Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 216: Hitting a Wall

"Hey, Andy! You came all the way here too? Is Renly your new signed actor? Wow... great eye, really great eye... I mean it, this time 'Buried' is getting quite the buzz... looks like you'll be busy for the rest of the year... Anyway, I have to run, the next show starts in ten minutes, hope these old legs can make it in time. Let's catch up for a drink later..."

Telluride during the film festival is always bustling with people. This tiny town seems to be completely submerged by the crowd, even more so than Cannes. Sitting in the hotel lobby for thirty minutes, Andy had already greeted nineteen acquaintances, with greetings never stopping.

Andy waved goodbye with a smile, but his eyes involuntarily glanced at the elevator again, still not seeing the person they were waiting for. He looked up and saw Renly sitting nearby, elegantly crossing his legs and reading the freshly printed morning newspaper, completely absorbed in his reading. His composed posture was even calmer than Andy's—long waits, missed appointments, and the constant greetings would make even a seasoned veteran like Andy a bit restless.

"Hey, Andy!" Another greeting interrupted Andy's thoughts. He nodded in acknowledgment and then looked back at Renly, "You don't seem nervous at all."

"I'm nervous too, you just can't see it." Having lived two lives, Renly's nerves had been through rigorous tests, not to mention, maintaining emotional control is an essential skill for nobles to stay elegant.

Renly's calm demeanor made Andy chuckle, "Was it the same last night?" Andy was referring to last night's audition for "Fast & Furious 5."

"No, I wasn't nervous last night." Renly's answers were always unexpected. He put down the newspaper, "You get nervous when you have expectations; without any, everything is just calm."

Such a simple sentence, but Andy tasted a deeper meaning. Indeed, he had expectations.

Last night's audition went far beyond expectations. Internal news came out the same night that "Fast & Furious 5" was very satisfied with Renly and had a strong intention to include him in the cast. Reporters also got wind of it this morning. This raised Andy's expectations for today's "Horrible Bosses" audition even higher.

If possible, Andy certainly didn't want to miss any projects. Even if there were scheduling conflicts, they could be negotiated and adjusted. Based on Renly's performance last night, Andy couldn't think of a reason why Brett Ratner would reject him.

Brett, the producer of "Horrible Bosses," had been in the industry for ten years. His breakout work was the TV series "Prison Break," in which he participated as a producer. After that, Brett transitioned to the film industry, producing "21," "Perpetual Fear," "Skyline," and also directed the "Rush Hour" series and "X-Men: The Last Stand."

Andy and Brett had been friends for years, with some personal ties. While not close, it was enough in Hollywood. This was also why Andy could get the first twenty pages of the "Horrible Bosses" script. With Renly's talent and Andy's persuasion, "Horrible Bosses" was promising.

This would mean an action movie, a comedy, and a romance drama, launching Renly's acting career next year much faster than Andy anticipated. So, he had expectations.

The audition was scheduled for ten in the morning, but it was already a quarter past ten, and producer Brett still hadn't shown up. Both the hotel room phone and his personal mobile went straight to voicemail. Andy's frustration was becoming harder to control.

"So, you have ideas now too?" Andy teased, hoping for a smooth collaboration with Renly, but honestly, he didn't expect Renly to be so proactive about "Horrible Bosses."

Renly shrugged, "We've discussed this before, haven't we?" Compared to "Fast & Furious 5," he indeed preferred to star in "Horrible Bosses."

Just as Andy was about to speak again, he saw a figure walking quickly across the lobby. He immediately stood up and called out, "Brett!" As he spoke, Andy moved quickly, his pudgy body showing surprising speed, somewhat amusing like a rushing penguin.

Renly also took long strides to follow.

Brett stopped at the hotel front desk. A typical Jewish man, with tight curls, neatly trimmed sideburns, and a thick build like a salmon, his heritage was obvious. His red crewneck T-shirt paired with a blazer didn't help, making him look like an unhandsome Seth Rogen—even though Seth Rogen wasn't exactly handsome.

"Andy, Andy, Andy," Brett immediately recognized him, showing an apologetic smile, "Sorry, I know we had an appointment at ten. I'm late, and I have to leave now, really sorry. I have an urgent matter at the Sheridan Theater."

Brett looked around and then saw Renly standing next to Andy. After a quick glance, he said to Andy, "How about this? Come with me to the theater, and we can chat along the way. How does that sound?"

Andy frowned slightly, smiling, "Brett, we've known each other for over ten years. Are you really pulling this on me? Walking to the theater takes at most three minutes. What can we discuss in that time? If you're serious about the audition, at least give me ten minutes. Otherwise, let's sit down right here and talk face to face, or reschedule."

No pleasantries, no sugar-coating, Andy laid it all out, leaving Brett little room to maneuver.

Brett showed a helpless smile, looking genuinely apologetic, "Honestly, we think he's too young, only twenty. We want actors in their thirties for this role. The director specifically mentioned this." Brett lifted his chin, glancing at Renly again, "He's so young, better suited for teen movies. I'm sure he'll do great."

A plausible reason, at least on the surface, with no obvious flaws. Renly's age was indeed a hurdle. The three employees in "Horrible Bosses" are friends, plotting to kill their bosses together. If Renly, only in his twenties, was cast, the other two actors' ages couldn't differ too much.

However, Andy wasn't buying it.

In acting, it's common for thirty-year-olds to play eighty-year-olds, or forty-year-olds to play twenty-five-year-olds. Especially for men, the presence or absence of a beard, or styled hair, can make a huge visual difference. Plus, with contemporary makeup techniques, the sense of dissonance is minimized.

In 2008, Brad Pitt played from six to eighty years old in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," including scenes in his twenties and thirties, all performed by him, despite being forty-five at the time.

"Bullshit," Andy retorted bluntly, "When I introduced Renly, I already said he's twenty. In 'Buried,' he played a twenty-eight-year-old, and both audiences and critics accepted it. Don't tell me you didn't know all this and just agreed to the audition out of courtesy. We're not rookies here."

Andy's sharp words left no room for Brett to breathe.

But Brett didn't flinch. He chuckled, spreading his hands helplessly, as if saying, "You asked for honesty, so don't blame me for not sparing our friendship." "We've decided to go with a more well-known actor."

Simple and clear, no extra explanations. The subtext: We don't want a nobody.

Seeing Andy still wanting to argue, Brett didn't give him the chance, continuing, "This morning, I got calls confirming Jason Bateman and Jason Sudeikis have both agreed. You know what that means."

Andy couldn't refute. Before the audition, he knew Brett aimed for an all-star cast. Renly's entry was due to the hype from Toronto and Telluride. But now, with Bateman and Sudeikis on board, Renly's chances were slim.

"Brett," Andy tried one last time. Brett cut him off, "If you insist, I can still give him a shot, as I said, walking to the theater. But you know the outcome."

Renly's lack of fame was his Achilles' heel. Regardless of talent, looks, or salary, when producers prioritize star power, it's game over.

"Trust me, he's great, everything's great. But we'll have to wait for the next opportunity," Brett said, patting Andy's shoulder warmly.

Andy didn't push further. Any more would just cheapen himself. While other aspects can be negotiated, fame, experience, and recognition are beyond an agent's control.

Watching Brett leave the hotel, Andy turned to Renly. Both had a look of undisguised disappointment. Failure is acceptable after a full effort, but being denied the chance to try is the most disappointing.