The Greatest Showman #1231 – Backstage Floating

The awards ceremony was in full swing, and after missing the entire awards season for Renly, attending this grand event felt like a breath of fresh air, despite its lengthy nature. However, when Edge of Tomorrow appeared on the big screen, Renly's surprise was palpable.

"What?" Renly exclaimed, his surprise evident even in the smallest details. He was clearly relaxed.

Sitting next to him, Jessica leaned over. "What, didn't you know? Your movie got two nominations—Best Sound Effects and Best Editing."

Renly raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback.

In the past, Edge of Tomorrow had not been a major contender, lacking visibility during the awards season. Its success was unexpected, with its release in 2010 surpassing expectations. But what really surprised Renly was that the film had earned a nomination for Best Editing.

The Best Editing category, often referred to as the "small Best Picture" award, frequently acknowledges commercial films. Works like The Bourne Ultimatum, Black Hawk Down, The Matrix, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo had not only been nominated but had won this prestigious award. So, for Edge of Tomorrow to be nominated was a surprising achievement.

The other nominees in this category were Escape from Tehran, Pi's Fantasy Drift, Lincoln, and Ben Hunt—all Best Picture nominees, with Edge of Tomorrow being the only outlier, emphasizing just how rare this recognition was.

While Renly and Jessica chatted, Jennifer Garner's voice came through the speakers: "And the winner is... Edge of Tomorrow."

Renly and Jessica exchanged glances, both surprised. Jessica then broke into a bright smile, and Renly widened his eyes, showing a mix of disbelief and delight. While this was just a technical award, it still carried a unique significance for Renly.

Just moments ago, Jennifer Garner had presented the Best Sound Effects Award, and Edge of Tomorrow had triumphed over Les Miserables, Escape from Tehran, Pi's Fantasy Drift, and Skyfall. It was a notable victory in the technical category.

Renly exhaled dramatically, shaking his head in amusement. "At least I won't go home empty-handed tonight."

Jessica chuckled at his joke.

Turning his attention to Hugh Jackman, Renly caught sight of the actor's exaggerated grimace—Jackman's face full of mock protest, clearly astonished at Edge of Tomorrow's victory. The competition between Les Miserables and Skyfall was fierce, making this outcome even more amusing to Renly and Jackman.

Their playful exchange was interrupted by the arrival of a staff member in a black suit, who made a subtle but clear gesture: Renly needed to head backstage to fulfill his duties as a presenter.

Renly gave a slight nod. Before standing up, he turned to Jessica and said, "Good luck."

With a bright smile, Jessica mouthed, "Thank you."

Renly followed the staff member, leaving the lively, fragrant banquet hall behind. He stepped through a door into another world—the backstage of the grand event. A mix of smoky air and chocolate-scented sweetness met him.

At the entrance of the backstage corridor, Barbra Streisand stood smoking a cigarette. The curling smoke obscured her face, leaving only the glimmer of her rose-red nails visible. Despite the bustling crowd around her, she remained in a moment of solitude.

Further down the dark red hallway, Renly spotted a queue of elegantly dressed women carefully navigating the area, adjusting their gowns as they waited, likely for the bathroom—a high-traffic corner of the evening.

Tom Hanks was off to one side, engaged in conversation with an unfamiliar face. He was still holding a paper towel to wipe off water droplets. "...The whole plate of smoked salmon fell directly into George Lucas's face. You should've seen his expression—haha."

Nearby, Renly noticed George Clooney, Harvey Weinstein, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, all in conversation, their voices low as they discussed something with seriousness, while other actors eavesdropped, straining to catch a word.

As Renly continued to walk, he noticed a group of cabaret performers entering a side passage, their skirts lifted to avoid tripping, while the air buzzed with whispers of the show's order.

Ahead, Adele stood in the stairwell, holding a peach-colored box filled with donuts. She took a bite, savoring it, but when she noticed Renly standing nearby, she froze for a moment, blinking in slight surprise.

Renly chuckled softly, nodding politely, and then continued walking. Adele hesitated but then called after him, "Hey, Renly! Want one?"

Renly paused, a smile tugging at his lips. "Thanks for the offer, but I need to head on stage now. If you're still offering afterward, I'd be happy to accept. I'm more of a chocolate person, though—feeling a bit low on sugar tonight."

Adele blinked in surprise, then laughed. "Chocolate's also one of my favorites, no problem!"

With a final nod, Renly walked on, continuing his path backstage. Adele, still standing in the same spot, hummed softly to herself, her mood lifted by the brief interaction. She realized she liked Renly.

The waiting room came into view, and Renly spotted Anne Hathaway, who had just exited. Her face was alight with excitement, her eyes glistening with tears. It was clear what had caused her emotional reaction: the small golden statue in her hand.

This was Anne's first Oscar, and after years of hard work, she had finally claimed the Best Supporting Actress award for Les Miserables. For someone who had long been typecast as a youth idol in Princess Diaries, breaking into the Oscar circuit had been incredibly challenging, requiring years of dedication and effort.

As Renly observed Anne, he could see the joy, disbelief, and excitement she was trying to hold back. Despite having won, the reality of it still felt surreal to her.