The Greatest Showman #1119 – Opening Puzzle

One after another, the entire crew of Gravity arrived at the Surrey Photography Base, ready to begin shooting.

However, the team didn't rush into action immediately. Before the official start of production, the props team, photography team, lighting team, visual effects team, and director's team all gathered together for continuous meetings, day and night. Calculations and preparations were being made round-the-clock as the movie's groundwork got underway.

This wasn't just because of Renly's unexpected dehydration, but due to the grand opening Alfonso Cuarón envisioned for the film: a groundbreaking 18-minute long take set in space.

In this continuous, seamless shot, sweeping panoramas, close-ups, action sequences, and various narrative elements would all unfold simultaneously. Zero gravity and long takes would combine to create a stunning visual story that captured the vastness and grandeur of the universe, merging real-time performances with special effects. The sequence needed to be flawless and immersive.

It goes without saying that this was the most challenging shot in the entire film—and perhaps one of the most difficult shots in the history of cinema. As of 2017, no one had managed to replicate such a feat, one that brought the reality and awe of space to life.

This sequence was the result of five years of meticulous research, experimentation, breakthroughs, and refinements by Alfonso and his technical team.

When Gravity was finally completed, the opening 18-minute shot became the film's crowning achievement, winning universal acclaim across the industry. It established Alfonso's place as a leader in Hollywood filmmaking.

The difficulty of this sequence was staggering.

Now, the key members of the crew were deep into their rehearsals and demonstrations, preparing for a shot that, once begun, could not be interrupted. Every detail had to be perfect. If anything—no matter how small—went wrong, they'd have to start over from scratch. Even a single misstep in the actor's delivery, a missed beat, or a slip of the tongue could jeopardize the entire take.

And this wasn't just any shot; it was 18 minutes long. Months of planning had gone into setting up each individual shot, and once the filming began, they would have to work for days—or even weeks—before getting it right.

This meant that the actors, too, had to be fully involved in the preparations and be a part of the process for this groundbreaking long take.

However, even without Renly and Rooney, the Gravity crew forged ahead with the final stages of preparation. The absence of the lead actors didn't seem to slow them down in the least.

But when Renly and Rooney finally appeared at the meeting in the studio, everything came to an abrupt halt. A stunned silence fell over the room as everyone turned to look at them, their gazes filled with astonishment and curiosity, as if they had just witnessed something otherworldly. The tension was so palpable that for a brief moment, it seemed like the crew might flee in panic.

"...Two tracks definitely aren't enough. We need at least three, no—four. The entire camera setup is too complicated. The scene management must have a wider perspective. Even that's still not enough."

Emmanuel Lubezki, the film's cinematographer, was speaking, shaking his head with a determined frown as he expressed his dissatisfaction. As the director's eyes, Lubezki's job was to translate the director's ideas into visual imagery, and the importance of his work was beyond dispute.

His tone was so focused that, for a moment, he didn't even notice the silence that had settled over the room. Only when he finished voicing his concerns did he turn and see Renly and Rooney standing behind him.

"Damn it!" Emmanuel exclaimed, his surprise evident in his voice as he muttered in Spanish, his eyes wide with shock.

His unkempt beard and messy hair only added to the comedy of the moment. He quickly glanced at Alfonso, asking in a frantic tone, "What's going on? Why is he here? You didn't mention it before! Is he okay? Are you sure he's fine?"

His excitement, a typical display of passionate Spanish exuberance, filled the room.

"I'm pretty sure he's fine. Look, his shadow's still visible on the ground," Renly responded in fluent Spanish, causing Emmanuel's posture to stiffen. The moment he realized what was happening, Alfonso burst into laughter.

The use of the word "shadow"—a Western term for ghosts—added an unexpected twist. The rest of the crew, confused and not understanding Spanish, exchanged glances.

Realizing the joke, Emmanuel chuckled awkwardly, embarrassed at having forgotten Renly's proficiency in the language. Renly had previously shown his ability to speak Spanish in Fast & Furious 5, where he'd delivered a few lines in the language.

Emmanuel scratched his head, then stood up, extending a hand to Renly, his tone now more subdued. "Sorry, I thought you hadn't fully recovered. I didn't expect you to visit. Is everything okay?" he asked, his English sounding smoother than anticipated.

Renly, sensing Emmanuel's hesitation, responded with a calm smile. "As a photographer, it's essential to understand the director's vision, right? You need to communicate with them. That's why you've got such a strong command of English," Renly said, his words hinting at Emmanuel's depth as a technical artist.

Emmanuel looked at Renly with a mixture of gratitude and slight embarrassment, before saying, "Well, that's my excuse. But seriously, I never expected to see you here today."

Renly smiled, his usual easygoing nature shining through. "Don't worry, I'm fine. After all, a sleeping prince still wakes up, right?"

"Ha ha ha ha!" Rooney couldn't hold back her laughter, and soon, the entire room joined in, the atmosphere lightening considerably.

Renly, who had been asleep for a full thirty-six hours following his dehydration incident, had taken a long rest to recover. He hadn't eaten solid food for nearly seventy hours after leaving JFK International Airport in New York, and though he couldn't dive into solid meals right away, he had been given liquid food to help restore his strength.

After waking up, Renly and Rooney had used the time to discuss their characters, diving deeper into the nuances of the roles to better understand them for the film. Their conversations led them to the studio, where they accidentally interrupted the meeting, setting off the humorous scene that had just unfolded.

To the staff, Renly seemed almost like a vampire: someone who had been trapped in the light box for hours before emerging, almost as though he had been in a deep slumber for years. His reappearance had an almost mythical quality to it.

Despite the humor of the moment, Renly didn't want to focus on himself. The work still had to be done. He was eager to get back to the task at hand and contribute to the film's progress.

"Emmanuel, what were you discussing just now? The opening long take for the film?" Renly asked as he moved to join the group.

Everyone turned to him, the momentary tension from earlier dissolving into anticipation for the next stage of the conversation.

Alfonso still seemed a little uncertain. "Are you sure, Renly? You've just woken up. Maybe you should take it easy for now."

Renly shook his head, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "No, I'm not sure... But I'm pretty certain that if I stay in bed any longer, I might just turn into a vampire."

The room erupted in laughter again, the mood finally shifting back to the lighthearted camaraderie that had marked their work together from the start.

Renly then nodded at Alfonso. "The opening long shot—Rooney and I can't afford to miss it. How we stand, move, and perform—it all matters. I don't want to miss this historic moment."