บท 403: Image breakthrough

Seth's emotions were running high, impulsive words forming at the tip of his tongue. However, his thoughts cooled slightly as he reflected. After all, he had been in Hollywood for nearly a decade, and he had already produced six films. He wasn't an impulsive teenager.

But now that the words were out there, Seth hesitated for a split second, then clenched his teeth and decided to tell the truth. Throughout their conversation tonight, Renly had been honest and sincere, readily agreeing to act in the film without any hesitation. Naturally, Seth couldn't be casual or secretive; he had to be equally forthcoming.

"In real life, there's a little story. Before Will started chemotherapy, he was so angry that he stood in front of the bathroom mirror and shaved off all his hair, giving himself a bald head. We want to keep this scene intact and bring it into the movie, portraying this action and process as authentically as possible."

He said it, he finally said it. Seth tightly closed his eyes and dared not even take a breath.

To outsiders, an actor's appearance might not seem as important as that of a singer. After all, actors constantly change their appearance to suit different roles; a uniform appearance might signify a narrow range of roles. But the reality was quite different.

Actors needed to create a consistent brand based on their appearance. Even male actors were not exempt from this, as it was an integral part of commercial packaging. Just like Sean Penn, who appeared unkempt and focused on independent films, and seemed to lack any particular image – he was no different. The only distinction was in the positioning of their image.

When selecting roles, not to mention a complete change of appearance, even a partial alteration required negotiation. Actors of the caliber of Tom Cruise might even have detailed hairstyle, costume, and makeup specifications outlined in their contracts. Any alteration needed to be handled with caution, even more caution.

Because male actors' appearances were relatively stable, there were fewer aspects that could be changed, which highlighted the importance of hairstyle. All professionals agreed that a hairstyle was an actor's second face.

Ignoring the fact that when Justin Bieber originally cut his iconic bangs, it became sensational gossip news that hit numerous headlines across the United States; even for Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, and the like, their hairstyles were relatively consistent. Every change was a result of deliberation within their internal teams.

Now, for Seth to request Renly to shave his head bald was nothing short of an earthquake-level change in Hollywood.

And this wasn't something that could be achieved through special makeup, because they wanted to see the actor genuinely shave his own head on camera.

This scene was loved by both Seth and Will. Even though time had passed, the two of them still considered it highly significant when they recalled that moment. They genuinely hoped that this scene could be brought to life in the movie.

James McAvoy resigned at the last moment, even tearing up his contract. Part of the reason was a conflict between filming schedules and the promotion plan for "The Guardians." Another part was due to concerns expressed by Twentieth Century Fox – they were worried that James shaving his head would have a negative impact on the movie's promotion.

Worth mentioning was a recent UK poll asking "Who is more beautiful than Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie?" James McAvoy triumphed over the rising stars Daniel Radcliffe and Benedict Cumberbatch, winning the crown.

One could say that circumstances had undergone a complete transformation from when James signed on for "The Cancer Warrior." Setting aside "X-Men", the roles James and his agent played in this recent commotion were worth pondering.

So now, it was Renly's turn.

This was Seth's greatest concern. Renly was only twenty-one years old at the moment. Suddenly challenging a role that required such a drastic change in appearance, and even sacrificing his handsome looks by shaving his head bald – for Renly, who was in the rising phase of his career, this was undeniably a massive shock. It might even impact a series of plans going forward.

What about attending the Oscars? Walking the red carpet with a bald head would likely break the hearts of his female fans!

What about promoting "Fast 5"? Vin Diesel, Tyrese Gibson, and Ludacris were already bald. Universal Pictures wouldn't want Renly, who possessed an idol-worthy appearance, to join their ranks!

But Seth couldn't lie.

He would rather have Renly express his protest, then both sides could sit down and have a slow discussion, seeking a solution. Even if they couldn't reach an agreement in the end, it would have to be accepted naturally. Rather than resorting to deception and concealment, only to ignite another melodramatic saga that would embarrass the film crew, Renly, and himself further.

"I think this will be quite interesting," Renly couldn't help but smile. When he watched the movie, this scene left a deep impression on him. He hadn't expected that he would now have the opportunity to try it himself.

Shave his head? Renly felt a hint of curiosity. What would he look like with a bald head?

