บท 266: Absolute strength

Silence shrouded the entire soundstage, so profound that even the sound of breath appeared to have dissolved into nothingness.

No one had foreseen that the filming of this scene would unravel in such a manner. The slender and poised figure of Renly held within it an unexpectedly formidable energy. Renly's display of absolute dominance effortlessly overwhelmed the scene, catching everyone off guard. And who could have anticipated that Vin would erupt in fury, causing harm yet ending up in a pitiful state? The first confrontation between Renly and Vin had culminated in such an unforeseen outcome.

Now, the situation had taken an intriguing turn. Vin, once consumed by rage, had been doused with a bucket of icy water followed by another, and despite his once-intimidating stance, he now retreated in defeat. More importantly, even Vin himself seemed bewildered, as if losing his bearings. No one knew how the situation would unfold from here.

Within the studio, an eerie restlessness pervaded. No one dared to speak loudly, yet hushed conversations abounded. Gazes subtly averted from Vin, seated in the makeup area, which only heightened the awkwardness. Not only were the onlookers among the extras baffled, but even the crew members wore peculiar expressions, their thoughts hard to decipher.

Alfred was thrilled, immensely so!

An experienced supporting actor, Alfred might not have been outstanding in his acting, but he was a seasoned spectator. He was also a senior acting coach, teaching aspiring actors and sharing his on-set experiences in his spare time at the academy—an auxiliary interest of his.

In that brief scene a moment ago, what Alfred saw wasn't just the clash between Renly and Vin, but the solid foundation of Renly's acting prowess. The precise portrayal of emotions, the swift body language, the clear-cut acting style—all within thirty seconds, he saw Renly sketching out Hobbs' character.

Just as everyone worried that Renly's physique might not offer a compelling counter, thereby affecting the movie's overall tone, Renly delivered an astounding performance. Not only did Renly stand up against Vin convincingly, but within this confrontation, Renly achieved victory with ease. Most importantly, that imposing aura breathed life into Hobbs instantly, making him a character more captivating than Dominic or Brian.

The iron triangle? Clearly not just a notion.

What truly left Alfred applauding was Renly's command of lines!

In contemporary Hollywood, grassroots actors were on the rise. The direct consequence of this was that even actors acclaimed for their acting often leaned toward method acting. This approach could be simply understood as immersing oneself in the role, letting emotions guide the performance. It emphasized the resonance between the actor and the character, often neglecting the importance of lines.

In essence, American actors' proficiency with lines was abysmal.

For actors excelling in performance-based acting or adhering to traditional theatrical techniques, their mastery of lines undoubtedly served as a crucial foundation. The emotional shifts embedded in the cadence of a single line, the undercurrents beneath a serene exterior—all highlighted an actor's internal performance prowess.

In the acting academy in England, one of the most intriguing fundamental training exercises for actors involved performing with weather forecast scripts. The challenge was to convey various emotions while narrating the weather forecast: from inconsolable grief to impassioned fervor, from ecstatic joy to more. Undoubtedly, this was a demanding test for the actors.

In today's Hollywood, driven by commercialism, the emphasis on dialogue had declined drastically. This was true for actors and even more so for scripts. As a result, most movie dialogues couldn't withstand scrutiny—lacking depth, reflection, and substance. The consequence was that scripts increasingly relied on innovative storytelling. However, with innovation becoming scarcer, exceptional scripts were few and far between. Hence, adaptations proliferated, especially those from comics, games, and the like.

In reality, beneath a simple script framework, a deep exploration of the mastery of dialogue could also bring forth an outstanding story.

In the scene just moments ago, Alfred had witnessed Renly's mastery of lines. With a few simple sentences, Renly had delivered the lines with at least three to four different rhythms and tones, imbuing the shifting emotions between rising and falling with a natural ease, seizing control of the scene. This level of skill was truly praiseworthy.

Alfred had held his excitement at bay for a while, but eventually, he couldn't resist exclaiming, "Wow."

Simultaneously, Paul was so excited that he nearly jumped right up. All he knew was that in the confrontation just now, Vin was left embarrassed and distracted, while Renly had navigated it all with effortless finesse, dominating the interaction. In this direct clash, Renly had unquestionably taken the upper hand. In an instant, the situation of that comedic scene had completely turned around!

Paul paid no attention to Vin's awkwardness or the astonishment of other actors. He hurried toward Renly, giving his shoulder a hearty pat. "I knew it, I just knew it!" After a series of exclamations, Paul broke into a bright smile. "Well, I never actually knew, but you're such an outstanding actor!"

