Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 127: Fanboy Mode

Chapter 127: Fanboy Mode

A/N: Now that I have a couple of Chapters stocked, I can provide an incentive for you guys to give me your powerstones.

200 p.s - 1 bonus Chapter

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Turning around, the first thing that caught his eye was the impressive curves.

Renly knew it was highly inappropriate to stare. Twenty years of good upbringing made him fix his gaze on the person's eyes. However, his peripheral vision easily captured the majestic lines of the chest, causing a bit of distraction. Nonetheless, Renly maintained his politeness, smiling as he said, "It's a pity the encore outside wasn't more persistent in stopping us from leaving."

Everyone knew that the cheers outside weren't for newcomers like Renly. But Renly had a unique way of interpreting things. His humorous self-deprecation made the lady in front of him laugh heartily, her chest heaving. Renly could even feel the muscles of James and Rami tensing beside him.

"I saw your performance. It was impressive." The lady extended her right hand, her honey-colored skin gleaming with a healthy glow, smooth as silk. "Sofía."

Renly, like a gentleman, gently grasped the front part of her hand, bent slightly, and made a gesture as if he were going to kiss it from a distance. "Renly," he greeted, then straightened up and politely released her hand. "Ms. Vergara's performance was truly convincing. Before today, I was quite proud, but now I see my perspective was too narrow."

Standing before him was Sofía Vergara. Her Colombian accent in "Modern Family" was memorable, but interestingly, at this moment, Sofía spoke with a standard and fluent American accent—specifically, a Los Angeles accent. There was no hint of her Colombian roots, which was why Renly commented as he did.

"Modern Family" was full of hidden talents. For instance, Eric Stonestreet played a convincing gay man in the series, though he was actually straight, which surprised many fans.

"You're quite the interesting fellow," Sofía laughed brightly. Many people had mentioned her accent, often asking her to mimic her character's voice from the show. Though they meant no harm, she often felt it was somewhat offensive. But Renly brought it up in a polite and flattering way, making her feel delighted.

After Sofía walked away, James grabbed Renly's arm, his voice trembling with excitement. "Man, make a move! Are you sure you're not going to? She's the hottest goddess of the past year!"

Renly couldn't help but laugh. "Are you sure? I thought you were going to jump in just now."

Rami, who had been watching Sofía's back, turned his head at this remark. "Sofía isn't Renly's type. He likes Nicole Kidman."

Renly patted James on the shoulder. "If you want to make a move, now's the best time. There's still thirty minutes before the award ceremony starts. She'll have time to touch up her makeup afterward." His confident expression betrayed a hint of teasing, which James picked up on, giving Renly a playful punch, making both Renly and Rami laugh heartily.

James didn't mind, straightening his suit. "I'm going in. Wish me luck!" With that, he walked off without hesitation, following Sofía. Renly and Rami whistled to cheer him on.

"I'm going to greet some old friends. Come, let me introduce you," Rami said, waving to friends calling him from afar.

Unlike Renly, Rami had been in Hollywood for a few years and knew many people. He was happy to introduce Renly around. In events like this, awards were limited, but networking was endless. Talented individuals could even get the chance to meet top names like Steven Spielberg, which was why everyone was eager to attend the major award shows—the Golden Globes being particularly popular for this reason.

"You catch up with your friends. I'm going to play the fan," Renly smiled. "See you inside." With that, Renly moved off without hesitation.

Renly genuinely wanted to meet his idol. Though he had met Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg before, he hadn't been overly excited because, as an actor, he admired directors and producers from a fan's perspective. But his admiration for actors was filled with aspiration and respect, especially after experiencing the challenging performance in "Buried." He understood more deeply the difficulty of becoming an outstanding actor.

Thus, events like this were like a comic convention for Renly.

Of course, Tom Hanks was also an excellent actor, one of the two actors in history to win back-to-back Oscars. But tonight, Renly had someone else in his sights.

From afar, Renly spotted his idol, feeling a surge of excitement. He could relate to the fans outside, feeling a rush of adrenaline, his mind unable to stay rational. That uncontrollable excitement surged through him, filling his life with vibrant colors.

As the person next to him left, Renly stepped forward and extended his hand. "Mr. Pacino, I really, really admire your work. You truly embody what makes an actor great!"

Al Pacino looked at the young, vibrant face in front of him, pursed his lips, and nodded slightly. "Thank you." He shook Renly's hand calmly. Encounters like this were normal for him, possibly happening several times a day. "So, which of my works is your favorite?"

"Heat." Renly's answer surprised Al. "Then 'Dog Day Afternoon' and 'Carlito's Way'."

Al was about to let go but paused, intrigued by the answer. "That's an interesting choice. Why?"

For Al, "The Godfather" series was the most well-known, followed by "Scent of a Woman," which won him an Oscar. Industry insiders highly regarded "Dog Day Afternoon," but "Heat" and "Carlito's Way" were less frequently mentioned.

"I can sense you're trying to blend the techniques of both expressionist and method acting. It's not easy. Sometimes in 'Heat,' I can see glimpses of 'The Godfather,' but I can also feel your efforts and breakthroughs. This is rare in acting," Renly spoke excitedly, without much thought, typical of a fan meeting their idol, but filled with sincere admiration.

In truth, Renly's favorite performance by Al was in "Danny Collins" (2015). The film itself was average, but Al's performance had a refined, effortless quality. His continuous efforts to blend different acting techniques were truly admirable.

Al was genuinely intrigued. The blending of acting styles was subtle, noticeable only to those deeply invested in acting. It was difficult to articulate but produced distinctly different results.

Al scrutinized the unfamiliar face in front of him—Hollywood churned out countless newcomers every year. Recognizing them all was impossible, especially at an event like the Emmys, where most faces were unfamiliar. Yet, this one looked familiar.

"You... you're that..." Al found the face familiar but couldn't place it.

"Renly Hall." For the first time, Renly introduced himself, having been too excited earlier to remember social etiquette. "I'm nominated for Best Actor in a Miniseries."

His confident introduction made Al's eyes light up. "Oh, it's you." Al smiled.

As a competitor in the same category, Al wasn't overly concerned, but media inquiries had made him somewhat aware. Today, the fuzzy image in his mind became clearer. "You're from the British Academy, right?" Al could tell from Renly's London accent and his deep understanding of acting, uncommon among young American actors.

"I hope that's a good thing." Renly chuckled, confirming.

Al laughed, "We'll find out." His reply was intriguing, "Is this your first nomination?" He had only a basic understanding of Renly, who confirmed without further elaboration. "Then enjoy the ceremony tonight."

"Ha, I'm already enjoying it. That's why I'm standing here." Renly pointed to his feet, making Al laugh heartily. "Next, I plan to introduce myself to Julianna Margulies."

The actress known for "ER" and "The Good Wife," as well as her Broadway work, was a formidable talent.

Al's eyes lit up, "Good choice!"