The Greatest Showman #774 - Practice

Filming officially began, but the two protagonists, Renly and Jennifer, did not step in front of the camera. Instead, they stood by, closely observing the action and closely following every detail of the shoot. This is a distinctive feature of major commercial blockbusters—sometimes the main characters are not always in the scenes during filming.

The scene being shot was a complete one, but it was split into multiple sub-shots. The first involved Cage flying a kite, followed by Rita's dramatic suicide hitting the wall. Both required professional stunt actors to carry them out. Once the action scenes were captured, the focus would shift to close-ups, where the two leading actors would finally take center stage.

However, Renly and Jennifer stayed put, their eyes glued to the action. They whispered between takes, discussing the next moves and preparing for what would come next.

The challenge of this scene didn't lie in the performance. For the actors, all they had to do was convey determination and focus, showing the spirit of resilience and mutual sacrifice. But the real difficulty lay in executing the action scenes—particularly the fighting and the choreography. It's not enough to just fight; it has to look spectacular, and that's where the distinction between film and reality becomes clear.

After more than two hours of intense shooting—complete with explosions, impacts, broken glass, and fires—the director, within the constraints of the studio and the feasible effects, worked hard to create as much realism as possible. For every shot, there was meticulous preparation. A single shot might last only three minutes, but the re-preparation for each one could take 20 minutes or longer. After four takes, the director finally gave the green light. The stunt doubles had completed their work, and the scene went smoothly, to the applause and cheers of everyone on set.

Next up: Renly and Jennifer.

The set was intimidating. The towering wall they were standing on was at least three stories high. The falling concrete created a dramatic landslide that led all the way to the ground. Both Renly and Jennifer had to descend, but in different ways—Renly would roll after the kite was severed, while Jennifer would jump off nimbly.

Jennifer gazed up at the height, then turned to Renly. "Wow, this is higher than I expected." She started climbing the stairs to the wall, which was next to a helicopter model. She would soon enter it and wait for her turn in the shot.

The staff were carefully checking Renly's protective gear. Soft, form-fitting body armor helped reduce the impact, and reinforced padding on the joints—elbows, knees, and shoulders—was essential for preventing injury. It was also important that the gear was light and did not hinder his movement.

Hearing Jennifer's exclamation, Renly glanced over at her. "So, if Storm were here, do you think she could unleash her power? Or Magneto, maybe?" Renly asked, half-joking.

Jennifer nodded eagerly. "I don't see any iron around here, so I guess Storm is stronger." She paused, then dramatically gestured with her hands and claws, mimicking Halle Berry's portrayal of Storm. "Her eyes would turn snow white, and suddenly this would become her world."

Renly raised an eyebrow. "What about Magneto?"

As the crew adjusted Renly's equipment, Jennifer began mimicking Magneto, extending her hands dramatically. "Like this? All the metal would start moving around?" Renly's expression became serious, and he clenched his jaw, pretending to strain as if lifting something heavy. "Magneto's power is unstoppable," he grunted, looking more like a superhero enthusiast at Comic-Con than a method actor.

The crew, observing the playful antics from below, exchanged glances. Alexander Skarsgård shook his head, puzzled. "What are they doing?"

Rami Malek, unfazed, shrugged. "Do I know them? I'm meeting them for the first time today. Maybe they escaped from a neurological hospital?"

Paul Walker, laughing, gave Rami a playful shove. "Come on, man, lighten up." But despite the joking, he couldn't help laughing at the playful antics. He mimicked Wolverine, raising his fist with a grin, drawing a comparison to the fun spirit of the crew.

Donald Glover jumped in. "What about me? Quicksilver?"

Will Poulter, quiet until now, smirked. "So, are you Renly's son?"

The entire crew burst into laughter, and the energy on set lightened.

Paul Greengrass, the director, sighed and picked up a microphone. "Thirty seconds, everyone!" The crew quickly quieted, though the cheerful mood lingered, and a smile could be seen on most faces.

Renly and Jennifer, standing on the wall, stopped their joking. They focused on the task ahead, mentally preparing for the shot.

Jennifer glanced at the steep drop below her and turned to Renly. "Good luck, man! Trust me, I definitely wouldn't want to roll down here myself."

Renly chuckled. "You're not helping, girl." Jennifer's laughter eased his nerves a bit, but after it faded, the tension returned. Three stories high. He had to roll himself down. It sounded easier than it felt.

Taking a deep breath, Renly reminded himself that this wasn't as terrifying as it seemed. It was like rock climbing in Verdon Canyon—everything had its techniques. Once you mastered the skills, the dangerous became manageable. Verdon Canyon had real risks, the wind howling, the heat unbearable, the slippery rock—a slight misstep could lead to disaster. But here? It was all part of the movie magic.

Renly gave a signal to the crew, making an "OK" gesture. Once the staff confirmed everything, they radioed the director.

Standing still, Renly relaxed his body, letting go of distractions. The countdown began: "5, 4, 3..." The scene would start on "three," and Renly had to ensure the momentum of the previous shot would flow smoothly into the next. It was a tricky transition, but he was ready.

"1," the director called, and Renly, just waiting for the right moment, leapt into action. As the helicopter model crashed, glass shattered, and the debris flew, Renly used the momentum to dive into the scene, rolling with the force of the fall.

The roll was fierce, aided by his hands and knees, but the impact was overwhelming. His body hit the ground with a brutal thud. His ribs, thighs, and waist absorbed the force, and though the pain was sharp, it soon faded into a dull, numbing stiffness. For a moment, Renly lay there, disoriented, before he slowly pushed himself up.

"Cut!" The director's voice broke the silence. "Renly, the roll was good, but it lacked the right arc and style. It's believable, but not elegant enough." Paul Greengrass approached, followed by martial arts instructor Nick-Davis. "We need the angle to be sharper, closer to the camera, for a better shot."

The pain from the roll had quickly subsided, but Renly still lay on the ground, looking up at Paul in mock disbelief. "Director, could you at least wait for me to stand up before giving notes? You're overwhelming me."

Paul gave a dry chuckle. "Get up, we need to speed this up."

Renly smirked. "Is this payback, director?"

Paul shrugged with a grin. "Nick, show Renly how to fall more stylishly."

Nick extended his hand to help Renly up. "You alright?"

Renly waved him off, laughing. "Just teach me the art of the roll."

Nick proceeded to demonstrate. "As you roll, let the inertia work for you. Use your palms to support your weight, straighten your arms, and slide down. When you land, fold your arms and hit your shoulders to make sure it looks controlled and graceful."

Renly's only response was a stunned "Wow."