The Greatest Showman #1260 - Nobody

For Hollywood, this is a compulsory course—everyone is waiting. Quietly waiting for a positive or negative result. Quietly waiting for their own shining moment. Quietly waiting for the so-called "successful moment" to come. Some have waited, but more can never wait. It's like waiting for Godot.

Renly withdrew his gaze and glanced out the window of the train carriage, observing the scene across the street. People came and went, and the play of light and shadow caught his attention. He smiled faintly and said, "Do you know? Sergio Leone waited eleven years for Once Upon a Time in America."

In 1971, Paramount invited Italian director Sergio Leone to direct a gangster film. At that time, Sergio, already well-known for his classic works like Red Dead Redemption, Once Upon a Time in the West, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, was in high demand. However, he was busy with his own gangster film and had to turn down the offer. Paramount then turned to Francis Ford Coppola, resulting in The Godfather.

Meanwhile, Sergio continued to carefully polish his script. When everything was ready, The Godfather had already become a massive hit, and the producers lost interest in similar works, turning down any investments. In desperation, Sergio went to Cannes, neatly dressed and carrying a 400-page script, hoping for investors.

That wait lasted eleven years—and the film was Once Upon a Time in America.

"Yes, I know. It took thirteen years to complete the film, but when it was released in the U.S., Warner Bros. cut it drastically. They shortened the 249-minute version to just 139 minutes. The infamous 'American version.' How ironic," the young man replied with a shrug, full of sighs.

After a brief pause, the young man chuckled awkwardly. "You're telling me I need to wait eleven years? It's only been two years for me, and the time's too short. Should I be more patient? Dude, this is not cool, not cool at all."

As they spoke, the young man turned to look at the stranger beside him. The humor in the conversation made it a moment to remember, but when he saw the familiar face, his expression froze. His smile faded, his eyes went blank, and no sound came out. He simply stared in shock, stunned by the sight before him.

"Hey man, maybe you can pass him your work. That could be an option, right?" the waiter suggested with a grin, then nodded at Renly. "I hope you don't mind."

Renly smiled and nodded in return. "Of course, it's my honor. Although, I'm not sure which producers I know…" Renly thought for a moment. He could only recall a handful of producers. "But I'll be happy to pass it along for you, if you don't mind."

As an actor, Renly's connections with producers were limited to casual acquaintances, and he didn't think they would invest based solely on his recommendation. Still, he was willing to give it a shot. After all, he could at least assess the project by watching the short clips. Though Renly wasn't sure it was necessary—he already recognized the person in front of him, and he had an inkling of what the project might be about.

The young man remained speechless, but nodded vigorously, a look of excitement and nervousness overtaking his expression.

Renly smiled and asked, "What about the short film?"

The young man snapped to attention. "Oh, oh! Right!" He started rummaging through his pockets but couldn't find his work.

Renly remained patient.

Unable to hold back anymore, the waiter ventured, "Is that the USB drive on the bar?"

"Yes! Yes!" The young man exclaimed, noticing the small silver USB drive. He grabbed it quickly and handed it to Renly. "This... this is my work. It won the jury award at the Sundance Film Festival in January."

"Not the grand prize, just the jury award, but…" He continued eagerly, "It's called The Popping Drummer. The title refers to both the strict discipline of a teacher and the action of the drummer hitting the drum. It's not about anything adult, I promise. I adapted it from my high school experience, but that's not as important as the work itself."

"Oh, and the story is about a drum kit. It's about music, too." The young man grew more animated. "I hope it can be made into a 100-minute feature film. This is just an 18-minute short film."

"I only need a budget—$1 million. No, $500,000 is fine. Even $300,000 would work if you're just looking for new actors."

"My only request is to make it my way. I know it's a lot to ask, but I believe everything—the composition, the lighting—is in my head. I can do it. I'm serious about it."

"Do you need the script? I have the full script on the USB drive, and I also have a printed version in my briefcase. I brought it with me today, just give me a moment, I'll find it soon…"

"Sorry, I've been rambling. But thank you. Thank you so much for your time."

The young man's nerves were on edge. His fingers fumbled, his words tumbled out incoherently, and it was clear he was struggling to keep himself composed. Each part of him seemed restless—his chin, his hands, his head—as if everything was at odds with his chaotic thoughts.

Finally, he sat back, frustrated with himself. His shoulders slumped in defeat, and the energy drained from his face. He had spent hours preparing for this moment, but in practice, it had fallen apart. He had rehearsed countless drafts, imagined how to sell himself, and even considered every possible angle for convincing someone like Renly. Yet, none of it had gone as planned.

Unexpectedly, Renly spoke again, his voice gentle, calm, and with a faint hint of amusement. "I didn't bring my computer today. I'll take a look when I get back, but why don't you tell me about it now? It sounds interesting."

The young man's eyes widened in disbelief. "Really... really?"

Renly nodded. "If you're not busy tonight."

"No, no, of course not!" The young man stammered, practically choking on his words. His excitement surged. "I'm not busy at all. Please, let me tell you more."

Renly gestured to slow down, picking up his coffee. "Take your time. Tonight is still long enough for a good conversation."

The young man took a deep breath and smiled. "My name is Damien. Damien Chazelle," he introduced himself eagerly. "Sorry, I've been so caught up, I forgot to introduce myself."

Renly smiled back. "Renly Hall."