The Greatest Showman #1133 – Benefit a lot

"Renly! Rooney!"

A sudden voice cut through the air, and the two actors dropped their eyes in a moment of panic, trying to conceal something. However, after a brief pause, a question formed in their minds: Do they even need to hide anything?

They were still suited up in their bulky space suits, standing in baskets surrounded by a mass of camera equipment. They were still keeping their distance—there was no physical contact. In fact, it seemed nearly impossible for them to collide with each other accidentally.

They were "isolated" inside their helmets, with the exchange of gazes seeming to pass through a thin, intangible fog. They couldn't really see each other clearly. It was just... a chemical reaction between electric sparks, light, and moments of fleeting inspiration.

In other words, this was a small theater of imagination—something intangible and invisible. There was no need to hide it.

Lifting their eyes once more, they exchanged a clear and knowing glance. It was then that they both realized: they had shared the exact same thought. Without thinking, they both broke into quiet laughter, the tension melting away.

Alfonso, who had been standing at the center of the set, rambled on without receiving any response. Finally, frustrated, he raised his hands and waved in the air. "Hey! You two!" He snapped his fingers twice, drawing their attention, "Are you sure there's no problem? Do you need a break?"

After witnessing such an extraordinary performance, Alfonso needed reassurance about the actors' conditions.

Renly, however, didn't respond directly. Instead, he asked, "How was the performance just now? Is everything alright?"

Rooney followed suit, asking, "Do we need additional shots? Or is there anything to improve?"

Alfonso stared at them in disbelief, as if he were witnessing two mythical creatures. "No, no... everything was... perfect! Yes, perfect!"

Alfonso, known for his critical nature and pursuit of perfection, had taken a moment to reflect, but couldn't find a single flaw in the scene. "The camera angles are fine, don't worry. If you're both ready, we can move on to the next scene."

Renly shrugged, signaling that he was good to go, and then turned to Rooney with a questioning glance.

Rooney looked helpless for a moment. "I don't have any more scenes for the next two weeks. That was my last one. Now, I'm just needed for the narration."

In the following scene, Alex drifts into space, still communicating with Ryan through her headset. As a veteran astronaut, she not only offers encouragement but also provides crucial professional guidance.

For the upcoming shot, Rooney wouldn't be on camera. The crew would rely on computer-generated effects to depict Alex floating away. Therefore, after completing the earlier scene, Rooney could rest for the next period. She thought the scene would be tough, but it was finished seamlessly in one take, leaving no room for complaint.

It was all too smooth, too fast—it almost felt too simple. It caught her off guard, but after taking a moment to process, she understood that this scene was far from easy. And the next one would prove even more difficult.

In this next scene, Alex makes the gut-wrenching decision to cut her lifeline, choosing to sacrifice herself ahead of Ryan. She faces her own death willingly, a stark contrast to Ryan's situation. While Ryan still holds onto hope, trapped in the rescue capsule, Alex's oxygen supply is rapidly dwindling, leaving her with no chance of survival.

Her mind spirals into memories of her daughter. Alex recalls her brown eyes, but she is struck by the painful realization that she'll never see her daughter again. She struggles with the grief and guilt—had she betrayed her daughter by giving up so easily? If she embraces death, does her daughter's life lose all meaning? If she, too, gives up, who will remember her daughter's existence?

In that moment, Alex feels a rekindling of her will to live. She desires to fight, but it's too late for her. However, Ryan still has a chance. She urges him on, hoping that he will prove that her sacrifice meant something—that his survival would honor her daughter's memory.

All these conflicting emotions and realizations swirl within her, and now it's Rooney's task to bring these complex thoughts to life in the next scene. Although she won't be on camera, she knows that this moment will require her to give more than ever before.

After the fluidity of the previous scene, Rooney finds herself in a strong mental and emotional state. She's ready to tackle the next challenge, knowing how crucial her next performance will be.

Rooney looks at Renly, eager to see how he will approach the next sequence. "The decision is yours, Mr. Hall. The next scene won't be easy."

Renly, smiling at her twinkling eyes, chuckles softly.

For Renly, the performance just completed didn't feel particularly difficult. From start to finish, it flowed as naturally as mercury, without much thought or control. It felt easy, just right.

However, the real challenge had already been tackled in the preparation stage.

Renly had fully immersed himself in the character of Ryan Stone—his emotions, his experiences with life and death, all resonated with his personal history. The eleven-hour experience had brought him into a profound alignment with Ryan's psyche.

When it came to the actual shoot, Renly found himself drawing heavily from his background in stage performance, where precision and restraint are crucial. The emotional flow of the scene—controlled yet effortless—felt natural, as though everything was unfolding on its own. He was fully aware of the joy and satisfaction it brought, as if his very being was completely attuned to the role.

This sensation, one that he couldn't fully describe, confirmed that he had benefited a lot from this experience.

The next scene, however, would be simpler.

After Alex releases her tether, Ryan's emotional state plunges into confusion and despair. But after Alex's guidance, Ryan finds the strength to continue. This moment of survival is driven not by resistance, but by pure instinct.

Compared to the complexity of the last scene, the emotions here are simpler. The performance will be more straightforward, and the difficulty will be far less intense.

Yet, Renly is in the perfect state to continue. The flow between him and Rooney has reached a state of equilibrium, and they are ready to continue seamlessly. He nods to Rooney, "No problem. Let's go straight to the next scene."

Rooney's eyes glimmer in excitement, as they, along with Alfonso, exchange smiles.

"There's no need for a break. Let's keep going," Alfonso calls out, his energy palpable. His words ripple through the staff, who can hardly believe what they're hearing. After such a demanding performance, the actors aren't asking for rest?

Clearly, Alfonso is a man driven by passion, and the actors share that same fervor. They are all consumed by their craft—madness in the best sense of the word.