Honorable, upright, straightforward—what had just transpired was a display of absolute acting skill by Renly. Not only did it respond head-on to Vin's provocation, but it also forcefully seized the advantage in the confrontation. This victory was so satisfyingly triumphant. Paul believed that no one could find fault. As for Vin's wretched and pitiable state, it was entirely of his own making.

Seeing Paul's unreservedly thrilled expression, Renly chuckled softly. "I thought you'd seen "Buried" in Toronto or Telluride."

What Paul hadn't noticed was the subtle twist of Renly's neck, slightly easing the taut lines in his shoulders. However composed his performance had been just now, there was a sense of trepidation deep within Renly. His experience in fights was still lacking. When Vin attacked from behind earlier, Renly should have sidestepped instead of turning to face him directly. He should have evaded and then struck opportunistically. Yet, before his brain could make the correct judgment, the reflexes in his muscles had already responded. It was ultimately a lack of experience that led to this.

Fortunately, the momentum accumulated from his prior performance still held sway over Vin, catching him off guard. Otherwise, their positions might have been reversed by now. Perhaps, Renly would be the one lying on the ground, catching his breath.

In Renly's mind now, he was wondering if he should seriously consider learning some Chinese martial arts.

"Sure, I've seen it, but the circumstances are different, you know..." Paul said with a cheerful grin. His animated gestures made him look almost childlike, evoking a warm smile involuntarily.

On the other side, Justin found himself somewhat dazed. He wasn't a director skilled in coaching acting; his expertise lay in camera direction and scene control. Yet, even he could feel the immense acting aura, encompassing the entire studio, captivating hearts. Now, he finally understood why Renly could defeat Dwayne and secure the role of Hobbs!

While Dwayne's excessive demands on pay were a source of the conflict, Renly's exceptional performance had ultimately become the triumphant key. Otherwise, how could a newcomer with less than a year of experience possibly outshine a host of competitors and rise to the top?

Justin couldn't contain his inner excitement and enthusiasm. In his mind, he was already reconstructing scenes, overthrowing his prior notions.

Initially, he had been worried if Renly's acting presence could hold its own against Vin, let alone when Paul was added to the mix. The confrontation of the iron triangle in the film actually presented a two-to-one dynamic—this was why they initially chose Dwayne. Dwayne's physical advantage and inherent charisma made it hard for Vin and Paul, even together, to gain the upper hand. This way, the whole story maintained its balance.

However, now, ideas surged through Justin's mind like a spring. Considering the scene that had just transpired, he could intensify the fiery confrontation between the two, making the atmosphere even tenser. That sensation of a spark that almost ignites but stops abruptly could heighten the thrill for the viewers.

Originally just a stand-in player, but now it seemed this "stand-in" was anything but ordinary.

Because Dwayne's style was relatively one-dimensional—purely physical confrontations—this had caused the focus of the script to center around the conflict between Hobbs and Dominic. Strictly speaking, it couldn't be called the iron triangle. However, now, Renly could excel in both physical and mental contests, making it possible for him to take the lead against two opponents.

With this thought, Justin felt a pang of regret. Modifying the script now would be a massive undertaking, likely requiring a rewrite of at least a quarter of the scenes. Additionally, increasing Renly's scenes might raise objections from Vin and Paul. More importantly, rewriting the script would entail paying the writers again, which the producers probably wouldn't agree to.

He would have to wait for the next film. If Renly agreed to continue in the sixth installment, then Justin's mind would be flooded with countless ideas.

However, even if he couldn't modify the script, Justin could make adjustments in camera direction and atmosphere, depicting the iron triangle's confrontation with more intensity.

Yet, Justin couldn't help but worry a bit: Could Vin hold his ground alone? Should he send Paul in as well, a united front?

Vin's current state was dire, absolutely dire! His rationality had completely slipped away, and he lifted a chair, fiercely smashing it to the side. After demolishing the chair, he continued by wrecking half the makeup table. As everyone backed away, his mood eased slightly. He stood there, panting heavily, surveying the chaotic scene, teeth clenched.

Renly, damned Renly!

The last time, he hadn't been prepared mentally, thus Renly had seized the upper hand. This time, he was fully prepared and determined not to back down easily. From the start, he intended to dominate. He didn't care about the balance of the shoot, nor the aesthetics of the scene. He intended to teach Renly a lesson, to regain his standing!

"Ahhh!" His rage was far from subsiding.