Bab 314: Overbearing
About thirteen or fourteen journalists were gathered in a small circle, and at this moment, an eerie silence fell over them. All eyes were fixed on Cornell's relentless approach, cornering Renly step by step. For a newcomer, this was truly an overwhelming situation.
It wasn't just these reporters; the other journalists nearby had also caught wind of the situation. Their acute journalistic instincts caused them to turn their attention, and upon seeing Renly, their eyes lit up. Renly Hall, he was undoubtedly one of tonight's focal points of attention!
On one hand, it was due to Renly's dual nominations at the Golden Globe Awards, standing shoulder to shoulder with Johnny Depp and bearing the banner for Gen Y actors. On the other hand, it was because of the negative news involving Renly and Natalie. Everyone was now curious whether the Toronto scandal was actually orchestrated by Natalie.
Especially the latter—the allure was difficult to resist.
Because once it was proven that the scandal was orchestrated by Natalie, it would also mean that Natalie intentionally concealed her relationship with Benjamin. The credibility of Sarah's accusations would skyrocket, which would have a decisive impact on the trajectory of the entire awards season. This was particularly crucial as the announcement of the Oscar nominations was imminent. It could even lead to a major upheaval in the Best Actress race.
Renly was a newcomer, an absolute newcomer. This was his first time attending the Golden Globe Awards, and he was only twenty-one years old. This also meant he was inexperienced, naive, and full of vulnerabilities. Even though Fox Searchlight had arranged things behind the scenes, and the "Black Swan" production team had reached an agreement with Renly, under the barrage of reporters' relentless questioning, it seemed he wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure.
In other words, Renly was the perfect breakthrough point.
Not just for the reporters, but also for Fox Searchlight's competitors, this was an extremely rare opportunity. Focus Features and The Weinstein Company were positioned favorably in this year's Oscar Best Actress competition. They wouldn't easily let go of this chance that could deal a lethal blow to their competitors.
Especially for Focus Features. Their film "The Kids Are All Right" had been on an unstoppable streak during the early phase of the awards season. Unfortunately, due to the inherently bourgeois nature of its subject matter, its chances of competing for Best Picture were likely slim. This had led Focus Features to concentrate more on the battle for Best Actress and Best Original Screenplay.
"The Kids Are All Right" had dual female leads, with both Annette Bening and Julianne Moore being acclaimed veterans in the industry. The former had been nominated for the Oscars three times and had been defeated twice by Hillary Swank. The latter had four Oscar nominations, each time narrowly missing out.
If Natalie were to be dethroned, then Focus Features would have a strong contender no matter which female actress they pushed forward.
No one would forget that "Buried" was a Focus Features production. If Focus Features were to give it a push from behind, the twists and turns of the situation could become even more unpredictable. So, how would Renly answer in the end?
The complex intricacies of awards season were reaching their peak at this moment, truly exemplifying the concept of one action affecting the whole.
In an instant, all eyes converged on Renly. The reporters around him temporarily put down their other tasks and swarmed over like a tide.
The press circle in front of Renly resembled a growing cotton candy, expanding as it went. The scene seemed to have spiraled out of control.
Renly gazed at the bustling scene before him, observing Cornell's aggressive approach, and instead of feeling flustered, he found it amusing.
This was the Golden Globe Awards, a joyous occasion, the epitome of Hollywood's entertainment extravaganza, a celebration of friendship. Here, people wouldn't delve into overly provocative topics, for this was an annual Hollywood carnival, where festivity and joy reigned supreme. However, at this moment, the reporters' eagerness, ferocity, and urgency transformed the Golden Globe Awards into a scenario resembling a gauntlet at the entrance of a prison.
Wasn't this an interesting turn of events?
"I suppose you must have shampooed your hair this morning and weren't very careful," so that's why your head got filled with water. "I've already answered your question before: you've got the wrong person." Renly's face was perpetually adorned with a smile, as though he was discussing a lighthearted and pleasant topic. "Natalie and I are just friends. If anyone saw me making a cameo in "Black Swan", remember to take a photo as evidence. I'll send it to Fox Searchlight and demand my cameo fee."
While it was true that Renly and Natalie hadn't gotten along, their retaliatory exchange had taken place in Toronto and the matter had ended there. He didn't like discussing other people's gossip, nor did he appreciate others discussing his. A gentleman knows what to do and what not to do.
Impermeable to the onslaught, dripping with equanimity, adept at advancing and retreating. Renly's response was undeniably a direct reply, yet it seemed as though he hadn't said anything at all. Amid his understated remarks, there was a subtle touch of sarcasm, but it faded away in an instant. The humor embedded within his casual tone truly brought forth involuntary laughter.
Is this really a newcomer?
The reporters on the scene were somewhat befuddled. It wasn't that Renly's response was remarkably flawless, but rather that they hadn't anticipated Renly's swift retaliation. This truly caught them off guard, shattering their expectations. For about half a second, there was a momentary blank in the room.
