The Greatest Showman #813 - Reporters Gather

Seven hundred and seventy-nine reporters had gathered. As Renly entered the room adjacent to the press conference, the reporters trailing behind him halted. The clicking of cameras faded as they reached the door. Inside, Renly spotted some familiar faces: Tony Kaye, Carl Lund, Christina Hendricks, Marcia Gay Harden, Sammy Gayle, and Betty Kaye.

For a low-budget independent film, such a well-rounded promotional lineup was rare. Tony Kaye's status and connections in the art world were evident, and the cast itself stirred plenty of interest. Although Christina and Marcia were attending the Berlin Film Festival for the first time, they were no strangers to the industry.

"Hey, guys," Renly greeted with a lively step and a broad smile. Everyone responded, and Sammy and Betty eagerly stood up, their excitement unmistakable. Sammy was more eager than nervous, while Betty appeared more anxious than thrilled, her slight trembling betraying her nerves.

"Renly, you finally showed up," Sammy said, bouncing on the spot, her voice trembling. "This is such a big media event. I'm serious, there are so many reporters!" Whether it was excitement or nerves, her words tumbled out, repeated more than once.

Betty was quieter, nodding repeatedly, her expression a bit stiff.

"Imagine facing a crowd of watermelons—it feels much easier after that," Renly joked, giving both Sammy and Betty a hug.

Betty's hug was tight and wordless, though her nervousness, shyness, and subtle hesitation were palpable. In many ways, Betty mirrored Meredith from Detachment.

Renly embraced her gently, patting her back. "The hardest part is over. You should be proud. Trust me, a moment like today is easier than repeating a scene. You've done seventy-one shoots—this will be a breeze."

Sammy, who had been standing next to them, laughed first, followed by Betty, who slowly relaxed, a smile escaping her lips.

Marcia then rose and walked over, her face alight with a smile. "Don't worry, all the dirty work today goes to Renly. We're just here to watch the show. Be careful, don't space out and get caught by the reporters—that's our only job."

Before Renly could respond, Tony and Carl appeared. Tony was brisk, a wide smile on his face, his eyes sparkling with excitement, and he made no attempt to hide it. "That's right. Renly's here—no need to worry. All those reporters are here for him."

"Hey! Aren't you going to promote the movie?" Renly teased, but Tony, with an intense gaze, responded, "That's your job." With that, Tony strode confidently to the side door, Carl, half a step behind, offered Renly a respectful pat on the shoulder before following Tony at a leisurely pace.

Renly turned around to find Nathan and Roy smiling brightly at him. When Nathan caught Renly's gaze, he quickly averted his eyes, pretending to study the lines in the ceiling. Roy, however, composed himself and walked calmly toward the other assistants, managers, and makeup artists nearby.

Shaking his head with a smile, Renly took a step toward the side door. As everyone gathered by the door, the side door cracked open, and a hum of chatter filled the air. A steady voice announced through the microphone, "Gentlemen and ladies, the press conference is now officially underway. Please welcome the Transcendence crew!"

There was no grand fanfare—just a brief introduction. As the side door swung open, Tony led the Detachment crew onto the stage.

Click, click, click... the sound of shutters intensified. When Christina appeared, the rhythm quickened, and a voice rang out, "Christina!" The audience cheered, their enthusiasm palpable. Laughter rippled through the crowd. As the flashes continued, the shutter speed seemed to double, and the room's temperature seemed to rise as excitement filled the air.

The press was overwhelmingly focused on Renly. Though he walked calmly, unfazed by the swarm of cameras, he waved to Sammy and Betty to keep moving, signaling that they couldn't stand there too long or block the flow.

Tony and the others quickly realized and moved forward with soft laughs, heading toward their assigned seats at the long table on stage. Staff members were already there, guiding them to their spots.

Renly followed suit, looking around for his seat when a voice from the crowd called out, "Renly, could you step aside for a moment so we can take some pictures?"

The question was met with light laughter from the reporters. Renly attempted to respond, but without a microphone, his voice couldn't carry over the noise of the large banquet hall, which could accommodate 300 people.

With staff guidance, Renly found his seat in the center. Tony sat to his left, Sammy to his right—making Renly the core of the crew on stage. He couldn't help but laugh softly, whispering to Tony, "Shouldn't it be you sitting here?"

Tony patted him on the shoulder, "My job is done. Now it's your turn."

On the set, the director is the heart of the work; on the publicity circuit, the actor takes the lead. Tony's understanding of this division was crystal clear. What he disliked most was dealing with the media—every encounter, after all, brought a new wave of tension and excitement. He had emphasized this more than once that day.

Renly smiled, not pursuing the issue any further, and took his seat. He glanced to his left and right to ensure both Sammy and Betty were settled. Sammy was nervously attempting to open a bottle of water, her hands shaking slightly. Renly took the bottle, twisted the cap open with ease, and handed it back to Sammy. He noticed Betty holding out her water bottle, offering a shy smile and a whispered, "Thank you." Renly smiled warmly and accepted the bottle.

"Renly, can you tell us about what you're wearing today?"

Before the official interview began, reporters fired off questions, seemingly eager for any tidbits.

Renly handed Betty the opened water bottle, then turned toward Tony, who was holding out his own bottle. Renly shot him a confused glance, but Tony merely wore an innocent "I'm weak" expression, making Renly laugh. Still, he took the bottle and twisted the cap open.

The reporters chuckled at this exchange.

Afterward, Renly fiddled with the microphone. "Well, I'm wearing clothes and pants today, just like you. Nothing special." His playful response prompted more laughter.

"Renly, I mean, you always seem to know how to stand out, whether it's on the red carpet or in your personal life. Recently, the Daily Mail conducted an online poll with over 20,000 votes. You beat Robert Pattinson, David Beckham, and Johnny Depp for the title of the most stylish entertainer under 25, both for men and women."

The reporter elaborated, making Renly chuckle, "It's simple. If you have my height, you can do it too."

Laughter erupted, but one reporter stood up—a tall man, about 6'4" (195 cm). He wore a gray shirt, khaki sweater, and a khaki jacket. His unimpressive attire prompted the audience to burst into laughter.

Even nervous Sammy and Betty couldn't help but join in.

This was undoubtedly an atypical Berlin Film Festival.