บท 318: A visit

The opulent banquet hall gleamed with gold and jewels, while the air was filled with the fragrance of attire and the rustle of whispers, accompanied by the rhythmic beat of drums and music – a lively spectacle.

Halle Berry engaged in a warm conversation with Melissa Leo. Tom Hanks, just arrived, found himself enveloped in a crowd. The meeting between Danny Boyle and Tom Hooper seemed awkward; they exchanged tentative nods before hastening their steps in opposite directions. Angelina Jolie had barely settled when she produced a compact mirror to touch up her makeup...

Observing the large round tables before him, Renly couldn't help but find it amusing, as if he had been transported back to his past life, attending others' wedding banquets. With a rotating platform on each table and a couple of bowls of melon seeds, aunts and uncles would soon start chattering away.

Different from the stepped seating arrangement of other awards ceremonies, the Golden Globes chose the Hilton Hotel as their venue, resulting in a distinctive seating design. Twelve large round tables were placed in the front space, each accommodating ten guests. Behind them, a set of steps led to more round tables. At the topmost step, a third-tier platform held more round tables, encompassing the outermost circle.

Nominees from major departments like directors, actors, and screenwriters occupied the first-tier round tables, akin to a roundtable meeting. The rest of the crew sat in the rear seats.

The entire hall resembled a jazz bar from the golden era.

Renly looked up, scanning for the crew of "The Pacific". Since the Emmy Awards, several months had passed without seeing his old friends.

Tonight, due to the Golden Globes excluding technical awards, the crew had been drastically reduced. Renly had inquired before – only six actors, including Rami Malek and James Badge Dale, would attend along with him. The directing and writing teams were also represented by only four members. Add to that the two renowned producers, and out of the massive five-hundred-member crew, only twelve attended.

From the second-tier platform, Renly saw Rami's beaming figure in the distance. After a quick greeting with Ryan, he headed upstairs. The reunion with old friends was a joyful affair, with everyone hugging Renly, congratulating his two Golden Globe nominations in a playful manner.

Tonight, "The Pacific" was nominated in two categories: Best Miniseries or Television Film and Best Actor in Miniseries or Television Film. Everyone anticipated Renly to carry forward the momentum from his Emmy win and continue bringing glory to the show.

In just a few months, Renly's career had undergone a transformative shift, astonishingly rapid. However, the deep bonds fostered during the long shoots remained unaltered. They still laughed and chatted just as they had before.

As Renly returned to the first-tier round table, over two-thirds of the seats were already taken. His steps briefly paused as he lifted his chin, scanning the room for his seat.

"Over here, Renly."

Following the voice, Renly's gaze landed on Ryan, who raised his right hand high, sporting a brilliant smile as he walked towards Renly with a composed step.

Ryan gestured to the seat on his right, and as Renly approached, he saw his nameplate indeed placed there.

During award ceremonies, seating arrangements were always meticulously orchestrated, requiring careful planning. If the organizers placed Angelina Jolie next to Jennifer Aniston, the ceremony would likely explode in a scandal before the next day. Not only did they need to be separated, but also distanced from each other.

Renly smiled, nodding in greeting to others at the round table. He noticed that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association had arranged an interesting seating plan – they had grouped the rising stars of Gen Y together.

James Franco sat directly across from Renly. Natalie Portman was seated three spots to the left of Ryan, and she and Renly couldn't even see each other. Jesse Eisenberg sat beside Emma Stone, with Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Williams, the old acquaintances from "Brokeback Mountain", adjacent.

On Renly's right was Jennifer Lawrence.

"Long time no see," Jennifer greeted with a beaming smile. Renly, however, appraised Jennifer's attire with a critical eye. "Are you sure you're at the right table? Isn't the one next to us yours?"

Today, Jennifer was wearing a navy blue mosaic wave gown, a bewildering choice that lacked any semblance of fashion and robbed her of youthful charm, making her look twenty-seven rather than twenty.

Unperturbed, Jennifer retorted, "Are you sure you came for the awards ceremony? Or did you mistake it for a beach vacation?"

"Have you met before?" Ryan leaned curiously to inquire.

Renly nodded, offering a simple explanation. "We collaborated on a previous project." Ryan suddenly comprehended, and with Renly as the bridge, the two exchanged brief introductions.

