The Greatest Showman #1423 - Ready

"Uh... what's wrong?" Damien couldn't react. His mind was still processing the earlier discussion. When he saw Melissa and heard a stream of apologies, his thoughts took a few beats to catch up. He looked at Renly, confused, silently asking for help.

"To put it simply, she tried to create scandals maliciously, and I caught on. Now she's trying to make amends." Renly summed up the complicated situation in a single sentence.

Create a scandal?

Damien was stunned. He'd never dealt with something like this before. He'd heard of it, but now, it was happening in his own crew. He had no idea how to handle it. "...What should we do? Should we replace her? Find another actress for the role? Her behavior is unacceptable, right?" he stammered, still processing.

Renly laughed, patting Damien on the arm. "Don't worry. It's not worth making a big deal over. We'll stick to the plan, finish the filming, and not let this disrupt the flow."

"But... but how could she do this?" Damien blinked, still shaken. "This is crazy! How can someone do such filthy things? Why? Why?"

Renly smirked. "Trust me, it's just part of the industry. Let's focus on the work. As for me, there's no actor in Hollywood who could make me feel wronged."

Damien was taken aback by Renly's confident tone, then slowly smiled, shaking his head in disbelief. He still couldn't believe the rumors had actually reached his set.

"What's going on?" Simmons asked, his curiosity piqued as he approached. "I feel like I'm missing something huge. Please tell me I'm wrong."

"Your instincts are right," Renly said smoothly, taking over the conversation as Damien was still collecting his thoughts. "We were just discussing some of the shooting details, like how to build the right tension in certain scenes. Damien was worried that I might not handle some of the physical clashes, but I assured him that I'm dedicated to the role."

Without missing a beat, Renly smoothly transitioned from the drama with Melissa to discussing the film's logistics, leaving no trace of the previous issue. It was as if nothing had happened.

Simmons, already in the zone, began speaking, "A friend of mine was an extra on 'Anti-Cancer Me'—you don't know him. He told me you're one of the most dedicated actors he's ever worked with. You're known for your professional attitude and commitment to getting things right."

Renly chuckled, "Well, now I'm getting all flustered. But seriously, no need to worry about the physical scenes. The real challenge will be the slap."

Simmons took a deep breath, sitting down across from Renly. He didn't immediately respond but focused on adjusting his breathing. He understood the importance of the scene; the slap wasn't just physical but a powerful dramatic moment. It symbolized Fletcher's brutality toward Andrew, and every ounce of emotion had to be felt.

"Can I really do it?" Simmons asked quietly. His voice shook slightly, but he quickly composed himself. "Let's rehearse first. Once we're comfortable, we can go for it. That's what this is about, right? Repetition, until we get the raw emotion just right."

Damien, who had been listening, joined in, "If we have trouble, we can use a seat to mask the slap. The camera can capture it from the right angle, and it'll look real enough for the audience."

Renly shook his head. "But we'll know it's fake. This is a crucial scene for both Fletcher and Andrew. The emotional depth and tension cannot be faked. It's the real thing or nothing."

Renly's calm tone grounded the room, and despite the earlier confusion, both Damien and Simmons nodded in understanding. This wasn't just about hitting marks; it was about getting into the heart of the characters.

"Let's just start with rehearsal," Renly added with a smile. "We'll ease into it, and when we're ready, the scene will come to life."

The crew settled in, with Damien nodding in agreement, his earlier stress dissipating.

Renly, ever the professional, smoothly transitioned the focus back to the script. The entire crew, including the jazz musicians who made up the band, gathered to begin the script reading. This step was especially crucial for the musicians who had never acted before, ensuring they understood their roles, the camera angles, and the emotions they needed to portray.

The professional actors, like Austin Stowell (Ryan), were more familiar with the process, but this session was a vital part of integrating everyone into the rhythm of the shoot.

Renly had hoped to meet Peter Erskine, the renowned jazz drummer, but Peter had declined the crew's invitation. At fifty-nine, Peter was focused on his tour and had limited availability. He had also expressed concerns about the script's portrayal of music, feeling it was too violent and didn't reflect the true joy of jazz. As a result, the crew proceeded without him, focusing on their work.

And so, the official work on "Boom Drummer" began, with everyone settling into their roles, ready to dive into the intensity of the production.