"You find it interesting?" Seth closed his eyes tightly and then cautiously opened them, almost unable to believe his ears. "So, you mean you don't mind?"

"My English should be alright I believe," Renly's teasing made Seth chuckle.

Seth's sincerity, even through the phone, was palpable to Renly. Moreover, if Seth hadn't sincerely invited him from the start, Renly wouldn't have come within Seth's field of vision.

Seth Rogen and James Franco were true friends, even transcending the boundaries of close buddies.

Seth and James had collaborated on multiple works like "Pineapple Express", "The Interview", "This Is the End", and "Sausage Party". Furthermore, whenever one of them called for the other, they would cameo in each other's films for free without hesitation – it was an unspoken obligation. Even if they were asked to wear just underwear, it wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Recently, the media had been stirring up a confrontation between Renly and James.

Rumors circulated that James had edged out Renly, taking on the role of hosting the Oscars. Meanwhile, Renly had triumphed over James, securing an Oscar nomination. The competition between the two actors had reached a fever pitch. Some media outlets even dredged up their statements from the Toronto International Film Festival, claiming with certainty that the two held animosity towards each other and didn't see eye to eye.

Even though the actors had never responded to these rumors in public.

There was no personal grudge between Renly and James, and they hadn't even spoken privately. But objectively speaking, they weren't exactly good friends either. Given the current media frenzy, it was inevitable that a certain awkwardness existed between these two strangers.

As a friend of James, Seth naturally didn't have any particularly close feelings towards Renly.

In such a situation, Seth had many choices. Apart from Renly, there were countless suitable actors in Hollywood. Not to mention, Joseph Gordon-Levitt was a direct candidate. However, Seth still chose Renly, without hesitation.

So, in truth, Renly believed that he was Seth's first contact. The way Seth had behaved during their conversation earlier confirmed this.

Facing Seth's hesitation, Renly's mood lightened. He took the initiative to speak, teasingly saying, "Besides this matter, is there anything else I need to be aware of in advance?"

"Nothing! Absolutely nothing!" Seth waved his hands repeatedly, then let out a couple of gentle coughs. "So, I guess we'll meet in Seattle?"

Actually, Seth hoped that Renly could fly to Seattle as soon as tomorrow. Not for a rehearsal, but to feel the grounding sense of security. James's recent incident had really left him weak-kneed with fear. But he also knew it wasn't realistic; he was asking for far too much.

So, when the words reached his lips, they transformed, "As soon as possible, I mean, Will and I are really looking forward to seeing you." His words stumbled a bit but found their way back, "Just a heads up, when you meet Will, don't be disappointed." Before ending the call, Seth couldn't help but make a playful remark about his friend, which brought a smile to anyone who heard it.

After hanging up the phone, Renly's mind conjured Hazel's image.

The symptoms of ALS were as cruel as cancer, even more terrifying. Not only because there was still no effective treatment for this condition, let alone a cure; but also because it was so clear and real, allowing patients to slowly witness their own death.

Would Hazel like "50/50"? Or would he detest this movie like he did in his past life?

Renly hoped that this work could ignite a glimmer of hope deep within Hazel's heart.

Sitting on the couch, Renly's thoughts traveled back to his past life. How did he feel, what were his thoughts, when he awoke on a sickbed and learned he was paralyzed from the neck down?

He had initially believed that those distant memories had been buried in the endless darkness of twenty-one years ago. Everything had become blurry, and he probably couldn't remember them anymore. But after settling, when he carefully tasted those memories, they became so vivid. Those scenes gradually regained their vividness, one by one, and bitterness welled up on his tongue.

He realized he had never truly forgotten.

The phone rang again, snapping the thread of his thoughts. Renly removed the cigarette from his lips and placed the phone back to his ear, answering the call.

Before he could say anything, Andy's impatient voice came rushing in. Without pausing for a moment, it poured out like rain on banana leaves, incessantly falling.

"Renly, what's going on? Why did I hear from Seth that you're going to shave your head? Are you serious? Why would you want to shave your head? This is simply ridiculous! Can't we discuss this? For example, with special makeup, you can wear a bald cap and pretend to be bald. There's no need to shave off all your hair. If it's a problem with Seth, I can go talk to him. This matter can't be taken lightly! Really."

Andy's agitation was truly a rare sight.