The Greatest Showman #723 - Breaking the Image

It wasn't a hilarious scene, but the whole set erupted in laughter.

Donald, Rami, and the others clapped in celebration, sighing in amazement, "God, Renly really has a sense of humor. Haven't you noticed before?"

Donald, always a social character, had become close to most of the crew in just two weeks. Initially, he thought Renly would be hard to approach, but that assumption quickly proved wrong. Today, he felt bold enough to pull a prank.

Rami was so overwhelmed that she could barely speak, her laughter so uncontrollable that it left her hoarse. The scene itself wasn't inherently funny; it was Renly's witty timing that made it hilarious. The contrast between Cage and Renly, then from Farrell to Alexander, and finally Alexander's body language, all came together in a perfect comedic moment.

Wiping tears from her eyes, Rami realized that Renly was approachable—just a bit reserved at first. Getting to know him took time. She had never seen this side of him before, probably because the story style of War in the Pacific didn't lend itself to comedy.

The laughter continued for a while, eventually tapering off. Renly turned to Paul, who was standing behind the monitor. "Director, is this scene okay? Did I overdo it? Should I tone it down?"

At that moment, the crew remembered they were making a movie, and the focus shifted back to the work at hand. All eyes were on Paul.

To be honest, Paul was hesitant. Throughout his directorial career—whether in the commercial film Bournemouth or the more artful Flight 93—he had maintained a serious and sharp tone in his work, influenced by his background in journalism. The style of the earlier scene was definitely not something he was accustomed to.

However, he didn't immediately reject the idea. During pre-production discussions, they had agreed that Edge of Tomorrow would have a relatively relaxed tone—light, without being too heavy or dull. So, he needed to think it through and consider how it would fit into the final product, including the editing.

"I'll watch the replay," Paul said, and got to work.

Meanwhile, another Paul—Paul Walker—stepped forward. He stopped in front of Renly and Alexander, surveying Renly with a bemused smile. After a moment, he couldn't hold back and burst out laughing. Shaking his head in disbelief, he said, "Man, you're really on fire right now. Are you sure you're okay?"

Renly flashed a calm smile. "Trust me, it's not too much." His words were simple, but his eyes and expression hinted at something more, leaving Paul confused about the deeper meaning.

Alexander, ever the straight shooter, patted Renly on the arm. "So, you mean to say you have more tricks up your sleeve? Dude, control yourself. If you keep this up, I'm gonna be the one overwhelmed." Alexander then grabbed Renly's sleeve, shaking his shoulders and stomping his feet in a playful manner. This exaggerated display left Renly with goosebumps, while Paul chuckled at the scene.

The atmosphere on the Edge of Tomorrow set was a stark contrast to that of Degree and Passion 5. While every film set has its own dynamics—different casts, staff, and chemistry—this particular set was filled with laughter and joy from the very first day of shooting.

As the laughter died down, Paul made his decision. "Okay, there was no problem with this scene."

Renly and Alexander's performances had been perfectly restrained. The humor stemmed from the contrast between the two, especially in Renly's subtle facial expressions and deliberate disruption of the rhythm, which created a genuine comedic effect.

This approach wouldn't interfere with the overall tone of Edge of Tomorrow or Paul Greengrass' sharp, realistic style. In fact, it gave Paul the confidence to proceed with his vision without worrying about the comedic elements—he could leave that part to Renly.

Paul couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. He was curious to see if the humorous chemistry between Renly and other actors would be as effective, especially since Alexander didn't strike him as a particularly funny actor. But the dynamic between them was undeniable.

After a few more takes, the first scene of Edge of Tomorrow was complete. The next task for the day was the group show, where the J-Team would be introduced, and all the main actors—excluding Jennifer—would be filmed together.

The character development and group dynamics of the J-Team had been discussed thoroughly in the first production meeting, and adjustments had been made to ensure the roles were well-rounded. This meant a higher level of direction was required, as the characters' interactions needed to be carefully crafted through the camera's lens.

Once the first scene was completed, they immediately moved on to the next one.

"People say it's scary," Farrell said, lifting the curtain of the barracks and entering with Cage. "You don't have to wait until night for them to agree with you," he added, his slow pace of speech laced with schadenfreude. His eyes gleamed with a mix of pride and disdain as he looked at the soldiers on either side of them. "You're just a coward full of lies, putting your own life above others."

Cage and Farrell walked side by side, exchanging cautious glances, until they saw a fierce-looking soldier with bulging, muscular arms, his eyes full of menace. Cage instinctively lowered his gaze, shrinking away from the intimidating soldier. He leaned slightly toward Farrell, who seemed to offer more security in this tense moment.

Everyone else thought Cage was simply a private, but Cage knew he was actually an officer. It was ironic, though—he had none of the confidence one might expect from someone in his position. In truth, he was impersonating an officer.

"The good news is you still have hope, Private," Farrell continued. "You can still participate in this glorious war."

Cage's eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. His mouth hung slightly open, an expression of utter confusion on his face, as if he had just heard the most ridiculous thing.

Farrell, smug as ever, continued. "War is a great savior. It tempers true heroes. There's no hierarchy on the battlefield, no matter what kind of waste you are when you first arrive."

Farrell's words, dripping with pride, turned to Cage, who was still reeling from the unexpected news.

At that moment, Cage's face displayed a kind of fanboy devotion. His eyes were glued to Farrell with a look of adoration, his expression almost pleading. It was as though Farrell had become the last hope Cage could cling to.

Alexander, who had been listening to his lines, turned and saw Renly's expression. He stopped in his tracks, stunned at first, before bursting into laughter.

"Pfft!" Alexander tried to stifle his laughter, raising his hand to cover his mouth. But it was too late—he was already laughing uncontrollably. Looking at Renly, he couldn't help but find the whole situation hilariously absurd.

Renly, meanwhile, maintained his composure. He spread his hands, an innocent expression on his face, as if to say, "I don't know what just happened."

The entire set burst into laughter, with everyone enjoying the comedic chemistry between the actors. It was an unexpected but delightful outcome that made the shoot even more memorable.