章節 547: Ready
Roy and Nathan stood side by side on the school playground, gazing through the classroom windows at the bustling activity within.
The film crew wasn't particularly large, but it wasn't small either. The core team consisted of roughly thirty people, and with the addition of extras without lines, over seventy people had reported to the set on the first day. In a surreal way, it felt as if school had never gone on vacation, and the students had returned to their classes today.
Amidst the commotion, Roy's gaze never strayed from Renly. This was the first time he had appeared on set as Renly's manager. To be more precise, it was his first attempt at the role of a manager. Entering the shooting location was somewhat familiar, but mostly unfamiliar. He was in the process of learning and adapting to his new role.
"Is it always like this before the official shoot?" Roy inquired curiously. "I mean, does Renly always do script practice like this?"
At this moment, the classroom was clearly divided into two entirely different camps. On one side were seasoned veteran actors, while on the other side were non-professional actors with no prior acting experience.
Such a situation was uncommon in a film crew. Even when casting a large number of newcomers, casting directors usually considered factors like pairing and collaboration. However, "Detachment" was unique. Under Tony's firm insistence, all the teachers had chosen experienced actors, totaling around nine or ten. Meanwhile, all the students had been selected from non-professionals, with many of them not even actors but rather residents from the slums, totaling about thirty people.
The experienced actors were familiar with all the processes on the set. After arriving at the set, they greeted everyone effortlessly and prepared for the upcoming shoot. The amateurs, on the other hand, felt somewhat lost. Some curiously observed the crew setting up tracks and assembling the jib camera, while others whispered in hushed tones, discussing the figures they had once seen on the big or small screens. Some stood nervously in a corner, watching and waiting.
A small group of people gathered around Renly, engaged in script practice.
This morning, Renly had arrived at the location an hour and a half early, stating that he wanted to become familiar with his battlefield. "Detachment" was unlike any previous project he had been a part of. Renly treated it as if it were a Broadway stage performance, and for every stage actor, familiarizing themselves with the stage was basic preparation before stepping on it.
Renly was the first actor to arrive at the set. He had spent half an hour thoroughly exploring the entire school and the adjacent streets. Then, he randomly chose a classroom, sat down, and started reading the script. Shortly afterward, Betty and Sami arrived. They didn't think much of it and simply assumed that Renly's location was the actors' dressing room, so they gradually began to gather.
By the time they realized, the "class" division among the actors had already formed, and Renly found himself on the side of the "amateurs".
However, what Roy was worried about wasn't this. In the film, Renly's primary scenes involved these amateur actors. There weren't many scenes with professional actors. What Roy was concerned about was Renly's pre-shoot preparation habits. Some actors liked to relax, simply reading the script; others would turn to cramming their lines at the very last moment before going in front of the camera; and some preferred silence and didn't want to be disturbed.
At this moment, there were about five or six actors surrounding Renly. They took turns interacting with him, rehearsing scenes, and asking questions. Four or five others stood nearby, silently observing the scene. It was a lively atmosphere.
Nathan furrowed his brows. "No, not really. Before the official shoot, Renly is used to reading the script alone. He must go through it repeatedly and, when necessary, discuss details with the director, screenwriter, or co-stars. But script practice like this is quite rare."
Roy slightly nodded as he collected his thoughts. As a manager, his job was to ensure that Renly could fully immerse himself in his work and perform in his own way. Nathan, as an assistant, had limited authority, and approaching producers or production staff could easily offend someone. However, in his role as a manager, Roy's position and authority were distinct, and this fell within his scope of responsibility.
Roy was earnestly considering whether he should suggest to Tony that they provide Renly with a separate space for pre-shoot preparation. If he were a top-tier superstar, he would have an entire caravan at his disposal; if he were one of several A-list stars, the crew would provide a caravan for several key actors to share, which was also normal. However, Roy wasn't being greedy; he merely hoped for a quiet corner where Renly could concentrate on reading the script without being disturbed. Of course, before making such a request, he needed to communicate with Renly personally. In the early stages of their collaboration, they needed more communication.
Thoughts raced through his mind as he observed the scene before him. Roy couldn't help but feel anticipation building up. "What does it feel like to watch Renly perform on set? I mean, even though I'm in the industry, my job is different, and I don't really understand acting. But precisely because I'm in the industry, I know how rare it is to receive so much praise from critics. Today, I can finally be there to witness it. I can't help but feel excited."
It had been a long time since he had experienced this feeling, so different from the life of a publicist.
Seeing Roy's eyes brightening with anticipation, Nathan shared in his excitement and chuckled. "Filming is about to start soon. Once you see it for yourself, you'll know. Let me give you a little sneak peek: it's entirely different from the big screen. Personally, I prefer watching live performances. It's like 3D without the glasses."
Roy was about to respond when he noticed Nathan's expression pause, as if he had seen something. Roy turned his head and followed Nathan's gaze. What he saw was a commotion among the actors in the classroom. In the midst of the crowd, Renly stood up and began moving toward the door. Everyone automatically cleared a path, and curious, excited, and speculative gazes were directed at him.
Once Renly had left the classroom, all the actors rushed to the window, their eyes fixed on the courtyard. It appeared that the initial preparations were complete, and "Detachment" was about to enter formal production. Anticipation levels were skyrocketing.
Renly could keenly feel the intense gaze upon him, burning almost to the point where it felt like his clothes might catch fire. It was the first time he had experienced such a situation. Could it really be solely because of "Fast 5"? That didn't seem to make sense. Nevertheless, Renly didn't mind. Acting inherently meant living under the spotlight, overcoming nervousness and awkwardness in the limelight, and immersing oneself completely in the performance. It was the threshold of stepping onto the stage.
After leaving the classroom, Renly walked toward the main entrance of the school building. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed familiar faces in the adjacent classroom. These were industry-renowned veteran actors, including many well-known figures. This clearly showcased Tony's extensive network.
As he walked towards them, Renly spotted a familiar yet unfamiliar face. He smiled and politely greeted, "Lucy, good morning."
Lucy Liu's steps hesitated for a moment, her mind filled with question marks, but she nodded hesitantly and replied, "Good morning, Renly."
Asian actors in Hollywood had always been a disadvantaged group. Despite notable figures like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Zhang Ziyi, Joan Chen, and Jet Li having made their mark in the industry, their overall progress had been restricted. Asian faces in American films had often been confined to rigid and stereotypical roles, frequently marked by strong racial prejudice. It wasn't until the second decade of the 21st century that there were slight improvements in this regard. It was evident how challenging the situation had been for Chinese actors.
Thanks to substantial investments, Korean and Indian actors had thrived in Hollywood. For example, a company like Hyundai, which heavily sponsored a television series or film and insisted on the use of Korean actors, created better working conditions for many Korean actors, gradually changing the industry landscape.
However, the operation of Chinese capital in Hollywood had never found a suitable and effective solution. It had failed to create more favorable conditions for Chinese actors to rise, leading many of them to play Korean or Japanese roles in television series.
Yet, Lucy was an exception to this difficult situation. As a second-generation immigrant, she had worked hard and achieved success amidst discrimination. After nearly a decade of bit roles and perseverance, she earned an Emmy Award nomination in 1997 for "Ally McBeal", finally breaking through in her career.
Following that, she not only appeared in works like "Charlie's Angels", "Kill Bill", and "Kung Fu Panda" but also became the lead actress in the TV series "Elementary". It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that she was the most successful among many Chinese actors in Hollywood.
Renly, with his own abilities, was well aware of the challenges Lucy had faced to carve out her place in the industry. This time, the unexpected opportunity to collaborate on "Detachment" prompted him to extend a friendly and respectful greeting.
"I hope everything goes smoothly today," Renly nodded, conveying his goodwill, but not dwelling on it, as he continued walking forward.
Lucy remained in place, momentarily taken aback. In her twenty years of navigating Hollywood, such situations were rare. Among the cast and crew, Asian actors were always the least conspicuous and least valued group, especially in the "Detachment" production where there were plenty of big names.
Her gaze fell on Renly's retreating figure, and Lucy's smile involuntarily brightened at the corners of her mouth.
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