"I feel somewhat uneasy sitting here," Ryan said uneasily, straightening his back as his muscles tensed involuntarily. "I can't help but feel like I'm covered in arrows from behind."

Their table was centrally placed, facing the stage, with only three steps separating it from the stage platform. Three cameras stood behind them, and a mobile camera was positioned in front. Two camera directors and the absence of a spotlight were all that was missing, making their table truly conspicuous, capturing the attention of all.

This detail revealed the Golden Globes' intention to emphasize the theme of Gen Y. Regardless of how many young actors of Gen Y received awards tonight, the focus was on the collective rise of these actors, whose ascent seemed unstoppable. In the next two to three years, these emerging stars would be objects of great attention.

Renly turned his head to look at the rear. Two more round tables were positioned behind them, hosting industry veterans, followed by a slightly elevated guest section. He understood Ryan's point – they were like targets, placed in a prominent position, awaiting everyone's scrutiny.

"It's quite nice this way," Renly retracted his gaze, speaking with a cheerful smile. "When the winners walk up to the stage, we're an inevitable part of their journey. It's like observing Sunset Boulevard up close."

"What if you win?" Jennifer joined the playful banter.

Renly spread his hands, "I don't think I stand any chance tonight. Haven't we agreed? Let's spare each other any harm." His helpless expression elicited hearty laughter from Jennifer and Ryan.

Renly wasn't joking; he knew the unwritten rules of Hollywood all too well. These weren't rules the Academy established for specific individuals, but rather conventions that had evolved over the past century – ingrained concepts intimately tied to an actor's career planning.

For actresses, the breakthrough needed to come early. Breaking through after forty was an even tougher feat. Legendary veterans like Meryl Streep and Katharine Hepburn were exceptions in the industry's history. As for male actors, patience was key. Earning a nomination for acting skills before the age of thirty was a commendable victory. Then, they patiently awaited the golden period between thirty-five and forty-five, seeking a moment of explosive brilliance.

Age was a restraint for women, and for men as well.

Thus, securing a Best Actor nomination for Renly through "Buried" was already a significant breakthrough. Moreover, this was just his debut film; his journey of exploring acting had only just begun. This was an independent production without a solid foundation, lacking the overall strength and depth needed for further success during award season.

Tonight, Renly was an observer, devoid of psychological burden or any sense of expectation. He was wholly immersed in the experience, even more relaxed than during the Emmy Awards.

"Are you really not nervous at all?" Ryan asked in a low voice. Lowering his eyelids, Renly noticed Ryan's subtle motion of wiping his palms.

To be honest, in the competition for Best Actor in a Drama this year, Colin was undoubtedly in a league of his own. Besides him, Jesse had become popular due to the buzz around "The Social Network". However, compared to the others, Ryan was undeniably the most deserving second runner-up.

He had received a Golden Globe nomination back in 2007 for "Lars and the Real Girl". Coupled with "Half Nelson" in 2006, his repertoire was undoubtedly superior among the other contenders. Moreover, this was the Golden Globes; in the guise of prioritizing entertainment, boundaries were relatively relaxed. At the age of thirty, Ryan was indeed a popular candidate.

As Renly had mentioned, if not for Colin, he would support Ryan's victory.

"I'm not nervous now, but maybe I'll be when they announce it later," Renly half-joked.

Ryan pulled out some candies from his pocket. "You like milk candies, right?" He handed one to Renly, then peeled one for himself, popping it into his mouth. "God, why do I feel like this is even more nerve-wracking than auditions?"

Because during auditions, the situation was under their control. Though the casting director made the decision, they knew the material and techniques inside out. However, award ceremonies were an unknown, where results couldn't be known or predicted. The higher the anticipation, the more apparent the nervousness.

"Is it because countless women are watching you?" Renly quipped. Ryan chuckled at the tongue-in-cheek response, immediately enlivening the atmosphere. Ryan glanced at Jennifer, then at Natalie. Even without words, his meaningful gaze conveyed volumes.

However, Renly said little, merely casting his gaze towards Michelle, which made Ryan slightly uncomfortable. Tonight, Ryan and Michelle were each walking the red carpet individually, and for the past few months, rumors hadn't mentioned any sparks between them. Clearly, everything remained in a confidential phase.

Amidst laughter and jest, the lights in the banquet hall gradually dimmed, signaling the imminent commencement of the award ceremony.