Gavin struggled to hold back his laughter, finding himself unexpectedly enjoying this momentary lapse. It was truly a rare sight.
Bradley Adams from The New York Times, however, wasn't surprised at all. He had already witnessed the seasoned and composed demeanor of this newcomer during their first encounter at the premiere of "The Pacific". So, he seized this opportunity and threw in his own question, "Renly, congratulations on your two acting nominations. In the Best Actor in a Drama category, there are four Generation Y actors in contention. How do you view this?"
"Is Leonardo on vacation?" Renly's unexpected response left everyone stunned. Their thoughts took a couple of turns before the meaning of his words dawned on them.
Bradley Adams was the first to react: since 2002, every even-numbered year had marked Leonardo's energetic pursuit of the Oscar, tirelessly vying for the golden statuette. Starting with "Catch Me If You Can" and "Gangs of New York" in 2002, "The Aviator" in 2004, "The Departed" and "Blood Diamond" in 2006, "Revolutionary Road" and "Body of Lies" in 2008.
The entire United States knew that Leonardo was on an "Oscar chase", and every letter was a deep expression of his affection. The same held true for 2010: "Inception" and "Shutter Island" were his two works that year, side by side in contention. Unfortunately, the repetitive acting style, the embittered character path, failed to sway the academy judges again. He hadn't secured a nomination and had been absent from the Golden Globe Awards up to now.
Renly's jest had clearly been a playful remark aimed at Leonardo.
Bradley couldn't hold back and burst into laughter.
Gavin quickly caught on and his smile blossomed, seizing the opportunity to ask, "So, besides Colin Firth, among the other three nominees, who do you favor more?"
"Ryan," Renly's response was unwavering.
Irrespective of personal connections, among Jesse Eisenberg, James Franco, and Ryan Gosling, he genuinely admired Ryan's acting style. Particularly in works like "Crazy, Stupid, Love" and "The Nice Guys", his performances carried a retro yet delicate quality.
"And what about James Franco?" It was Cornell's turn to question. After two questions, he had finally regained his composure and persistently continued. Putting aside Natalie's negative news, the clash between Renly and James in "Buried" and "127 Hours" was also a significant aspect of this year's awards season.
Based on the current situation, "127 Hours" held the upper hand in overall completion of the work. It had the potential to compete for Oscar nominations in categories such as Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Meanwhile, "Buried" had gained an advantage in the Best Actor category, temporarily taking the lead in its confrontation with James.
Cornell's question was concise yet sharp.
Renly didn't answer immediately. Instead, he laughed. The smile at the corner of his mouth unfurled, even reaching his eyes. It overflowed, leaving everyone perplexed. Wasn't it in English just now? Or was it that, inadvertently, I showed off my proficiency in French and Chinese? "I mean, I support Ryan."
Cornell had been mocked again. He clenched his teeth, feeling deeply resentful. He truly disliked it. "So, you're saying that between James and Ryan, you'd choose Ryan, right?" He continued to provoke, refusing to give up so easily.
In the confrontation between artists and reporters, the reporters always had the upper hand. They held the pens, and the content of the articles was ultimately in their hands.
"Yes." Renly didn't continue with the sarcastic tone this time. He answered directly and decisively, so simply and readily that it actually startled the reporters. The smile in his eyes surged again. "Back in Toronto, Ryan shared some candies with me. Now, I think we're even."
As he spoke, Renly made a gesture, slicing the air twice, seemingly sending a message to Ryan: We're even.
That simple gesture, coupled with straightforward words, without excessive explanation, effortlessly steered the conversation away from seriousness and back into the realm of humor on the red carpet. Of course, if reporters wanted to cherry-pick and take a portion of Renly's earlier conversation out of context, they could embarrass him, but this was the Golden Globe Awards. With so many on-site reporters, attempting to twist the narrative alone wasn't an easy task.
"Ah!" Suddenly, a sharp cacophony of shrieks, screams, and shouts filled the air, like an avalanche crashing down. The earth-shattering noise evoked the imagery of an impending tsunami. The entire audience erupted into a frenzy, standing up with tears streaming down their faces, crying out in madness. The spectacle resembled the devastation of an infernal hell but injected the fervor and commotion of the red carpet with an explosive vigor.
At that moment, the Hilton Hotel itself began to tremble gently, the immense force of the outpouring resembling the onset of a tsunami. The entire audience section boiled over, trembled, and over half of the audience had risen to their feet, crying out in a frenzy with tears streaming down their faces. This spectacle completely exploded with the passion and clamor of the red carpet.
In this instant, the Hilton Hotel began to tremble lightly, and the powerful burst of noise made every gaze on the red carpet turn toward the origin. Who could it be?
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
Shallowman
Shallowman "Catch Me If You Can" - "Get Out"
Jesse Eisenberg - Jesse Carsonberg
"The Nice Guys" - "Tearaway Detective"
"Crazy, Stupid, Love" - "Crazy Stupid Love"
"The Nice Guys" - "Irreplaceable You"
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone