Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 211: Gearing Up

"When is the audition?" Renly closed the script, feeling a rush of excitement that quickened his blood circulation.

Andy looked at Renly, who was eager and ready to go, and chuckled, "You seem very excited." Renly shrugged with a smile, not denying it.

As Andy's initial nervousness settled, he probed curiously, "You seem more interested in this than 'Fast & Furious.' I thought you'd prefer action genres." Comedy, in comparison, requires actors to break free from their shackles, discard their burdens, and let go of their inhibitions.

Renly smiled and countered, "I thought you'd be happy to see this reaction." Otherwise, Andy wouldn't have saved the "Horrible Bosses" script for last.

Of course, Andy was right. From an audience perspective, Renly enjoyed "Fast & Furious 5" more—its high completion rate, adrenaline rush, and seamless action were exhilarating. However, from an actor's standpoint, "Horrible Bosses" posed a greater challenge and offered more room for creativity. Moreover, Renly had always been interested in comedic performances.

Faced with Renly's retort, Andy nodded slightly without arguing but then asked, "So, are you more interested in this than 'Like Crazy'?"

Renly laughed, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "There's no point in comparing them, is there? Why are you so insistent on this?"

Andy replied earnestly, "It's my job to understand your preferences to find the most suitable scripts for you in the future." Then, a smile reappeared on his face. "But your answer is clear. It seems you still prefer 'Like Crazy.' Now, I'm even more curious about what kind of script it is that you love so much. Does this mean it's even better than 'Buried'?"

"Absolutely," Renly answered decisively this time.

"Horrible Bosses" was indeed a challenging project, not just because of its comedic genre but also due to its excellent script and characters. However, compared to "Like Crazy," which was both challenging and personally favored by Renly, he would undoubtedly choose the latter without hesitation.

Missing out on "Horrible Bosses" would mean another opportunity to challenge comedy might come later. But missing "Like Crazy" would be a real loss.

Andy nodded thoughtfully, then said, "I need to arrange the audition time. As long as you agree, I'll start making calls to see when they're available. You know our schedule must follow theirs, but it will definitely take place in Telluride."

Renly nodded in understanding. "Which role do they want me to audition for in 'Horrible Bosses'?"

"I'm not entirely sure," Andy replied, already pulling out his phone to search through his contacts. "Brett Ratner wants an all-star cast—three employees and three bosses, all big names with box office appeal. From what I've heard, many big names are interested in the script."

Andy's eyes stayed on his phone screen, multi-tasking as he spoke. "People from 'The Frat Pack' like Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn, and heartthrobs like Ashton Kutcher and Matthew McConaughey are interested. The biggest names I've heard are Tom Cruise, Jeff Bridges, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Kevin Spacey... So, we need to fight hard to get in."

Looking up, Andy saw Renly's smile. "What's up?" Andy thought something was wrong, but Renly shook his head, indicating it was nothing. Andy nodded and dialed a number, "Weren't you going out to watch a movie? Are you sure you won't miss the start?" He asked while walking out to the balcony to make the call.

Matthew McConaughey, a heartthrob. Renly chuckled, remembering that Matthew hadn't yet become the acclaimed actor he would later be, still typecast in romantic comedies.

As Andy mentioned, "Horrible Bosses" indeed had an all-star cast in its previous life, with Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, and Colin Farrell playing the bosses, and Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis as the employees. These were familiar faces in comedy, and the casting competition would be fierce. Simply relying on talent wouldn't suffice; connections would be crucial, or Renly might not even get an audition. Besides, Renly wasn't confident in his "comedy skills" and was unsure how to showcase his comedic talent during the audition.

Which role would they want him to audition for? If given a choice, which role should he go for? What kind of charm should he display during the audition? The brashness of Clark Gable in "It Happened One Night"? Or the lively energy of Jack Lemmon in "Some Like It Hot"?

The more Renly thought about it, the more interesting it seemed. Comedy had diverse styles, and each actor had their unique flair. What would his comedic style be? He had no clear idea, making it even more challenging than "The Pacific" and "Buried."

"You're still here?" Andy returned to find Renly deep in thought on the sofa. "What about your movie?" But before Renly could answer, Andy spoke into the phone, "Yes, tonight works. I'll head over now."

After hanging up, Andy met Renly's inquisitive gaze. "I have dinner with Neal H. Moritz tonight. Want to join?"

"Fast & Furious 5?" Renly confirmed, getting a nod from Andy.

Renly had thought the "Horrible Bosses" audition would be easier to arrange since Andy had the script and seemed to know the people involved. He assumed the "Fast & Furious 5" meeting would be scheduled for the next day. But to his surprise, the dinner was already set. This urgency from the "Fast & Furious 5" crew was notable, though Renly wasn't sure if it was good or bad news.

"Of course," Renly agreed without hesitation. Having decided to give it a shot, he was ready to go all out. "Are we leaving now?"

Andy was pleased with Renly's response and nodded, "Yes, we're heading to the restaurant now. Neal will join us there." He glanced over Renly's casual outfit, initially chosen for the film festival. Surprisingly, it suited the "Fast & Furious 5" vibe perfectly. "Alright, let's go."

Telluride, known for its ski resorts and year-round festivals, was also a hotspot for wealthy visitors during the film festival, offering numerous high-end venues. People joked that the expenses in Telluride could rival those in Hawaii—the state with the highest average spending in the U.S.

Renly observed the cozy Italian family restaurant they entered. A red fire burned in the fireplace, and booths lined the walls, each offering a view of the handmade pizzas being baked. The high-backed seats provided a sense of privacy, while the opulent bar was manned by a suited bartender, and the elderly manager exuded Italian elegance and poise.

The scene reminded Renly of Italian mob bars in Martin Scorsese's films.

"This place is good for conversations," Andy explained, noticing Renly's curious gaze. "Otherwise, we'd have picked a French restaurant."

"It feels very New York," Renly commented, making Andy chuckle. "Then I chose the wrong place," Andy joked. "The 'Fast & Furious' series has an L.A. soul."

Renly nodded earnestly, "A Mexican restaurant would have been perfect."

Andy laughed, "Looks like we weren't late." A voice interrupted their conversation.

One moment, the voice was at the entrance; the next, its owner stood by their booth. His swift approach left a strong impression.

The first thing Renly noticed was a bald head, then another. A whole group followed, making a grand entrance. Renly had never been to a private audition and wondered if this was standard—agents, producers, casting directors, and more, all in attendance?

To his surprise, the bald man in front was Vin Diesel. Shouldn't he be busy filming? Why was he in Telluride?

Before Renly could recover from the shock, another familiar face appeared, greeting them with a friendly handshake. "Good evening!" It was none other than Paul Walker.