time, he managed to avoid reflexively shutting his eyes. The brightness of the flashes gradually faded like receding tide. However, his eyes hadn't immediately adjusted, resulting in a brief afterimage effect.
Nevertheless, this didn't hinder Renly from recognizing the person. He placed his hands behind his back and sensed the figure halting in front of him. He smiled and introduced, "Ryan, Edith; Edith, Ryan."
The person who arrived wasn't anyone but Edith Hall.
Edith was as cool as ever tonight. She swept her short hair entirely to the left side, leaving a few strands on the right side to form short, neat fishtail braids, creating an eye-catching arrangement. She wore a black, long chiffon dress, a combination of leather and sheer fabric, exuding professionalism with a strong sense of individuality. Yet, her feet were adorned with a pair of open-toe ankle-strap high heels in bright red, emitting a lethal sensuality. There was no excess adornment or embellishment from head to toe. It was grand yet sharp, bold and vivid.
No deliberate smoky makeup, no unnecessary tattoos, no eccentric attire – Edith had effortlessly blended her personality with an aristocratic air, creating a strong visual impact that drew people's attention.
Renly was accustomed to Edith's style, so he wasn't surprised that she managed to stand out. At the star-studded Golden Globe Awards ceremony, she might not have been the most beautiful, but her unique personality was undoubtedly a splendid focal point. However, Ryan wasn't quite used to it. He showed a hint of astonishment in his eyes, curiously shifting his gaze between Renly and Edith.
"I have no connection to him," Edith said disdainfully, eager to disassociate herself from Renly and clarify.
Renly didn't refute her; instead, he raised an eyebrow and said, "I thought your status was high enough that you wouldn't come to events like this. Aren't these the gigs that those low-level guys take?"
As a photographer, there were two possibilities for Edith's presence at the Golden Globe Awards: she either represented a magazine or was there to shoot photographs. From a probability standpoint, the latter was more likely.
Edith lifted her chin, her face full of righteousness. "I came specifically to shoot candid shots. Four PR companies hired me jointly. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't bother. Everyone knows the Golden Globe Awards ceremony is the most boring part; the real excitement happens at the celebration party. But I'm not a paparazzi; I'm not interested."
Understanding the term "candid shots" wasn't difficult. Every actor had to dress meticulously for such events, but official event photos were often overwhelmed by the crowds. Even official news photos might not satisfy people. Therefore, PR companies would hire experienced and high-level photographers to capture candid shots, showcasing the actors' most glamorous side.
There's a backstage photo from the Oscars that's widely circulated on the internet, depicting Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly in front of a dressing table, elegantly waiting for the moment of the Best Actress announcement – a graceful and serene scene. Such photos were some of the earliest candid shots, albeit taken by the official Oscar photographer at that time.
While speaking, Edith lowered her head to look at her camera. During the moment when Renly turned back and Ryan looked up, she had captured a shot. Sure enough, Renly's aura was most vivid in motion. The slightly blurred photo managed to capture the disposition that had settled over time.
"Then you should head to the backstage now. That's where the liveliest part is," Renly advised in a friendly tone.
Edith burst into laughter. "I know. I came specifically to mock you." She winked with her right eye. "So, how does it feel to eat dirt tonight,? Skunk as they say" She looked at Renly's unchanged smile and playfully patted his arm before nodding heavily. She wore an expression that said, "I understand your hardships." "Baby, don't cry. Keep up the good work and come back stronger next year."
Afterwards, Edith turned around smugly and walked away with light and brisk steps.
Ryan stood there dumbfounded. "…Was she your ex-girlfriend?"
Renly looked at Ryan incredulously and rolled his eyes. "My taste isn't that bad, okay?" Ryan wanted to explain, but he saw Renly's serious expression and swallowed the words.
Seeing Ryan's expression of curiosity mixed with the inability to ask, Renly found it quite enjoyable.
He knew that Edith was here to express her concern, though she chose a backhanded approach. The members of the Hall family weren't good at expressing their emotions or perhaps, they were unwilling to do so. Cold, composed, indifferent – all their emotions were like an electrocardiogram with a flat line, calm and steady, just like Elf. If Edith didn't care, she wouldn't have come.
As he watched Edith's figure disappear back into the crowd, many people around approached her. Clearly, in Hollywood now, Edith was doing much better than Renly.
Taking his gaze away, Renly noticed Tom Hanks not far away. "Ryan, I'm going over to say hello. Wanna come?" If Ryan was willing, he could introduce Tom to him. However, Ryan shook his head, "I'm going over to greet Fincher."
David Fincher?
"Good luck," Renly said with a hearty smile before heading toward Tom. Before Renly's steps even neared, Tom had already seen him. A broad smile appeared on his face, and he opened his arms. This caught Renly off guard – a hug? Tom wasn't usually the type to hug.
Though puzzled, Renly still approached and gave Tom a hug. This scene didn't escape the eyes of many around.
Tom patted Renly's back to offer comfort. "It's really a pity tonight." Those casually spoken words revealed that he had regained his usual calmness. The absurdity and chaos from when the award was announced had dissipated. However, a suppressed look of anger flashed through his eyes and disappeared.
The empty-handed return of "The Pacific" tonight had truly left Tom dissatisfied.
Then Tom let go of the hug and looked at Renly seriously. "You know, not long ago, Steven actually considered inviting you to play the male lead in "War Horse"."
This wasn't mere courtesy. "War Horse" was a new film being shot by Steven Spielberg. The male lead's age was set around twenty, with certain similarities to the character Eugene Sledge from "The Pacific", yet with significant differences. The film's perspective was centered on a war horse, leaving the male lead with limited space for performance but requiring the actor to be more nuanced.
Upon careful consideration, Renly was the most suitable candidate.
"But unfortunately, Steven was a bit slow, and you had already begun filming a new project." Tom wore an expression of regret. "For this reason, Steven even threw a fit."
Renly was somewhat surprised and showed a regretful expression. "Shouldn't I be the one throwing a fit? Missing this opportunity, who knows where the next collaboration will be."
This teasing comment made Tom laugh. "Missing your moment tonight, both Steven and I are disappointed. Your performance in "Buried", I really enjoyed it. You know what my favorite part was?" Tom paused for a moment, building suspense before continuing, "The opening scene. The performance in the darkness truly showcased your ability and talent. I've always looked forward to seeing more of your work in the future."
What did Tom mean? Why did Renly always feel like he was hiding something in his words? Or was it just him overthinking things?
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