The Greatest Showman #1273 - Get Ahead

Andre quietly observed Renly, who stood before him, slightly dazed.

After escaping the suffocating grip of high-altitude hypoxia and freefall, Andre's heart and blood pressure gradually returned to normal, and he regained his usual, carefree, and rebellious demeanor. His gaze towards Renly became more curious.

If it were anyone else, they would have been overwhelmed by Renly's intensity. But Andre knew Renly was an exception, and so he boldly broke the silence, "You're a freak."

"Yeah, I know," Renly responded, completely unphased, with a calm and indifferent affirmation.

Andre's lips curved into a charming smile, which was one of the reasons he admired Renly so much.

Because of their shared love for rock climbing and skydiving, their professional pursuits, their dreams, and most of all, their personalities, Renly's uniqueness had always intrigued him.

"But why? The Hall family looks so... normal, yet you're the first to disrupt the balance, like a cancerous yeast breaking the ecosystem. That's really abnormal."

Over the past six months, the storm Renly had stirred in London's elite circles had not only persisted but intensified. Even Andre, who usually didn't care about such things, had found himself somewhat entangled. The concept of "broken rules" could be felt in every corner of the city.

Being both involved and an observer, Andre could sense that something fundamental had been shattered—something irreparable. And when he had randomly crossed paths with Renly in Queenstown, it was both surprising and somehow inevitable, only fueling Andre's curiosity.

"Because I was reborn," Renly replied, offering a simple yet profound explanation.

This was a truth unsaid, but clear.

After a brief pause, Renly elaborated further. "Maybe it's because change has always been there, but the timing and environment just weren't right, so it never surfaced. But now, the times have shifted, and change is inevitable. A seed has taken root, sprouted, and grown into a forest of possibilities."

Why Renly had been reborn remained an unanswerable question. But why his seed had sprouted and sparked such a storm was far more obvious.

Had this same scenario occurred five or ten years ago, perhaps Renly would have followed in the footsteps of figures like Princess Grace Kelly, who chose to cut off her wings and return to a life of aristocracy. Or like Princess Diana, who ultimately became consumed by the pressures of royal life and tragically died.

"But the real question is—if you had been born in a different era, would you still have stayed true to yourself?" Andre asked, his curiosity piqued.

Renly gave a slight shrug, but remained silent.

His relaxed expression and the gleam in his eyes gave Andre all the answers he needed. With a soft nod, Andre arrived at his conclusion, "You're a lunatic." And for some reason, he liked that.

Changing the subject, Andre eagerly shifted gears. "There've been rumors circulating in Hollywood that you're preparing a new project. Please tell me it's not fake news. Otherwise, why didn't you call me first? Don't you know I've been planning to break into Hollywood?"

Renly paused for a moment, as if lost in thought.

Andre rolled his eyes, exasperated. "I mentioned this to you twice, and now you've forgotten? Ugh, I should've told Matthew instead."

Renly, with his usual lack of attention to business matters, seemed oblivious to Andre's frustration. He likely wouldn't even remember his own bank account number if asked, which, truth be told, he probably wouldn't even care to know. Andre could only shake his head in disbelief.

"Don't remind me," Andre sighed, rubbing his temples in defeat. "I've been trying to invest in film projects. If you have something suitable, let me know. I'll handle the money; you take care of the work. And if you need personal connections, I'm your guy."

Renly was vague, but after a brief moment, he vaguely recalled that Andre had mentioned this before. However, Renly had never really paid much attention. His interest in producing was limited, and his business acumen was lacking. When it came time to look for a production company for Boom Drummer, he hadn't even considered Andre.

"During my time off, I don't talk about work," Renly quipped with a playful smile, but when he met Andre's gaze, his expression became more playful and mischievous.

Andre remained quiet, nursing his brandy and watching Renly with a knowing look.

As Andre's legs grew heavy from standing for too long, he finally settled into a more casual stance. Despite Renly's jest, Andre remained unflustered.

Regarding investment and production, Andre and Renly were different. Andre thought of them as friends—friends who might not see each other often but who would always help one another in times of need. Just like when they had worked together on the "one-man concert." The unspoken understanding between them was their foundation.

As the moment of silence passed, it was Renly who broke first.

He had no qualms about brushing aside the Hollywood bigwigs, but he couldn't turn away his friends. It was his weakness, and he knew it. But it didn't bother him.

"So, what's the budget?" Renly raised an eyebrow, his tone light but with a hint of something more beneath the surface.

Andre knew what Renly was doing—testing him, challenging his commitment. They knew each other too well. A look, a gesture, a smile, and Andre could decipher everything Renly meant.

"I'm serious," Andre emphasized. "I know the top Hollywood studios are competing for this project, and I can't compete with them. But for you? Anything below $100 million is fine by me. If it's above that, we'll have to get the board involved to discuss."

Renly raised an eyebrow, surprised by the amount. "You're burning through your family's fortune this easily? Does your father know?" He started to ask, but then immediately waved it off.

Andre, the youngest son of the Hamilton family, was spoiled by his father, mother, and two older brothers. His family indulged him in everything, including his investments.

"Forget it, I shouldn't have asked," Renly added, shaking his head with a smirk.

"Come on, $100 million is nothing to you," Andre replied with a chuckle.

For Renly, he didn't need that much wealth, and for Andre, it was a mere number. But the truth was, for both of them, $100 million was inconsequential.

Renly shrugged noncommittally and returned to the topic at hand. "This project isn't commercial. It's a work of art, aimed for the awards season. It should debut at Sundance next year and get some festival follow-ups. Are you sure you're willing to invest in a project like this?"

Andre, who had done his homework on Hollywood, understood exactly what Renly was saying.

Works geared toward the awards season didn't just carry the risk of losing money; they also demanded full commitment from the company, especially if they aimed for Oscar contention. This posed a risk for Andre's investment, and he had to weigh his options carefully.

But Andre was no novice.

"What's your take?" he asked directly.

The question was blunt but clear: If Andre was willing to invest in Boom Drummer, Renly would advise him accordingly.

Renly raised an eyebrow, amused by the question. "Are you sure you want my opinion?"

Neither of them was an expert in business, but their deep understanding of each other made their interactions more genuine.

Andre sighed sarcastically. "Well, I don't have many other options, so I guess I'll have to ask you now."

Renly chuckled and gave the matter some thought before responding. "In terms of investment, it's not going to require much—three to five million max. It's a niche art-house project, so the costs are low. The big studios? They won't care about a project like this, but independent studios would be a good fit."

"Then, you can seek out a partnership with a film company. You'll handle the funding; they'll handle the work. Then, it's up to them to take the film to festivals and awards season. As for the cost-benefit split, you can negotiate that."

For artists, the goal was always the work. For businessmen, it was about returns. The difference in priorities was evident between Andre and Renly.

Renly gave Andre a knowing look and added with a grin, "The only condition is that Damien Chazelle must have the final cut."

Not just the first cut, but the final decision on the film's direction.

Andre's eyes twinkled as he processed this request, and he quipped, "Are you sure that's not a bit of a power grab?"

"Yes," Renly replied with a sly smile.