The Greatest Showman#644 - first round audition

Renly lifted his head and took in the grand hall before him. It was spacious, bright, and impressively tall, exuding an air of transparency. The deep blue tones gave it a sense of calm and authority. Yet, something felt off—there were no movie posters, no framed photographs of actors—nothing to suggest this was a film production company. It felt more like a corporate office building. Then again, this was Renly's first time visiting a studio. Without a point of reference, he had only the Hollywood portrayals of film studios in his mind.

"Mr. Hall? The conference room you reserved is on the sixth floor, Room 6014. Here is your temporary pass." The receptionist at the front desk spoke politely, handing over three documents. Nathan took them, nodding with a smile. "Good luck."

Renly gave a polite nod in response. As Nathan distributed the documents between Renly and Roy, the three made their way towards the nearby elevator.

"Do all major studios hold auditions at their headquarters?" Renly asked curiously. "I thought they'd use a theater or a dedicated studio space."

"Not always," Roy replied. As a former agent, he had extensive knowledge of industry practices. "Most auditions for smaller productions are held in theaters or on set, particularly where a room is designated for casting. But for special projects or auditions for leading roles, studios often host them at headquarters."

"So does that mean Renly is receiving special treatment?" Nathan asked, his excitement barely contained. This was Warner Bros.—Hollywood's undisputed box office powerhouse. In the past decade, the studio had secured five year-end box office championships, three of them consecutively.

Renly and Roy exchanged glances, both smiling faintly. Neither of them believed this was special treatment. Based on the information Andy had shared, it was more likely that Edge of Tomorrow was still without a core producer. Tim Lewis lacked decision-making authority, and without a finalized casting director, they had defaulted to holding auditions at Warner Bros. headquarters.

Today, Renly was in New York specifically for the Edge of Tomorrow audition. Andy had worked swiftly—within just two days of Renly expressing interest in the role, an audition had been secured. The efficiency was nothing short of impressive.

Yet, everything remained uncertain. What exactly did this audition signify? What was Warner Bros.' stance on the project? How far along was its development? What were the expectations for today's audition? Would there be multiple rounds? Would the script's coherence be a factor?

Uncertainty hung in the air. If nothing else, this was just the first step. There would undoubtedly be further auditions to follow.

Although Renly had already participated in Fast & Furious 5, that experience was unique—only one audition, a one-on-one interview, with Andy handling the rest. It hadn't followed the standard blockbuster casting model.

In contrast, Edge of Tomorrow marked Renly's first foray into a top-tier production from the ground up, vying for the lead role. The audition process would be entirely different—a new challenge.

Renly had heard that Chris Hemsworth went through four rounds of auditions before landing the role of Thor. Auditioning processes varied depending on an actor's status—rookies, mid-tier actors, and A-listers were all treated differently. But where did Renly stand?

"Well, we are at Warner Bros. headquarters," Roy said solemnly, a hint of amusement in his tone.

Checking his watch, he turned to Nathan. "What time is our flight this afternoon?"

"Three forty-five." Nathan had memorized the itinerary. "It's Tuesday, but the traffic to the airport around noon can be unpredictable. We should aim to finish the audition before eleven."

Renly was scheduled to fly to Toronto for the film festival. Crazy Love was set to premiere the following evening. The festival appearance had been planned in advance, but the Edge of Tomorrow audition was a last-minute addition. Fortunately, Nathan had originally booked an afternoon flight, allowing room for both.

It was clear Andy had strategically arranged this audition to fit within Renly's existing schedule, ensuring it wouldn't conflict with the Toronto Film Festival.

The clock showed just past 9:30 AM—plenty of time. But auditions were unpredictable. Everything depended on how the process unfolded.

As they reached the sixth floor, they found an unexpected scene. The hallway was eerily empty—no crowd of actors waiting for their turn, no bustling staff. The quiet was unsettling, and even the sound of the elevator door opening echoed through the corridor.

"Is this... normal?" Nathan asked, scanning the vacant hallway. The cold, corporate atmosphere was reminiscent of a high-end financial firm rather than a film studio. It had an almost eerie quality, like something out of The Shining.

Roy hesitated before answering. "Maybe it's a one-on-one audition. Given that Andy scheduled this last-minute, Warner Bros. might have arranged for key personnel to be present."

But even as he spoke, Roy wasn't entirely convinced. Something felt off. Renly wasn't a top-tier actor—why would Warner Bros. allocate these resources for him? Did they have low expectations for Edge of Tomorrow? Was this audition merely a formality?

Nathan walked ahead, checking the room numbers. He turned and gestured toward the opposite end of the hallway. "6014 is this way."

As Renly stepped forward, the stairwell door suddenly swung open with a loud creak. He turned to see a short, plump Black woman step through.

She stood barely to Renly's chest, her body curvaceous and pear-shaped. She carried herself with purpose, her neatly styled dreadlocks adorned with well-matched jewelry. Her makeup was bold yet precise—clearly someone who valued presentation.

She glanced at them without much expression. "Morning," she greeted briefly before walking past. As she reached a nearby door, she pushed it open and called over her shoulder, "Mr. Hall? This way."

Her tone was curt but professional. Renly exchanged a glance with Roy—was she today's casting director?

"Lucinda Syson," Roy murmured, recognition dawning on him. "Andy's been busy. This means the project is moving forward."

Renly nodded thoughtfully. The presence of a recognizable industry figure meant that Edge of Tomorrow had progressed more than expected. Two days ago, Tim Lewis had been working solo. Now, a well-known casting director was involved. That was significant.

The audition was happening now, without preamble. But Renly was ready. Before The Pacific, he had sent out countless resumes and observed auditions on Broadway. The process no longer intimidated him.

Without hesitation, he strode forward, glanced at the number 6014 on the door, and entered.

"Good luck!" Nathan whispered, clenching his fists. The door shut behind Renly, leaving Nathan and Roy alone in the corridor.

Nathan exhaled. "Roy, is this how auditions usually go?"

Roy smirked. "More or less. But one thing's for sure—Renly can handle it. Who knows? Maybe one audition is all it takes."

In Hollywood, casting directors wield significant power. With nearly 600,000 registered actors, they have an uncanny ability to spot talent. A perfect casting choice can elevate a film, while a misstep can derail an entire production.

Lucinda Syson was a top-tier casting director. And today, she was the one deciding Renly's fate.