Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 67: Demonstrating Abilities

Andy squinted slightly, carefully observing the expression on Renly's face, trying to gauge Renly's true thoughts. But evidently, it wasn't an easy task. The eyes hidden beneath long lashes' shadows prevented further scrutiny. This was far from the clear and bright eyes of Eugene Sledge in "The Pacific." Andy couldn't help but sigh, 'Just from this detail alone, one can feel Renly's acting skills.'

"So, you haven't heard about it?" Andy still had a smile on his face, showing a hint of surprise, taking the initiative to speak.

"No, I got the script yesterday," Renly chuckled lightly, smoothly entering the subway gate. However, Andy was left outside. Clearly, he hadn't taken the subway in years. Nevertheless, Andy didn't mind at all. He immediately bought a ticket and smoothly entered, showing no impatience.

After entering the subway station, Andy continued the previous topic, "Since you've got the script, then you should know that your name has caused quite a stir in Hollywood."

Tom Hanks's endorsement wasn't something any newcomer could obtain. Moreover, the frenzy "The Pacific" stirred online was evident. Paramount Pictures wanted Renly to audition, which was indeed a bold move, but it was just an audition, not an actual role. It showed Paramount's intelligence.

"So, it's a good thing," Renly's words were plain, but there was a hint of curiosity in the slightly raised tone as if a curious baby asking "Why."

Andy understood.

Today, he visited Renly for the second time because he saw potential in Renly and believed the signing was worthwhile. It could likely cultivate the next superstar — of course, the difficulty was immense, otherwise, there wouldn't be so few actors considered superstars in the industry.

But for Renly, he was also being sought after by other agents. This meant it was now Andy's turn to show his abilities. After the last visit, Andy once again felt the wisdom and calmness in Renly, different from his age. He was somewhat glad he visited in person today instead of settling with a phone call.

It was still half an hour before peak hours, but there were already many people in the subway. The rumbling noise echoed constantly, presenting a chaotic scene, very different from the glamour of Hollywood. It was unprecedented to discuss future plans in such a setting.

However, Andy wasn't affected. After considering his words, he said, "It's indeed a good thing. But I don't think you should take on the 'Thor' project." Andy made his judgment first.

The corner of Renly's eyebrows raised slightly, and a playful expression appeared on his lips. "Oh?" This was certainly an unconventional approach. "I thought anyone would be thrilled to receive such an audition invitation, even Brad Pitt wouldn't be an exception, right?" Robert Downey Jr. successfully turned his fate around with "Iron Man," which was widely recognized in Hollywood.

"But you're not Brad Pitt," Andy's response was concise, making Renly chuckle. "That's just a joke. The real reasons are twofold. First, you're not the type of actor for superhero roles. Playing 'Thor' might affect your future development. Second, you're currently not established. Once you take on this role, you might be tied to the Marvel bandwagon. Paramount, such a top-tier company, won't go easy on newcomers. You wouldn't want to become another Daniel Radcliffe or Emma Watson."

Renly found the situation becoming interesting. Not only because of Andy's accurate positioning but also because of the broad perspective Andy displayed in his simple words, which was indeed different.

"In the eyes of agents, actors are generally divided into two types, those with relatively straightforward career paths, or those with many possibilities." Andy's words made Renly smile broadly, responding, "I thought it was about making money and not making money." This response made Andy smile too. However, he always wore a smile, so his reaction didn't seem much different.

"Choosing superheroes can bring quick success. You might become famous overnight, immediately joining the ranks of A-list actors. But this path becomes narrower over time, with fewer choices and possibilities," Andy continued. His sincere smile seemed to exchange industry secrets with Renly, even in the noisy subway environment, still convincing. "Many new actors choose superhero movies as the fastest shortcut to success. It's a fact. But when they make this decision, their potential ceiling is already determined."

Andy's sincerity genuinely impressed Renly.

Of course, Renly also knew that top agents in the industry understood this. There were countless such cases. Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp, and now Robert Downey Jr., were all examples. But why didn't agents stop newcomers from making such choices? Because there was no need.

This was a circle of emerging newcomers, with countless new faces every day. Missing out on one potential superstar meant there was another potential legend. Agents focused on short-term benefits; that was enough. They weren't running a charity for long-term planning. Actors were just means to their profit.

Look at how Johnny Depp's salary skyrocketed after "Pirates of the Caribbean," that was a solid fact, an unquestionable success. No one cared about his career trajectory afterward.

The most classic case was Hayden Christensen, starting with the "Star Wars" series, rising to fame overnight, but then gradually fading away in recent years, slowly being forgotten. The Harry Potter actors Andy mentioned earlier were also similar.

All agents understood this, including Andy. However, he voluntarily abandoned this short-term plan in front of Renly, regardless of the reason, showing his sincerity.

"So, what do you think I should do?" Renly asked with a hint of exploration.

But Andy knew this couldn't be taken lightly. He said seriously, "I think you should hone your skills in two independent films first, preferably earning a Golden Globe nomination. Then seek opportunities in commercial films. None of this can be rushed. It could take two years if fast, four if slow. We'll carefully select projects, play to your strengths, accumulate enough reputation, then explore different possibilities."

The difference between commercial actors and artistic actors was well-known to any agent. Crossing over successfully wasn't easy. There was only one Tom Hanks. But all agents attempted to explore different possibilities. Commercial films earned profits, providing more exposure and performance opportunities for actors. Artistic films earned fame, pursuing honor and expanding future possibilities.

Unless they were like Sean Penn or Catherine Keener, fully dedicated to independent artistic films. Otherwise, most actors sought a balance between commercial and artistic films. But the reality was, mastering this balance was the ultimate goal every actor and agent tirelessly sought.

From Andy's definition of Renly, one could see he considered Renly an artistic actor, with solid and delicate acting skills and a graceful demeanor, which were enough for Renly to shine in independent films. Meanwhile, his outstanding appearance and elegant demeanor also gave him certain commercial value. Perhaps he could succeed, perhaps not, but it was worth trying in the future.

"So, Brad Pitt?" Renly suddenly remembered Roy's previous joke. Hollywood's current definition of him was "Brad Pitt," which was indeed an interesting matter, wasn't it?

Andy didn't immediately respond but thought seriously, giving a different answer, "Edward Norton."

This made Renly's eyes light up. It was an extremely intriguing analogy, very different from Hollywood's current view. "If I miss out on 'Thor,' my future choices won't be as many."

"But you won't mind, will you?" Facing Renly's probing, Andy's counterattack successfully made both of them smile, understanding each other without words.

Renly asked again, "I never knew there were differences in commercial films." In the eyes of most agents, commercial films were all the same — popcorn flicks, sacrificing reputation for box office. But as an actor, Renly knew even the same vase could be different in different commercial films.

"Of course, there are," Andy remained calm, saying seriously, " 'The Dark Knight' and 'Iron Man 2' are different; 'Inception' and 'Twilight' are also different."

Such examples made Renly unable to hold back his laughter. "I hope our conversation just now wasn't overheard by anyone else, or else chaos will ensue."

The frenzy of "Twilight" fans was incomparable to others, even though critics slammed the series, the fans' enthusiasm still pushed the box office to new heights. Additionally, DC Comics and Marvel Comics fans' support for their own films was undeniable.

"In that case, you're a DC fan?" Renly teased.

But Andy raised his thick index finger to his lips, making a "shh" gesture, then said pretentiously, "I'm a fan of movies."