Chương 15: Differential treatment

The corridor was illuminated by bright incandescent lights, leading straight to a large door at the end of the spacious space. Green potted plants adorned the interior, harmonizing with the white walls, wooden desks, and silver decorations. Amidst the sweltering heat of midsummer, a hint of coolness permeated. The bustling scene was brimming with vitality, where tranquility met clamor. It showcased the ceaseless flow of young people embracing the "Hollywood dream" in today's society. The allure of the limelight drew countless individuals, continuously vying for the spotlight on the stage of fame and fortune.

"Hey, George." Someone approaching cheerfully greeted Chris and Renly. This marked the sixth such greeting they had received along the way. "Rumors say that J.J. is a difficult director to get along with. Is that true? Does he really scold actors casually on set?"

The reference was to J.J. Abrams, who shot to fame with the TV series "Lost" and then directed movies like "Mission: Impossible III" and "Star Trek", elevating himself to the ranks of top-tier Hollywood directors. Chris portrayed George Kirk, Captain Kirk's father, in "Star Trek", making him familiar to many loyal fans.

Facing the address "George", Chris had evidently grown accustomed to it, smiling and responding, "No, of course not. J.J. is a witty and humorous guy on set. He loves to exchange ideas with actors..." Chris vividly recounted an on-set anecdote, leaving the other person thoroughly satisfied. Their envy was unconcealed in their eyes.

"Really?" The other person appeared to be around thirty years old, with a face that was still quite unfamiliar. Their acting career probably hadn't taken off much. In reality, this kind of actor was the backbone of Hollywood. The dazzling A-list stars constituted only a fraction. Actors like Chris, who played significant roles in commercial blockbusters, were already worthy of the title "star" in their eyes. "So, when will the next "Star Trek" start shooting? I believe your role in the movie will be quite pivotal, won't it?" "Star Trek" was released in May of this year, receiving both critical acclaim and box office success. It revitalized the series after years of silence, and the filming of the sequel was a sure thing. However, there hadn't been further updates for the time being." The script is in the works, and our entire crew is waiting." Chris responded with a cheerful smile, clearly at ease with such situations.

Quietly standing by, Renly played the role of a supporting character, having no intention to join in the conversation—nor did he have the qualifications to do so.

After a brief exchange, Chris took the initiative to conclude the conversation. The other person introduced themselves earnestly. Such was the nature of Hollywood's connections; no one knew when an unknown could suddenly skyrocket to stardom. Moreover, Chris was no longer an unknown.

The other person appraised Renly up and down as if they had just noticed him. Renly offered a courteous smile. The other person had been about to leave, but seeing Renly's composed smile, they felt a bit awkward instead. They nodded apologetically and hurriedly departed.

After seeing them off, Chris turned to Renly with a helpless expression. "They always love hearing these tidbits. Their enthusiasm is a bit overwhelming."

"This is the nature of an enclosed fortress, isn't it?" Renly shrugged, sighing. People outside the fortress wished to enter, while those inside the fortress yearned to leave.

Chris seemed a bit perplexed, not fully comprehending the meaning behind the statement. However, he didn't intend to pursue the matter. He nodded in partial understanding and then strode forward, entering the New York branch of SAG alongside Renly.

Seated at the reception desk, the middle-aged woman lifted her head, her professional demeanor evident as she said, "Welcome to SAG. Are you here to join the union or..." Her words were cut short when she saw the two towering figures before her. Chris was even taller than Renly by nearly two inches. She then broke into a bright smile. "Chris, sweetie, you haven't been around for quite a while. I thought you had secured that role in "Inception"!"

The effusive enthusiasm caused Chris to smile radiantly as well. He pouted and complained, "No, Joseph Gordon-Levitt got that role." "Oh." The woman sighed with regret. Her slightly plump body wobbled as she stood up, pinching Chris's handsome cheek and conveying her disappointment vividly. "I thought you were better than him!"

Chris pursed his lips and shrugged his shoulders, then shook his head gently. "It's okay, missed opportunities are missed opportunities. Besides, I wasn't too confident about that movie anyway. The concept was too complex." Soon after, Chris didn't want to dwell on the frustrating topic any longer. He turned his head and gestured toward Renly by his side. "This is my friend, Renly. He's here today to confirm the casting results for a TV series. What was the name again?" The last sentence was directed at Renly.

