The Greatest Showman #1148 - Xanadu

When people reflect on 2012, there are countless ways to highlight Renly's achievements and brilliance. Topics range from the start of the year to its end, with "Renly-Hall" becoming a name that means so much.

This is precisely why Detachment lagged early in the awards season. People found themselves increasingly embarrassed, as the awards season without Renly felt incomplete, leaving a sense of regret. As the season progressed, the attention shifted to new works, and Detachment, now forgotten, was pushed further to the back of their minds.

Even in his absence from the awards season, even without partaking in the year-end frenzy, Renly remained the focal point of discussion. It seemed as though no one else could command such attention.

On the North American continent, people longed for Renly's return to join the year-end celebrations, while he, far away, stayed at the Surrey photography base in the UK, entirely focused on the filming of Gravity.

For Renly, Gravity was his priority, and it was clear that it was his greatest passion at the moment. This singular focus felt like a stroke of fortune.

Renly, despite his dual life experience, remained an ordinary person at heart. Even with all the fame, his excitement and occasional trepidation still arose when faced with the flash of cameras, the cheers of fans, and the glare of the spotlight. He sometimes felt as though the world was his to control—only to find himself losing his bearings in the process.

Vanity Fair's allure is a powerful force, affecting everyone, Renly included. He had to endure the dizzying highs of fame, the scrutiny of living under a microscope, and the eventual disillusionment that comes with losing oneself in the pursuit of endless success. The challenge, then, was finding himself again.

This was no easy task.

At the peak of the Berlin Film Festival, Renly felt the pure exhilaration of standing at the top of the world. He experienced the madness of having it all, only to be grounded again by Heather Cross's departure. Her absence helped him regain his footing and re-focus on his dreams.

Still, 2012 was a whirlwind for Renly. He believed, without a doubt, that in Hollywood, all the praise and admiration would soon come flooding toward him.

It seemed that with a glance, he could acquire everything others dream of: beauty, money, fame, attention, power. It was as though he could snap his fingers and control the fates of others, standing at the apex of the Hollywood pyramid.

It was a life everyone aspired to, Renly included. He would not deny it, nor did he feel the need to. Even after living through two lifetimes, he was still a man with desires.

But if this continued, he feared becoming like Zhong Yong—losing himself in Hollywood's glitzy allure, forgetting his original passion, and becoming just another cog in its machine.

The worst-case scenario was that his dreams would fade, and George and Elizabeth's fears would come true—he would become the very thing they despised.

History had seen many like Zhong Yong—people who disappeared into the machine, forgotten.

But Renly was fortunate enough to encounter Gravity.

He felt profound gratitude toward Alfonso Cuaron for his persistence in ensuring Renly didn't miss out on this project.

It was Gravity that reminded Renly why he embarked on this journey. It reminded him where his passion stemmed from, what brought him joy, and why this life was so thrilling. It helped him find clarity amid the chaos and refocus on the craft of acting.

The pursuit of Vanity Fair's beauty was captivating, even perfect, but performance was where Renly's true devotion lay.

On the Gravity set, there were no spotlights, no adoring crowds, no fame—only the quiet dedication to the work. Every day, Renly felt grounded in a way he hadn't in a long time. Everything was real. Everything was beautiful. It was a reassuring sense of authenticity.

Perhaps at his core, Renly was a bit mad, but he would happily embrace that title. If being a "lunatic" meant living with pure freedom, he would gladly take it.

Filming Gravity was proceeding smoothly, with Rooney Mara's scenes now complete. What initially seemed like a months-long process had now moved into the final stages. If all continued as planned, production would be wrapped up before mid-January.

Renly joked with Emmanuel, "Hey, Emmanuel, maybe you'll catch the awards season craze after all."

Everyone knew it was just a joke. Renly always enjoyed teasing Emmanuel, who would never fail to get awkwardly tongue-tied in response. Even Alfonso joined in the laughter, delighting in Emmanuel's discomfort.

Emmanuel had worked with Terrence Malick on Towards Wonderland, which was now also in contention for awards. He hoped to follow in the footsteps of last year's Tree of Life and secure another Best Cinematography nomination.

Renly's teasing came as a playful jab, but Emmanuel, ever serious, shot back, "What, are you trying to catch up with the Golden Globes, using me as an excuse?"

Renly responded with mock sincerity, "If I could, that'd be great. I'd love to snag a nomination for the Golden Globe."

Renly's self-deprecating humor about Detachment—which had missed the awards season—was an expression of his calm about the entire situation. Emmanuel, unable to retort, pouted in frustration, causing everyone around them to burst into laughter.

As the shoot neared its end, every scene became more critical, emotionally charged, and demanding. The crew couldn't afford any slip-ups; focus and discipline were paramount. During this intense period, moments of levity, like Renly's joke with Emmanuel, became rare but precious.

The Gravity crew worked tirelessly, sometimes putting in 16-hour days. The actors had no time to care about gossip, the spotlight, or the year-end awards frenzy. The Surrey Photography Base had effectively become a sanctuary, isolated from the outside world, with everyone fully immersed in the task at hand.

For Renly, the work on Gravity was his true focus, far outweighing the fleeting fame of Person of the Year or the missed opportunity with Detachment. What mattered now was Ryan Stone's role, his craft, and the story he was helping to tell.

With filming entering its final stages, the script had reached a turning point. After Alex Kowalski's death, Ryan Stone moved through the airlock, only to find herself forced to confront life-or-death choices aboard the Soyuz spacecraft. The struggle to survive and her ultimate decision to give up before regaining hope would become the movie's emotional centerpiece.

To ensure this pivotal moment was captured perfectly, Renly, Rooney, and Alfonso worked together meticulously, refining every detail. Renly's personal interpretation of Ryan's journey added soul to the character and the story, imbuing it with layers of emotion and meaning.

Now, it was time to bring it all to life.