บท 73: Performance issue
Even though Rodrigo maintained his politeness, Renly could sense the formalities and insincerity. He didn't understand what had happened. They had merely exchanged a brief glance, hadn't they?
Was it because Rodrigo thought he was too young? Or was it because Rodrigo had already secured Ryan's commitment?
Renly was well aware of his disadvantage. He was indeed too young, which wasn't advantageous in Hollywood. Every year, Hollywood produced a large number of teenage films, but exceptional quality was rare. The golden age for Hollywood male actors was between thirty-five and forty-five, and over eighty percent of lead characters in movies fell within this range. Young actors mostly played supporting roles. This was one of the significant reasons it was so difficult for teenage actors to make a name for themselves.
The male lead's age in "Buried" was set around thirty to thirty-five.
However, regardless of the reason, Renly had come today for the audition, hoping to give his all to seize this acting opportunity. He had carefully chosen his attire for today, with no intention of giving up easily.
"Thank you for your compliment. It means my first job has paid off," Renly flashed a grateful smile. His lighthearted banter even brought a chuckle from Charles. Yet, Rodrigo raised an eyebrow slightly. "The Pacific" was Renly's debut? Not good, not good at all.
"I came here today specifically for the "Buried" audition," Renly's gaze landed on Rodrigo. "You probably haven't seen "The Pacific". I was actually relieved by that. These are two completely different roles, without the constraints of a fixed impression. My confidence for today's audition has risen."
Rodrigo couldn't help but laugh. This young man was truly unconventional and distinct. Other rookie actors would do everything to promote their previous works, hoping to bolster their chances of a successful audition. But he, on the contrary, did the opposite. Was this sheer confidence or a lack of experience?
Delving deeper, amidst the countless works on his resume, he had chosen "Buried". That, in itself, was interesting, wasn't it?
"So, can we start the audition now, or do I need to wait in line?" Renly stood behind Charles, implying that Charles was the actor currently auditioning. This simple gesture brought smiles to both Rodrigo and Charles.
Charles waved his hand repeatedly. "I won't disturb your work. Good luck! Good luck!" The first phrase was directed at Rodrigo, and the second at Renly.
Rodrigo took a half step back, settling back into the sofa. "Once again, what's your name?"
"Renly."
"So, you're British?" Rodrigo was Spanish, not overly attuned to accents, but the London intonation was quite distinct.
Renly took a seat across from Rodrigo. "I'd reckon Paul's an American." Renly switched to a fluent Chicago accent.
Rodrigo couldn't discern the difference between Chicago and New York accents, but he could distinguish between British and American accents. His eyes slightly brightened. "What accent is this?" In the European actor education system, accents were one of the most fundamental courses. However, Rodrigo always believed that mastering accents to perfection was never an easy task. "I don't think it's a New York accent."
"Chicago," Renly answered with a smile. "And if needed, I can imitate English spoken with a Spanish accent." This was indeed one of the basic compulsory courses in the academy. Back then, Renly found it fascinating and even went to the linguistics department at the University of Cambridge to study and learn, immersing himself for several months.
Rodrigo paused for a moment, feeling like he was surrounded by question marks. "Why Chicago?"
"Ah, it's just my own speculation," Renly shrugged. The information left by the guild was indeed limited, with no direct clues about where Paul's character was from. Renly had watched "Buried" in his previous life, but his memories were somewhat fuzzy, and he couldn't recall whether the movie had mentioned this detail. "Construction engineer, mission in Iraq, middle class. I guess Paul should be from the Midwest. Moreover, as a hub for architectural companies, Chicago is undoubtedly the most likely."
Upon receiving the script, preparing for a role was a complex and intricate process. From accents to attire, even down to hairstyle and tattoos, these details were all part of a character and elements the audience couldn't see but could feel. This was also precisely the part that showcased an actor's prowess. Of course, for popcorn movies or chick flicks, the preparation process would naturally differ.
Rodrigo's mind seemed to be struck by a heavy blow, momentarily stunned. What had started as a casual conversation topic had unexpectedly unraveled into such an exciting backstory. It even revealed his lack of understanding of the script. He had to admit that his impression of Renly had changed somewhat.
"Interesting, very interesting," Rodrigo's jaw slightly closed, his eyes showing a keen interest. "So, regarding the character of Paul, what's your interpretation? If you haven't noticed, I'll remind you: Paul is thirty-five years old, married, has two children, and holds a stable job."