The woman finally shifted her gaze. Renly genteelly smiled, "It's "The Pacific". I was told to come to the guild today to find a publicist and inquire about the specific details."

The middle-aged woman didn't seem particularly surprised. Despite this being a production by Tom and Steven, TV shows and movies had their differences. She was well-acquainted with such situations. "Name?" Her tone turned professional, slightly cooling down the atmosphere. Awkwardly resettling into her chair, she placed her slightly chubby fingers, resembling candy sticks, onto the keyboard.

"Renly Hall."

With a flurry of typing, she examined the screen to confirm the information. "Roy Lockley." She looked up and continued, "I'm not entirely sure if Roy came here today. Go to the third floor, Room 307. That's his office. If he's not there, you'll find his business card by the door. Take one and contact him."

Chris patted Renly's shoulder. "Do you need me to come up with you?"

Renly waved his hand. "Aren't you here to check things out? Go ahead, I'll come find you later." He then politely nodded in the direction of the woman. "Lisa, thank you." Her badge read "Lisa." Renly caught a subtle stiffness in Lisa's expression, but his footsteps didn't falter. He turned around and left.

Behind him, the cheerful conversation between Lisa and Chris resumed, causing Renly to smile involuntarily.

To Renly, such differential treatment felt entirely normal. It was the reality of society. Fame, fortune, power, and money were the basic standards by which people assessed and judged their social standing. People sought higher places, and water flowed to lower ones; there was nothing wrong with that. Even Renly himself had considered the intentions of the two heavyweight producers when he chose "The Pacific" for his first audition attempt.

Following the guidance of the stairs, he quickly reached the third floor. Glancing at the Victorian-style wooden door and stained glass windows, Renly looked around, searching for signs and trying to confirm whether Roy was present.

Suddenly, the office door swung open, revealing a man standing before him. His hair was slightly disheveled, his dark brown suit a bit wrinkled. He clutched a black briefcase in his arms, and the black glasses perched on his nose couldn't resist sliding down a bit, leaving him somewhat flustered. "You are..."

"Renly Hall," Renly offered his introduction proactively.

"Renly, Renly." The man mumbled his name twice, then realization dawned on him. "Oh, it's you!" He glanced back and forth, seemingly hesitating whether to continue out the door or deal with Renly's matters.

Renly was about to say he could come back in the afternoon, but before he could, the man made his decision. He pushed open the office door and walked back inside. "Come in." He casually placed the briefcase on the table, then circled around to the other side. "I'm Roy, the official publicist for the American Actors' Guild. Since you don't have a publicist, I'll handle the contract signing for "The Pacific"."

In the United States, to protect actors' interests and prevent unspoken rules, the guild not only sent representatives to monitor auditions but also dispatched official publicists to sign contracts for actors without representation.

Although the issue of unspoken rules still persisted throughout the film industry, for newcomers dreaming of overnight fame, if flattering directors and producers could bring them fame and fortune, why not seize the opportunity? However, compared to thirty or forty years ago, the industry had become more regulated, maximizing the protection of actors' individual rights.

Unlike his disheveled appearance, Roy worked with efficiency and determination. As soon as Renly sat down, Roy precisely retrieved the contract from the small stack on the table and placed it before Renly.

Renly glanced at the half-eaten sandwich and the greasy pizza box on the table, then averted his gaze. He picked up the contract as Roy's voice explained, "HBO states that you are the lead actor, appearing in a total of seven episodes. Your pay for each episode is $20,000. If you have any objections to this figure, we can discuss it. However, personally, I believe this is a very reasonable amount, considering this is just your first role."

Renly didn't wait for Roy to continue explaining; he directly nodded and interrupted, "I'm fine." For Renly, acting and the role itself came first. That was his essence.

Renly's straightforward attitude left Roy momentarily stunned. Pay was crucial for any actor; it applied to newcomers and superstars alike. In many cases, pay was a yardstick to measure an actor's status on set. Moreover, newcomers like Renly needed that initial income to sustain their livelihood. The reason was that simple and humble. Therefore, Renly's performance had truly caught Roy off guard.

After a pause, adjusting his breath, Roy nodded, "That's a wise decision." After a moment's thought, he added, "This is nearly the highest pay a newcomer can get, unless you're Emma Roberts."

Renly smiled slightly, his chin held up, and casually replied, "I know."

Roy felt a bit stifled.