The Greatest Showman#1123 - free yourself
"I bet this is the only crew in Hollywood that dares to treat Renly Hall like this," Rooney teased, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Any other production company would be tripping over themselves to accommodate you."
Renly smirked, feigning deep thought before shrugging dramatically. "Well, they are paying me a lot. For the sake of the numbers, I suppose I can endure it."
Turning the tables, he shot a playful glance at Rooney. "But isn't it more curious that Rooney Mara, one of the hottest stars in Hollywood right now, is not only taking on a supporting role but also enduring this treatment? That's worth investigating."
Rooney met his gaze with an easy confidence. "Well, to work alongside the best actor in the industry, there's always a price to pay, isn't there?" Her teasing tone made Renly's cheek warm slightly. Just as he was about to return the jest, Rooney's laughter erupted first, catching him off guard.
Before their banter could continue, a voice interrupted. "Renly, Rooney, are you ready?" Emmanuel called out.
His face suddenly appeared between them, his expression comically expectant. The abruptness of his arrival startled them, but the tension in the air dissipated in an instant. Sensing the unspoken energy between Renly and Rooney, Emmanuel's lips curled into a knowing smirk.
Had Emmanuel meant to be playful, both actors could have easily outwitted him. But as he hesitated, his attempt at deflecting the moment only deepened the awkwardness, creating an unintended spark between the two actors.
"Alright, let's proceed with the test shots," Emmanuel continued. "This isn't about following the shooting sequence but testing the control and operation of the IRIS robotic arm. At the same time, it will help you both find your performance rhythm. Ready? Or… do you need more time?"
His insinuation was almost too blatant, making it difficult not to react.
Without exchanging a glance or word, Renly and Rooney fell silent, allowing Emmanuel's implication to linger in the air. The longer they let it sit, the more Emmanuel fidgeted, realizing he had backed himself into a corner. He rubbed his nose awkwardly, his confidence evaporating. Joking clearly wasn't his strong suit.
Clearing his throat exaggeratedly, Emmanuel announced, "Then, let's begin."
With that, he almost fled the scene.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Renly and Rooney's eyes met, and they burst into laughter.
The light box was cleared, and the final test began. During the rehearsal phase, they had been mere props, learning the mechanics of each scene. The focus was on precision rather than performance. But this test was different—it required them to act within the limitations of the IRIS robotic arm.
Performing under these conditions felt paradoxical. In "Gravity," technological advancements dictated every aspect of the performance. The camera moved while the actors remained still, creating the illusion of movement. This meant that the actors had to synchronize their own movements with the camera's trajectory, "moving" in place to maintain realism.
At first, the test was straightforward—horizontal shifts, overhead shots, and slow rotations. It felt like working with a standard crane camera. But then, the IRIS robotic arm switched to full intensity.
Centered on Renly, the robotic arm spun wildly, mimicking a high-speed windmill. The controlled flickers of light simulated the abruptness of an explosion. Immediately, Renly understood the context:
After an impact in space, Ryan Stone's tether was still attached to a mechanical arm. However, during the collision, the arm snapped, sending her spinning uncontrollably. The mechanical arm's massive weight made her an insignificant speck, causing her to be flung around in a chaotic, 360-degree loop.
In the film, it would look like Ryan and the arm were tumbling together. In reality, Renly remained stationary while the IRIS arm did all the work, creating a relative visual displacement.
To sell the illusion, Renly had to simulate the movement himself—flailing his arms instinctively, his body reacting as though being hurled through space. His gaze had to follow an invisible curve, as though his world was truly being flipped upside down. It was an entirely new approach to acting: controlled, precise, yet utterly uninhibited.
The robotic arm's speed increased, pushing Renly to exaggerate his movements. He waved his arms frantically, his head jerking as though trapped in an endless vortex. His eyes darted wildly, his breath coming in sharp gasps. Panic set in—instinctual, primal. And then, he screamed.
It was pure self-abandonment.
From the outside, the scene looked anything but profound. Instead, it seemed utterly ridiculous—Renly, a world-renowned actor, flailing like a maniac, caught in an exaggerated pantomime. It lacked the polish and finesse expected of a seasoned performer. To the untrained eye, it was absurd, almost laughable.
The contrast was jarring—Renly, the refined, Oscar-winning actor, suddenly resembling a high school drama student overacting in a school play. It was bizarre, unexpected, and completely out of character.
Even Rooney, watching from the sidelines, was momentarily stunned. She didn't know whether to be impressed or bewildered.
When the IRIS robotic arm finally came to a halt, silence settled over the set. No one knew how to react. All eyes turned to Alfonso, waiting for his verdict.
But before Alfonso could say a word, Renly let out a laugh. The absurdity of it all hit him at once. His laughter grew uncontrollable, until he was coughing between gasps. He had no doubt how ridiculous he must have looked, but he wasn't the least bit embarrassed.
Seeing Renly's reaction, the tension on set shattered. The crew exchanged glances before laughter rippled through them. What had started as confusion turned into a shared, unspoken understanding—Renly had fully committed, no matter how absurd the process seemed.
One by one, the crew members joined in. Even Alfonso chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. Soon, the entire light box was filled with laughter.
Except for one person.
Emmanuel stood there, stunned, his expression frozen in utter bewilderment. His gaze darted around the room, trying to grasp what he had missed. Why was everyone laughing? What was the joke?
His eyes narrowed in confusion. Looking around for answers, he tried to force a smile, but it only made him look more lost.
Seriously, could someone explain?
Who am I? Where am I? And what the hell just happened?