Rodrigo intentionally posed a challenge for Renly, forthrightly bringing up the substantial obstacle that lay ahead of him. He was curious to see how Renly would respond. Unknowingly, Rodrigo hadn't noticed that his own perception of Renly had quietly begun to shift.
Renly spread his legs, hands supporting his knees, leaning slightly forward. In a robust yet dominant posture, he faced Rodrigo. The streetwise aura of a construction foreman naturally emanated from him. "Personally, I believe we should examine Paul's character from two aspects." Or to be more precise, view the performance from two levels.
The casting information left by SAG for "Buried" described it as follows: an American construction contractor, working in Iraq, who one day encounters a bomb explosion, loses consciousness, and upon awakening, finds himself trapped in a coffin, buried alive in the desert. He doesn't understand what happened or what to do. Beside him are only a knife, a cellphone, and a lighter.
"Firstly, the natural reactions in a critical situation," Renly's gaze gradually grew focused. He understood how challenging his situation was. Not only did he have to overcome the age-related constraints to secure this role, but he also had to surpass Ryan Reynolds. He had to give his all. "For any normal person who wakes up and finds themselves buried alive in a coffin, panic, shock, fear, struggle, anger, the will to survive—these emotions are universal."
Rodrigo raised his right hand, propping up his chin, his gaze gradually deepening as he savored Renly's words.
"From the initial confusion upon awakening, to the struggle for survival, then the calm pursuit of opportunities, and finally the intricate mix of fighting against desperation – the development curve of emotions undoubtedly constitutes the core of the entire script. It's also the driving force that keeps the audience engaged," Renly's thoughts were remarkably clear, each layer of his discourse building upon the other to convey his viewpoint. "However, as I mentioned, these are common reactions shared by regular people in crisis situations. If it were only that, "Buried" would merely be an ordinary suspenseful thriller."
Renly was distinct from Ryan; not only were their acting methods and content different, but he had his own understanding of "Buried", This implied that their exploration and expansion of the characters would also differ. If his audition succeeded, he would interpret the role in his own way, creating his version of "Buried".
The previous version of "Buried" was essentially a typical thriller movie, with Ryan portraying all the emotions of being trapped in a coffin perfectly. But as Renly said, this was a process and set of reactions any regular person would experience. It not only lacked the personal touch of "Paul", but also the distinctive elements that had shaped Aron's character in "127 Hours". It failed to possess its own individuality, becoming a work above average, yet struggling to break free from the ordinary.
Rodrigo knew that Renly's words weren't over; there was a "second" to follow. His brows furrowed slightly. So far, Renly's "first" points matched his expectations and the script's setup. It could be said that they were his understanding of "Buried". However, clearly, Renly's insights weren't finished; he had delved into the character and the script on another level.
Things were growing more intriguing, and curiosity stirred within Rodrigo.
"Secondly, Paul's reactions in crisis situations." Renly paused for a brief moment and continued, "Here, we can dissect this into different sections for discussion. For instance, Paul's personal attributes. When facing a crisis, he thinks about his family, his wife. Is he undergoing a midlife crisis? Is he encountering difficulties in his job? What about his relationships with colleagues and friends? These unique attributes, in the extremity of a crisis, will offer different definitions of Paul, setting him apart from regular people."
"For example, Paul's societal attributes. What's his relationship with the company like? How does he interact with the government? Within Paul's ordeal, how do the company, government, and media respond differently? Is Paul a billionaire or a common construction foreman? Would that make a difference? Is Paul a man or a woman? Would that make a difference? Is Paul deeply entrenched in Iraq or within the United States? Would that make a difference?"
Renly's words knotted Rodrigo's brows deeply; his thoughts grew more intricate, a storm brewing in his mind.
"These aspects not only define Paul's uniqueness but also serve as the key to defining the essence of the entire film "Buried"," Renly concluded, and then a gentle smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. With confidence and composure, he said, "So, I believe age is actually the least significant part. What do you think?"
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Shallowman
Shallowman Renly didn't continue or he would've said "Am I right, huh? I'm right, though guys! Here, give me a hi-five. Charlesy c'mere, give me a hi-five too, you prick!". Unfortunately, there is a dark and simp side to Renly, that will be forever left unexplored.
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