The Greatest Showman #1120 - Puzzle 1 Corner

Renly stood there, full of energy, with Rooney by his side, eager and expectant. Emmanuel exchanged glances with Alfonso and Timothy before finally nodding, signaling his willingness to proceed with the discussion.

"So, what do you want to know?" Emmanuel asked, diving back into the work at hand.

Renly and Rooney exchanged a brief look, a silent understanding passing between them. Then Rooney spoke up, "Please, continue the discussion. The two of us will act as auditors. If there's any part requiring our cooperation, we'll chime in, or if there's any confusion, we'll speak up."

Emmanuel nodded, visibly pleased with the arrangement. Just as he was about to continue, he paused for a moment, momentarily unsure of where they had left off. Renly, always perceptive, gave a helpful reminder, "With the addition of orbits, the movement of the camera is extremely complicated."

That jogged Emmanuel's memory, and he nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, I was discussing with Alfonso and Timothy how to portray the vastness and majesty of the universe in a more grandiose manner. We need to transition from wide shots to close-ups, and then back out again, including the protagonist's god-like perspective..."

Emmanuel continued, standing up to grab a black carbon pen and sketching the camera's movements and scene layout on a nearby whiteboard.

This was Renly's first time witnessing Emmanuel's process firsthand, and it became clear why Emmanuel was regarded as one of the top cinematographers in the industry. His sketches outlined the entire cosmic scene—positions of Earth, the sun, distant planets, and the space station, all of which would come together in a breathtaking sequence.

The complexity of Emmanuel's designs was staggering. The careful planning behind the 18-minute long take was akin to a physics or astronomy thesis. Emmanuel passionately described the precise camera movements for over 45 minutes, all focused on one technical aspect: how to move the camera in space.

But that was just the start.

Next, Alfonso chimed in, explaining in detail how the positioning of the sun and moon would subtly shift under the Hubble telescope's lens, with each movement creating slight changes in the visual perspective. The scene's modeling of Earth in space was equally complex.

Renly was enthralled by the sheer amount of detail that had gone into the film. Alfonso and Emmanuel were constantly brainstorming and consulting with each other, while the rest of the staff joined in, raising concerns about potential issues that could arise during actual filming. The discussion was both intense and enlightening.

Renly soon learned that Alfonso had watched multiple documentaries about the Hubble telescope to understand its orbit and perspective. He had also reached out to NASA to consult with current astronauts, ensuring that the film's depiction of space would be as realistic as possible. Despite five years of preparation, the team still had much to do before they could begin filming.

Amidst the fervent discussion, one thing was clear: Renly and Rooney couldn't keep up with the technical conversation. These were problems the actors couldn't even begin to grasp, and it became apparent that their role in this process was secondary. Yet, despite not fully understanding the theory, Renly and Rooney remained engaged. They listened intently, exchanging thoughts, and considering their position within this vast technical framework.

Renly, having already experienced the lightbox firsthand, had more to contribute than Rooney, who hadn't yet stepped into that realm. The two of them were often engaged in side conversations, trying to piece together the larger picture.

In the midst of the discussions, Emmanuel noticed Renly and Rooney whispering to each other, seemingly disconnected from the ongoing technical chatter. It didn't take long for Emmanuel to call out, "Renly? What are your thoughts? Any questions?"

The sudden attention felt like a spotlight on them, and both Renly and Rooney chuckled nervously. Renly, breaking the silence, said, "I have a lot of questions, many of them."

Emmanuel was ready to respond, but Renly added, "The biggest issue I have is that I don't even know how to ask these questions. It feels like I don't belong here."

Renly's lighthearted tone helped ease the tension in the room, causing everyone to laugh.

Emmanuel, however, didn't share in the levity. His expression remained serious, eyes fixed on Renly.

After a brief pause, Renly continued, "The entire eighteen-minute shot isn't actually one continuous take, right? There are technical limitations that prevent it from being done in a single shot, so you're planning to split it into two long takes, and then stitch them together, right?"

Emmanuel didn't respond immediately, but Alfonso gave a slight nod of agreement.

"Also," Renly continued, "since the shot that shows the Earth will be a fully computer-generated image, the transition between these shots could be seamless, almost as if the cut were natural."

Renly's suggestion, though simple, offered a solution that hadn't been considered before. The integration of CGI might solve some of the technical challenges that the team had been wrestling with.

Emmanuel folded his arms and gave a defensive glance. He wasn't ready to forgive Renly's interruption so easily, but his gaze had softened. Clearly, Renly had made a valid point.

Renly didn't miss the subtle shift. He pressed on, "Additionally, the IRIS robotic arm will control the camera's movements, panning and shifting the camera across different angles. You'll rely on precise lighting changes to maintain continuity and realism. You'll adjust the background lighting to compensate for the characters' movements, right?"

This time, Emmanuel couldn't help but nod. Renly had captured the essence of their previous discussions, and it was clear he had been fully engaged in the process.

Emmanuel, realizing he had nodded in approval, quickly straightened up and returned to his serious posture, though the slight change in his demeanor didn't go unnoticed by Renly.

Still, Renly pushed on with his next question. "Then, if all of this is true, what exactly is the actor's role in this?"

His question, though seemingly trivial, hung in the air. Everyone in the room froze. They were all so consumed by the technical challenges that the role of the actors had been forgotten.

Renly smiled wryly and continued, "Rooney and I were just talking, and we realized that throughout this entire sequence, we need to be fully aware of the timing, the camera movements, and the exact actions we need to perform at any given moment. We are just pieces of the puzzle, placed at the right spots to complete the picture. As for the technical details? We don't need to dive into them."

The room fell silent for a moment, as everyone processed Renly's words. It was a simple yet profound observation, and for the first time in this heated discussion, they had to confront the question: what is an actor's role in such a highly technical project?

Everyone turned to Emmanuel, waiting for his response.