The Greatest Showman #1498 - Sisyphus

The smile at the corner of Andre's mouth stiffened. He glanced from Eaton to Renly and then shook his head, a sigh escaping his lips. "What kind of group of friends have I gotten myself into?"

Eaton blinked in confusion, completely unaware of the exchange that had just taken place. He looked at Andre, then back at Renly, but received no explanation—just a smile and a shake of the head from Renly. Eaton decided not to press the issue.

"So, what's going on with today's meeting?" Eaton asked, his tone casual. Despite the tension, he didn't let it get under his skin. "I've already prepared the clothes and sent them to Hamilton's place. You can pick out what you want based on the weather."

August was winding down, and with September just around the corner, the buzz surrounding Gravity was intensifying. The global premiere was fast approaching: first the Venice Film Festival, followed by the Toronto Film Festival, and then the New York Film Festival. These three events would launch the awards season, and Renly was about to get incredibly busy again.

But Warner Bros. had other plans for the film. While it would still be featured at the festivals, the studio was leaning toward a more commercial approach. The decision was influenced by the star power of Renly and Alfonso Cuarón in the industry.

For the time being, Renly's schedule was filling up quickly. Venice was the second European film festival he would attend this year. Unlike Cannes, Venice was more of a tourist destination, attracting British aristocrats with their private vacation homes. When Andre heard Renly was attending, he opened the doors of his private mansion near the river.

As Renly's personal stylist, Eaton was responsible for all of his red carpet looks and screening outfits. After finishing up the work, Eaton had shipped all the clothes ahead of time to Hamilton's private residence. It was a place Renly and Eaton knew well—they'd visited Venice many times during their youth, always staying at the Duke's residence. One of the most memorable trips had been during St. Patrick's Day, when they stayed in Venice long after the holiday ended, eventually being rescued by Andre's second brother, John.

Renly lightly rested his chin in his hand, as if coming to an understanding. "So, you're going to Venice in September?"

Eaton nodded. "I need to be at Fashion Week. I'm planning to host private parties next February to build my brand."

Renly chuckled. "It's rare to see you so proactive these days." Eaton had always been the more passive one when it came to social events, and the marketing of his personal brand had never truly taken off. "You should talk to Andre about this."

Andre, who had been lost in thought, suddenly raised his eyebrows. "Wait, what?"

Eaton, not realizing the subtle implications, responded with enthusiasm. "Is this really a good idea? I've never worked with a film crew before, and I don't know the ropes. How can I be sure I'm up for the task?"

Renly smiled warmly, his tone sincere. "It's simple. Just approach it like you always do—understand the characters and their backgrounds. Tailor the clothes to fit those elements. It's really not that different from what you do daily. The only change is that now, you're designing costumes for a script."

Eaton hesitated, his mind spinning. "But, what about my brand? Won't this confuse people? Is it right for my reputation?"

Renly shrugged lightly. "I can't say for sure. But if you're interested, I can arrange for you to see the work process of some fashion designers. Get some inspiration, make your own judgment. If it doesn't feel right, then forget about it."

Meanwhile, Andre, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. He now understood the deeper significance of the conversation. "So, what you're saying is, I need to build my own production team—from actors and directors to all the behind-the-scenes staff?"

Renly nodded. "Exactly. You don't need a permanent team, but having a group you trust is crucial, especially when you're starting an independent production company. Your current project with Sony Classics is good, but your influence over the production team is still limited."

Andre's expression shifted, his sharp mind processing Renly's words. He understood that while Boom Drummer had gone smoothly, Renly couldn't be there to oversee every project. Andre needed more control—not just in the production process but over costs and quality.

Renly continued, "You can't rely on being just a nominal producer forever. Even when you have control over the creative process, it's essential to manage the financials. If you're serious about moving forward, you need to build stronger ties in Hollywood."

Andre looked at Renly, fully absorbing the advice. "Understood. I'll speak with Andy and get his help for some things in the coming period."

Renly gave him an approving nod, but then something occurred to him. "By the way, has your production company been registered yet? What's the name?"

"Sisyphus," Andre replied with a smile.

Renly's brow furrowed slightly. "Sisyphus, huh? That's... ambitious."